Conservation for the People

Services were divided into four categories: provisioning (supplying products such as food or genetic resources), regulating (contributing regulatory functions such as flood

control), cultural (supplying nonmaterial bene- fits such as a sense of spiritual well-being) and supporting (providing basic elements of the eco- system, such as soil formation).

Hot spots- small areas that harbor a great variety of en- demic, or native and geographically restricted, plant species.

Preserving biodiversityfor its own sake, particularly in areas called hot spots, is not working as a conser- vation strategy.

Focusingonprotecting ecosystems vital to peo- ple’s health and material needs makes more sense.

■ Such ecosystems would include not only forests but also wetlands that maintain clean water, mangroves that shield against storms and reefs that sustain fisheries.

■ Saving these sites can preserve biodiversity and ensure that people are apriority.

At- tempts to eradicate predators more than a cen- tury ago have jeopardized human health today.

Key Points:

Services are divided into four categories:

provisioning (supplying products such as food or genetic resources)

regulating (contributing regulatory functions such as flood control)

cultural (supplying nonmaterial bene- fits such as a sense of spiritual well-being)

supporting (providing basic elements of the eco- system, such as soil formation)

Hot spots - small areas that harbor a great variety of endemic, or native and geographically restricted, plant species. Preserving biodiversity for its own sake, particularly in areas called hot spots, is not working as a conservation strategy.

• Focusing on protecting ecosystems vital to people’s health and material needs to make more sense.
Such ecosystems would include not only forests but also wetlands that maintain clean water, mangroves that shield against storms and reefs that sustain fisheries.
Saving these sites can preserve biodiversity and ensure that people are a priority.
• Attempts to eradicate predators more than a century ago have jeopardized human health today.

Benefits of Rare Species:

The plants and animals most central to ecosystem services and human economy tend to be fairly abundant. But rare species still have a crucial role as insurance. With global climate disruption and massive modification of land, the rare species of today may become theabundant species of tomorrow, and so we should save as many as possible.

Chernobyl Health Article

Chernobyl’s Disaster Effects on Biological Systems

Cells: Portions of 300 rems or more cause temporary hair loss, but also more significant internal harm, including damage to nerve cells and the cells that line the digestive tract. Severe loss of white blood cells, which defend the body from infections, are also an effect of radioactivity on human cells. The victims that experience the Chernobyl radiation poisoning have a more likely chance of getting diseases.

Tissues: RAD is a unit of radiation that can be absorbed by tissue. "Rad" stands for "Radiation absorbed dose". After Chernobyl it was superseded by gray. 100 rad equivalent to 1 gray. 1000 rad of high-energy radiation, delivered at one time, is fatal to humans.

Organs: Due to the cells being damaged, normal organ functioning is decreased. This leaves them weakened and vulnerable to infections, and since the cells are also attacked, there is no system to protect the organs.


Populations: Populations were critically effected by Chernobyl because many died of cancer, birth defects, stillborns, radiation poisoning, and many more. Also, many people have growths on (mainly) their face and ingrown body parts.


Ecosystems: The radioactive materials released by the accident had many immediate harmful effects on plants and animals living within 20 to 30 km of the Chernobyl power plant at the time of the accident. However, there are no reports of any such radiation-induced effects in plants and animals outside this area, referred to as the Exclusion Zone. Each plant and animal responded differently to the accident depending on the dose of radiation received and sensitivity to radiation.

Galapagos Marine Iguanas

Marine iguanas sneeze frequently to expel salt from glands near their noses. The salt often lands on their heads, giving them a distinctive white wig.



They are either black or dark grey in color except when males are near mating seasons when they turn shades of red and green. The dark pigment in the skin helps shield the animals from the effects of ultraviolet rays. It is also useful in warming the body.



With one breath, the iguanas can reach depths of 30 feet. Marine iguanas are cold blooded, however, and can only stay in the water for about 10 minutes.

Marine iguanas are cold blooded, however, and can only stay in the water for about 10 minutes.

Guppy Simulation

1. Q: If being flashy and colorful attracts predators, why do you think guppies are so colorful?
A: It helps to be colorful because it helps in the mating process. In the end, there will be more colorful guppies than ones that have been eaten because they repopulate more than the drab ones.

2. Q: After viewing the guppy gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish's common name, scientific name, and origin.
A: The common name is guppy or millions fish. The scientific name is Poecilia reticulata. It's origin is Peru.

3. Q: After viewing the predator gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish's common name, scientific name, and origin?
A: The common name is Pike cichlid. The scientific name is Crenicichla alta. It is originated in Trinidad and Latin America.

4. Q: View the guppy's habitats, what habitat conditions would affect the predator populations?
A: The Quare River would affect predators because they sometimes do not contain water year round. Trinidad's Aripo River can contain many guppies, as well as many hungry predators. Some small dams keep predators from moving upstream. Many predators find their way into shallow pools. Some dams restrict predatory fish movements.

5. Q: Who is John Endler? What did he study and where did he study it?
A: John Endler is an evolutionary biologist who studies guppies. He studied guppies from different streams, even among guppies living in different parts of the same stream.

6. Q: For each of the three stream areas, describe the guppy coloration.
A: Pool 1: Brightly multi-colored with large spots
Pool 2: Medium coloration on body and tail, with medium sized spots
Pool 3: Drab coloration, very small spots concentrated near tail

7. Q: Develop your own hypothesis about guppy coloration. The hypothesis should answer the questions: Why do guppies in different areas of the stream have difference in coloration? (You can choose from the list on the simulation, or make up your own)
A: Female guppies are choosing to mate with the most brightly colored males, giving those males a higher probability of passing their genes on to the next generation.
 
8. Q: Describe how predators influence guppy coloration.
A: Predatira influence guppy coloration because some predators may find it easier to prey on drab or bright colored guppies. This can increase or decrease either coloration.

9. Q: Was your hypothesis correct?
A: My hypothesis was mostly correct, having three of the five trials favor brightest or bright guppies. I could also be incorrect because the last trial was 100% drabbest.

10. Q: What does it mean that "male guppies" live in a crossfire between their enemies and their would be mates?
A: It means that the bright guppies have to choose between mating or not being eaten.

11. Q: Why do you think guppies in different areas of the stream have different coloration?
A: Some guppies in different areas of the stream have different coloration because of camouflage, mating, and other important variables.

12. Q: What would happen to mostly drab guppies that were placed in a stream with very few predators.
A: Drab guppies would most likely dominate because they can easily camouflage from predators, even though they are not the first choice to mate with.

13. Q: What would happen to brightly colored guppies that were placed in a stream with many predators?
A: They could either dominate, by repopulating quickly, or die off, by attracting predators.

Biodiversity

1. One way in which preserving biodiversity locally might have a global effect are if all internationally traded organisms (whether alive or dead) were monitored, regardless of whether they are currently listed as threatened. This would allow countries to identify emerging markets and act early enough to prevent depletion.

2. Habitat destruction and loss of species effect more than just one area because if one species in a habitat is diminished, then the predator of that animal is left with no food. The predator then must move to a new habitat to find food, completely messing up that habitat's food chain. This would also happen if the habitat had been affected by destruction of some kind.

3. Preserving biodiversity enhances the life of people by giving us more resources to use, mainly food, but also trees, water, and even clothing sometimes. It will also enhance the lives of future generations by providing enough resources, and even more than enough resources, for them to rely on.

Extra Resource:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/Animals.shtml

Gasses and Climate Change

Combustion Demo

Hypothesis: I think that when Miss Leland ignites the gas in the container, it will have a small "eruption" and a small amount of black soot will come out if the top of the bottle.

Observation: When Miss Leland lighted the gas in the bottle, it shot across the room while on fire (it probably was about 8 feet or so).

Today I learned that combustion can cause a warming affect on the Earth. This change is caused by emmissions that are mostly from humans.

Co2 Gas Demo:

Hypothesis: I think the Co2 gas is going to put out the candles with a small "explosion".

Observation: When the gas was introduced to the surrounding air around the lit candles, the flames died out.

Hydrogen Gas Demo:

Hypothesis: If the liquid is combined with the metal, it will turn into a gas.

I learned that Hydrogen could be used in place of fossil fuels.

Observation: my hypothesis was correct but then she lit it on fire, it was ignited and sounded like it was sizzling very loudly. The zinc is completely dissolved and the solution left is fizzy and grey.

Air Pressure Demo:

Hypothesis: for the first test, I think that when the air vapor is introduced to the ice water, you will be able to see it because it will be like when you breathe outside in the winter time. For the second test, I think there will be bubbles because the gas will be escaping from the drowned can.

Observation: For the first test, absolutely noing happened when the can was introduced to the ice water. For the second test, the can crumpled when introduced upside down to the ice water!

Research: "Researchers have found that changes in air pressure over the past 50 years bear the fingerprint of human influence." Humans have caused air pressures to fluctuate due to our emissions. A map showing what the actual air pressure and the one without human emissions was completely different.

5 Questions About Chernobyl

1. Was everyone evacuated all at once, or different priorities at different times?

2. Was it really just a few worker's faults for the explosion or was there more to it?

3. Will it ever be safe for humans to live in again? If so, when?

4. Why were the animals who live there not harmed by the nuclear explosion?

5. What parts of Ukraine were effected?