lab # 6

Evolution and Adaptation

  1- Explain adaptive radiation and how the different paper forms made by “finches” helped or hurt that particular finch species.

The evolutionary diversification of group organisms into various forms that are each adaptively specialized to a specific environmental niche. Each new group often further diversifying.
The main reason that causes different paper forms made by finches helped or hurt that particular finch species

Source: Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2010. Adaptive radiation_ Medical dictionary [Internet]. [Cited March 7, 2014] Available from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/adaptive+radiation

2- With the" prey" survival data you collect, graph survivorship over time by each species.

3- Explain how behavioral adaptations may lead to genetic changes in a population.
There are several factors that cause different such as: geographical isolation, climate change, and adaption to survive against competitors, predators, flexibility in the early learning of feeding skills that lead to genetic changes in a population.

4- A species that has a behavioral adaptation that may allow its predator not to be able to eat it or find it. Explain what this behavioral adaption is.
Chameleon is small lizard best known for its physical adaptation.

 Color changes: Chameleons are capable of changing color. These color changes assist the reptile to camouflage itself in the presence of potential predators.

     Tongue: The ability to shoot its tongue over such a distance and with amazing accuracy allows the chameleon to reach food not in its immediate vicinity.

Source: http://www.flchams.com/breeder_chameleons.asp

      Eyes: The ability to scan the surrounding area without having to move its head allows the chameleon to remain still and camouflaged while still being able to locate prey and keep a look out for potential predators.

5- A species that has a physical characteristic that allows it to survive in cold weather.

Arctic Hare lives throughout the tundra of Canada from Newfoundland to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

Adaptation: The claws on the front feet are long and their strong claws are used for digging in hard-packed snow. The arctic hare’s coat grows longer and thicker for the winter. They have a short thick undercoat protected by a longer top coat. The white fur makes the hare difficult to spot in the snow.
   

 Source: http://www.aitc.sk.ca/saskschools/arctic/Ahare.html

6- An example of mutualism in nature. Explain what mutualism is this case

Lichens are a mutualism formed between fungi and various groups of algae.

Mutualism: The algae provide food for algae by doing photosynthesis and the fungi helps out by forming a protective envelope for the algae preventing the algae from drying out.

Source: View this website

7- An example of commensalism in the nature. Explain how your picture represents commensalism.

The Orchids grow on branches of trees. Orchids belong to a family of flowering plants that form a commensal relationship with the trees.

Commensalism: They form their base of attachment on the branches of trees, and benefit by getting adequate sunlight and nutrition that flows down the branches. The orchids do not grow to a large size, and thus the host tree is not harmed in any way.

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/examples-of-commensalism.html

9- An example of mimicry in nature. Explain what the mimicry is this case.

Fork-Tailed Drongo also called the Common Drongo, African Drongo, or Savanna Drongo, is a drongo, a type of small passerine bird of the Old World tropics.

Mimicry: These particular birds mimic the sounds of meerkats to steal their food. They can use the meerkats own calling sounds to make them run away and when they finally click on that they’re being fooled. The drongo then mimics another species (a predator to the meerkats) to make them run away again, to steal their food again.

Source: http://forums.sherdog.com/forums/f48/top-10-worlds-best-mimicry-animals-new-2429169/

10- One species of plant from Haiti that has an adaptation that let it survive. Explain.

Bayahondes grow in rigid soil, dry and hot region of Haiti.

Adaptation: This species of tree develop big thorn from their buttress part to the top and also the leaves in order to prevent to be eaten by animal.

Source: View this site

d11- With the "prey" survival data collect, graph the relationship over time for each " species".

Lab 5

 Graph I

Graph 2

Graph 3

Midterm Assignment

 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle

 Describe in 3 paragraphs (no more or less) the terrestrial carbon cycle

Everything and everyone is connected in the universe as a part of continuous carbon cycle. The living and non living things interacts every single second; however, the being living cannot survive without having the support somehow of the non- livings. The Carbon is the most widely element on the planet earth. The human body is made of carbon, trees, mineral, and organic matter. Carbone dioxide is a naturally occurring at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth’s atmosphere in the state of gas.

During the photosynthesis process, they plant release dioxide and transform the water (H₂0) with carbon dioxide under the action of sunlight to form dioxide and sugar. The plant get a large amount of carbon dioxide from living things when the breath out. The herbivores consume the plant and when they died their bodies get eaten by the decomposers. On the other hand, when the decomposers get died they become carbon in the soil and later, the carbon pull out from the soil through its pores.

The carbon dioxide that have been absorbed by the trees and the animals return to nature in the same form. Despite all, tertiary consumers get a significant amount of carbon by eaten the secondary consumers. The same process that I describe in the second paragraph happen with the carbon till it returns into the atmosphere in the state of gas. Human being breath out the carbon dioxide in order to get the dioxide (air) which is made of by trees as well created naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, I consider carbon almost like law of energy which means nothing is lose,nothing create but all is transferred in another state.

Lab 5

Germination and Productivity

Part 2

1-      What was our control for this experiment?

The control for this experiment was to calculate the germination and total plant growth in heights of the radish seeds that grow under the normal light condition and total darkness. Based on our traditional botanical knowledge; we advanced the hypothesis that plant cannot grow in the total darkness. To carry out this study, we planted 4 seeds per cup in 36 cups for every sample (light and dark). The analysis of this experiment happened one week after the planting date.

2-   What is the percent germination for light treatment? For dark treatment?

Percent germination =(total number of seeds germinated    )/(total number of seeds planted)*100

                                    x=69/144*100

                                    x = 48% for light treatment

                                    x=50/144*100

                                    x = 35 % for the dark treatment

3- Make a graph of a total germination percent per treatment.

Part 3

1-    Compare the difference in appearance in the dark treatment and the light treatment plants. If there is a difference in appearance, explain.

• In the light treatment, the seedlings were green and grow curvely because of the competitivity for the sunlight.
• In the dark treatment, most seedling weak , yellow and dropped leaves and started dying.

2-If there was growth in the dark treatment plants, explain why that growth may have taken place even though light was not reaching the plants.

The growth in the dark happened because the seeds have an ambryon that break down the shell and come out  for searching light. A little bit of sugar was stored in the ambryon which was using to provide energy for  the leaves in a short period of time. Without the presence of sunlight, the leaves became weak and yellow because they didn't have chlorophyll.

3-    Using your calculation of class’s data, draw or make three graphs, showing comparison on  average height, dry and wet weight between light and dark treatment. Titles your graph label your x and y, and make sure your treatment are clear in each graph.

Lab 4

Sandy River Delta's dam Report

Introduction

Recent research in hydrology and biology has been focused on the impact of stream diversion on the aquatic wildlife after the removal of Marmot dam. Five years ago, the Sandy River Delta dam which was managed by Portland General Electric since 1908 was removed in order to restore fish habitat. The removal of Sandy River Delta dam has attracted the attention the community of scientists to observe a vast amount of sediment collected in a reservoir. This report presents some fundamental geological, hydrological and ecological change observed five years after this removal. This watershed was disturbed by human action for over many decades; in fact, the reestablishment of this biome as it used to be is considered as a secondary succession.

Sandy River Delta dam’s history

Figure 1: The Marmot dam: Photo credit: Kesley Khan

Sandy River dam was built by Portland General Electric (PGE) through the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project between 1909 and 1912 near the Bull Run. In 2007, the Marmot Dam on the sandy river was removed because of its environmental costs. “The powerhouse had a generating capacity of 22 megawatts (MW), enough to power 12,000 homes in 2007”( The Oregonian p. E04 2007)

Sandy River Delta dam’s location

Figure 2: Marmot dam

Dam was located about 3.1 miles down the Roslyn Lake (GNIS, 2010). Latitude 45°24'0.39"N, longitude 122° 7'55.40"W and range 338 m. The Marmot Dam divert water from the Sandy to the Little Sandy by canal and tunnel, it has 30 feet high. The dam was disturbed the salmon from the upper level to migrate to the downstream. In fact, they included a fish ladder to allow the migration of salmon. Despite all, the fish ladder wasn’t effective and efficient. In 1951, the PGE installed fish screen to prevent fish from being drawn in dam.

The impacts of the removal of Sandy River Delta dam .

1.      Ecological Secondary Succession

      Stream Channel

The removal of the dam allows the river to flow naturally. The coarse sediment that was in pool reservoir has made a little change by moving downstream. It has changed the form and the behavior of the downstream. There are two large of point bars in the both side of the site which have accumulated of sands, gravels, cobbles and a few boulders deposited by the stream when its velocity drops along the inner bank after the dam’s removal.

      Aquatic wildlife

Figure 3: Salmon habitat

The sediment that was buried in the reservoir of the dam did not cause damage the salmon habitat and others species aquatic. Contrariwise, the community of salmon has been mixed and diversified which help them to not be extremely endangered species. In the other side, salmon don’t need human help to move down and upper stream anymore. Despite all, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has a hatchery raised fish; as the result over million fish species such as coho, spring Chinook , and steelhead have removed into the river every year.

      Vegetation

This area is managed by Western Rivers Conservancy which is a non-profit organization that buys land in the western part of USA to conserve critical habitat, create public access in the forest. It cooperates with others environmental agencies to secure the health of the whole ecosystems.The west side of dam’s site is an old young Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) forest. The manager has introduced some species of hardwood and shrub in an open area where the dam’s building was located. There are many invasive of grasses and shrubs such as Himalaya Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus (syn. Rubus discolor), scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) in this open area. The east side of the dam’s site is an old growth Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)  forest.

      Soil

Sandy River has a young geologic landscape. This river was formed less than 300 years ago. The river floor is cover of sands, gravels, and cobbles. The stream’s shore is likely beach sand. This soil in western part of the river is volcanic which means the growth rate of the trees is very slow however in the eastern part the soil underneath the Western red cedar is really spongy, rich in nutrients and microorganisms.

Conclusion

The removal of Sandy River dam is considered as a secondary succession because this area has covered with vegetation many years ago. In fact, it will take only a couple of year for this area to regenerate.

References/ edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Run_Hydroelectric_Project ( All references are from Wikipedia)

Jump up

1. ^ "Roslyn Lake". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
2. Jump up^ "Bull Run River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 16, 2010.

  

Lab Week 2

Popular Media Science Reporting and Science Research Articles:

Exploring the Relationship

1- What wording used in a popular science article would lead you to believe it is based on a peer- reviewed article?
a- Published By: American Society of mammalogists. (Source: Journal of Mammalogy, 94(6):1331-1345. 2013 )

b- Mario A. Cozzuol, Professor, UFMG- Universidade de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

c- Bioone Online Research ( View its website).


2-   Evaluation of the experimental design used by Maria A. Cozzuol, Camalia L. Clozato and Elizete C. Holanda to carry out the result of this scientific research.

This discovery was based on a controlled experiment because the scientists heard from indigenous people that there is the presence of new species Tapir in Amazon forest.

Based on this visual observation, they used DNA, skulls samples from museum and other tools to verify this observation. This observation pushed them to elaborate a hypothesis. The.The hypothesis of this research was to compare the morphological and molecular specimens of the species of tapir from western Brazilian Amazon with all other Tapirus species. The data supported the hypothesis because they found a new species called Tapirus Kabomani which has completely different molecular and morphological structure than the others species of tapir.

 The methods used throughout this research are repeatable which means anyone can reproduce the same result.From my point of view, this research wasn’t replicated because it showed the sources of data and it was sponsored by many prestigious environmental organization and universities all over the world such as Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California and Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia.

 The Tapirus Kabomani can live only on forested area for this reason the deforestation, increasing human population, and the construction of 2 large hydroelectric complexes along the upper Madeira River and the reactivation of the Porto Velho-Manaus highway, BR 319, which facilitate land occupation in the area where the known specimens collected. The managers and the beneficiaries of these projects may be in conflict with environmental organizations that protect this endangered species.

 The popular article has almost the same title than the peer- reviewed article. The popular articles (The Environment News Service) did a great in terms of detail, precision and it follows the writing format of a popular article. It introduced the tapir mainly as endangered species, and gave more details about the processes used by the scientists to carry out this study. It mentioned the effects of deforestation for this species.

Literature Cited

  Peer- reviewed article

 Mario A. Cozzuol. 2013. A new species of Tapir from Amazon [Internet]. UFMG- Universidade de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil; [Cited January 25, 2014]. Available from :http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1644/12-MAMM-A-169.1

Popular Article

Minas Gerais. 2013. New Tapir species discovered in the Amazon. [Internet]. Environment News Service; [cited January 25, 2014]. Available from: http://ens-newswire.com/2013/12/24/new-tapir-species-discovered-in-the-amazon/

Lab Week 3

1- What are you excited about learning in your tropical ecology class?
Nowadays, several species of animal have been extinct or threatened because of the human activities. The time has come that we stop destroying our planet and repairing our mistakes. The only way to get people to be aware of these environmental issues is to educate them. Studying Ecology helps me to have a better appreciating our natural resources and dedicating myself to prevent other to not make the same mistakes I have made previously. 

2- The main environmental issues In Plaisance (Haiti)

My community’s name is Plaisance which is a small village located in the center part of Gonave Island, West, Haiti. Among several environmental issues that the locals have been working to solve; reforestation is the top priority right now to help replenish degraded land.

3- What things have your learned thus for to help improve the environmental conditions of your community ?

By knowing how to organize and present scientific data, investigating the exciting biome and ecosystem that the problem . I've been looking forward to resolve is related; these soft skills will help me to create a sustainable project in the future.

4- Video of the ecology of Haiti ( Southern of Haiti  beautiful landscapes)

5- Information of the flora and fauna of Haiti ( Click Here)