Out of the 3 chapters that I have read so far, I would like to say that I found this chapter to be my favorite. There are so many species out there, that man kind is not able to identify; as well as species that I am sure we are not even aware of. In one of our classes, we watched a movie which was about different types of species such as reptiles, insects etc. I was amazed by some of the species that I saw, they were of a kind that I never heard of nor seen.
Species(alien species,exotic & foreign)
Since it is clear that there are millions of species on this planet, this leads to many alien species; which are species that intentionally or accidentally placed in a different environment other than their own. This causes damages and negative impact on this environment and the native species that have made this their habitat. " The introduction of alien fish species, especially the Nile perch and the Nile tilapia, as well as the South American hyacinth resulted in changes in fish and plant composition including the loss of up to seventy-five percent of endemic species" (Barker,2003) These alien species end up consuming the natural resources that the other species need to survive, and in many cases there alien species take over the food chain and end up at the top. Everything gets re-structured and the way of living has suddenly changed. I know I like change but I would not be very happy if something foreign came into my environment, started to live off my resources, and suddenly changed my way of living.
There is so much of this wildlife and natural habitats that are being destroyed by these terrorist which can take the form of plants and animals. Some of these species are brought from foreign lands for reasons such as beauty or even economic gain. These exotic species end up competing with the native for its food and space. Everything changes! As I stated before, the food chain changes and even the physical environment changes. These foreign species can bring over many things with them which can contaminate our waters and causes poisonous affects on our wildlife as well as well as on human health. For example the Asian Tiger mosquito, which was introduced accidentally, has been known to carry serious diseases such as dengue fever and several forms of encephalitis (Barker,2003).
The alien species can completely transform an ecosystem, the whole environment can be changes and things such as water can end up being altered. This not to say that all these exotic species are foreign. Barker (2003) states on pg. 55 "The flathead catfish is a native of the lower Great Lakes, Mississippi River basin, and parts of the Gulf Slope drainage. It was introduced into new waters as a sportfish. It lives for twenty years of more and reaches lengths of four feet and a weight of fifty pounds. Because freshwater sport fishers appreciate the Flathead as great game fish, it has been introduced into many drainage ditches, rivers and reservoirs of eighteen states where it was previously unknown. Unlike its' cousins, this catfish is not a scavenger. As an adult, it feeds on other species of fish. With a voracious appetite, it has risen to the top of the food chain in all aquatic communities where it was introduced". I personally do not agree with this, there is no reason that one species should be taken out of its' own environment for recreational uses. Now suddenly this flat head catfish is placed in another species environment and has ended up at the top of the food chain completely changing everything. This species should have remained where it belonged and not taken out for the reason of sport fishing. Due to man kind enjoying a sport, this species has been removed and placed in the other species home, where it became the dominant predator in this new habitat. This is not right!
Another example of this is the Brown tree snake, which is a highly aggressive species. This species is said to have been introduced accidentally to Guam but since then it has spread through the island. This species has been known for invading homes as well as eliminating twelve species of native land bird species (Barker, 2003). This species is also capable of crawling along electrical power lines which causes a power outage for several days. Many people have been treated for bites, and more than 84% were bitten while in their sleep. Not only can these foreign species cause harm upon plants and animals, they also can have an effect on us as humans !
Saltwater Tanks for Entertainment?
Many of us have a saltwater tank in our home for our own purpose. Many find this as a source of entertainment; we simply enjoy watching the activities and nature of these creatures that our inside the tank. I am sure we are all aware of how this changes the natural process. We remove these fish, plants and even coral from their natural environment for our own personal use. I never really took the time to think about there was a negative side of having a fish tank. I mean we removed the fish and put it back in water right? Well I was wrong. It is not that easy. We remove these fish from their natural habitat and place them in our home. We enjoy them, but there is a lot of hard work that goes along with it. Many people do not take into consideration the fact that this is a living thing. Some may simply few it as a fish, where others(like myself) take into account the fact that it is living and breathing. To properly care for these fish it takes time and money. A salt water tank can be very costly, along with this goes equipment such as: lights, pumps, filters, live rock..things like that. When something goes wrong, you better be prepared to get it fixed immediately because the life of a species is at risk!
Not only do you have to worry about the equipment, but you also need to be careful of what type of fish you fill the tank with. Not all fish eat the same, there are some fish that tend to hurt and eat other fish; you need to be smart and not place that fish in a tank with other fish! You need to be careful with the food and you need to keep up with your tank. Make sure you check the temperature, clean it..simply make sure that everything is functioning properly and the fish is not at risk. There are many disease that fish can be exposed to from the tank, such as: white spot/itch, marine velvet, vibrosis, poisoning and many others. These diseases do require treatment and time. I do not agree with removing a species from its natural habitat for the use of recreational purposes, but if one does choose to do so; make sure that you are prepared and have the time and finances to be able to properly care for the species. There is no need to have it in your home, if you simply do not care for it and given it the proper care.
Endangered Species
There are many endangered and threatened species and I have found that many of the reasons for this, is because of humans and their carelessness! Even though many of the species out there, can be very dangerous and cannot become a pet in my home; that doesn't mean we should not take caution when we are in their territory. I have found the Florida panther to be an amazing species. This species appears to be a large cat, which can range from 7ft long/150 lbs. to 6ft long/100 lbs. The shades can vary from yellowish to reddish to even grayish (Barker,2003). These species have adapted to their environment to survive, they are killed on roadways and hunters. They have a great sense of sound and can hear sounds that are not detectable by humans and can see very well at night. They are meet eaters and sometimes can eat only once a wee. Panthers are very vicious animals and upon killing its prey, it bites the neck so that it can sever the spinal cord. When a panther has a large kill, it will eat the kidneys, heart, liver and lungs. Often removing the intestines and stomach and placing it under a bush or a tree and then covering it with leaves and dirt for future dining. I feel that this is a beautiful animal but unfortunately they are endangered, and occasionally this can be due to hunters.
Additional reference:
Barker, Barry (2003) Environmental Studies: Concepts, Connections and Controversies, Iowa,Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Mini Project # 3
Provide a list of all endangered species found within 100 miles of your home.
Some of the endangered species located within the state of Florida
The most commonly known are:
1. Florida panther
http://www.cheuvront.com/panther.jpg
2. Manatee
http://www.naturesresortfla.com/manatee.html
3. Sea turtle(loggerhead & the green sea turtle)
http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/
4. Alligator/Crocodile
http://noahspals.files.wordpress.com
5. Bobcat
http://www.realestatesarasota.net/bobcat/index.htm
Additional endangered species include:
7. Red wolf
8. Canis rufus
9. Everglades mink
10. Key deer
11. Lower Keys marsh rabbit
12. Big Cypress fox squirrel
13. Sherman’s fox squirrel
14. Eastern chipmunk
15. Sanibel Island rice rat
16. Silver rice rat
17. Key Largo woodrat
18. Key Largo cotton mouse
19. Choctawhatchee beach mouse
20. Southeastern beach mouse
21. Anastasia Island beach mouse
22. Peromyscus polionotus phasma
23. St. Andrews beach mouse
24. Florida mouse
25. Florida mastiff bat
26. Gray bat
27. Indiana bat
28. Sherman’s short-tailed shrew
29. Blarina carolonensis [=brevicauda] shermani
30. Sei whale
31. Fin whale(Finback whale)
32. North Atlantic right whale(Right whale)
33. Humpback whale
34. Sperm whale
35. Caribbean monk seal
List of endangered species retrieved from The Florida Endangered Species Network.
http://www.floridaendangeredspeciesnetwork.org/specieslist.htm
Some of the endangered species located within the state of Florida
The most commonly known are:
1. Florida panther
http://www.cheuvront.com/panther.jpg2. Manatee
http://www.naturesresortfla.com/manatee.html3. Sea turtle(loggerhead & the green sea turtle)
http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/4. Alligator/Crocodile
http://noahspals.files.wordpress.com5. Bobcat
http://www.realestatesarasota.net/bobcat/index.htm
Additional endangered species include:
7. Red wolf
8. Canis rufus
9. Everglades mink
10. Key deer
11. Lower Keys marsh rabbit
12. Big Cypress fox squirrel
13. Sherman’s fox squirrel
14. Eastern chipmunk
15. Sanibel Island rice rat
16. Silver rice rat
17. Key Largo woodrat
18. Key Largo cotton mouse
19. Choctawhatchee beach mouse
20. Southeastern beach mouse
21. Anastasia Island beach mouse
22. Peromyscus polionotus phasma
23. St. Andrews beach mouse
24. Florida mouse
25. Florida mastiff bat
26. Gray bat
27. Indiana bat
28. Sherman’s short-tailed shrew
29. Blarina carolonensis [=brevicauda] shermani
30. Sei whale
31. Fin whale(Finback whale)
32. North Atlantic right whale(Right whale)
33. Humpback whale
34. Sperm whale
35. Caribbean monk seal
List of endangered species retrieved from The Florida Endangered Species Network.
http://www.floridaendangeredspeciesnetwork.org/specieslist.htm
Mercury danger found in fresh tuna
In chapter 3 on page 58 paragraph # 4, it states "At least one female panther was killed by mercury poisoning after eating a raccoon contaminated with mercury".(Barker,2003)
I found this article in The Herald where it explains how they have found mercury in the fresh tuna that we are eating. I found this useful since it can relate to the chapter, and thought maybe some of you might be interested :)
Mercury danger found in fresh tuna
BY ELAINE WALKER
ewalker@MiamiHerald.com
Young women and children may want to reconsider whether they want to eat fresh tuna.
Samples of fish and sushi purchased last fall in 26 U.S. cities, including Miami, contained mercury levels at or above levels considered dangerous to women of child-bearing age, young children and other at-risk groups.
Oceana, a Washington-based ocean conservation group, hired an independent laboratory to evaluate 94 random samples of tuna, swordfish, tilapia and mackerel collected from supermarkets and sushi restaurants.
Oceana released its findings Wednesday. Most alarming were the levels of mercury found in tuna, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency previously considered safe for women and children to eat in moderation.
One-third of the tuna sushi samples tested contained enough mercury that the FDA could order it removed from the market.
Concerns over mercury in fish have risen in recent years as studies suggested it can interfere with a child's developing nervous system.
The levels of mercury found in Oceana's study puts tuna on par with some of the fish the FDA and EPA have told women of child-bearing age and children never to eat: shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.
''Tuna is one of the most commonly eaten fish,'' said Jackie Savitz, senior campaign director for Oceana, who lives part time in Miami. ``It's important that people get this information so they can make informed choices about what they're eating and feeding their kids.''
At Su-Shin Izakaya in Coral Gables, the level of mercury in a piece of tuna sashimi was 1.2 parts per million. At 1.0 parts per million, the FDA can take action to remove the fish from the market.
A sample taken from a Publix in Coral Gables registered mercury levels at .93 parts per million, just under the FDA limit. A Publix in St. Petersburg had the highest levels of all grocery store samples -- 1.8 parts mercury per million. Samples from Publix stores registered seven of the 10 highest mercury levels in the grocery store group.
Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said the company needed to review the study with its suppliers before determining what action it might take.
''We work with our suppliers to ensure the quality of our fish,'' Brous said. ``We have very high standards for the freshness and quality of our products throughout our store.''
Kazuhime Abe, whose family owns Su-Shin Izakaya, found the study results ``very disappointing and upsetting.''
''We'll definitely press our purveyors to check their sources and see if there is a better way,'' Abe said.Though tuna is one of the restaurant's top sellers, Abe says she already tries to persuade regular customers to try other fish.
''This is a call to consumers to open up their palates and try different things,'' said Abe, whose family also owns Lan Pan Asian Cafe in South Miami and Yuga Restaurant in Coral Gables.
Oceana's findings reinforce other studies that show more expensive tuna usually contains higher levels of mercury because it comes from bigger fish, which accumulate mercury from the smaller fish they eat. Mercury typically enters the water as an industrial pollutant.
Jorge Figueroa of Trigger Seafood, the Miami company that supplies Abe's restaurant and others in Miami-Dade, says it's unfair to lay blame for the mercury contamination issue on suppliers, restaurants and grocery stores.
''Unfortunately my hands are pretty much tied,'' Figueroa said. ``I can't control the fish in the ocean and the pollution that goes into our water. You have to take care of that on a global level.''
In grocery stores, the study found average mercury levels of tuna sushi at .68 parts per million, and .86 parts per million in sushi restaurants. Those results are about double the FDA's previous estimates of .38 parts per million for fresh or frozen tuna.
The government agencies in 2004 recommended that pregnant women, women who may become pregnant and children limit tuna consumption to six ounces per week and consume up to 12 ounces of low-mercury seafood.
Children and pregnant women should not eat fish that have high levels of mercury, ''but you have to put it in perspective,'' says Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, director of the Florida Poison Control Center and toxicologist at the University of Miami Medical School. ``The benefits of fish outweigh the risk even for pregnant women. Babies need Omega 3 fatty acids for their brains to develop. So mothers should eat the fish with lower levels of mercury.''
Oceana says its survey should inspire the government to review its warnings on tuna. Other experts agree.''The current advice from the FDA is insufficient,'' said Dr. Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health and chairman of the department of environmental medicine at the University of Southern Denmark. ``In order to maintain reasonably low mercury exposure, you have to eat fish low in the food chain, the smaller fish, and they are not saying that.''
But until that happens, Oceana wants to see supermarkets place warning signs up on its seafood counters alerting customers to the current government recommendations.
Although Publix has a pamphlet available to customers explaining the issue, Savitz doesn't believe that gets consumers' attention. The study found that six of the seven seafood counter clerks at Publix stores across the Southeast were unable to explain the government seafood eating guidelines to customers.
Publix spokeswoman Brous argues that because the findings are so detailed, a pamphlet is more effective.''Our job is to educate our shoppers,'' Brous said. ``Giving them more information is better.''
Miami Herald staff writer Fred Tasker contributed to this report, which was supplemented with information from the New York Times Service.
Article retrieved from: TheHerald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/391167.html
Additional reference:
Barker (2003) Environmental Studies: Concepts, Connections and Controversies, Iowa,Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
I found this article in The Herald where it explains how they have found mercury in the fresh tuna that we are eating. I found this useful since it can relate to the chapter, and thought maybe some of you might be interested :)
Mercury danger found in fresh tuna
BY ELAINE WALKER
ewalker@MiamiHerald.com
Young women and children may want to reconsider whether they want to eat fresh tuna.
Samples of fish and sushi purchased last fall in 26 U.S. cities, including Miami, contained mercury levels at or above levels considered dangerous to women of child-bearing age, young children and other at-risk groups.
Oceana, a Washington-based ocean conservation group, hired an independent laboratory to evaluate 94 random samples of tuna, swordfish, tilapia and mackerel collected from supermarkets and sushi restaurants.
Oceana released its findings Wednesday. Most alarming were the levels of mercury found in tuna, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency previously considered safe for women and children to eat in moderation.
One-third of the tuna sushi samples tested contained enough mercury that the FDA could order it removed from the market.
Concerns over mercury in fish have risen in recent years as studies suggested it can interfere with a child's developing nervous system.
The levels of mercury found in Oceana's study puts tuna on par with some of the fish the FDA and EPA have told women of child-bearing age and children never to eat: shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.
''Tuna is one of the most commonly eaten fish,'' said Jackie Savitz, senior campaign director for Oceana, who lives part time in Miami. ``It's important that people get this information so they can make informed choices about what they're eating and feeding their kids.''
At Su-Shin Izakaya in Coral Gables, the level of mercury in a piece of tuna sashimi was 1.2 parts per million. At 1.0 parts per million, the FDA can take action to remove the fish from the market.
A sample taken from a Publix in Coral Gables registered mercury levels at .93 parts per million, just under the FDA limit. A Publix in St. Petersburg had the highest levels of all grocery store samples -- 1.8 parts mercury per million. Samples from Publix stores registered seven of the 10 highest mercury levels in the grocery store group.
Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said the company needed to review the study with its suppliers before determining what action it might take.
''We work with our suppliers to ensure the quality of our fish,'' Brous said. ``We have very high standards for the freshness and quality of our products throughout our store.''
Kazuhime Abe, whose family owns Su-Shin Izakaya, found the study results ``very disappointing and upsetting.''
''We'll definitely press our purveyors to check their sources and see if there is a better way,'' Abe said.Though tuna is one of the restaurant's top sellers, Abe says she already tries to persuade regular customers to try other fish.
''This is a call to consumers to open up their palates and try different things,'' said Abe, whose family also owns Lan Pan Asian Cafe in South Miami and Yuga Restaurant in Coral Gables.
Oceana's findings reinforce other studies that show more expensive tuna usually contains higher levels of mercury because it comes from bigger fish, which accumulate mercury from the smaller fish they eat. Mercury typically enters the water as an industrial pollutant.
Jorge Figueroa of Trigger Seafood, the Miami company that supplies Abe's restaurant and others in Miami-Dade, says it's unfair to lay blame for the mercury contamination issue on suppliers, restaurants and grocery stores.
''Unfortunately my hands are pretty much tied,'' Figueroa said. ``I can't control the fish in the ocean and the pollution that goes into our water. You have to take care of that on a global level.''
In grocery stores, the study found average mercury levels of tuna sushi at .68 parts per million, and .86 parts per million in sushi restaurants. Those results are about double the FDA's previous estimates of .38 parts per million for fresh or frozen tuna.
The government agencies in 2004 recommended that pregnant women, women who may become pregnant and children limit tuna consumption to six ounces per week and consume up to 12 ounces of low-mercury seafood.
Children and pregnant women should not eat fish that have high levels of mercury, ''but you have to put it in perspective,'' says Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, director of the Florida Poison Control Center and toxicologist at the University of Miami Medical School. ``The benefits of fish outweigh the risk even for pregnant women. Babies need Omega 3 fatty acids for their brains to develop. So mothers should eat the fish with lower levels of mercury.''
Oceana says its survey should inspire the government to review its warnings on tuna. Other experts agree.''The current advice from the FDA is insufficient,'' said Dr. Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health and chairman of the department of environmental medicine at the University of Southern Denmark. ``In order to maintain reasonably low mercury exposure, you have to eat fish low in the food chain, the smaller fish, and they are not saying that.''
But until that happens, Oceana wants to see supermarkets place warning signs up on its seafood counters alerting customers to the current government recommendations.
Although Publix has a pamphlet available to customers explaining the issue, Savitz doesn't believe that gets consumers' attention. The study found that six of the seven seafood counter clerks at Publix stores across the Southeast were unable to explain the government seafood eating guidelines to customers.
Publix spokeswoman Brous argues that because the findings are so detailed, a pamphlet is more effective.''Our job is to educate our shoppers,'' Brous said. ``Giving them more information is better.''
Miami Herald staff writer Fred Tasker contributed to this report, which was supplemented with information from the New York Times Service.
Article retrieved from: TheHerald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/391167.html
Additional reference:
Barker (2003) Environmental Studies: Concepts, Connections and Controversies, Iowa,Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Why is Florida so dry ?
I remember the professor brought this problem to our attention and I found this article and thought it would be good if everyone took a look at this.
WATER SUPPLY
Why is Florida so dry
BY CURTIS MORGAN cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
WATER SUPPLY
Why is Florida so dry
BY CURTIS MORGAN cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
In the past month, nearly double the normal rainfall dumped on Miami-Dade County. The Biscayne Aquifer, the limestone sponge that supplies most of Southeast Florida's drinking water, brims from Florida City to coastal Broward County.
Some Everglades airboat trails off the Tamiami Trail gleam with standing water, atypical for the dry season. So this is a drought? Some people in South Florida may have a hard time believing it, but state water managers insist that, yes, things really are serious. And they could turn dire if the 17-month dry spell extends into the region's rainy season, normally just a month away. ''Droughts are slow-simmering water emergencies, not sudden flares like floods or hurricanes,'' said Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District. ``But they can be just as dangerous, because they impact our drinking-water supplies, the environment and our regional economy.'' Aside from the Biscayne Aquifer, water levels in every other source the region taps have declined dramatically -- lakes, rivers, canals, other aquifers and the Everglades. The effects spread weekly:
• Taps could soon run dry in Pahokee, on the eastern rim of Lake Okeechobee, which is creeping so low that the town utility soon won't be able to pipe water into homes. After a key supply canal nearly went dry, West Palm Beach restricted residents last week to one day of lawn watering a week.
• In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, some residents could face the prospect of buying bottled water if seawater works its way into coastal well fields, making tap water too salty to drink.
• Farmers, who lost more than a half-billion dollars in the 2000-01 drought, are again watching sugar-cane stalks and other crops wither in the Everglades Agricultural Area after new restrictions slashed water supplies in half. In canals off Lake Okeechobee, mud surrounds some docks and boat ramps, crippling business for marinas, bait shops and fishing guides.
• In the Everglades, smoke from wildfires has blanketed suburbs, and if marshes get too dry, more stubborn muck fires could ignite, burning deep scars in the landscape. Wading birds already have abandoned the drying marsh ''super colony,'' the most productive breeding ground in the Glades in recent years. Farther south, a Florida Bay deprived of fresh water could see more nasty blooms of algae. The effects have been compounded by sprawling development and by hurricane concerns that led to water management agencies lowering Lake Okeechobee last year because of its aging, leaky dike. Weather in the coming months and over the next year, of course, will determine whether this drought proves as damaging as the most severe ones in the 1950s, 1970s and 2000-01.
But water managers are especially worried because of what they call an unprecedented condition: Almost all of South Florida is running well below average on rainfall. For the Water Management District, which oversees the elaborate plumbing system that links 16 counties, that has sharply limited the usual options of moving water around to revive parched areas. ''We've always had some place we can turn for a backup,'' said district Deputy Executive Director Chip Merriam. ``This time we don't.'' Outside of Miami-Dade and parts of south Broward, the rest of the region has received half as much rain as usual since January, including critical northern areas that recharge the whole system -- the Kissimmee River basin and Lake Okeechobee. And that follows an exceptionally dry 2006 from Orlando to Key West. Because the area's water supply depends primarily on rain, that's a serious problem. There is no disputing water gauges across the region. The deficit is deep, trending toward a record-buster in the month left before the rains are supposed to arrive. Lake Okeechobee, called the liquid heart of Florida, sat at 9.74 feet above sea level on Saturday -- about a foot from an all-time low. Nearly two-thirds of 36 groundwater sites across South Florida monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey over the past quarter-century have hit record lows for the date and are tracking toward historic bottoms.Even the relatively bountiful groundwater under Miami-Dade and coastal Broward has had some engineering help. Water managers have urged utilities to hold groundwater artificially high in key coastal areas to block salty seawater from pushing inland and tainting drinking wells. Along Broward's coast, U.S. Geological Survey readings went from very dry to very wet in a week. If it lasts, that stash of groundwater could help the southeast area weather the drought with fewer problems. But the plumbing doesn't allow water managers to pump it to parched northern areas, and if it did, there is not enough to help out much. Still, Scott Prinos, a supervisory hydrologist for the survey, can see why some people might be puzzled over dire water warnings and use restrictions.
''If I were living in Miami-Dade, it would be hard for me to understand why I have to worry about it,'' he said.
Some Everglades airboat trails off the Tamiami Trail gleam with standing water, atypical for the dry season. So this is a drought? Some people in South Florida may have a hard time believing it, but state water managers insist that, yes, things really are serious. And they could turn dire if the 17-month dry spell extends into the region's rainy season, normally just a month away. ''Droughts are slow-simmering water emergencies, not sudden flares like floods or hurricanes,'' said Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District. ``But they can be just as dangerous, because they impact our drinking-water supplies, the environment and our regional economy.'' Aside from the Biscayne Aquifer, water levels in every other source the region taps have declined dramatically -- lakes, rivers, canals, other aquifers and the Everglades. The effects spread weekly:
• Taps could soon run dry in Pahokee, on the eastern rim of Lake Okeechobee, which is creeping so low that the town utility soon won't be able to pipe water into homes. After a key supply canal nearly went dry, West Palm Beach restricted residents last week to one day of lawn watering a week.
• In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, some residents could face the prospect of buying bottled water if seawater works its way into coastal well fields, making tap water too salty to drink.
• Farmers, who lost more than a half-billion dollars in the 2000-01 drought, are again watching sugar-cane stalks and other crops wither in the Everglades Agricultural Area after new restrictions slashed water supplies in half. In canals off Lake Okeechobee, mud surrounds some docks and boat ramps, crippling business for marinas, bait shops and fishing guides.
• In the Everglades, smoke from wildfires has blanketed suburbs, and if marshes get too dry, more stubborn muck fires could ignite, burning deep scars in the landscape. Wading birds already have abandoned the drying marsh ''super colony,'' the most productive breeding ground in the Glades in recent years. Farther south, a Florida Bay deprived of fresh water could see more nasty blooms of algae. The effects have been compounded by sprawling development and by hurricane concerns that led to water management agencies lowering Lake Okeechobee last year because of its aging, leaky dike. Weather in the coming months and over the next year, of course, will determine whether this drought proves as damaging as the most severe ones in the 1950s, 1970s and 2000-01.
But water managers are especially worried because of what they call an unprecedented condition: Almost all of South Florida is running well below average on rainfall. For the Water Management District, which oversees the elaborate plumbing system that links 16 counties, that has sharply limited the usual options of moving water around to revive parched areas. ''We've always had some place we can turn for a backup,'' said district Deputy Executive Director Chip Merriam. ``This time we don't.'' Outside of Miami-Dade and parts of south Broward, the rest of the region has received half as much rain as usual since January, including critical northern areas that recharge the whole system -- the Kissimmee River basin and Lake Okeechobee. And that follows an exceptionally dry 2006 from Orlando to Key West. Because the area's water supply depends primarily on rain, that's a serious problem. There is no disputing water gauges across the region. The deficit is deep, trending toward a record-buster in the month left before the rains are supposed to arrive. Lake Okeechobee, called the liquid heart of Florida, sat at 9.74 feet above sea level on Saturday -- about a foot from an all-time low. Nearly two-thirds of 36 groundwater sites across South Florida monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey over the past quarter-century have hit record lows for the date and are tracking toward historic bottoms.Even the relatively bountiful groundwater under Miami-Dade and coastal Broward has had some engineering help. Water managers have urged utilities to hold groundwater artificially high in key coastal areas to block salty seawater from pushing inland and tainting drinking wells. Along Broward's coast, U.S. Geological Survey readings went from very dry to very wet in a week. If it lasts, that stash of groundwater could help the southeast area weather the drought with fewer problems. But the plumbing doesn't allow water managers to pump it to parched northern areas, and if it did, there is not enough to help out much. Still, Scott Prinos, a supervisory hydrologist for the survey, can see why some people might be puzzled over dire water warnings and use restrictions.
''If I were living in Miami-Dade, it would be hard for me to understand why I have to worry about it,'' he said.
Retrieved from. TheHerald.com : http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/90356.html
Mini Project # 2
THE CARBON CYCLE
Plants, animals, and soil interact to make up the basic cycles of nature. In the carbon cycle, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it, combined with water they get from the soil, to make the substances they need for growth. The process of photosynthesis incorporates the carbon atoms from carbon dioxide into sugars. Animals such as rabbits eat plants and use the carbon to build their own tissues. Other animals, such as the fox, eat the rabbit and then use the carbon for their own needs. These animals return carbon dioxide into the air when they breathe, and when they die, since the carbon is returned to the soil during decomposition. The carbon atoms in soil may then be used in a new plant or small microorganisms. Ultimately, the same carbon atom can move through many organisms and even end in the same place where it began. Herein lies the fascination of the carbon cycle; the same atoms can be recycled for millennia!(http://www.youcontrolclimatechange.co.uk/)
Picture and text retrieved directly from :
http://www.youcontrol-climatechange.co.uk/climate/carboncycle.html
Thank you :)
Plants, animals, and soil interact to make up the basic cycles of nature. In the carbon cycle, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it, combined with water they get from the soil, to make the substances they need for growth. The process of photosynthesis incorporates the carbon atoms from carbon dioxide into sugars. Animals such as rabbits eat plants and use the carbon to build their own tissues. Other animals, such as the fox, eat the rabbit and then use the carbon for their own needs. These animals return carbon dioxide into the air when they breathe, and when they die, since the carbon is returned to the soil during decomposition. The carbon atoms in soil may then be used in a new plant or small microorganisms. Ultimately, the same carbon atom can move through many organisms and even end in the same place where it began. Herein lies the fascination of the carbon cycle; the same atoms can be recycled for millennia!(http://www.youcontrolclimatechange.co.uk/)
Picture and text retrieved directly from :
http://www.youcontrol-climatechange.co.uk/climate/carboncycle.html
Thank you :)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sweden to study belching cows
I found this article quite interesting... :)
Sweden to study belching cows
Posted on Mon, Jan. 21, 2008
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A Swedish university has received $590,000 in research funds to measure the greenhouse gases released when cows belch. About 20 cows will participate in the project run by the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, about 40 miles north of Stockholm, officials said Monday.Cattle release methane, a greenhouse gas believed to contribute to global warming, when they digest their food. Researchers believe the level of methane released depends on the type of food the eat. Project leader Jan Bertilsson said that the cows involved in the study will have different diets and wear a collar device measuring the methane level in the air around them.He said 95 percent of the methane released by cows comes out through the mouth."This type of research is already being conducted in Canada so we will be in contact with Canadian agricultural researchers in the near future," he said. The research will be funded by a grant from the government's Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning.
Sweden to study belching cows
Posted on Mon, Jan. 21, 2008
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A Swedish university has received $590,000 in research funds to measure the greenhouse gases released when cows belch. About 20 cows will participate in the project run by the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, about 40 miles north of Stockholm, officials said Monday.Cattle release methane, a greenhouse gas believed to contribute to global warming, when they digest their food. Researchers believe the level of methane released depends on the type of food the eat. Project leader Jan Bertilsson said that the cows involved in the study will have different diets and wear a collar device measuring the methane level in the air around them.He said 95 percent of the methane released by cows comes out through the mouth."This type of research is already being conducted in Canada so we will be in contact with Canadian agricultural researchers in the near future," he said. The research will be funded by a grant from the government's Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning.
retrieved from The Herald.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Ch. 2 Photosynthesis and Maps
"Photosynthesis is a process whereby plans convert chemical energy into food in the presence of sunlight"(Barker,2003). We all know what photosynthesis is, this is something that I learned in the elementary school; but I never knew the significance of it and how it is the most important biological process on earth. I was fascinated to learn all the details of photosynthesis. "Photosynthesis requires sunlight, chlorophyll, and raw materials to occur. Carbon dioxide drawn from the air and water absorbed through the roots of plants is the usual raw material for photosynthesis; however, some forms of bacteria use hydrogen sulfide in place of water. The chlorophyll present in plant cells traps the energy in ultraviolet light. The end product of photosynthesis is glucose; oxygen and water are
http://www.energex.com.au/switched_on/images/content/green/61.gif
byproducts"(Barker). Plants use the energy from the sunlight to convert the carbon dioxide from the air into sugars, starches and other high energy carbohydrates. When the plant needs food, it then draws the energy stored. If the process of photosynthesis does not occur, then there is no food that is produced.
Photosynthesis is one of the processes that fill all of our food requirements and many of our needs for fiber and building equipment. I never knew that coal, oil and natural gas wee all the major sources of this energy that is produced. These materials come from plants and animals, and the energy within the plants and animals is from photosynthesis. Barker states on pg. 33 how in Brazil, ethanol produced from sugars and starches by fermentation is a major automobile fuel; and this product is also added to gasoline is some parts of the United States to reduce harmful pollutants. I knew the basic fundamentals of photosynthesis but to find that this process can lead to gasoline is amazing. Wood, paper, wool and petroleum are only some of the few raw materials we used that depend on photosynthesis.
When a plant does not receive enough sunlight, the process of photosynthesis cannot proceed therefore new technologies are allowing scientist to create environments that allow photosynthesis to proceed in the absence of light, which is called artificial photosynthesis. There are some things that can affect the process of photosynthesis such as herbicides (agrochemicals to control weeds during crop growth), and another way is by water stress. Aside from plants, we can use photosynthesis in the medical field. Light has very high energy and this can be associated with aging of the skin and cancer. This is the affect of photosynthesis on living organisms. The mechanisms that were adopted by plants have helped scientists so they can use these on humans. "One such mechanism that is already used in the medical field involves using similar chlorophyll relatives to localize tumor tissue, and thus act as dyes that clearly define the boundary between cancerous and healthy tissue" (Barker).
Even the food that we eat is a product of photosynthesis. Organisms obtain energy and this moves through the eco system, and this can be seen through the food chain. There are the producers which are called the autotrophs which convert the energy from the environment into carbon bonds. Plants are producers and they take the energy from sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide into sugar. Other producers can be some bacteria. There is the consumers which are the heterotrophs which get their energy which is made by the producers. The nutrients get passed along and this process of photosynthesis has an affect on us as humans! Chapter 3 states a great example which begins grass -> grasshopper -> mouse -> snake ->.. The hawk is the final consumer and has consumed all of the energy and nutrients of each of the individuals. This is also passed on to humans; humans are omnivores which mean we eat both plants and animals. We are consuming all the energy from the plants and animals as well as the energy and nutrients they consumed.
I found this chapter to be very interesting, because as I said; I always knew what the process of photosynthesis was but I only took it into consideration with plants. I never knew how this energy could be obtained in some of the foods that we eat.
This chapter also explains about the different types of maps and what they are used for. When you hear the word map you typically think of the basic map used to get from point A to point B, I never took into consideration as to how many different types of maps, their use and the way that they were created. There is a topographic map which can display three dimensional surfaces and portray both man made and natural features. It can also display mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, plains, vegetation, buildings, road etc. The base map is general and shows the locations of land and water by labeling river and lakes, state and local boundaries as well as roads, towns and cities. The thematic map portrays primary information such as cultural information, population, or rainfall. There are road maps, political maps(out lines of
http://www.worldpress.org/images/maps/world_600w.jpg
countries, states and cities). Physical maps, and weather maps which show fronts, temperatures, rain, snow etc.
Some of the first topographic and geologic maps go back as far as 1879. The first mapping pioneers were faced with many challenges while attempting to map a country. Most of the locations could not be reached by foot, therefore this led to having to travel which is expensive and difficult. Majority were created by a mapping technique called plane-table surveying. The device used was a portable drawing board on a tripod with a sighting device. The topographer has to climb to the area's highest point and plot the features that could be seen and measured. This continued to be the mapping technique up until the 1940's when there was a new age and a new technique. It is incredible how many different types of maps there are out there and the use for them. I was fascinated when I found out how the maps were created in the 1800's. No one really takes the time to appreciate a map, but in reality; maps are very important and have a great significance to our every daily lives.
Here are some pictures of different types of maps:
Population map
http://www.texasento.net/maps.htm
Weather map
http://americanhiking.chattablogs.com/archives/2006_10.html
Topographic Map
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/map-of-india-physical.gif
References:
Barker (2003) Environmental Studies: Concepts, Connections and Controversies, Iowa,Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Energex (2008). Retrieved January 18, 2008 http://www.energex.com.au/Maps of India (1998) Retrieved January 18, 2008 http://www.mapsofindia.com/
Map of Texas and Beyond(2008) Retrieved January 18, 2008 http://www.texasento.net/maps.htm
The Vista: An American Hiking Society (2006) Retrieved January 18, 2007 http://americanhiking.chattablogs.com/archives/2006_10.html
WorldPress.Org (1997-2008). Retrieved January 17, 2008 http://www.worldpress.org/
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Monster fire erupts at recycling plant
I found this article while reading through The Herald this morning..I thought this might have some interests to some of you.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/383204.html
Posted on Thu, Jan. 17, 2008 
COCOA -- (AP) -- Authorities are battling a huge fire at a tire recycling plant in Cocoa.
The fire at RMD Americas started sometime Thursday morning. Authorities have not said how the blaze was sparked.
No evacuations have been ordered, but fire crews were monitoring the situation.
Telephone messages left by The Associated Press at Cocoa's fire department, police department and City Hall were not immediately returned. Officials at RMD, which recycles old tires into rubber mulch, declined to comment.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/383204.html
Saturday, January 12, 2008
What is really going on ?
To begin, and to be a little honest...I will say that I never really knew much about the environment, nor some of the issues that have to be dealt with day to day. In a way I brushed everything off and because I felt wouldn't be affected by it..well I was wrong. There is so many things that go on in the environment that many of us are probably not even aware of, and I feel that chapter one of Environmental Studies by Barry Barker explained this. Through out chapter 1 I was approached by many topics that I found great interest in..and I would like to speak of them. The first section of the chapter was titled "Environmentally Profitable", and in this section it states about 2 environmental theme restaurants and shops which I am sure majority of you have heard of; the Rainforest Cafe and Outdoor World :
.
(http://www.rainforestcafe.com/) 
(http://www.basspro.com/)
Rainforest Cafe is a restaurant that is set in the obvious theme of a rainforest/virtual jungle, and also contains a gift shop. This restaurant has fish tanks, animal sounds, thunder, lighting and even a water fall. Where as Outdoor World is a sport store selling items that relate to camping, hunting, and additional outdoor activities. On pg. 3 Barry Barker states this question "Is it true environmentalism or exploitation?" These 2 restaurants appear to seek to promote wildlife awareness but they are also enhancing their business and profit.Well I personally feel that in a way they are contradicting this whole wildlife awareness thing. How? well..in paragraph 7 of Environmental Science, Barker states "The Rainforest Cafe features several saltwater tanks ranging from sixty-five to eighty tons of water. Fish such as the queen angelfish found in Bermuda and Florida, the purple tang from the Red Sea, and at least thirty-two more species are prominently displayed. The business made special note that the coral displays in the tank are all man made, but they do not tell customers how the fish are collected. Therefore, they claim, the natural ecological system is not destroyed." On the other hand the Outdoor World promoted wild life conservation..yet they specialize in selling equipment for fishing and hunting. They even have an arcade that promotes teaching children how to shoot a deer and other animals through a laser shooting game. How is this promoting wild life conservation? I can agree with Barker when he states "The environment is simply a hook used to attract customers and make a profit. On the other hand, the environment is misrepresented and falsely portrayed." Pg. 8 ¶ 2 gives an example of how the Rain Forest Cafe portrays an environment representing the South American rainforest, yet various components of the Cafe do not really exist in the South American such as: saltwater fish, zebras, corals and giraffes. I feel, it is all for profit. Not too much on the side of the Rain Forest Cafe..because in a way they are not promoting harm upon animals. Out door word specializes in hunting and fishing supplies; therefore you cannot justify that they promote wildlife awareness.
Now, back to the actually problems that we have to face. I find it disturbing knowing the truth about the poisonous toxins that we are exposed to everyday, especially the ones that are dumbed near communities. Many can experience serious medical illness, deformities and even death. I found it terrible knowing how the fetus can be affected as well as the mother can have a miscarriage. Pg. 14 goes into detail about environmental racism and this really got me thinking. "The 1987 landmark study, by Reverend Chavis, reported that a disproportionate distribution of commercial hazardous waste facilities could be found in minority communities." (Barker) The main targets of this environmental racism are primarily African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americas, and Asian/Pacific Islanders. It was amazing to find out that the largest hazardous waste landfill in the U.S. is in Emelle, Alabama; which is a black community. It is sad to know that because you are a minority and you live in a certain area, that majority of the waste can be found in your area. New York has one of the largest food and meath distributors in the U.S. which also provides employment for most of the Hispanic and black residents; but along with this goes a sewage treatment plant, medical waste incinerator, and a sludge de-watering facility.All of the chemical dumping and hazards do not only affect humans, but also animals. "In, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a nine legged frog, a two-headed fish and a four legged chicken were reported. In addition, high rates of unusual cancers, birth defects, babies were born with out eyes, and babies were born with brain cancer have been reported." (pg. 16). I feel that some of these problems are beyond our control and there is nothing that I can do to help, but I am sure as I continue reading..I will find out some things that can be done to at least try and help the environment.
MINI PROJECT #1
(Conduct an Internet search to determine in which of the three environmental organization you wish to join. You need to analyze the mission of each organization, then state your reasons for joining a particular one.)
Choices: Greenpeace, National Resource Defense Council and Wild Spots Foundation
After researching on all 3 of the environmental organizations, I found that I would want to join the National Resource Defense Council.
(http://www.nrdc.org/). The organization uses law, science, members and online activist to protect the wildlife and wild places to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. A part of their mission statement is as follows "The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends." (NRDC) After researching this organization I really noticed how effective they were with their first victory of 1971 and continuing through 2006. In 2006 they led the Bush administration to protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act - a crucial first step toward saving the bear from the ravages of global warming. 
(http://www.nrdc.org/) I found that to be a great achievement, and that is one of the reasons I would choose this organization. I love helping, no matter what it is; or for who or what it is helping, but I do love animals the most and if anything has to do with helping an animal, than that organization won me over! This organization has worked with things from gasoline to aerosol cans to water pollution, and I feel that this organization has truly been effective and done so many great things.At the end of the mission statement, NRDC states "We seek to break down the pattern of disproportionate environmental burdens borne by people of color and others who face social or economic inequities. Ultimately, NRDC strives to help create a new way of life for humankind, one that can be sustained indefinitely without fouling or depleting the resources that support all life on Earth." I think what this organization is doing is amazing and they are truly contributing to the environment and the living species, the NRDC is truly trying to make the world safer and cleaner, yet at the same time trying to provide and fair economy. Why wouldn't anyone want to join this organization.!They have succeeded in many things and the interest is in the environment and all living things, and I find that amazing.
Teressa
.
(http://www.rainforestcafe.com/) (http://www.basspro.com/)Rainforest Cafe is a restaurant that is set in the obvious theme of a rainforest/virtual jungle, and also contains a gift shop. This restaurant has fish tanks, animal sounds, thunder, lighting and even a water fall. Where as Outdoor World is a sport store selling items that relate to camping, hunting, and additional outdoor activities. On pg. 3 Barry Barker states this question "Is it true environmentalism or exploitation?" These 2 restaurants appear to seek to promote wildlife awareness but they are also enhancing their business and profit.Well I personally feel that in a way they are contradicting this whole wildlife awareness thing. How? well..in paragraph 7 of Environmental Science, Barker states "The Rainforest Cafe features several saltwater tanks ranging from sixty-five to eighty tons of water. Fish such as the queen angelfish found in Bermuda and Florida, the purple tang from the Red Sea, and at least thirty-two more species are prominently displayed. The business made special note that the coral displays in the tank are all man made, but they do not tell customers how the fish are collected. Therefore, they claim, the natural ecological system is not destroyed." On the other hand the Outdoor World promoted wild life conservation..yet they specialize in selling equipment for fishing and hunting. They even have an arcade that promotes teaching children how to shoot a deer and other animals through a laser shooting game. How is this promoting wild life conservation? I can agree with Barker when he states "The environment is simply a hook used to attract customers and make a profit. On the other hand, the environment is misrepresented and falsely portrayed." Pg. 8 ¶ 2 gives an example of how the Rain Forest Cafe portrays an environment representing the South American rainforest, yet various components of the Cafe do not really exist in the South American such as: saltwater fish, zebras, corals and giraffes. I feel, it is all for profit. Not too much on the side of the Rain Forest Cafe..because in a way they are not promoting harm upon animals. Out door word specializes in hunting and fishing supplies; therefore you cannot justify that they promote wildlife awareness.
Now, back to the actually problems that we have to face. I find it disturbing knowing the truth about the poisonous toxins that we are exposed to everyday, especially the ones that are dumbed near communities. Many can experience serious medical illness, deformities and even death. I found it terrible knowing how the fetus can be affected as well as the mother can have a miscarriage. Pg. 14 goes into detail about environmental racism and this really got me thinking. "The 1987 landmark study, by Reverend Chavis, reported that a disproportionate distribution of commercial hazardous waste facilities could be found in minority communities." (Barker) The main targets of this environmental racism are primarily African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americas, and Asian/Pacific Islanders. It was amazing to find out that the largest hazardous waste landfill in the U.S. is in Emelle, Alabama; which is a black community. It is sad to know that because you are a minority and you live in a certain area, that majority of the waste can be found in your area. New York has one of the largest food and meath distributors in the U.S. which also provides employment for most of the Hispanic and black residents; but along with this goes a sewage treatment plant, medical waste incinerator, and a sludge de-watering facility.All of the chemical dumping and hazards do not only affect humans, but also animals. "In, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a nine legged frog, a two-headed fish and a four legged chicken were reported. In addition, high rates of unusual cancers, birth defects, babies were born with out eyes, and babies were born with brain cancer have been reported." (pg. 16). I feel that some of these problems are beyond our control and there is nothing that I can do to help, but I am sure as I continue reading..I will find out some things that can be done to at least try and help the environment.
MINI PROJECT #1
(Conduct an Internet search to determine in which of the three environmental organization you wish to join. You need to analyze the mission of each organization, then state your reasons for joining a particular one.)
Choices: Greenpeace, National Resource Defense Council and Wild Spots Foundation
After researching on all 3 of the environmental organizations, I found that I would want to join the National Resource Defense Council.
(http://www.nrdc.org/). The organization uses law, science, members and online activist to protect the wildlife and wild places to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. A part of their mission statement is as follows "The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends." (NRDC) After researching this organization I really noticed how effective they were with their first victory of 1971 and continuing through 2006. In 2006 they led the Bush administration to protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act - a crucial first step toward saving the bear from the ravages of global warming. 
(http://www.nrdc.org/) I found that to be a great achievement, and that is one of the reasons I would choose this organization. I love helping, no matter what it is; or for who or what it is helping, but I do love animals the most and if anything has to do with helping an animal, than that organization won me over! This organization has worked with things from gasoline to aerosol cans to water pollution, and I feel that this organization has truly been effective and done so many great things.At the end of the mission statement, NRDC states "We seek to break down the pattern of disproportionate environmental burdens borne by people of color and others who face social or economic inequities. Ultimately, NRDC strives to help create a new way of life for humankind, one that can be sustained indefinitely without fouling or depleting the resources that support all life on Earth." I think what this organization is doing is amazing and they are truly contributing to the environment and the living species, the NRDC is truly trying to make the world safer and cleaner, yet at the same time trying to provide and fair economy. Why wouldn't anyone want to join this organization.!They have succeeded in many things and the interest is in the environment and all living things, and I find that amazing. Teressa
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