Victoria Zhou
March 9, 2014
Author: Brent McDonald
Published: March 5, 2014
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/us/minnesota-mystery-whats-killing-the-moose.html?_r=0
Summary:
Moose all over Minnesota are dying quickly and alarmingly. In the past couple of years, the population has shrunken so much so as to inspire a cancellation of the annual moose hunt in Minnesota in 2012. Recently, the population has been recovering slightly, but the moose are still dying two times faster than what is necessary to keep a population going. The decline of the moose have also been noted in places such as New Hampshire and Montana. Biologists and researchers have been tagging and tracking many moose in the area, so that they can know when one has died, locate it, and find a cause of death. There is still no direct answer as to why the moose are dying out, but one main reason seems to be climate change. There has been notably shorter winters and warmer temperatures all over southern moose habitat and this has been known to cause moose stress, as they tend to do better in cooler climates, which in turn weakens their immune systems. The warmer temperatures have also allowed white-tailed deer to become more plentiful. White-tailed dear carry brain worm, a parasite, which is deadly to moose. This combination is a likely reason as to why the moose may be dying. Although, there are other possible factors even things such as the actual tagging and tracking of the moose. Research and tracking is still going on as biologists rush to figure out the killer and a way to stop it.
Connection:
In this term, we will be studying animals and particularly worms and vertebrates. Moose are vertebrates and it is also mentioned that one possible reason for their many deaths are brain worms, which are obviously worms. White-tailed deer are mentioned as well as carriers of brain worms and they are also vertebrates. Previously, we studied ecology and relationships between animals. This article highlights how the growth of one population, white-tailed deer, which carries a parasite, brain worms, affects the numbers of another population, moose. This shows another relationship between moose and white-tailed deer besides just competition for resources, which we learned about in out ecology unit.
Showing posts with label Climate Change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate Change. Show all posts
Sunday, March 9, 2014
When Fig Wasps Can’t Take the Heat
Gabriella Ricciardone
March 9, 2014
Author: Sindya N. Bhanoo
Published: March 25, 2013
Summary:
There are more than 700 species of wild fig in the tropics, and most of these species are pollinated by one certain species of fig wasp. The wasp and fig have a mutualistic relationship; the wasps rely on the fig plants to host their eggs, and the fig plants are pollinated by the wasps. Researchers that are part of a study in Singapore have recently discovered that this species of wasp is very susceptible to climate change, making the fig plants vulnerable as well. This can be detrimental to the ecosystem in equatorial Singapore, as figs are a main food source for many different animal species. Scientists found that temperatures rising only a few degrees could cut the adult fig wasps' life spans down from one to two days to a mere few hours. The average daily temperature in Singapore is about 80˚F, and in this weather the wasps' life span is between eleven and twenty-four hours. If temperatures are raised to 87.8˚F, that life span drops to between six and eighteen hours, and at 93.2˚F, less than six hours.
Connection:
While studying Unit 9, we discussed animal pollination and relationships between pollinators and plants. The main ideas of this article center around the direct effect the wasps' vulnerability to climate change has on the tropical fig plant. Furthermore, the reduction in figs would directly impact the rest of the ecosystem. In class we have also talked about the symbiotic relationship called mutualism, which is the kind of relationship the wasp and fig have with one another. Earlier in the year we studied global warming and ecosystems' temperatures rising, which is again being visited in this article, with the severity of rising temperatures impacting this species of wasp's life span.
While studying Unit 9, we discussed animal pollination and relationships between pollinators and plants. The main ideas of this article center around the direct effect the wasps' vulnerability to climate change has on the tropical fig plant. Furthermore, the reduction in figs would directly impact the rest of the ecosystem. In class we have also talked about the symbiotic relationship called mutualism, which is the kind of relationship the wasp and fig have with one another. Earlier in the year we studied global warming and ecosystems' temperatures rising, which is again being visited in this article, with the severity of rising temperatures impacting this species of wasp's life span.
'Tree of Life' Distances are No Shortcut to Conservation
Adhirath Bollapragada
Publisher: University of Oxford
Published: 9 March 2014
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140309171648.htm
Summary:
Some conservation strategies assume that the evolutionary distances between species on a phylogenetic 'tree of life' (a branching diagram of species popularized by Charles Darwin) can be used to predict how diverse their biological features will be. These distances are then used to select which species to conserve in order to maximize interesting biological features -- such as potentially useful drug compounds and resilience to climate change. But a new analysis of data from 223 studies of animals, plants, and fungi, shows that methods based on such distances are often no better at conserving interesting biological features than picking species at random.
Connection:
This article connects to our unit of Evolution. There is a clear connection between the idea of a phylogeny tree and how evolution can be diagramed by a phylogeny tree. In this article, Oxford explains how the distances between organisms, or in this scenario trees, can explain the diverse biological features. However what is interesting about this article, that connects back to the unit of evolution, is how distances in organisms and the affect of climate can really have various or no distinct change in biological features that are interesting. This article has multiple places where it can be connected to the unit of Evolution, and it is very interesting.
Publisher: University of Oxford
Published: 9 March 2014
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140309171648.htm
Summary:
Some conservation strategies assume that the evolutionary distances between species on a phylogenetic 'tree of life' (a branching diagram of species popularized by Charles Darwin) can be used to predict how diverse their biological features will be. These distances are then used to select which species to conserve in order to maximize interesting biological features -- such as potentially useful drug compounds and resilience to climate change. But a new analysis of data from 223 studies of animals, plants, and fungi, shows that methods based on such distances are often no better at conserving interesting biological features than picking species at random.
Connection:
This article connects to our unit of Evolution. There is a clear connection between the idea of a phylogeny tree and how evolution can be diagramed by a phylogeny tree. In this article, Oxford explains how the distances between organisms, or in this scenario trees, can explain the diverse biological features. However what is interesting about this article, that connects back to the unit of evolution, is how distances in organisms and the affect of climate can really have various or no distinct change in biological features that are interesting. This article has multiple places where it can be connected to the unit of Evolution, and it is very interesting.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Effects of a Five Degree Celsius Increase in Temprature
Doran Teverovsky
October, 20, 2013
European Geosciences Union (EGU). "Terrestrial ecosystems at risk of major shifts as temperatures increase." ScienceDaily, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131008091232.htm
Summary:
In this article, research done by European Geosciences Union is used to show what changes in the environment are liable to occur by the year 2100. It shows that with a 5 degree Celsius increase in temperature, up to 80 percent of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are at risk for profound change. Some likely changes could include trees growing in the so formerly frozen tundra, forests transforming into temperate savannas, and even thriving rain forests slowly receding and withering away. The research was done using 150 different climate scenarios of the Earth in 90 years if we change almost nothing in terms of emissions. In addition, they also ran scenarios where we reduce emissions and only raise temperature 2 degrees Celsius. In the reduced emissions scenarios, there was a significant reduction in profound change. In these scenarios, only 20 percent of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems were impacted.
Connection:
In our first unit, we learned about ecosystems and different dangers to there balance and stability. One of the ways we did this was by making mini ecosystems and testing the effects of different variables on them. This research and scenario creation is very similar to what we did with our mini ecosystems. The only difference is that instead of making mini Earth's to run their tests on they used simulations. In addition, it relates to how ecosystems change and basic characteristics of ecosystems. When the article says, "trees growing in the freezing Arctic tundra" this indicates a serious change because we know a major characteristic of the tundra is the permafrost which stops deep root systems from forming. Without that knowledge, that phrase might have been seemingly normal.
October, 20, 2013
European Geosciences Union (EGU). "Terrestrial ecosystems at risk of major shifts as temperatures increase." ScienceDaily, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131008091232.htm
Summary:
In this article, research done by European Geosciences Union is used to show what changes in the environment are liable to occur by the year 2100. It shows that with a 5 degree Celsius increase in temperature, up to 80 percent of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are at risk for profound change. Some likely changes could include trees growing in the so formerly frozen tundra, forests transforming into temperate savannas, and even thriving rain forests slowly receding and withering away. The research was done using 150 different climate scenarios of the Earth in 90 years if we change almost nothing in terms of emissions. In addition, they also ran scenarios where we reduce emissions and only raise temperature 2 degrees Celsius. In the reduced emissions scenarios, there was a significant reduction in profound change. In these scenarios, only 20 percent of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems were impacted.
Connection:
In our first unit, we learned about ecosystems and different dangers to there balance and stability. One of the ways we did this was by making mini ecosystems and testing the effects of different variables on them. This research and scenario creation is very similar to what we did with our mini ecosystems. The only difference is that instead of making mini Earth's to run their tests on they used simulations. In addition, it relates to how ecosystems change and basic characteristics of ecosystems. When the article says, "trees growing in the freezing Arctic tundra" this indicates a serious change because we know a major characteristic of the tundra is the permafrost which stops deep root systems from forming. Without that knowledge, that phrase might have been seemingly normal.
Climate change will affect almost every corner of ocean, study says
Sunday October 20, 2013
Jessica Lim
Mr. Mathieu
Period 2
Author: Tony Barboza
Published: October 15, 2013
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ocean-climate-change-effects-century-20131015,0,6711896.story
Summary:
The green house effect has caused ocean waters to warm up and become more acidic. It is said that by the end of the century, "the entire world's ocean surface" would have gone through big changes in biodiversity and in each and every ocean species' niche. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that by 2100 every part of the oceans on the whole earth would have been affected by climate change. As the seawater becomes warmer and the pH becomes lower, the size and growth of the ocean species will shrink and many ecosystems will be affected as well, therefore pushing the sea creatures to move further into deeper waters to the poles. Not only will the changes affect the sea creatures but it will also affect "between 470 million and 870 million poor people" because they all live on the contents underneath the ocean's surface, and if there is a sudden change they have nothing to depend on anymore.
Connection:
This article specifically connects to our unit about ecosystems, more about the green house effect and the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through to the Earth, but it also keeps some of the heat that is radiated from the surface of the Earth. As our activities release more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere there is more heat that is being trapped which is causing the earth's climate to rise, and it is causing ocean waters to warm up as well which is causing many changes in the way of life for the sea creatures. As said in the article if the ocean waters keep heating up then not only will the sea creatures in the water be affected, but also the people that live on the contents in the waters.
Jessica Lim
Mr. Mathieu
Period 2
Author: Tony Barboza
Published: October 15, 2013
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ocean-climate-change-effects-century-20131015,0,6711896.story
Summary:
The green house effect has caused ocean waters to warm up and become more acidic. It is said that by the end of the century, "the entire world's ocean surface" would have gone through big changes in biodiversity and in each and every ocean species' niche. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that by 2100 every part of the oceans on the whole earth would have been affected by climate change. As the seawater becomes warmer and the pH becomes lower, the size and growth of the ocean species will shrink and many ecosystems will be affected as well, therefore pushing the sea creatures to move further into deeper waters to the poles. Not only will the changes affect the sea creatures but it will also affect "between 470 million and 870 million poor people" because they all live on the contents underneath the ocean's surface, and if there is a sudden change they have nothing to depend on anymore.
Connection:
This article specifically connects to our unit about ecosystems, more about the green house effect and the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through to the Earth, but it also keeps some of the heat that is radiated from the surface of the Earth. As our activities release more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere there is more heat that is being trapped which is causing the earth's climate to rise, and it is causing ocean waters to warm up as well which is causing many changes in the way of life for the sea creatures. As said in the article if the ocean waters keep heating up then not only will the sea creatures in the water be affected, but also the people that live on the contents in the waters.
Climate Change Creates Complicated Consequences for North America's Forests
Carter Terranova
Oct. 21, 2013
Published by: Dartmouth College
Published on: Oct. 15, 2013
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131015103953.htm
Summary:
Climate change has been affecting North American forests in many ways, such as allowing insect outbreaks, plant diseases, and even wildfires. Though, after recent studies Dartmouth College researchers say the increase in temperatures are making some forests grow faster and be less affected by harmful organisms. This can increase forest health, timber production, carbon storage, and water recycling. Tree and plant-killing insects and diseases are natural for forests ecosystems, but with climate change, the "distribution and magnitude of forest pestilence" is being altered very quickly. Also, climate change is altering the biodiversity of the ecosystems, too. One example of this is the pine bark beetle, which has killed trees over more area in the U.S. than wildfires have, this is due the climate change. Over the last 50 years, the coldest winter night temperature averages have increased by 7 degrees, which has caused population explosions in bark beetles because the forests were protected by the coldness of the forests a night, though now they aren't because of the climate change. Also, invasive species are able to become established because of this.
Connection:
The connection to our Ecology unit is the biodiversity in the forests and what happens if a population becomes too big or too small. In the ecosystems unit we learned that biodiversity is very important because it means that if there is a change in the environment, more species will be able to survive and adapt to the changes. In the forests, this is key to the situation because the beetles were able to adapt to the climate change. The biodiversity in the forest lead to the increase in the pine bark beetle because of their ability to adapt to the increase in temperatures. This lead to them killing more trees over more area then ever before. Also, in the ecosystems unit we learned that the way species interact with one another is very important in the respect of the sizes of the populations. The connection is that the beetle's population became too big because of the increase in the temperature and then since the tree's population didn't increase also, the beetles killed off many of the trees. The beetle's population became too large and since they all still needed to eat, they ate the trees, and ended up killing many trees because the populations were not balanced.
Oct. 21, 2013
Published by: Dartmouth College
Published on: Oct. 15, 2013
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131015103953.htm
Summary:
Climate change has been affecting North American forests in many ways, such as allowing insect outbreaks, plant diseases, and even wildfires. Though, after recent studies Dartmouth College researchers say the increase in temperatures are making some forests grow faster and be less affected by harmful organisms. This can increase forest health, timber production, carbon storage, and water recycling. Tree and plant-killing insects and diseases are natural for forests ecosystems, but with climate change, the "distribution and magnitude of forest pestilence" is being altered very quickly. Also, climate change is altering the biodiversity of the ecosystems, too. One example of this is the pine bark beetle, which has killed trees over more area in the U.S. than wildfires have, this is due the climate change. Over the last 50 years, the coldest winter night temperature averages have increased by 7 degrees, which has caused population explosions in bark beetles because the forests were protected by the coldness of the forests a night, though now they aren't because of the climate change. Also, invasive species are able to become established because of this.
Connection:
The connection to our Ecology unit is the biodiversity in the forests and what happens if a population becomes too big or too small. In the ecosystems unit we learned that biodiversity is very important because it means that if there is a change in the environment, more species will be able to survive and adapt to the changes. In the forests, this is key to the situation because the beetles were able to adapt to the climate change. The biodiversity in the forest lead to the increase in the pine bark beetle because of their ability to adapt to the increase in temperatures. This lead to them killing more trees over more area then ever before. Also, in the ecosystems unit we learned that the way species interact with one another is very important in the respect of the sizes of the populations. The connection is that the beetle's population became too big because of the increase in the temperature and then since the tree's population didn't increase also, the beetles killed off many of the trees. The beetle's population became too large and since they all still needed to eat, they ate the trees, and ended up killing many trees because the populations were not balanced.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Diesel exhaust rapidly degrades floral odours used by honeybees
Andrew Robbertz
Author: Tracey A. Newman
Published: October 3, 2013
http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131003/srep02779/full/srep02779.html#ref14
Summary: Honeybees are our greatest managed pollinators on earth, yet every year large populations in colonies are dropping. Air pollution is one of humanities greatest environmental impacts, however its effects on honeybees is still unknown. Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and the ability to learn and memorize new odors, allowing them to use floral odors to locate, identify and recognize the flowers from which they forage. There is a huge diversity to floral odors, therefore any small change in these blends could dramatically change the communication between each plant and its pollinator. Theoretical models predict that anthropogenic emissions are likely to reduce the detection distances of plant emitted odors available to pollinators. Despite advances in filtration technology, diesel exhaust remains a major environmental pollutant. In the study eight floral odors were exposed to diesel pollution. Within one minute of exposure the abundances of four of the chemicals were significantly lowered, with two components rendered undetectable. Honeybees were trained to recognize the full odor mix, but by removing the two chemicals rendered undetectable, significantly lowered the bees ability to recognize the odor mix. Furthermore, the study found that at environmentally relevant levels the mono-nitrogen oxide fraction of the exhaust gases was a key facilitator of the odor degradation.
Connection: Although we don't know a lot about the health of honeybees, in the study, a correlation between the diesel pollution and the senses of the honeybees. As part of our ecosystems unit we studied keystone species. In many ecosystems honeybees are a keystone species. They pollinate plants, which are later consumed and they are sometimes consumed themselves. The air pollution in many ecosystems is changing the odor mix of many of the plants and flowers that honeybees feed on. With the drop in populations of honeybees one could see the rest of the ecosystem slowly fall apart. Through this it is necessary that we continue to limit the amount of air pollution being produced so we can save the keystone species and prevent the collapse of these ecosystems.
Author: Tracey A. Newman
Published: October 3, 2013
http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131003/srep02779/full/srep02779.html#ref14
Summary: Honeybees are our greatest managed pollinators on earth, yet every year large populations in colonies are dropping. Air pollution is one of humanities greatest environmental impacts, however its effects on honeybees is still unknown. Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and the ability to learn and memorize new odors, allowing them to use floral odors to locate, identify and recognize the flowers from which they forage. There is a huge diversity to floral odors, therefore any small change in these blends could dramatically change the communication between each plant and its pollinator. Theoretical models predict that anthropogenic emissions are likely to reduce the detection distances of plant emitted odors available to pollinators. Despite advances in filtration technology, diesel exhaust remains a major environmental pollutant. In the study eight floral odors were exposed to diesel pollution. Within one minute of exposure the abundances of four of the chemicals were significantly lowered, with two components rendered undetectable. Honeybees were trained to recognize the full odor mix, but by removing the two chemicals rendered undetectable, significantly lowered the bees ability to recognize the odor mix. Furthermore, the study found that at environmentally relevant levels the mono-nitrogen oxide fraction of the exhaust gases was a key facilitator of the odor degradation.
Connection: Although we don't know a lot about the health of honeybees, in the study, a correlation between the diesel pollution and the senses of the honeybees. As part of our ecosystems unit we studied keystone species. In many ecosystems honeybees are a keystone species. They pollinate plants, which are later consumed and they are sometimes consumed themselves. The air pollution in many ecosystems is changing the odor mix of many of the plants and flowers that honeybees feed on. With the drop in populations of honeybees one could see the rest of the ecosystem slowly fall apart. Through this it is necessary that we continue to limit the amount of air pollution being produced so we can save the keystone species and prevent the collapse of these ecosystems.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Evolution in Action: Lizard Moving From Eggs to Live Birth
By Brian Handwerk, National Geographic
September 1, 2010
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100901-science-animals-evolution-australia-lizard-skink-live-birth-eggs/
Summary
This article provides an interesting insight into evolutionary changes in organisms as a consequence of adaptation. The Australian yellow-bellied, three-toed skink has provided the scientific community with a demonstration of how it adapts and evolves. The skinks that live in the warmer coastal lowlands of New South Wales lay eggs as their method of reproduction. However, majority of the same species of skinks that live in the cooler higher mountains, have abandoned egg-laying for live birth. Evolutionary records show that nearly a hundred reptile lineages have made the switch from laying eggs to giving live birth in the past but now only 20 percent of reptiles, specifically snakes and lizards, give birth to live young only. This a rare opportunity for scientists to study evolutionary changes in action and observe the skinks' transition of birthing methods. This can be done by studying the differences among populations that are in the different stages of this process and seeing the transition that follows it. A question that is raised in this evolutionary process is how the babies get nourishment before birth. In mammals, the fetus get their nourishment from the specialized placenta which is connected to the uterus so that they can take up oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood. For eggs, the embryo gets nourishment from the yolk and calcium is absorbed from the shell. Organisms that use this mix of birthing styles, form the eggs but keep them inside the body until the last stages of the embryonic development. For this method, the shell formed is thin so that the embryo can breathe and it then reduces to a thin membrane in later stages. However, the shells are so thin that it is not an adequate source of calcium. These embryos get the calcium from the uterus.
Connection
This connects to climate change because laid eggs are more vulnerable to extreme weather and so skinks in cooler mountain climates find it easier to protect its young by keeping it inside their body for a longer time than the skinks that live in warmer climates. Another connection it makes to evolution is that we can observe how easy it is for skinks to switch from one birthing method to another because of the affect of climate change and possibly even predators. What makes this reptile's adaptation to giving live birth so successful is that in order to prevent the embryo from resulting in calcium defeciency, the skink's uterus secretes calcium that forms into the embryo. Scientists refer to this, as the early stages of the evolution of a placenta in reptiles.
September 1, 2010
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100901-science-animals-evolution-australia-lizard-skink-live-birth-eggs/
Summary
This article provides an interesting insight into evolutionary changes in organisms as a consequence of adaptation. The Australian yellow-bellied, three-toed skink has provided the scientific community with a demonstration of how it adapts and evolves. The skinks that live in the warmer coastal lowlands of New South Wales lay eggs as their method of reproduction. However, majority of the same species of skinks that live in the cooler higher mountains, have abandoned egg-laying for live birth. Evolutionary records show that nearly a hundred reptile lineages have made the switch from laying eggs to giving live birth in the past but now only 20 percent of reptiles, specifically snakes and lizards, give birth to live young only. This a rare opportunity for scientists to study evolutionary changes in action and observe the skinks' transition of birthing methods. This can be done by studying the differences among populations that are in the different stages of this process and seeing the transition that follows it. A question that is raised in this evolutionary process is how the babies get nourishment before birth. In mammals, the fetus get their nourishment from the specialized placenta which is connected to the uterus so that they can take up oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood. For eggs, the embryo gets nourishment from the yolk and calcium is absorbed from the shell. Organisms that use this mix of birthing styles, form the eggs but keep them inside the body until the last stages of the embryonic development. For this method, the shell formed is thin so that the embryo can breathe and it then reduces to a thin membrane in later stages. However, the shells are so thin that it is not an adequate source of calcium. These embryos get the calcium from the uterus.
Connection
This connects to climate change because laid eggs are more vulnerable to extreme weather and so skinks in cooler mountain climates find it easier to protect its young by keeping it inside their body for a longer time than the skinks that live in warmer climates. Another connection it makes to evolution is that we can observe how easy it is for skinks to switch from one birthing method to another because of the affect of climate change and possibly even predators. What makes this reptile's adaptation to giving live birth so successful is that in order to prevent the embryo from resulting in calcium defeciency, the skink's uterus secretes calcium that forms into the embryo. Scientists refer to this, as the early stages of the evolution of a placenta in reptiles.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Thawing Arctic Sea: The Effect on the Artic Tundra
Published Tuesday September 25, 2012 by CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/25/opinion/boelman-arctic-tundra/index.html?iref=allsearch
Summary
On September 16th, it was reported that the Arctic Sea ice
cover reached the lowest level ever recorded. Due to global warming, the Arctic
Sea ice has been melting. In addition to shrinking the polar bears’ habitat and
reducing the amount of area that reflects the sun’s light, the melting ice also
affects the nearby Arctic tundra. In the same way that large bodies of water moderate
coastal temperature patterns, the Arctic Ocean has an impact on the tundra. Less
sea ice means a warmer climate, which causes the permafrost, the tundra’s frozen
soil, to thaw more. This releases stored carbon in the form of carbon dioxide
and methane, both greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. The last record low
before this one was in 2007 and caused a fire that lasted for two and a half
months and covered an area 10% larger than Manhattan.
The warming climate has an effect on the tundra’s plant and
animal species. The short vegetation is becoming taller because warmer soils
allow for larger, woody plants. This could have an effect on the animal species
that nest in the grasses, some of which may not be able to adapt and could then
create a disrupting domino effect on the tundra’s food web.
Connection
This connects to our unit on ecology. It talks about biomes,
specifically the tundra, and the characteristics of the biome, such as climate
patterns and vegetation. It also relates the effect human activity has on the ecosystem
through global warming. It is related to the carbon cycle as the greenhouse
gases carbon dioxide and methane are released due to the thawing permafrost,
which contributes to global warming. In addition, it connects to the lessons on
the food web and chain because of the domino effect the warming climate has on
the tundra’s species.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Northernmost Lake Resurrected Due to Warming
By Kate Andries, National Geographic
October 17 2012
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121017-northernmost-lake-greenland-global-warming-science-environment/
Summary
The world's northernmost lake called Kaffeklubben Sø , situated near the coast of Greenland, was once teeming with a microscopic algae called diatom, which was formed 3500 years ago due to glacial retreats which created numerous small lakes on the plain. However studies show that the population had decreased and diminished over 2400 years ago. Scientist believe that the lake was deeply frozen, cutting off any sunlight from getting on to the water and providing the algae with energy to perform photosynthesis. So the drop in temperatue and the lack of sunlight led to the organisms being killed off. This had been the case since roughly 1920. Around 1960-1970, scientists had found evidence that the diatom population had begun to gradually increase due to summer temperatures increasing as well. Climate change certainly played a role in this case. The diatom population had exploded from 1980 onwards. The layer of ice on the lake which was usually 1 to 2 meters thick had now reduced with summer temperatures rising to 1.6 degrees celsius particularly towards the shore. Scientist were determined to see if the the sudden boost of the diatom population was the result of nitrogen pollution which can cause algae to bloom but that hypothesis was refuted when they found no evidence of pollution. They confirmed that the only reason for this increase in population was because of climate change.
Connection
Connections between this article and what we have learnt so far in biology are that climate change, specifically global warming, can have a huge impact on the living apsects of our ecosystems. The photic zone in ponds and lakes are where most plants and microscopic algae such as phytoplankton and in this particular case, diatom are ideal places where photosynthesis occurs. Since the lake had frozen, the ice had blocked out all means of sunlight from getting to the diatom which killed the species in this lake due to lack of energy. Fortunately, thanks to global warming, the climate in Greenland had started to become warmer especially in the summer, melting the ice mostly towards the shore and allowing photosynthesis back in to help re-populate Kaffeklubben Sø lake with diatoms again. Although the hypothesis was not valid, it was suspected that nitrogen pollution had caused algae to bloom but it was more of a climate- driven change than a nutrient-driven change.
October 17 2012
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121017-northernmost-lake-greenland-global-warming-science-environment/
Summary
The world's northernmost lake called Kaffeklubben Sø , situated near the coast of Greenland, was once teeming with a microscopic algae called diatom, which was formed 3500 years ago due to glacial retreats which created numerous small lakes on the plain. However studies show that the population had decreased and diminished over 2400 years ago. Scientist believe that the lake was deeply frozen, cutting off any sunlight from getting on to the water and providing the algae with energy to perform photosynthesis. So the drop in temperatue and the lack of sunlight led to the organisms being killed off. This had been the case since roughly 1920. Around 1960-1970, scientists had found evidence that the diatom population had begun to gradually increase due to summer temperatures increasing as well. Climate change certainly played a role in this case. The diatom population had exploded from 1980 onwards. The layer of ice on the lake which was usually 1 to 2 meters thick had now reduced with summer temperatures rising to 1.6 degrees celsius particularly towards the shore. Scientist were determined to see if the the sudden boost of the diatom population was the result of nitrogen pollution which can cause algae to bloom but that hypothesis was refuted when they found no evidence of pollution. They confirmed that the only reason for this increase in population was because of climate change.
Connection
Connections between this article and what we have learnt so far in biology are that climate change, specifically global warming, can have a huge impact on the living apsects of our ecosystems. The photic zone in ponds and lakes are where most plants and microscopic algae such as phytoplankton and in this particular case, diatom are ideal places where photosynthesis occurs. Since the lake had frozen, the ice had blocked out all means of sunlight from getting to the diatom which killed the species in this lake due to lack of energy. Fortunately, thanks to global warming, the climate in Greenland had started to become warmer especially in the summer, melting the ice mostly towards the shore and allowing photosynthesis back in to help re-populate Kaffeklubben Sø lake with diatoms again. Although the hypothesis was not valid, it was suspected that nitrogen pollution had caused algae to bloom but it was more of a climate- driven change than a nutrient-driven change.
Scientists Race to Save World's Rice Bowl From Climate Change
Ker
Than
For
National Geographic News
Published May 2, 2012
Scientists
warn that global warming may could threaten rice farming and the livelihood of
many people in Southeast Asia. Climatologists and researchers brainstormed ways
to help the people in the region, especially farmers, deal with the effects of
climate change. Some of the consequences of global warming include elevated
temperatures, higher salt concentration in water, and irregular rainfall. Since
a third of greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry, and
changes in land use, scientists also contemplated potential ways to use
agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane.
Some areas aren’t
experiencing drastic changes yet, and can be saved. For example, in the case of
droughts, people may be able to use Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) technology. Basically,
MAR captures and stores floodwater in natural underground aquifers. During droughts, the water can be pumped out. The MAR could also decrease the amount of destruction
created by floods because it will divert water from already full rivers.
A different technology for solving this problem can also weaken the global impact of
climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released by crops. This method is involves alternately flooding and drying
rice fields to reduce the amount of methane produced. Normally, farmers leave
their rice fields submerged for the whole season, but this makes a lot of methane.
By drying the fields periodically, water consumption decreased by 30 percent
and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 25 to 50 percent, without any change in rice crop
yields.
This article
connects to our unit on Ecology because it relates human activities altering ecosystems through agriculture, greenhouse gases, and global
warming’s effect on the environment. It illustrates how melting of the glaciers
and polar ice caps causes rising sea levels and flooding, which impacts
agriculture and ecosystems. The article discusses how crops can generate greenhouse
gases and in turn, contribute to global warming. It describes methods for lessening
production of methane (rice drying). As we learned, with less greenhouse gas
production, less heat will be trapped in the atmosphere, so there will be
reduced warming of the Earth.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Japanese Lake Provides More Definitive Record of Carbon-14 Levels
Bill Sweet
Friday, October 19, 2012
IEEE Spectrum: Inside Technology
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/environment/japanese-lake-provides-more-definitive-record-of-carbon14-levels
Summary
Thirteen years ago, an team of scientists created a record of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and temperatures dating back 420,000 years (shown in chart below). This chart has been invaluable in climate science, emphasizing the relationship between greenhouse gases and temperatures. Some have skepticized that the leads and lags in the record suggest that temperature changes cause changes in greenhouse gases, instead of vice versa. The roadblock in finding out whether or not this is true, is that there has not been a developed record of carbon-14 concentrations in the atmosphere dating back beyond 12,000 years ago, which would help to clear up various theories about the last ice age. But this week, an account of yearly changes in C-14 levels in the atmosphere dating back more than 50,000 years was published based on the sediments in a Japanese lake. These concentrations vary throughout time, and this new chart provides a greater solution for the periods that have previously been unclear and could show a more detailed history of solar activity, a factor in climate change. This Japanese lake, Lake Suigetsu, is surrounded by trees whose leaves drop into the water, falling to the bottom of the lake every year, and has been virtually undisturbed for thousands of years. Using carbon dating, the concentrations of C-14 found in the leaf layers help improve carbon dating and unveil a record of radiocarbon levels and local climate changes. These can be compared with other climate records to see how climate changes in different parts of the world relate to each other, and where it leads and lags. According to scientist Paula J. Reimer, this new record "stretches back over the full length of the radiocarbon age scale," helping to improve the accuracy at which radiocarbon dates are converted to calendar time.
Connection
This article is connected to the matter and energy and ecosystems units. It connects to Matter and Energy because carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope which decays over time and helps researchers to determine dates of the organic objects they are dating. Also, this article relates ecology because of carbon cycle impacts. The releasing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is what the graph above is based on. The increase in carbon dioxide and other gases have contributed to the greenhouse effect, causing temperature and climate change on Earth.
Friday, October 19, 2012
IEEE Spectrum: Inside Technology
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/environment/japanese-lake-provides-more-definitive-record-of-carbon14-levels
Summary
Thirteen years ago, an team of scientists created a record of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and temperatures dating back 420,000 years (shown in chart below). This chart has been invaluable in climate science, emphasizing the relationship between greenhouse gases and temperatures. Some have skepticized that the leads and lags in the record suggest that temperature changes cause changes in greenhouse gases, instead of vice versa. The roadblock in finding out whether or not this is true, is that there has not been a developed record of carbon-14 concentrations in the atmosphere dating back beyond 12,000 years ago, which would help to clear up various theories about the last ice age. But this week, an account of yearly changes in C-14 levels in the atmosphere dating back more than 50,000 years was published based on the sediments in a Japanese lake. These concentrations vary throughout time, and this new chart provides a greater solution for the periods that have previously been unclear and could show a more detailed history of solar activity, a factor in climate change. This Japanese lake, Lake Suigetsu, is surrounded by trees whose leaves drop into the water, falling to the bottom of the lake every year, and has been virtually undisturbed for thousands of years. Using carbon dating, the concentrations of C-14 found in the leaf layers help improve carbon dating and unveil a record of radiocarbon levels and local climate changes. These can be compared with other climate records to see how climate changes in different parts of the world relate to each other, and where it leads and lags. According to scientist Paula J. Reimer, this new record "stretches back over the full length of the radiocarbon age scale," helping to improve the accuracy at which radiocarbon dates are converted to calendar time.
Connection
This article is connected to the matter and energy and ecosystems units. It connects to Matter and Energy because carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope which decays over time and helps researchers to determine dates of the organic objects they are dating. Also, this article relates ecology because of carbon cycle impacts. The releasing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is what the graph above is based on. The increase in carbon dioxide and other gases have contributed to the greenhouse effect, causing temperature and climate change on Earth.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Antarctic Sea Ice Hits Record...High?
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Daniel Stone, National Geographic
October 13, 2012
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121013-antarctica-sea-ice-record-high-science-global-warming?source=sailthru
Summary
Despite the current global warming, Scientists report that Antarctica was surrounded by the largest amount of sea ice ever recorded. Antarctica was surrounded by 7.51 million square miles of sea ice when satellites recorded the sea ice. This is surprising because one would expect that as the temperature of the earth increases, the amount of sea ice would decrease. This is happening in the arctic, but differences between the arctic and the antarctic cause the latter to have a slight (~1%) increase in sea ice. One of the biggest differences that factor into sea ice levels is the fact that the entire world is increasing in temperature, but Antarctica is increasing at a slower rate than the rest of the world therefore it is a lot colder than the rest of the world. Another reason that you see sea ice depleting in the arctic and not the antarctic is that the arctic is and ocean that is connected to the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, therefore causing it to have a normal rate of warming therefore causing it to be warmer than Antarctica and loose sea ice easily. Antarctica however, is a continent that is much colder and much more isolated. Therefore its climate is very different from the arctic. Overall this doesn't show good news. Scientists have figured and predicted that Antarctica would follow the arctic, but it doesn't fit with there model. However it still shows that the planet is warming up.
Connection
This article connects with our unit on ecology. It mainly connects with the ideas of global warming that we talked about. When the climate warms there is a loss of sea ice, in this case since the antarctic is cooler than the arctic you don't see that at this moment. Perhaps in the near future, if we don't fix the pollution problem, we will begin to see an decrease in sea ice in Antarctica
Daniel Stone, National Geographic
October 13, 2012
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121013-antarctica-sea-ice-record-high-science-global-warming?source=sailthru
Summary
Despite the current global warming, Scientists report that Antarctica was surrounded by the largest amount of sea ice ever recorded. Antarctica was surrounded by 7.51 million square miles of sea ice when satellites recorded the sea ice. This is surprising because one would expect that as the temperature of the earth increases, the amount of sea ice would decrease. This is happening in the arctic, but differences between the arctic and the antarctic cause the latter to have a slight (~1%) increase in sea ice. One of the biggest differences that factor into sea ice levels is the fact that the entire world is increasing in temperature, but Antarctica is increasing at a slower rate than the rest of the world therefore it is a lot colder than the rest of the world. Another reason that you see sea ice depleting in the arctic and not the antarctic is that the arctic is and ocean that is connected to the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, therefore causing it to have a normal rate of warming therefore causing it to be warmer than Antarctica and loose sea ice easily. Antarctica however, is a continent that is much colder and much more isolated. Therefore its climate is very different from the arctic. Overall this doesn't show good news. Scientists have figured and predicted that Antarctica would follow the arctic, but it doesn't fit with there model. However it still shows that the planet is warming up.
 |
| Sea Ice Levels Oct. 13, 2012 |
This article connects with our unit on ecology. It mainly connects with the ideas of global warming that we talked about. When the climate warms there is a loss of sea ice, in this case since the antarctic is cooler than the arctic you don't see that at this moment. Perhaps in the near future, if we don't fix the pollution problem, we will begin to see an decrease in sea ice in Antarctica
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