Journal Entry

So, our final is tomorrow... my last final for this semester. It is hard to believe that this was my last semester of ultrasound classes. Next semester will be my last semester at Lincoln! WOW... time really goes fly by. I remember my first semester at Lincoln. I was so anxious and nervous because I had not been to school in so many years. I was also dreading thinking about how long it would take until I was finished. Now looking back, it seems like it just flew by. Now I can start looking towards a brighter future. I pray everyday that when I graduate I will find a job right away. I need a job right away, both for myself and for my husband. I need it cause I am so ready to start my career and to be earning a living again. I want it for my husband so he can stop working so hard. For the past almost two and half years, my husband has worked so hard to support us while I am in school. I could have not done it without him.

Chapter 23: Lab, Experiment, and Field Reports Summary

Chapter 23: Lab, Experiment, and Field Reports Summary

            In this chapter we learn about how to properly document a scientific experiment or study. Accurately recording and thoughtfully interpreting the results of the study or experiment is a must. There are two methods in which this can be done. The first is the scientific method. You would start by observing something interesting and check whether scientists have explained this same observation before. Then you can summarize your observations and create a testable hypothesis. You want to be able to test your hypothesis, paying close attention to the variables and the controls. When you see the results of the experiment, you can accept, reject or modify your hypothesis. You may need to repeat a few of these steps in order to completely understand what you are observing and the results. The other format you can follow is the standard format. Following this format you would model scientific thinking, lab and field reports including an introduction that establishes the problem, details showing the procedure, results that provide the data and finally discussion that will interpret the data you found. No matter which of the two methods you choose, you need to understand and be able to distinguish the facts from possibilities and experiments from studies. Facts are the data that you have collected, while possibilities are interpretations of that data. And experiments test your hypothesis by manipulating the variables, while studies observe what is actually there by counting, measuring or sampling.

Chapter 23: Lab, Experiment, and Field Reports MindMap

Physical Science Essay

Biodiversity

Carrie Casey

Lincoln University

 

Abstract

Over the past 300 years our world has lost half of its forests. Along with the loss of this wilderness, many species are endangered and/ or are already extinct. Bugs, weeds and plants are the base of our ecosystem, the base of our energy with all other species following in suite thereafter. Conservationists have the extremely tough task of deciding which species to invest in, and therefore which species to save. Conservation could be a luxury of a more wealthy western world, but if we do not do something about this, we could be looked at as the most villainous generation yet.

Biodiversity

“Comparing our ecosystem to a brick wall, we are systematically knocking out bricks and sooner or later the wall will collapse.”

– James Leape, Director General, WWF International

            We have lost one half of our world’s forests, one half of our world’s wetlands, and one half of our world’s grasslands. One in four mammals and one in three amphibians are on the list of those threatened to be endangered (Leape, 2006). A reduced number of species means a reduced overall ecosystem.

            Frogs are an extremely important species in forests and the Planet Earth team traveled extensively to film them. In Central America, in a small area in Panama, there is fifty species of frogs. Frogs absorb substances easily through their skin, which makes them extremely vulnerable to catch fungi (Plant Earth – the Future, 2006).  In Costa Rica, the Golden Toad is now extinct due to the spread of fungus. The fungus has been traced back to the African Claw Toad from South Africa. For the 6000 species of frogs worldwide, one third is now endangered (Price, 2006).

            In the Congo Basin in Africa, Forest Elephants are the Earth’s largest land animals measuring up to 11 feet wide and weighing more than six tons. The reason largely responsible for the continued drop in forest elephant population is poaching. Hunters are typically involved in the illegal trade of ivory. The bonobos are under threat from the bushmeat hunters and habitat loss. The mountain gorilla’s existence is also being threatened by hunting, conflict, disease, poaching, and destruction of forest habitat. Other species facing extinction in this region are the leatherback turtle, okapi, and the western lowland gorilla (Carroll).

            In the “Roof of Africa” in the Simien Mountains, the walia ibex are the national symbol and a critically endangered species. Due to the environment being dried out and the growing human population, the walia ibex were pushed out to live on the steep cliffs of mountains (Beeley, 2006). The reason for the huge decline in the walia ibex population is caused by hunting from the locals. The Ethiopian people created the Simien Mountains National Park to try to preserve the walia ibex, which thus far has seemed to help (Animal Info).

            How close a species is to extinction is one factor conservationists take into consideration when making the tough decision on which species to invest in. One species that makes it truly difficult to count how many are left is the extremely rare snow leopard that resides in the Himalayas. Planet Earth spent months trying to see one and even more months trying to film one (Beeley, 2006). The snow leopards live at 10,000 – 18,000 feet in the Himalayas, which is another reason they are so hard to find. The reason these leopards are so close to extinction is poaching. They are being hunted either for their fur or by shepherds who are trying to protect their flocks. Also being poached in this region is the horned rhino, the Asian elephant and the Indian tiger (Foott).

            In the Artic, there are many species close to extinction, but one of the most vulnerable is the polar bear. The polar bears have been behaving very differently since changes have started occurring in their environment. They have been trying to hunt walruses, which is rare. About 15 years ago, in the same area you would see the polar bears living on a sea that was completely covered in ice and they would hunt small seals. The ice cap is rapidly melting and loosing ice cover, which means polar bears are losing the land they use to breed and hunt on (Beeley, 2006). Walruses, Pacific Salmon, Whales, Seals, the Artic Wolf and Artic Fox are all also in danger because of the drastic climate change in the Artic (Jenkins). These species will going forward have two options, move south or go extinct. If they move south, they will be forced to learn a completely new way of living and adapt to a new environment.

            In the Amazon the fresh water dolphins are being killed to be used as catfish food in Columbia (Beeley, 2006). Mortality is very common due to fishing nets. Gill nets are the most dangerous to the dolphins, but are still used by commercial fisherman (Kremer, 2000, 2004).  The Plane Earth team experiences a population crash of the Saiga Antelope in Central Asia. In the 1990’s, the Planet Earth team was in Central Asia filming for another series and was able to witness an amazing site; millions of saiga antelope. While filming the series for Plant Earth, they wanted to catch this magnificent view again, but were sadly disappointed. In the past 15 years, poachers have reduced this antelope population to almost nothing. The team had to travel east into the wilderness to witness the migration of that is left of the saiga antelope. The Mongolian Gazelle is here today, but could be extinct in 15 years (Beeley, 2006).

            The Wild Tiger is another animal well known for being an endangered species. In less than 100 years, the entire species of the Caspian, Javan and Balinese Tigers have gone extinct. The South China tiger has not been seen in the wild in over 25 years. The wide distribution of tigers worldwide has dropped by 93%. A century ago there were about 100,000 tiers, now as few as 3,200 cling for survival in the wild. These tigers trying to survive have to avoid poachers, trying to fight for food and deal with habitat loss (WWF).

            In the grasslands of Asme, India, the pigme hog is in danger. The people believe that once the grass dies, it is easier to burn and it will grow back quicker. This may be true, but in the process, the pigme hogs are being burned, along with invertebrates and tortoises. Here is where a major problem arises, there needs to be a solution to help these species, but there also needs to be a solution for the poverty of the people. There is no way you can ask a person in poverty, living day by day to care about the well-being of the animals (Beeley, 2006).

            Over the past 300 years we have lost half of all the world’s forests with the loss being greater each year that passes. Every year the Amazon losses forest space the size of Switzerland. As previously mentioned, conservationists have to make tough decisions all the time on what species to invest in. One hot spot is the Congo Basin. There has been poaching patrols to look out for the Forest Elephant, but because this is a hot spot, there are many other species that are being protected in the Congo Basin as well. In Kenya, people are allowed to protect the wildlife themselves. In an effort to help safe the Amur Leopard, in New Orleans at the Zoo, they are practicing DNA cloning. Although some controversy around this, they believe this is a safety net for future generations (Beeley, 2006).

Bugs, weeds and plants are at the base of our ecosystem, they are the base of our energy. Biodiversity is something that benefits all species, including the human species. We depend on so much that comes from our world’s wilderness; medicines, industrial products, fresh water and food to name a few (Beeley, 2006). We are facing extinction of many species like the dinosaurs due to habitat change, pollution, global warming and over human population (Juniper). The rate of extinction has been accelerated, but we need all species because all are important (Wilson).

Conservation could be a luxury of a more wealthy western world or a fantasy, but it is definitely a better investment than war. In closing I will use a quote from one of the speakers in the Planet Earth – The Future series, Professor Wangari Maathai, Founder of the Green Belt Movement, “Don’t worry if you don’t know what it is for, you didn’t create it, so you don’t know what it is for. Just let it be because future generations might depend on that aspect of biodiversity.”

References

Animal Info: Endangered Animals. 7 March, 2005. Walia Ibex.            <http://www.animalinfo.org/species/artiperi/caprwali.htm>

Beeley, F. (Series Producer). Bright, M. (Executive Producer). (2006) Planet Earth: As You’ve      Never Seen It Before – The Complete Series [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery Channel/ NHK Co-Production, is Association with the CBC

Beeley, F. (Series Producer). Bright, M. (Executive Producer). (2006) Planet Earth – The Future  [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery      Channel/ NHK Co-Production, is Association with   the CBC

Carroll, R., et. al. WWF. Congo Basin. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html>

Foott, J. et. al. WWF. Eastern Himalayas.            <http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/easternhimalayas/species.html>

Jenkins, D. WWF. The Artic. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/arctic/species.html>

Juniper, T. (Executive Director Friends of Earth, Speaker). (2006). Planet Earth – The Future                   [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery   Channel/ NHK Co-Production, is Association with   the CBC

Kremer, R. 2000, 2004. International Society for the Preservation of the tropical Rainforest. Pink and Gray River Dolphins. <http://www.isptr-pard.org/dolphin.html>

Leape, J. (Director General WWF International, Speaker). (2006). Planet Earth – The Future                    [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery   Channel/ NHK Co-Production, is Association with   the CBC

Maathai, W. (Professor; Founder of the Green Belt Movement, Speaker). (2006). Planet    Earth   – The Future [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery Channel/ NHK Co-Production,          is          Association with the CBC

Price, M.S. (Chief Executive, Darrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Speaker). (2006). Planet           Earth – The Future [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery Channel/ NHK Co-Production,          is Association with the CBC

Wilson, E.O. (Professor Emeritus Harvard University, Speaker). (2006). Planet Earth – The          Future             [Motion Picture]. A BBC/ Discovery Channel/ NHK Co-Production, is       Association with the CBC

WWF. Tiger – Overview. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/tigers/index.html>

Physical Science MindMap

Chapter 32: Drafting a Paper with Documentation Research Summary

Chapter 32: Drafting a Paper with Documentation Research Summary

In this chapter you learn all about plagiarism. Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, ideas, or images as your own. There are many different ways you can plagiarize information, such as, submitted a paper you didn’t write yourself, pasting large chunks of a source into your paper, using summaries, paraphrases, or quotations without documentation, using exact phrasing of a source without quotation marks, and/ or mixing source material and your own ideas. Plagiarism is very serious due to academic dishonesty, theft from the academic community by taking an unfair advantage over your classmates or disrespecting your readers or other writers, and now and in the future you rob yourself of your education and integrity. In order to avoid plagiarism you need to resist temptation, play by the rules, take orderly, accurate notes, document all borrowed material – common knowledge being an exception, and working carefully with source material in your paper. Besides plagiarism you want to avoid using sources inaccurately, using source material out of context, overusing source material, relying heavily on one source failing to match in-text citations to bibliographic entries, and other academic offenses, such as double-dipping, falstaffing and copyright violations. You always want to organize and synthesize your findings by developing your ideas, and developing a structure for delivering research results. Then you can choose your drafting method by writing systematically and freely and then shape your first draft. Next you can integrate source material carefully by supporting your point with facts, statistics, and details, giving credibility with an expert’s supporting statement, and address counterarguments. You want to be sure you have smooth integration when using quotations too. And always be sure to effectively document your sources. You want to clearly identify where your source material begins and ends.

Chapter 32: Drafting a Paper with Documentation Research MindMap