refute the residents’ concerns regarding the recent plans to develop a shopping complex bordering the Wolverine Nature Preserve. My intention is not to discuss my own views on this matter, but rather state facts drawn from my expertise in the field of ecology. Although I will not be responding to the assertions made by the Chamber of Commerce, who sees and values this plan as an economical investment, I feel obligated to express the need for there to be biological proof supporting such claims. I…
The reasons for the Barn owls decline are not fully understood, but can most likely be attributed to the loss of suitable habitat due to various aspects of agricultural intensification and the increased use of harmful second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides. Other factors that have been implicated in their decline are the loss of suitable nest sites, an expansion of major road networks and the increased severity of winters. The Barn Owl is also in decline while the Corncrake is no longer…
Diversity Lab Write-Up Introduction: Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of the organisms in an ecosystem. This variety can be between species, within species, and between ecosystems, but in this lab, only the variety between species will be discussed to quantify the biodiversity of the target ecosystem. Biodiversity can be quantified by two main aspects which are species richness, and species eveness. Species richness is the number of species observed per sample of an ecosystem, and if…
At the end of the day, the environment is all we have, because without it we wouldn’t be here. It is crucial for people to acknowledge this and treat their land properly. The first principle of the earth charter discusses why you must respect the earth, and life in all of its diversity. It states that you must” Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings.” I believe Tobias was a man who lived his life with standards like…
The Euwallacea was studied before, but observers were incorrect in identifying the species as the tea shot-hole borer (TSHB) E. fornaticus; but after further analysis, the species was renamed to the polyphagous shot-hole borer [4]. This newly named “polyphagous” shot hole borer—named polyphagous because of its ability to attack many different trees—has caused significant amounts of dieback and mortality of avocado trees [5]. As time passes, the PSHB infestation problem grows more urgent. The…
Taking a sustainable vacation is challenging. If you want your destination to encompass ecotourism principles and be environmentally responsible, you will want to find experiences that involve the local community. For example, an African wilderness experience should involve local guides who have a stake in protecting the biodiversity and the natural environment. Africa, especially South Africa and Botswana, are popular destinations because both counties have opportunities to experience the…
Biodiversity is a very important part to the ecosystem. It is defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.” There is more evidence pilling up that it is being lost at all scales. This is a complex system that is not only important to a healthy environment globally and…
For many of us, conflict over natural resources is not a part of everyday life. But in many places around the world, access to natural resources cannot be taken for granted. Conflict over natural resources is often part of a larger struggle over political, social, and economic power. The control over water, land, and oil has economically and socially changed the world. They have been used to secure power because of how important they are to society. The consequences for wrongly abusing these…
An invasive species is a species not native from a particular ecosystem that is most likely to cause harm to that species. An invasive species can be plants, animals, or even pathogens. A very remarkable invasive species is the European Rabbit, otherwise its scientific name known as the Oryctolagus cuniculus. The European Rabbit is near threatened and native to southwestern Europe and Northwest Africa. In the 19th century Australia introduced multiple invasive species all at once purposely. Ever…
Broadly known as the father of “The Land Ethic,” Aldo Leopold brought to light a ever growing problem in the mistreatment of the environment, in his main work ‘Sand County Almanac’ (1947) he talks about the ecosystem as a member of a larger community that should be enlarged to include non-human elements such as soils, waters, plants, and animals or collectively the land, and that all forms of life are valuable. In his concept, land Ethic reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and…