Biodiversity

Biology and Ecology: The introduction of non-native species may pose significant dangers to the local ecosystems and the Asian carp is one of them. Asian carp is the common term for the species of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) (Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2012). In the United States, the Bighead Carp have greatly affected the river ecosystems that it…

Woodpeckers are a vast bird family, composed of approximately 217 species worldwide. They are found throughout the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, with the largest number of species occurring in the tropics of the New World. Here are a few woodpecker species you may encounter, along with some of the more unique members of the woodpecker family. Red-headed woodpecker The Red-headed Woodpecker is known for its fiery red-head and black and white body. It resides predominately in the Midwest and…

Many people think being a wildlife biologist is a breeze-they get to spend time with animals all day, right? Not quite. Wildlife biologists have to perform an essential job, which isn't just playing with animals. One of their main priorities is to study animals and wildlife. “They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and natural habitats” (“Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists”). For example, a Wildlife Biologist studies how a…

The island fox has been endangered since the 1990’s.but was not federally recognized as such until 2004. The island foxes on Santa Catalina became endangered because a wild North American raccoon was “stow away” on a boat and escaped onto the island in the late 1990s. Canine distemper virus, a fatal dog disease passed from this raccoon to the island foxes. By 2000 almost 90% of the foxes died from the distemper virus. This rapid population decline was due to an imbalance in the ecosystem. The…

Emerald Ash Borer in Wisconsin Veronica Williams, Andy Lundin, Balin Magee, Zach Smola Ash trees are a very common and beautiful tree in Wisconsin, and they are used by many people for their lumber. There is a nuisance attacking and destroying the ash tree, and that is the infestation of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, or EAB. The adult beetles do little harm to the tree by just eating their foliage, but their larvae burrow beneath the bark of the tree and restrict the tree’s ability to…

My Response to Save a Life, Kill a Tree Author: Sallie Tisdale Title of Text: Save a Life, Kill a Tree Sallie’s main idea is that everyone should be more caring about the environment. I believe what Sallie says about how people should care more about the environment and I believe this too, because I know that if people do not stop polluting and ruining the environment, then it will make it harder for people to survive because there will be a lot less wildlife and resources for everyone to…

In the Health and Natural Science Building’s classroom, 147, Dr. Erin Barding elaborated about the recovery and management of a reintroduced river otter population. River otters, or Lontra Canadensis, are stocky mustelid and semi-aquatic. They appear in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. They have few natural predators and hold high value for their fur. In other words, otter’s fur are really dense and luxurious and can sell for $100-$200. Despite being awkward on land, otters are jet like in…

Logo The Cerebral Palsy Alliance logo represents an organization that provides support and a better quality of life for people with disabilities. The logo is formed by 11 irregular shapes and three words. When looking at the logo we can identify the shape of a palm print. The gestalt law of closure makes this possible as the viewer closes the gaps between the shapes and groups them accordingly to construct a “whole” which results in a familiar form. Proximity and similarity help identify the…

Animal Endangerment in Brazil Brazil is home to some of the world’s most diverse wildlife, with over 2,900 animal species occupying in the Amazon rain forest. (Animals) These animals serve an important role in the world’s ecosystem, but are quickly becoming endangered. Although the extinction of animals is a natural occurrence, human activities has quicken their rate of becoming extinct. From early European colonists and settlers, to deforestation, and to animal smuggling, the number of species…

Escalante, Estefany September 29, 2015 Biology 101-18598 Krista Hahn Keystone Species Keystone species is a species that is very impactful within its ecosystem. A keystone species can be a plant or an animal that has a very specific job ecologically. If there were no keystone species, our world would be a completely different place, or maybe would not exist. All species depend on each other, but the benefits of keystone species are much greater than any other species. If a keystone species…