The Coral Island

Coral Endangerment and Carbon Emissions Robert Swan once said, “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” It is well known that when it comes to the environment, human and destruction are synonymous. Simply look up “coral” in a search engine and you are bound to find countless articles showing how our excessive release of carbon has jeopardized reefs around the world. Yet most people, after concluding the article, still do not have the full sense of what is…

Introduction: The African lungfishes are eel or salamander-like freshwater fishes belonging to the genus Protopterus that constitutes of four species that are all found in Africa. The genus Protopterus is the only genus affiliated to the family Protopteridae. The lifespan of lungfishes is about 20 years and more especially under favorable conditions. African lungfish are characterized by their outstanding adaptations that enabled them estivate during dry season. The species is also known by…

unintentional marine animal helpers that maintain the health of their coral reefs. They prove themselves worthy of being protective, since “They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds”(WWF). Even with being a maintainer of the health of the coral reefs around them, it is apparently not a big enough reason to not be hunted. Hawksbills are a huge help to their coral reefs and grass beds because of their habit of eating sponges.…

Introduction The Chesapeake Bay that is 200 miles long is considered the largest estuary in the United States. It is home to more than 17 million people (NOAA). Baltimore, one of the most important North Atlantic port is located on the Chesapeake Bay. Oysters are one of the biggest resources of the Chesapeake bay. Ecologically, oysters are important because they filter algae, sediment, and pollutants. They maintain a good water quality and salinity. Oysters can tolerate a wide range of…

Introduction. Sharks have been around for hundreds of millions of years Subclass Elasmobranchii: Sharks and Rays are classified in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Chondrichthyes(Greek, chondr- 'cartilage', ichthys 'fish'), and Class Elasmobranchii. Elasmobranchs are fish which all share one main characteristic: cartilaginous skeletons. There are over 1,000 species of elasmobranchs ranginging from great white sharks, to spotted rays to sawfish to skates. Sharks and rays are the…

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is found off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists believe that the coral reef structure was formed 60,000 years ago, but deteriorated due to climate & sea level changes. However, the coral reefs grew over the old structure. The current GBR is about 6,000 - 8,000 years old. The reef’s abiotic factors include sunlight, soil, water, climate, & temperature. It has a tropical climate & two distinct seasons,…

Abstract The eastern mosquitofish is common throughout the United States, and have been an interest to ecologists due to both the positive and negative impacts they have on the environments they live in. Their short lifespan and the variation of their life history characteristics in different environments also make them an ideal organism for studies pertaining to the relationship of life history to habitat. The objective of this experiment was to collect a sample of Eastern mosquitofish and…

Take a stroll past the cacophony of the casino, keep going past the cluster of gift stands, phone charging stations, food smells from many cafes, scent of stale cigarettes and cheap liquor lingering in the many bars, to arrive at the aquarium housed inside Mandalay Bay Casino. Solitude: the whisper of water bubbles floating through liquid heaven, soft illumination of ever changing colors, the aroma of salt water, a hint of wood from the floor and bench style seats. Entering the aquarium,…

If you had to take a bet on which animal would survive the longest, which organism would you bet on? The squid has very good attacking and escaping methods, along with reproducing. The worm has adapted well because of its digestive and reproductive abilities. Squids have also lived longer than segmented worms by millions of years. They have found ways to adapt to their specific environment such as underground and deep in the ocean. The squid is the most successful organism against the worm…

can be found on the island that have existed for 1,000 years. Meanwhile, shoppers can explore the quaint towns of Old Kolia Town and Hanapepe. Overview Kauai is the fourth-largest island in the Hawaiian Islands. Nicknamed the Garden Isle, it is filled with jagged cliff faces, steep mountains and verdant valleys. Over the centuries, tropical rain forests have taken over the islands as cascading waterfalls cut into the steep slopes. Some of the remote sections of the island can only be accessed…