...The Galapagos in September Charles Darwin first visited the Galapagos Islands in September, exploring the islands and discovering creatures that remain today; including giant tortoises and marine iguanas- while marveling at the volcanic landscapes and the diversity found within their borders. True to form, the islands in September are alive with creatures great and small in the midst of transition. Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz make the journey back from the coast to the lush highlands of the island. Fur seals are beginning to breed, and female sea lions are giving birth, with males fiercely protecting their harems from other bulls. It is a cool month to visit the archipelago, in both senses of the word. The chilly Humboldt Current mixes...
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...January 10th, 2017. The Galapagos Island is now included in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger. It is considered the largest marine reserve in the world and because of that, it has become a target of illegal fishing by the local fishermen. Tourism is also one of the main source of income of the people around the area. There are about 100,000 travelers per year who visit the island. The government is trying hard to manage and still preserve the island even with the presence of the tourists. It has been hard for them for the past years. Even with laws that was passed, people still find loopholes in order for them to stay or move near the Galapagos Island. Some people started moving there so they implement the rules to manage the entry of immigrants in the area. This is to control the population count due to immigration. In the marine preserve, there are only 70 licensed boats that were allowed to take the tourists to the island. As Charles Darwin described the archipelago in the 1835, there are still a lot of beautiful living organisms here. And the animals that were native to the island like the giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions, finches, marine iguanas, and many more can still be found in the island. Some of them, however, are already...
Words: 1517 - Pages: 7
...The Galapagos Islands Axia College of University of Phoenix May 6th, 2009 For the purpose of this paper I will attempt to provide interesting information on the birds, plants and snails of the Galapagos Islands. I will discuss the biological interrelations between the species to include how they are affected by the human intrusion. I will also share some information on the conservation groups that are trying to preserve these islands for the future. The Galapagos Islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean approximately 600 miles off the west coast of South America. The Galapagos Archipelago consists of 4,897 square miles of land over 28,000 square miles. There are 16 islands that provide tourists and visitors with many spectacular species to look at. These species are comprised of birds, marine life, tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, snails and flora such as cactus and mangroves. (Galapagos Online, 2009) The Galapagos Islands are home to many species of birds. Some of these birds are the Blue-Footed, Red-Footed, and Masked boobies; Darwin’s Finches which are comprised of 13 different species belonging to 4 genera; the Albatross and the Galapagos Penguins. (Galapagos Online, 2009) The three varieties of boobies are different in nature. The Blue-Footed Booby’s natural habitat extends from Peru to Mexico. They nest in colonies. They can be seen breeding on most islands north of the equator. (Galapagos Online...
Words: 2232 - Pages: 9
...Theory of Evolution Charles Darwin was a British Scientist who lived from 1809 to 1882. He laid down the foundation of modern evolutionary theory with his concept of the development of life through the slow working process of natural selection. Darwin started to make notes about this theory in 1836 and in 1838 he had arrived at a sketch of a theory of evolution through natural selection. It was not until 1858 that his theory was first published in a paper. Darwin’s theory states that as plants or animals spread to new areas, or as the conditions change different variations would be favored in different places. This would mean these variations would spread through the populations of the plants or animals. Over time this would finally lead to a development of new species. This theory was explained in the book ‘The Origin of Species’, which describes his studies on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. He noticed that the species on the islands varied slightly from each island and were adapted to local conditions. The reaction to this theory was immediate. Biologists argued that Darwin could not prove his hypothesis. Others criticized his ideas of variation and how he could not prove how these variations came about or how they were passed on. This part of his theory was not answered until the birth of modern genetics in the early 20th century. In fact many scientists had doubts about this theory for 50-80 years. The most publicized attacks came from religious opponents who...
Words: 5169 - Pages: 21
...of a church in the community. I was taught the bible and the book of Genesis. The different beliefs that were instilled in me were to believe that God created man and woman. In evolutionary or ecology classes, we are introduced to the theory of where man came from amoeba-like organisms, or even that we evolved from apes. How did life of origin arise? The components of evolution might explain how, but Creation gives a reason to believe why. Origin of life’s existence, as well as age of the earth is a question that is looked under a microscope and probed through both biblical theories, as well as scientific. Looking at difference evidence, acceptance of creation is growing even in spite of scientists trying to prove evolution. Within this paper, there will be different pieces of evidence and facts supporting each theory and there will be an argument, within my conclusion, on which theory I support. The theory of creation can be explained through various books in the bible. Creationists use the Bible as the truth for which they believe the origin of life came into existence. In bible studies and bible school, we were taught that God took clay from the ground which he shaped to a man that he called Adam. A verse in the King James Version, of the Bible, mentions “and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Then, the Lord made a garden as Adam’s place of residency. There are pictures of beautiful...
Words: 2414 - Pages: 10
...inspired by the readings such as Charles Lyell and Thomas Malthus. Browne notes that, “Even so, the parallels between Darwin’s and Wallace’s ideas are no less remarkable for their cultural symmetry. Their similarities are further demonstrated by them sharing similar geographical exploration and travel experiences and their mutual appreciations of their marvels of nature and overwhelming desire to comprehend them…” (Browne 2010: 357). The two theorists examined the concepts of natural selection independently until its publication. By the 1958, Darwin had already developed his idea on natural selection but had not published it as he was still collecting more evidence. After his previous research had been destroyed in his journey back to England from Brazilian Amazon, Wallace resumed his research on natural selection while at Archipelago which was marked by his famous “letter to Darwin” that contained an essay discussing a theory very similar to Darwin’s. The situation was very challenging as these two theorists had been independently studying the same topic with almost similar outcomes. These events led to...
Words: 2334 - Pages: 10
...Geography Research Response Paper What will be the environmental, sociopolitical, and economic impacts of 21st century climate change? * Environmental * A springtime “ozone hole” has developed in the last 30 years over Antarctica (Mann 30) * Without an ozone layer, unhealthy levels of UV radiation would reach Earth’s surface, making the planet largely uninhabitable (Mann 30) * Basic theoretical considerations as well as detailed climate-model simulations indicate a likely increase in the average intensity of tropical cyclones and hurricanes in all major formation basins (Mann 56) * We know that mountain glaciers over the world are disappearing, and that this disappearance is generally related to increased melting due to warmer atmospheric temperatures (Mann 58) * The combination of decreased summer precipitation and increased evaporation due to warming surface temperatures is predicted to lead to a greater tendency for drought in many regions (Mann 90) * Other likely impacts of climate change over the next century include increases in extreme weather phenomena, and rising sea levels due to melting ice and warming of the oceans (Mann 90) * Sea level is predicted to rise because water expands as it warms, and melting ice is also likely to have a major impact on the sea level (Mann 98) * Coastal regions will be subject to increased exposure to flood and storm damage, more intense coastal surges, and altered patterns...
Words: 1111 - Pages: 5
...sperm into the female using claspers. Claspers are the male reproductive organ in cartilaginous fish. The scalloped hammerhead give a live birth and have an egg yolk placenta. Their gestation period is between 9 and 10 months, similar in time to human beings. The adult females move to the shallower waters of the continental shelf to give birth. The mother gives birth to between 15 and 30 babies. When giving birth the hammer is made of cartilage so the birthing is less traumatic. The offspring are between 15 and 18 inches in length. The scalloped hammerhead most known for its behavior socially. These sharks are known to be in herds of 100 plus. Sightings of these huge gatherings were founds in Colombia, the Sea of Cortez, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, the Malepo, the Red Sea, the Bahamas, Hawaii, South Africa, Australia and the list goes on. In all of those areas groups between 100 and 500 have been spotted. Researchers have studied this event many times but they are still not quite sure why they do this. They have found evidence that the shark is extremely smart and they may use this large grouping to split off into smaller groups. The sharks communicate in these groups using body language such as pushing other sharks, shaking their head, opening and closing their mouths and spinning their bodies. These large groups include young and old sharks both female and male. Some other shark breeds even participate in this gathering. The scalloped hammerhead is not only a predator...
Words: 1453 - Pages: 6
...The Scientific Method The scientific method is a process for creating models of the natural world that can be verified experimentally. The scientific method requires making observations, recording data, and analyzing data in a form that can be duplicated by other scientists. In addition, the scientific method uses inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning to try to produce useful and reliable models of nature and natural phenomena. Inductive reasoning is the examination of specific instances to develop a general hypothesis or theory, whereas deductive reasoning is the use of a theory to explain specific results. The ‘scientific method’ merely refers to a broad framework for studying and learning more about the world around us in a scientific manner. It is not so much a series of absolute, unchangeable steps as a guideline to the method that must be used when trying to reach a scientifically acceptable theory about a subject matter. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a finite number of steps or an exact procedure for following the scientific method. However, the scientific method steps detailed below describe the main steps that scientists commonly take when conducting a scientific inquiry. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD HAS FIVE STEPS: 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon. The observations are made visually or with the aid of scientific equipment. 2. Ask a question, the purpose of the question is to narrow the...
Words: 2382 - Pages: 10
...South America GEA1000 Josslen Leonard South America GEA1000 Josslen Leonard...
Words: 1693 - Pages: 7
...for society both culturally and scientifically. For the first time in history a theory was proposed that offered a plausible mechanism for evolution. This paper examines the science behind natural selection as well as the impact Darwin has had on modern evolutionary paradigms. Specifically it poses two questions: (1) How did Darwin formulate his ideas about natural selection and evolution? And (2) Is natural selection still fundamentally valid or have we moved into a new evolutionary paradigm. Pre Darwin. Every scientific field has an earlier paradigm as scientific cannons change through the process of time. Before the advent of Darwin and his ideas about “natural selection” human evolution was perceived quite differently. During the Medieval Ages the predominate field of thought was in the “Great Chain of Being.” A structured hierarchy that believed everything had its place in a divinely inspired universe (Suber, 1997). An objects place on the “evolutionary” chain depended on the amount of “spirit” or “matter” it contained, less “spirit” and more “matter” placed it further down on the chain. Ideas such as “spontaneous generation,” which stated that organism could arrive fully formed from inorganic matter only served to enforce Christian ideals of divine inspiration and hinder any kind of true scientific research. (Evers, 1999) Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), known as the father of taxonomy, was the first scientist to use empirical evidence in support of a hierarchal...
Words: 1718 - Pages: 7
...Examiners’ Report June 2013 GCE Geography 6GE03 01 Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus. Giving you insight to inform next steps ResultsPlus is Pearson’s free online service giving instant and detailed analysis of your students’ exam results. • See students’ scores for every exam question. • Understand how your students’ performance compares with class and national averages. • Identify potential topics, skills and types of question where students may need to develop their learning further. For more information on ResultsPlus, or to log in, visit www.edexcel.com/resultsplus. Your exams officer will be able to set up your ResultsPlus account in minutes via Edexcel Online. Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international...
Words: 6917 - Pages: 28
... ET AL . Conclusion: Knowledge and Skills for Professional Practice Tim W. Clark Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale, Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative Murray B. Rutherford Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative Kim Ziegelmayer Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Michael J. Stevenson Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Most professionals beginning their careers in species and ecosystem conservation conceive of their future work in terms of hands-on tasks in the field (“doing something important in the real world”). Whether on the domestic or the international scene, typically the forester sees themselves laying out timber sales, the fisheries biologist looks forward to surveying streams, and the range specialist expects to be classifying grasslands. Current curricula in most universities largely mirror this common view. We train future foresters to address logging problems in the Pacific Northwest or in the tropics, or conservation biologists to design a reserve or study an endangered species. But in actual practice, most professionals spend only part—and sometimes a small part—of their time attending to technical tasks in the field. Professionals, over a career or a lifetime, participate in many activities well beyond fieldwork, and there is much more to building a successful professional practice today than skills...
Words: 11915 - Pages: 48
...limited to only natural environment, with a major focus on pollution, global climate change, resources consumption, and habitat/ecosystems. These issues remain very important, however, in order for effective environmentally sustainable management to take place, a broader topic of sustainability must be covered which includes dimensions of economics, equity and environment. This report will explain how ecotourism aims to address these issues. The third issue is “greenwashing.” A lack of standardization in ecotourism allows for some companies to deceive customers into thinking they have implement environmentally sustainable practices, when in reality they are simply taking advantage of the rising popularity of ecotourism to boost revenues. This paper will explore what has been done so far to address sustainability issues and what practices tourism operators need to adopt to become environmentally sustainable in terms of their long-term...
Words: 2788 - Pages: 12
...Session 1.3: The Evolution of Cellular Life Exam review view in a separate window In this session we focus on the natural history of cells and the evolutionary timelines of their appearance. The modern phylogenetic classification of domains is used to categorize the different types of cells: bacteria, archea, and eukarya. The names of periods and organisms and certain dates are often helpful in remembering or understanding events that occur in the natural history of evolution. However, we do not expect you to know the names of all organisms mentioned nor all dates (you may find some of the sound attachments on complicated figures useful for review). Those names and dates mentioned below are the ones to key on. The focus in this session is macroevolution which looks broadly at the time lines and changes over long intervals of time. Remember that small changes over millions of years are the framework for evolving complexity from simplicity. Summary of concepts and idea An initial step in covering this material is an understanding of the different types of cells (prokaryotic, eukaryotic animal and plant), their differences, and their place in the phylogeny of life. 1. Information from pre-class reading, Bioflix animations and briefly summarized in class discusses the fundamental components of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. You need to know the differences and understand the basic functions of the cellular components as cells as they are the fundamental...
Words: 4923 - Pages: 20
