...Species and Evolution Rasmussen College Dana Voicinco G156/BSC1548 Section 02 Human Biology - Online – 2016 Winter Quarter A species is defined as a group of organisms, which, under natural conditions, tend to interbreed and produce fertile offspring. A species is the biggest gene pool possible under natural conditions. If we look different does not mean we belong to different species. Organisms may appear to be alike and be different species, or may look different and be considered the same species. Racial differences are just phenotypic differences between subgroups of human species, but there are no barriers to reproduction, and we are considered the same species. For example, many bacteria reproduce mainly asexually. The bacterium is reproducing asexually, by binary fission. The definition of a species as a group of interbreeding individuals cannot be easily applied to organisms that reproduce only or mainly asexually. Genes are what code for the traits of an organism, and the offspring inherits at least some of the genes from the parent. Genes are the portions of an organism's DNA that carry the code responsible for building that organism in a very specific way. From generation to generation, molecular mechanisms reshuffle, and alter genes in a way that produces genetic variation. Without genetic variation, the basic mechanisms of evolutionary change cannot operate. Natural selection is one of the basic mechanisms of evolution. Natural selection encourages...
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...Benjamin Moore Dr. William Ross For301 6 February 3015 Species Diversity A diverse ecosystem is a stable ecosystem. Without it an ecosystem would have a much harder time recovering from disturbances and resisting perturbations. To measure diversity it is as simple as using a formula called the Simpsons Diversity Index. In the lab we surveyed two separate plots to calculate their diversity. In the species diversity lab we started off by taking a field trip from south campus to Wafer Creek Ranch. The purpose of the field trip was to split into two separate groups and measure the diversity on them. The two plots were marked off with biodegradable flagging and everything in the flagging was examined and recorded. To do the second plot we underwent the same instructions as on the first plot, but the plots were three chains apart. The information gathered on the field trip was then plugged into the formula and the diversity of the two plots was calculated. The results are in the following tables. Site 1 | | Total Trees | Diversity | Location | Sweetgum | 18 | 0.052 | Midstory | Honeysuckle | 1 | 0 | Understory | Water Oak | 1 | 0 | Understory | Smilax | 40 | 0.297 | Midstory | Red Oak | 4 | 0.002 | Understory | White Oak | 8 | 0.011 | Understory | Carolina Buckthorn | 1 | 0 | Understory | | Diversity= 1-.368 | | Site 2 | | Total Trees | Diversity | Location | Black Gum | 1 | 0 | Midstory | Black Cherry | 6 | 0.046 | Midstory | White Oak...
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...Endangered Species: Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course: Institution: Date: This statement that "Eventually, all species become extinct" is true because life and death forms part of this universe that we live in, the earth. Anything that is born at one time it is going to die. In the same way, any species that is in existence is going to get extinct. But it does not mean that we need to forget our endangered species and let them get extinct. For example, every human being who was born is soon going to die. That means your relatives and friends, also someday are going to die. If supposedly it happens that any of your relatives or friends meet with an unexpected accident or is admitted to hospital because of a disease then you will try to help save them. Everyone knows that one day they are going to die but you won't let them die so soon. You would want them to stay longer with you. The same case applies for other species. Every species is going to get extinct at some time in the future. But as we want relatives and those people who are close to us like friends to stay longer, the same thing also should be done to other species. With the global warming and climate changes issues that have not been solved, organisms are endangered since their habitats are being interfered with. Resources such as water and air quality are being polluted at a very faster rate than the conservation measures taken to save them. Water is one of the main sources of conflicts in most parts of...
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...Indiana wildlife, and in turn, the environment today is the presence of invasive species. Invasive plants and insects are making it difficult for those native to the area to survive. These invasive species quickly become competitors, and even sometimes predators in their new environment. They affect the ecosystems where they now reside because there is a lack of predators, giving these plants and insects the ability to flourish. As their population grows, the population of the native species decreases due to the increased competition for resources. Invasive species can overtake crops, interfere with natural irrigation, severely decrease environmental biodiversity, and limit growth in Indiana forests. This...
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...Endangered Species Think back to the first time you went to the zoo. Do you remember the excitement you felt when you got your first glimpse of a tiger? Or maybe your favorite animal was an elephant. These species and many others are in danger of becoming extinct. I’m going to explain to you the process to get a species listed as endangered and the protective measures taken to help them recover. I’ll also talk about the success rate of these efforts. The first step to protecting a threatened species is to get them listed. The process to have a species added to the list can take up to a year. Species are listed by 2 classifications, threatened or endangered. A threatened species is a species that could become endangered in the near future without proper protection. An endangered species is a species that could become extinct. To start the process someone must first file a petition or conduct a survey of the species. Anyone can file a petition providing there is enough biological evidence to warrant further investigation. Members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services or the National Marine Fisheries Service complete the surveys. Several factors help determine if a species is in need of protection. A few of those factors are: Changes in habitat, over utilization due to commercial and recreational purposes, disease or predation, and inadequate regulatory Laws. Within 90 days of receiving the petition or survey they must decide if further investigation is warranted. If it...
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...environmental law that I choose is Endangered Species Act. This Act was passed in 1973, to protect the extinction of or threatened species. Before I go any further let me define the difference between extinct and threatened species; • Extinction is the process by which a species die out, this means that all genetic buildup of that species is gone forever. Extinction can be the cause of Natural disaster, from human activities. • Threatened species are living organism that can become endangered in our nearby future. Endangered species represent the living species of plants and animals. That have become scarce, this means that they are in danger of becoming extinct. When an endangered species becomes extinct, this can interrupt the food chain or web. This will interrupts the production of new or improve medicine, we would loss that animal species forever because there is no genetic evidence left of that species. All this would be affected by the extinction of a species. The goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is to prevent extinction from happening. ESA was signed by President Nixon, The extinction of animals and plant species was brought about by Rachel Carson who wrote a book called Silent Spring (1962). Rachel warned about destroying wildlife with DDT in our environment. This is what prompted the enactment of the Endangered Species Preservation Act of (1966). This Act was made to protect nature species that were on the brink of extinction...
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...Endangered Species Biological diversity, or biodiversity for short, refers to the variety of life across all levels of biological organizations, including the diversity of species (Withgott & Laposata, 2012, p. 49). Biodiversity at all levels is being lost to human impact, irretrievably when species become extinct. Once vanished, a species can never return. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Global Species Program along with the Species Survival Commission (SSC) and partners, such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), assess the status of species on a global scale for the IUCN Red List in an effort to underline possible extinction, thereby encourage their conservation (IUCN, 2014). All assessments or reassessments for publication on the IUCN Red List must use categories, such as Endangered (EN) and criteria (e.g., Continuing decline in EOO, AOO, habitat, locations or subpopulations, or mature individuals and/or Extreme fluctuation in EOO, AOO, locations or subpopulations, or mature individuals) as adopted by the IUCN Council (IUCN, 2014). In 2012, the Atrichornis clamosus (also known as Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Scrubird) was uplisted to Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In questioning why, large lighting-induced fires and other small-scale unexplained events further declined population size and habitat quality on the south coast of Western Australia . However, these species...
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...Lindsey Lebrick Bio 104 Dr. Stelzer Endangered Species in Wisconsin In previous years, the environment was looked at as an infinite resource. People did not realize their actions had negative effects on the environment and the species it inhabited. Such negative effects was pollution, which harmed animals and their living areas more than thought possible. It wasn’t until after events started happening, that people realized the harm they were inflicting. There were and still are many endangered species from this, however organizations and laws are now involved in the stabilization of these animals and prevention techniques. There are several endangered species in Wisconsin, however the first I am going to talk about is the Lycaeides Melissa samuelis, otherwise known as the Karner blue butterfly. These butterflies are federally endangered in the USA, at eleven sites at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin (Guiney, Androw and Wilder). The samuelis butterflies, both male and female have a wingspan of about one inch, but vary in appearance. The topside of the male is a silvery dark blue with black marks. The female is a grayish brown, especially on the outer portions of the wings. The females are wings are blue on the top and have irregular bands of orange crescents inside the narrow brown boarder. The underside of both sexes is gray with a continuous band of orange crescents along the edges of both wings and with scattered black spots circled with white. The Karner blue butterfly usually...
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...Florida: More than Just Alligators and Manatees Josue Cajina COM/172 May 26, 2014 Nora Clarke Florida: More than Just Alligators and Manatees There are many species of animals in Florida of which the panther, alligator, crocodile, and manatee are the most popular, but there are other species equally interesting and beautiful, as the river otter, beaver, fox squirrel, key deer and over 500 different types of birds ("Great Florida Birding and Wild Life Trail", 2014). Although some of these species of animals are found in other states, Florida natives are unaware of the fauna diversity in their own backyard. The state of Florida offers 11 national parks ("National Park Service", n.d.) where both natives and tourists can spot these animals. For this reason, teaching people about Florida's lesser known animal species can help increase visits to Florida's National Parks, encourages outdoor activities, and raise conservation awareness in this state. Florida has both native and non-native animal species, but out of the native the most recognized species may be the alligator and manatee. Florida is home to more than just that and teaching people about its lesser known species can promote visits to Florida's National Parks. As mentioned earlier, there are 11 national parks ("National Park Service", n.d.) throughout the state, featuring the Everglades, which the National Parks Service describes as "The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States"...
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...“The Endangered Species Act is the strongest and most effective tool we have to repair the environmental harm that is causing a species to decline.”-Norm Dicks.More than 600 kinds of plants and 324 different animals in Missouri are of concern to conservationists because they are uncommon or their numbers are low or declining.Do you think that everyone in Missouri knows what is happening to many species of plants and animals because of the things we as humans are doing to them and their environment? The Endangered species Act is the most important federal law protecting imperiled wildlife and plants. For nearly 40 years, the ESA has helped prevent the extinction of our nation's wildlife treasures, including beloved American icons such as the...
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...1. Give 3 examples of endemic and 3 examples of an invasive species. Endemic species invasive species Blue fin tuna snakehead fish Asian elephant stink bugs Sperm whale Zebra mussels 2. Pick one species (endemic or invasive) and discuss its role in the environment. I choose an endemic species the Asian elephant. The elephants importance is that they assist with logging forests, carry heavy material, and assist as transportation. They have the ability to walk in areas where machines are unable to go, their vital role in an ecosystem is they modify the habitat that affects all other plants and animals. They provide water for other animals by digging water holes in the dry seasons (they can easily locate water underground). They make paths in the forest by pushing brush and pulling down trees and also disperse seeds of fruits by depositing them in their dung. 3. What economic impact does it have on human society? Endangerment affecting humans is due to the destruction of habitats there’s not enough food in the small forest for the elephants so they go and look for other food sources which are crops in nearby fields. Attempts were made to locate these animals but because of change in habitats they’ve raided villages and destroyed homes and crops not only do they pose a danger to human society we also pose a danger to...
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...The Endangered Species Act is a conservation act to preserve environments and animals in need. It was created in 1973 but what led up to it was the Act of 1966 and the amendment of 1969. Both of these acts were to limit poaching and help preserve the animals. Congress created the law backed by early conservationists like Dr. Train, Dr. Earl Baysinger Dick Gutting, and Dr. Gerard Then it was approved by clinton who helped start the biggest work to save animals. Endangered species are species that are close or in danger of becoming extinct. There are 7 levels to the endangered animals based on how close they are to being extinct. They use data on population levels, Ecosystems the animals live in and the rate an Organism's population is...
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...Dodo Bird The Dodo Bird was flightless bird which was found on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Dodos stood about a meter in height (3.3ft), and weighing about 20 kilograms (44lb). It had a large hooked beak, stubby wings, and thick legs. They lived off fruit and nested on the ground. The Dodo Bird developed ion near isolation. Since it could not fly it could not spread its population to the surrounding islands. Portuguese sailors were the first Europeans to come across the Dodo Bird. Sailors, settlers’ populations of cats, dogs and pigs, destroyed the dodo's habitat. The Dodo was also used as a supply of food. 175 years after their discovery, the last dodo died. Due to the Dodos isolation it had no natural defense to save itself. Since it had no natural predator it approached the humans without fear which made them easy prey. Because of its lack of natural defenses and the introduction of natural predators the Dodos population rapidly declined. Many Steps could have been taken in order to prevent the extinction of the Dodo Bird. The settlers could have tried to settle far enough so they could avoid interference with the Dodo Bird. Since much of the Dodos habitat was destroyed the settlers could have attempted to restore it to a near natural condition. Once the humans realized that the Dodos population was decreasing they could have tried to save it by raising them in captivate. Kemp Ridley The Kemp Ridley Turtle is the world’s most endangered sea turtle. It...
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...A keystone species is a species that fulfills a very important role in its habitat. When a keystone species is eradicated from the habitat, that habitat undergoes extreme changes. The loss of a keystone species can cause other species to leave the environment and create a domino effect of outcomes. The loss of any organism in a habitat messes up the systems and relationships between other creatures and the balance of the habitat suffers. Many keystone species are predators who are essential to their habitat because they control the population of their prey. Without them, the prey would overpopulate and consume too many resources. When the resources are consumed, other species can no longer live. However, herbivores can be keystone species as well. One example of this is the African elephant, or Loxodonta africana. The African elephant is the world’s largest land mammal. They live in small family groups and have been known to grieve over dead family members. These creatures are in a state of vulnerability, they aren’t endangered yet, but they are close. This species is at high risk for becoming extinct in the wild. In African savannas such as the Serengeti plains region that covers parts of Kenya and Tanzania, elephants...
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...“[B]y tomorrow morning we shall almost certainly have one less species on Planet Earth than we had this morning. It will not be a charismatic creature like the tiger. It could well be an obscure insect in the depths of some remote rainforest. It may even be a creature that nobody has ever heard of. But it will have gone. A unique form of life will have been driven from the face of the earth forever” (Meyers, 1979). The Endangered Species Act was enacted by congress in 1973. The act laid out five relevant findings. The first finding concerned economic growth and development. This development, which often occurred with little to no concern for conservation, has led various fish, wildlife, and plants to extinction. Second, there exists additional...
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