I'm really going to miss attending Marine Biology everyday. I had the sweetest teacher and she was like a mom. She helped each student to understand the material and didn't force us to always watch slide shows, but actually dissect real marine creatures in the class room! It was really fun to have a class where nearly everything was hands on. It helped the process of understanding the material become a lot easier. I know I'll be able to take all of the interesting information I have learned from this class to college with me. Especially, the facts she helped teach us on the fun field trips!!!

Alternative Assignment:

Marine Mammal Trainers Blog:
I think it’s remarkable how these marine mammal trainers are able to get a strong relationship with these creatures such as the seal. It’s nice to see that they can be loving and obedient to their trainer. Especially that they have the ability to do these amazing tricks willingly.

Giant Ocean Tank Divers Blog:

It’s crazy that there is a fish out there as flat as a pancake, even more amazing that they were able to put that fish in the giant ocean tank for everyone to observe! It’s also cool to see how their scales can blend in with seaweeds to hide from predators and with their small mouth, but very shark teeth, they can eat many things.

Penguin Blog:

When the penguins were removed from their location for a while for reconstruction of the tank, it was remarkable to see that once the penguins were back the majority of them went back to the same location with the same pairs to mark their territory. Although, their were brand new penguins who had to adapt to the new location and find their own piece of territory.

Marine Animal Rescue Team Blog:

It’s remarkable to see that they truly care about their marine animals that they even give them doctor check ups. Such as turtle #67 who needed  bronchoscopy. The turtle’s bronchoscopy is very similar to one a human may have; using a scope with a light on it to observe the lungs. During this bronchoscopy, they noticed nothing to be wrong with the lungs, but decided to conduct a new test on turtle #67 to make sure he lives.

Global Explorers Blog:

It’s very impressive that these scientists can conducted new inventions to help conserve the water and in a way that is interesting. It makes me proud of these scientists for doing everything possible to make sure these marine creatures survive. 

Geologic- Biologic Time Line

This activity was interesting to me. It helped share with me how each animal developed into the common animal now. At first, I believed that the oldest creatures were the dinosaurs, but this assignment proved me wrong. There was the Cambrian, Silivran, Devonian, etc. It was interesting to see how the cambrian lived mostly underwater, but by the silivran they started to walk on land. I participated in this group by finding the facts, cutting out the shadow of the octavion creature, and sculpted the fossil. It was a really interesting project that helped me understand how the animals that walk on this world came about.

The Horrifying Decrease in Phytoplankton

I think the article "Phytoplankton Population Drops 40 Percent Since 1950" by Scientific American was the most accurate and unbiased story. It supported it's facts with evidence and explained the decrease of phytoplankton in a factual way, that was successful in convincing the reader in the dangers of life without them.

The story in 2010 discusses the alarming drop in phytoplankton. Although, it was too soon for the scientists to be sure of what the after all effect of the drop will be, they tried their best to guess. Unfortunately, there was no way to prove it. The story in 2013 discussed the new invented tools used to watch the decrease in phytoplankton. They used a Secchi disk to observe the phytoplankton.""This new algorithm allows us to detect changes in plankton numbers that have previously gone unnoticed," said Johnson."""Algorithm finds missing phytoplankton in Southern Ocean." Algorithm finds missing phytoplankton in Southern Ocean. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.phys.org/print298715250.html> But even in 2013, the scientists were unable to predict the effect of the constant decrease in phytoplankton.

The main concern about phytoplankton continuing to decrease is the fact that they support the entire marine life ecosystem. They are at the bottom of the food chain and if they were to become extinct, the animals would all start to die off. Even for us humans, it would be horrifying. Because of the phytoplankton 50% of the worlds Co2 is kept at the bottom of the ocean because of these little sea creatures. They even produce as much oxygen as trees. Without them, our way of life would be greatly affected.

The thought of all phytoplankton becoming extinct is incredibly upsetting. They are the base of the marine food web and benefit us humans more than we realize. It's even more upsetting to think that part of the reason why they are decreasing is because of global warming, which is a biproduct of us humans killing the ozone layer.

Relationship Among Marine Organisms

Marine Food Web:
  The animal that I was in the activity was a seal. Seals usually only eat fish as their diet. As for the animals that eat seals are whales, sharks, humans, etc. The seal is a third class killer; towards the top of the marine food chain. If one species were to become endangered or extinct, the food chain would change. There could be a growth of a certain type of animal or a loss. Animals rely on each other to survive and if one were to die, it would seriously affect the whole food chain.

For the class activity we all were assigned an animal in the marine food web. We went out into the hall and connected each of the sea creatures with who ate who with a sting. We were able to see what would happen if one of the creatures were to become extinct. What I wrote for my exit ticket was: The seal is towards the top of the food web. Seals eat fish mainly. A seal is a third level carnivore. They depend on the other sea creatures to survive. If one of them is removed from the web, it would create a spiral affect.


https://www.google.com/search?q=seal&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_63rUsL5CPCGyQHT3oCoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=667#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=N-vQhqIBHyNbTM%253A%3B1HC8P8AJFHO9NM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Ffiles%252F2012%252F08%252FHarbor-Seal-Pup1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Fusgs_top_story%252Fmutated-flu-virus-kills-new-england-seal-pups%252F%3B627%3B417

Phytoplankton:
   Phytoplankton are very important and essential to the food web. They are at the bottom of the chain, but supply a source of food for animals that then builds the chain. The neuston ecosystem covers up 71% of the Earth's surface. The organisms in the neuston ecosystem are fish, beetles, etc.

Diatoms are well adapted to living in open water, used in filters, and the glitter on them can be used as reflective paint. Diatoms use and depend on the sunlight to preform photosynthesis and nutrients. They have adapted to surviving in open water. They stay afloat to collect the sun's energy and some have spines to help keep them afloat.

Diatomaceaus earth is diatom skeletons. The reflection of light is made from the silica on them. Because of their silica they can be used for reflective paint. They are very useful and can be found in the filters of pools to clean.

From this lab, I was able to learn how tiny these particles are and with a microscope we were able to the see the beautiful designs and how they reflect. On the diatoms are circles, but if you look closer they are hexagons. It opened my eyes to realize that everything on this earth can be useful.

Energy Flow:
Energy is moved from each trophic level to the next because of the pass of nutrients and survival. Each creature relies on each other to survive which spreads energy to each trophic level.

Human Impacts:
Humans play a huge role in marine food webs because they eat and kill the creatures in the ocean. This could be very dangerous because it affects the energy between the trophic levels and could leave some of the sea creatures starving. This could upset the balance of the ocean ecosystem.

The Earth's uneven heating is due to the fact that the Earth is at a tilted angle. Also, the Earth is a sphere and parts of the world can't all be heated at once. One final example is Earth's optical orbit. It spins and circle in a pattern preventing the whole Earth receiving the same about of heat. A model that help explains this is when in class we held up a globe and had a flashlight shine at the globe. It showed which areas of the earth received direct heat unlike certain parts of the globe received little to none.

The Earth's rotation affects the movement of air and water masses. The way the Earth rotates creates certain movements of air to spiral and create a constant pattern. As well as the water masses, they're affected because of the motion of the Earth. The coriolis effect is when the air spins in a perpendicular way and creates weather patterns. We examined this through cutting out a circle piece of paper and putting a pencil through the middle of the paper. We spun the paper and used a water dropper to drop tiny pieces of water showing us how the water spun around the paper in a spiral effect. Hadley cells are when air rises at the equator and then drops down. Most deserts are found at 30 degrees N or S latitude due to the fact that there is direct sun light hitting those degrees warmer the Earth to an extensive heat.

There are prevailing global wind patterns due to the fact that the Earth is tilted at an angle and certain parts of the Earth receive more sunlight/heat than other sections. Such as the equator. The equator receives the most heat and the doldrums are formed there.  Global wind patterns are prevailing because of the heat the world receives.  As for the westerlies, the weather patterns and airline flights are affected. They are very powerful and can give the plan extra speed due to the strength of the winds. But, once the plane needs to except the wind pattern, it is very difficult because of its strength.  



http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/6000/6679/global_lightning_lrg.jpg

Wind patterns might change as a result of global warming because the wind patterns are affected by the climate of the world. Especially at the equator. This article helps support this statement. http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/climate-in-context-global-warmings-potential-impact-on-wind-energy

Loggerhead Island

1. What special considerations did you have to make for the nesting sea turtle sites located on the barrier island?

We made sure that there was no resorts or a ton of human interaction with the nests of the sea turtles. Also, due to the closeness of the homes, we made a rule stating that there must be dark hours once the sun sets so the turtles aren't drawn to the light of the buildings. The people inside the homes must shut the shades if they're going to have lights on. We also built a tall wall blocking the highway so the turtles aren't drawn to the lights of the cars. 

2. What special considerations had to be made when determining a good site for the proposed fishing pier?

We made sure it wasn't located near the turtles, worms, or other sea creatures that could be affected by the fishing. We also made sure that there was no boating allowed, only kayaking and canoeing. 

3. What could be some of the potential problems that might arise from the proposed golf course? Propose some of the ways in which the impacts can be reduced.

One of the concerns was the golf balls getting hit into the highway or the ocean and the sea creatures trying to eat it. To stop the golf balls from going into the highway we built another decently sized wall to prevent the balls from going into the highway. Also, we made sure that the golf course was far enough from the water so there wouldn't be a chance that it impacts the sea creatures.

4. What are the economic benefits to the community of Loggerhead County if the development was done with the least amount of environmental impact?

The Loggerhead County would be an ecosystem in its self. It would be very peaceful and how the world should truly be treated. The reproduction of the animals wouldn't be altered with nor would our presence create an issue to the island. The island would be a great example for the world to follow. 

5. Describe three ways in which humans negatively impact coastal ecosystems such as the one you are working on with Loggerhead Barrier Island.

Humans often litter their trash outside of their windows, meaning that the animals may attempt to eat it and die. Also, it's not the cleanest way for us to live. Another negative impact is how we don't protect the animals. Such as the sea turtles, we don't make sure that they're safe from people walking over the nests and even drawing them to the cars by the lights instead of being drawn to the ocean. One final negative impact is boating. Boating can kill the sea creatures in the ocean from their propellers.

6. How can maintaining natural vegetation help us to reduce the damage caused by oceanic events such as hurricanes, tsunami and continued beach erosion?

We can keep the shoreline in place making sure we do not disrupt the oceans ways of life.

7. After listening to the other groups make their presentations, were there any ideas they had you would have used if you had though about it before-hand? You should list at least three different ideas and indicate why their idea is actually better for the environment than yours. 

I did not see any other ideas that were better unfortunately, but I was able to come up with better ideas on my own. We could create an rule of absolutely NO LITTERING on the island. We could make the fine very large and threatening. Also, we could use solar panels to be more environmentally friendly. One final idea is to use compost to help the island grow.