I learned about the many nutrient cycles in our world that human activity has changed for the worse. The first example of this is excess phosphorus released by fertilizers into the ocean. This causes a bloom of sea-life, which kills the other organisms. Another, which I kinda already knew about, was the increase of carbon in the atmosphere due to the burning of the fossil fuels. What I didn't know was this simultaneously reduced the carbon sink levels underground. The last thing I learned was how excess legumes (Peanuts, peas, green beans, etc) planted create an excess of nitrogen in our soil.
Two ways this information relates to environmental science includes the effects on nutrient cycles and the political implications of the damage being done. The cycles being interrupted change fundamentally how the species involved can interact or even live in their environment. Less or more of something can be the difference between life or death of some species. The political side deals with how we stop these problems. On one hand, the positive feedback loops created by these issues with teh cycles in destroying ecosystems. On the other, how do you tell a family of peanut farmers to find new work?
A question I have is which cycle being affected is the most dangerous? Will changes to the sulfur cycle really matter? Which do I need to be conscious about when i spend money or go somewhere?
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Bro This Shit's Important!
Three things I learned from the article were many specific instances of introducing a new species to an ecosystem and it screwing up a food web. The titular example presented involved palm trees being planted instead of native trees near the ocean shore where giant Rays lived. Since Palms make crappy homes for birds, they moved away and there was no poop (nitrogen) flowing into the water, creating life for the Rays to strive off. The other two examples I learned about were similar situations involving Salmon off the west coast of the United States and Foxes killing birds in Alaska. Both times nutrients were removed from the land or sea ecosystem, endangering the nutrient cycle involving the other.
Two ways these events affect Environmental Science include the use of Chemistry and Economics. The cash crops being grown (palms) are there to support life of humans there and other places, so the argument comes to the forefront of weather or not they need to protect the rays, even if it means losing their line of work. The chemical side of the equation comes in the form of the Nitrogen cycle involving the guano. A special isotope called Nitrogen-15 was the key variety of nitrogen that enrich the ocean and soil near the shores. Without it, the trees, plankton, and other sea-life would suffer greatly.
A question I want to ask now is what can I eat as a person living in Houston that won't support some farm ruining lives elsewhere? What foods can I eat that are grown in places they naturally belong and don't kill the planet at the same time? My guess would be not many.
Two ways these events affect Environmental Science include the use of Chemistry and Economics. The cash crops being grown (palms) are there to support life of humans there and other places, so the argument comes to the forefront of weather or not they need to protect the rays, even if it means losing their line of work. The chemical side of the equation comes in the form of the Nitrogen cycle involving the guano. A special isotope called Nitrogen-15 was the key variety of nitrogen that enrich the ocean and soil near the shores. Without it, the trees, plankton, and other sea-life would suffer greatly.
A question I want to ask now is what can I eat as a person living in Houston that won't support some farm ruining lives elsewhere? What foods can I eat that are grown in places they naturally belong and don't kill the planet at the same time? My guess would be not many.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Coral, yer Mom's dead!
Three things I learned from this article include the alarming rate that coral reefs are being affected by climate change (exacerbated in 50 to 100 years), that water absorbs one third of all carbon dioxide emitted by the burning of fossil fuels, and that coral reefs support a quarter of all fish in the ocean.
The above info applies to APES when we see the chain reaction caused by the carbon dioxide entering the water. The substance makes the ocean more acidic (three times as of last year) which in turn makes it difficult for clams, mussels, etc. to grow shells. When these fish all die there is no food left for bigger fish, so they go to the shore to eat us and Jaws goes from Science Fiction to Documentary. Another way this pertains to our class is through the political side. The article discusses how the only real way to fix this problem is to drastically slash the amount of fossil fuels burned near water areas.
Even if we stopped polluting the ocean, what do we need to do to restore the reefs?
The above info applies to APES when we see the chain reaction caused by the carbon dioxide entering the water. The substance makes the ocean more acidic (three times as of last year) which in turn makes it difficult for clams, mussels, etc. to grow shells. When these fish all die there is no food left for bigger fish, so they go to the shore to eat us and Jaws goes from Science Fiction to Documentary. Another way this pertains to our class is through the political side. The article discusses how the only real way to fix this problem is to drastically slash the amount of fossil fuels burned near water areas.
Even if we stopped polluting the ocean, what do we need to do to restore the reefs?
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
That Makes Me So Wet
Today I had the pleasure of taking my younger sister and brother to see the movie Finding Dory. It was very cute and funny, but the part that you are interested in was what happened after we exited the theater. A sudden downpour came down on us like you wouldn't believe.
My siblings were soaked and got my backseats all wet, but I didn't mind because I saw something that was funny to me, a pair of birds hiding from the rain under a dumpster. they flew there instead of in any of the nearby trees. It got me thinking about the post I made yesterday and how I argued against urban sprawl and how it harmed animals and took away their homes. But now I'm beginning the wonder if only some get hurt, maybe a few have begun to rely on us building forever.
You hear about it all the, two species that have nothing in common co-existing to benefit each other. There's alligators, and those small birds, sharks and those small fish, so why not humans and say rats, cockroaches, pigeons, etc? Could you make the argument that some animals have thrived greater than they ever could without skyscrapers and malls? Sure, maybe their health isn't all that great but don't we tend to measure success in all species by its population? You would never say that cows and struggling as a species, even though most of them have horrible diets and routines on their "farms." It's an interesting thing to think about.
I probably wont write anymore until I absolutely have to, or I guess if I'm impregnated by an alien species That'd be pretty interesting.
My siblings were soaked and got my backseats all wet, but I didn't mind because I saw something that was funny to me, a pair of birds hiding from the rain under a dumpster. they flew there instead of in any of the nearby trees. It got me thinking about the post I made yesterday and how I argued against urban sprawl and how it harmed animals and took away their homes. But now I'm beginning the wonder if only some get hurt, maybe a few have begun to rely on us building forever.
You hear about it all the, two species that have nothing in common co-existing to benefit each other. There's alligators, and those small birds, sharks and those small fish, so why not humans and say rats, cockroaches, pigeons, etc? Could you make the argument that some animals have thrived greater than they ever could without skyscrapers and malls? Sure, maybe their health isn't all that great but don't we tend to measure success in all species by its population? You would never say that cows and struggling as a species, even though most of them have horrible diets and routines on their "farms." It's an interesting thing to think about.
I probably wont write anymore until I absolutely have to, or I guess if I'm impregnated by an alien species That'd be pretty interesting.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Stomach Bug
A few weeks ago I encountered a man who was friends with my dad. I learned he was recently diagnosed with having a form of cancer in his stomach, a strange side effect that came from a build up of bacteria in his organs.
While this problem may not seem to relate to nature, I think it is relevant when discussing how he got the bacteria. When he was younger, he lived in an extremely poor area of Houston, and often times had to resort to digging through trash to find an adequate amount of food for him and his family. The doctors believe that years of doing this is what caused him to ingest the deadly bacteria. This problem isn't restricted to that of people, we see if frequently with animals as well.
When animals lose their habitat, they usually are forced into civilian areas and are starved for a new source of food. Sharks come closer to shore, bears start licking grills clean, and birds find table scraps for their young. To some it may seem like a natural part of life, but in reality it is far from it. My dad's friend is an example of the harm that overpopulation and urban sprawl does to not only humans, but animals as well.
Again, this particular situation may not be directly related to Environmental Science, the themes do reflect an issue that is ever present in any natural setting.
While this problem may not seem to relate to nature, I think it is relevant when discussing how he got the bacteria. When he was younger, he lived in an extremely poor area of Houston, and often times had to resort to digging through trash to find an adequate amount of food for him and his family. The doctors believe that years of doing this is what caused him to ingest the deadly bacteria. This problem isn't restricted to that of people, we see if frequently with animals as well.
When animals lose their habitat, they usually are forced into civilian areas and are starved for a new source of food. Sharks come closer to shore, bears start licking grills clean, and birds find table scraps for their young. To some it may seem like a natural part of life, but in reality it is far from it. My dad's friend is an example of the harm that overpopulation and urban sprawl does to not only humans, but animals as well.
Again, this particular situation may not be directly related to Environmental Science, the themes do reflect an issue that is ever present in any natural setting.
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