Final Impact Journal
I have always wanted to take an environmental class at BCC and my last quarter here I finally did it and glad I did. My family is somewhat big on environmental issues but my older sister at Seattle University is an environmental nut! Needless to say she got me really excited to take this course and always had someone there that I could discuss the issues with. I remember the firs t few days of class we discussed population and growth within the U.S. and the world. To be quite honest it grossed me out and made me depressed about the direction our world is going in. I had no idea the extent and severity that population growth had moved to. Going hand in hand with this was consumption and I am glad we talked about this because being Americans it relates the most to us.
From this class I honestly have been impacted and affected in my everyday ways in a lot of senses. From the bottled water discussion I have completely changed my usage and awareness of bottled water and passed on the knowledge and facts to people around me that may not have known this information. I also try to conserve more weather it be water or food or material things. Recycling doesn’t just mean re-using paper or cans but rather taking clothing, furniture and other useful products to a place where other people can use them and they are recycled rather than put into a landfill.
Many of the issues we learned about I had a brief understanding about but the way we were able to go in depth and really break things down made me really see the light of things. Instances like food webs and biodiversity really showed me the value in consuming a variety of things and being aware of the source for many foods such as fish. I was also able to better understand how animals and living organisms can become extinct, what makes certain things more susceptible and what we should and should not do to certain habitats.
I thought one of the most fascinating areas we discussed this quarter was evolution. Although we didn’t spend a great deal of time on it, it was interesting to learn about the different impacts that have affected evolution and how there is evidence to prove the evolving of things. Nature is incredible in the way that things can evolve based on the changing ways of the environment.
I valued learning about why water and soil is important and what effects we have on it. The most important thing that was taught throughout the quarter though was how to improve and prevent issues from furthering. All too often I find myself in class or lecture learning about the many negative occurrences but I leave not knowing what can be done to change these things. Having a list or lists of different ways I can helped the environment on a regular basis gives me hope and a sense of contribution to a better Earth and that is essential to getting there.
Probably my ultimate favorite thing discussed was the issue regarding genetically modified plants. I had never really understood this and all of this came as sort of a shock. It changed a lot of the ideas I had and gave me a sense of hope for the future farmers. I shared this information with a lot of my family and friends and was able to debate and understand both sides of the spectrum. I am surprised this isn’t in the news on a regular basis!
There were many interesting current events that w4ere talked about. Mine were interesting and dealt with emissions requirements and extinction of a certain tuna. These harsh realities made re evaluate my consumption and opened my eyes to some of the issues and politics that are caught up in the environmental world today. As we all agree the event of the giant floating plastic wasteland in the Pacific was something that stuck out. I could not believe that this was allowed to happen in today’s society and that it is still out there right now. I hope that this is taken care of and hopefully dealt with in an effective way. Another current event that I remember vividly was one that dealt with a school and parents that thought the “Inconvenient Truth” was too harsh and dramatic. Well it’s funny because the truth of our current world’s state is harsh and dramatic and people need to be aware of it before it’s too late. There is no time for sugar coating the truth nor is there any reason to,
Looking at my long list of resources I see that I consume a great amount on a regular basis. Form plants and vegetables that use soil, trees for any paper or homes, petroleum for tons of plastics and gasoline, gas for heating, water for drinking, cleaning, cooking, heating, etc, animals for eating, metals and other mined materials for countless things I am a major consumer of environmental materials. I nee to cut back on the usage of plastic by using reusable water bottles, reusable grocery bags, less or no disposable kitchenware and many other plastics. I can also aim to conserve more water by cutting down on my showering and faucet running to a bare minimum.
Unfortunately in this quarter I have also come to terms with the amount of waste and pollution I put out into the world. The three different worksheets really helped put that into perspective. Through things like driving a vehicle and using electricity I learned that on a daily basis I put off about 100 pounds of carbon dioxide each day; not a number I am proud of. The worksheets allowed me to see the massive amounts of water I use each year and made me re-think some of my daily habits. These are just some obvious and major ways I directly impact the environment but there are countless other ways as well such as consumption. I learned the concept of energy totals that are truly behind a product or material and I was able to see how even the consumption of a product mean I was contributing to pollution often.
Overall this class was a success for me. I really enjoyed the reflective weekly journals and the periodic class discussions. I was uneasy about the idea of having to talk and discuss out loud in class about certain topics but by the end of the quarter felt more than comfortable to speak my mind. I thought our class had a lot of different opinions and discussed well. We almost had too much to say at times! Not only have I successfully completed yet another course at BCC but I have honestly acquired a broad understanding for the environment and the environmental issues on our world today. Many of the topics we discussed I was unaware of and am happy to now be educated about them, I look at the purchasing or a bottle of water differently, the flushing of a toilet, the flipping of a light switch, the type of detergent I use, the type of fish I order at a restaurant and many other things that effect the environment that I never thought twice about before. The fact that I in more than a few ways, will alter my ways means that much more chance of helping the environment and conserving what e have left. I would recommend this class to anyone that had any sliver of interest in the environment and I feel truly impacted from this course.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Journal week 9
With the last worksheet given we were asked to find our personal carbon emissions amounts. With electricity as my main source of energy in my home and gasoline to run my car I sadly came to the conclusion that I am giving off a great amount of carbon dioxide on a regular basis. From gasoline alone (and I don’t’ drive that much) my calculations said that I gave off 98.16 pounds of carbon dioxide a DAY and 35,828 pounds a year. This to me was the most shocking number out of the entire set of worksheets. I had no idea that this number was so high and even with a small, light, decent gas mileage car. From electricity I alone used 2118 kWh from coal burning in one year alone. This lead to 847 pound of carbon dioxide from coal each year! My total contribution to carbon dioxide was 36,675 pounds and made me a little sick to my stomach. This means that I would need over 9 acres of woodland to absorb this annual output of carbon dioxide. Lets just say I felt a little guilty and selfish.
Besides the obvious and large ways that I contribute to CO2 in the atmosphere there are many other ways I do as well that are direct or indirect. The purchasing of products that take great energy to produce generally give off a lot of CO2 emissions and my consumption of this product supports those emissions. Other products that I purchase including even food and groceries need to be transported to the store and therefore must at some point give off carbon dioxide. Other things that might not jump to the mind are things like airplanes, ships, trains and other ways of transportation.
I would like to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that I produce and there are a variety of ways that I could do this. Things like carpooling, walking, or riding bikes or even the bus can help with the transportation area issues. Other things like conserving electricity or consumption can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and air pollution that we give off. I think that the districts and cities should push for cleaner air and stricter regulations of the amount and types of pollutants being put out into the air. Companies should be rewarded for cutting back pollution and others should be penalized for excess amounts.
Besides the obvious and large ways that I contribute to CO2 in the atmosphere there are many other ways I do as well that are direct or indirect. The purchasing of products that take great energy to produce generally give off a lot of CO2 emissions and my consumption of this product supports those emissions. Other products that I purchase including even food and groceries need to be transported to the store and therefore must at some point give off carbon dioxide. Other things that might not jump to the mind are things like airplanes, ships, trains and other ways of transportation.
I would like to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that I produce and there are a variety of ways that I could do this. Things like carpooling, walking, or riding bikes or even the bus can help with the transportation area issues. Other things like conserving electricity or consumption can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and air pollution that we give off. I think that the districts and cities should push for cleaner air and stricter regulations of the amount and types of pollutants being put out into the air. Companies should be rewarded for cutting back pollution and others should be penalized for excess amounts.
Journal week 8
I live in Seattle and use Seattle Public Utilities to attain clean water. Yet
Public water systems contain more than one connection. The public systems are managed by homeowners, private non-profit organizations, corporations such as homeowners' associations, private, for-profit companies and municipalities such as cities and water districts. My wastewater goes out into the septic tanks where it is treated in the drain field in Bothell,WA. When it is cleaned and treated it begins its process into the larger water areas. Because we as humans have such advanced technology and sciences we are able to cut corners and conserve water. There are things like conservation kits that can help prevent or stop leaks in water outlets that will allow the saving of unnecessary water. I can do things like shorten my showers, wait longer to wash my clothes or only use the exact water amount to cook with.
I certainly try to conserve water as much as possible for environmental reasons as well as financial. I must admit though I do definitely take part in the pollution of water in indirect ways that still have great effects. I myself produce waste and wastewater that must be cleaned and filtered then sent back into rivers and streams. If this water is not clean it could damage and infect the water with pollutants. I also indirectly contribute to pollution by consuming certain goods like coal or jewels that are mined from the ground and where the water is polluted.
This section on water ties in with our class lectures and how we are learning about the complexities of this vital substance. As we are seeing there are many effects coming about that greatly impact water and must be addressed. People as usual, are greatly taking advantage of this material and are pumping it out in mass quantities of certain areas. This can lead to the depletion of ground water, which is important, and therefore land subsidence. There is also another effect that is called saltwater intrusion that is polluting the fresh water needed by humans.
I wish that instead of taking advantage of everything the Earth has to offer, humans could embrace and respect the materials and use them according to their availability. Then maybe things wouldn’t be so off balanced and the world would not he in the state it is right now. I also find it ironic that with so much if the Earth’s surface water we still have major issues not having enough. When will we begin relying on ocean water? Maybe never?
I certainly try to conserve water as much as possible for environmental reasons as well as financial. I must admit though I do definitely take part in the pollution of water in indirect ways that still have great effects. I myself produce waste and wastewater that must be cleaned and filtered then sent back into rivers and streams. If this water is not clean it could damage and infect the water with pollutants. I also indirectly contribute to pollution by consuming certain goods like coal or jewels that are mined from the ground and where the water is polluted.
This section on water ties in with our class lectures and how we are learning about the complexities of this vital substance. As we are seeing there are many effects coming about that greatly impact water and must be addressed. People as usual, are greatly taking advantage of this material and are pumping it out in mass quantities of certain areas. This can lead to the depletion of ground water, which is important, and therefore land subsidence. There is also another effect that is called saltwater intrusion that is polluting the fresh water needed by humans.
I wish that instead of taking advantage of everything the Earth has to offer, humans could embrace and respect the materials and use them according to their availability. Then maybe things wouldn’t be so off balanced and the world would not he in the state it is right now. I also find it ironic that with so much if the Earth’s surface water we still have major issues not having enough. When will we begin relying on ocean water? Maybe never?
Journal week 7
This week we talked a lot about energy and how humans use it. I was able to successfully fill out my personal energy record and really see the amount of energy I consume within a day and year. I calculated my usage of gasoline and realized that I use roughly about 4.09 gallons of gas on an average day. I did run some errands and go to school and work but for the most part I keep the driving to a minimum. My car also gets decent miles per gallon which helps cut down cost and energy usage. I live in an apartment where I have electric heat and power. I go through Puget Sound Energy and they allowed me easy access to my usage status online with graphs and numbers. I learned that on average I use around 21 kilowatts-hours per day, which I could not have come close to guessing prior to this. My roommate and I try to keep the heat down and the lights off unless needed to both conserve energy as well as money. We honestly did already value the saving of energy before learning about these numbers and statistics; this just really helps put it into perspective. I tried to think of the other ways in which I use energy and it occurred to me that there are various types of batteries that allow me to use energy such as the battery in my cell phone, computer, car, iPod and remote control. By the end of the worksheet I had realized that not only did I consume much more energy on a regular basis than I thought but I actually came to see that I use 63,082 kilowatt-hours every single year! This is just an approximate number that came from my energy bill but that doesn’t take into consideration all of the other ways that I use and consume energy like food and consuming products. It’s amazing to think that oil is brought from underground or that there are power plants around my area that create the energy I live off of.
My energy use clearly has many impacts on the environment. I consume many products and materials that come from the earth such as petroleum and water and have learned to depend on these items. Not only do I partake in great consumption but also I also unfortunately contribute to the ongoing output of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through energy consumption. This clearly has great effects on the environment and is increasingly worsening.
It seems like anything I touch, do or use involves some energy consumption. From turning up the heat in my room to driving a car I directly use materials that create energy. But beyond this are many ways that I use energy that is more indirect and behind the scenes. I know the building of computers takes many machines and technologies as well as material. The simple purchase of a computer, which seems un-linked to energy usage, is anything but irrelevant. Many things that involve production, assembly and manipulation of materials generally means large factories and much carbon dioxide out put. I understand that even the purchase of a loaf of bread has many links to energy with labor, baking, packaging, shipping and sales. The best thing I can do is conserve when able and to consume when necessary.
My energy use clearly has many impacts on the environment. I consume many products and materials that come from the earth such as petroleum and water and have learned to depend on these items. Not only do I partake in great consumption but also I also unfortunately contribute to the ongoing output of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through energy consumption. This clearly has great effects on the environment and is increasingly worsening.
It seems like anything I touch, do or use involves some energy consumption. From turning up the heat in my room to driving a car I directly use materials that create energy. But beyond this are many ways that I use energy that is more indirect and behind the scenes. I know the building of computers takes many machines and technologies as well as material. The simple purchase of a computer, which seems un-linked to energy usage, is anything but irrelevant. Many things that involve production, assembly and manipulation of materials generally means large factories and much carbon dioxide out put. I understand that even the purchase of a loaf of bread has many links to energy with labor, baking, packaging, shipping and sales. The best thing I can do is conserve when able and to consume when necessary.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
WEEK 6
I was really glad we got to have the class discussions about genetic engineering. It is clearly a hot topic and I think, very important in today’s news and technology. I originally took the side of ‘pro” genetic engineering but actually at the time was not really partial to either side. As the talk went on I began finding myself relating more to the side I was on and gaining stronger feelings. I thought my side did a good job of displaying a lot of evidence about where genetic engineering could take us because there is a lot of theory out there already. I began to realize that with the help of genetic engineering, great things could be accomplished. One of the main points that I thought really sold our side was the fact that genetically modified crops could possibly grow in marginalized lands and areas that were once useless. This means there is more room for crops and food to grow, which clearly helps hunger issues, but also another point that deals with local sustainability for farmers. Because new crops will be able to grow in more areas and have better chances of surviving, farmers would be able to supply more food for their local area rather than depending on distribution. This would then feed the people but also stimulate the economy.
A few other important points that support genetic engineering are that different vitamins and nutrients can be added to crops which of course would lead to a possibly healthier populations. One more point that I think is important to note is the fact that some genetically engineered plants will need less pesticides because of things that can be added to the crop and therefore less pesticides will go into the environment.
Although these are some very positive outcomes from genetic engineering, it would not be right of me to be all “pro” at this point. There were debates in the class about how the farmers would acquire these seeds and how they would afford new seeds especially with at the patenting going on. A good idea was thrown out about donators and non-profits providing seeds instead of food directly to communities and that would be great, but there is definitely no guaranteeing this. Another main issue that I think would be in many American’s concerns are the questions regarding safety. Genetic engineering in the large picture is relatively new and we might not be able to see the negative effects (if any) for many years possibly. Most people don’t want to be guinea pigs for scientists and run at the label “genetically modified” on their foods. To be honest I don’t blame them to a certain extent.
I am sure that there are many foods that I have eaten over the years but not known it. I called the Campbell’s soup people and they wouldn’t give me a straight answer, it was a little frustrating but when I called the ORGANIC soup people that I also had in my pantry they gave me a clear “no” and said everything was completely natural. I honestly would like to see a label on the foods that are genetically modified, and I am surprised it hasn’t been forced to happen yen but I do understand how there might be an unnecessary fear or negative connotations that could go along with these labels. I think until the public has a right to know what they are eating but if they are more educated and informed about it they might not look at it in such a negative light. I also think that “genetically engineered or genetically modified” does sound completely unnatural and almost offensive so maybe a better label could ease people into the idea. An average American might snicker at the label of “genetically modified rice” that is only different because there is an added vitamin then continue on shopping and pick up a box of Oreos that they know and trust. Ironic huh?
After discussing the genetic engineering arguments we learned about soils and all that goes into this one important thing. I certainly indirectly impact soil by consuming agricultural goods that come from the soil. It seems like everything I use, wear, live in and more have some relations to the soil and so it should be taken very seriously. I try to by organic foods because it comes from a natural place and is healthier not only for the soil but the rivers, oceans, entire environment and me. I followed the directions in the journal questions about tracking some of the inorganic materials I use. To start off the day I took a shower and used non-organic shampoo that ran down my drain and out into the world. That honestly was something I had never stopped and thought about. Then I put on a little make up which is made up of who-knows what and headed to work. On the way I put in a cd that is not organic (ha ha) and comes in a plastic box. I work as a barista at a coffee stand. At my job I deal with coffee that unfortunately is not organic and milk that isn’t either. I place the drinks in paper cups with plastic lids and send them out the window over and over again. After today and tracking all the waste and non-organic things I deal with I thought about quitting my job and moving to an island where I would live as hunters and gatherers with no electricity and where I would not manipulate the earth. This didn’t exactly happen despite my feelings but lets just say I felt a little guilty for the day and got the picture. ☺
A few other important points that support genetic engineering are that different vitamins and nutrients can be added to crops which of course would lead to a possibly healthier populations. One more point that I think is important to note is the fact that some genetically engineered plants will need less pesticides because of things that can be added to the crop and therefore less pesticides will go into the environment.
Although these are some very positive outcomes from genetic engineering, it would not be right of me to be all “pro” at this point. There were debates in the class about how the farmers would acquire these seeds and how they would afford new seeds especially with at the patenting going on. A good idea was thrown out about donators and non-profits providing seeds instead of food directly to communities and that would be great, but there is definitely no guaranteeing this. Another main issue that I think would be in many American’s concerns are the questions regarding safety. Genetic engineering in the large picture is relatively new and we might not be able to see the negative effects (if any) for many years possibly. Most people don’t want to be guinea pigs for scientists and run at the label “genetically modified” on their foods. To be honest I don’t blame them to a certain extent.
I am sure that there are many foods that I have eaten over the years but not known it. I called the Campbell’s soup people and they wouldn’t give me a straight answer, it was a little frustrating but when I called the ORGANIC soup people that I also had in my pantry they gave me a clear “no” and said everything was completely natural. I honestly would like to see a label on the foods that are genetically modified, and I am surprised it hasn’t been forced to happen yen but I do understand how there might be an unnecessary fear or negative connotations that could go along with these labels. I think until the public has a right to know what they are eating but if they are more educated and informed about it they might not look at it in such a negative light. I also think that “genetically engineered or genetically modified” does sound completely unnatural and almost offensive so maybe a better label could ease people into the idea. An average American might snicker at the label of “genetically modified rice” that is only different because there is an added vitamin then continue on shopping and pick up a box of Oreos that they know and trust. Ironic huh?
After discussing the genetic engineering arguments we learned about soils and all that goes into this one important thing. I certainly indirectly impact soil by consuming agricultural goods that come from the soil. It seems like everything I use, wear, live in and more have some relations to the soil and so it should be taken very seriously. I try to by organic foods because it comes from a natural place and is healthier not only for the soil but the rivers, oceans, entire environment and me. I followed the directions in the journal questions about tracking some of the inorganic materials I use. To start off the day I took a shower and used non-organic shampoo that ran down my drain and out into the world. That honestly was something I had never stopped and thought about. Then I put on a little make up which is made up of who-knows what and headed to work. On the way I put in a cd that is not organic (ha ha) and comes in a plastic box. I work as a barista at a coffee stand. At my job I deal with coffee that unfortunately is not organic and milk that isn’t either. I place the drinks in paper cups with plastic lids and send them out the window over and over again. After today and tracking all the waste and non-organic things I deal with I thought about quitting my job and moving to an island where I would live as hunters and gatherers with no electricity and where I would not manipulate the earth. This didn’t exactly happen despite my feelings but lets just say I felt a little guilty for the day and got the picture. ☺
WEEK 4/5
This week we talked a lot about biodiversity and the impacts that humans have. I impact biodiversity in many different ways. I use many things that effect animals and their habitats from the home I live in to the amount of pollution I contribute to. These things lead to habitat loss and degradation or destruction. I also may indirectly support acts that are dangerous to species from overkill. I eat things like Sushi or seafood that may be improperly caught. It would be smart of me to look into where my food comes from and be knowledgeable about its history. Learning about how different species are introduced in non-native places was really interesting. It’s funny to see that blackberries were not a native plant in the U.S. yet it has grown rapidly across the country. Learning about how disease is introduced is interesting but also somewhat scary. It makes sense that this would be a factor that would lead to the depletion of species. It is important for me to understand these contributing factors that influence biodiversity so that I can do my best to try and use and/by products and goods that come from a healthy and safe place.
Species extinction is unfortunate but also a natural piece of the world to a certain extent. It occurs when things are off balance and the environment does not match it’s living organisms. Despite nature’s ability to cause some necessary extinction, humans have played the biggest role in causing species extinction. Often it is a result of human abuse on the environment and it’s resources and this should be definitely focused on. We should do our very best to try to not cause any more extinctions in the world because as we know every organism is important in biodiversity and holds a necessary niche. Humans need to try to reduce their impacts on biodiversity and the environment as much as possible.
I was able to get Kamut at PCC, which I had never tried before. I thought this tasted pretty good and it seemed healthy for me. Eating new and different types of food are helpful to maintaining biodiversity because it widens the amount of choices that I can eat from. It comes from a different place and different plants and helps balance the options and choices for foods.
Zoos can be very beneficial to animals and bio diversity. People can take animals from the wild that are in need of help and treat them. Zoos can also be helpful connectedness where animals can reproduce and then set back into the wild. A good point that was brought up in class that I had never thought about was about how people form a connection with the animals they see at zoos and tend to care more for the animals. A downside to zoos could be if the animals are not given proper habitats and are unhappy with their lives or if they are not taken properly care of. I think for the most part though, zoos are great and helpful and the animals really do benefit from being there.
Species extinction is unfortunate but also a natural piece of the world to a certain extent. It occurs when things are off balance and the environment does not match it’s living organisms. Despite nature’s ability to cause some necessary extinction, humans have played the biggest role in causing species extinction. Often it is a result of human abuse on the environment and it’s resources and this should be definitely focused on. We should do our very best to try to not cause any more extinctions in the world because as we know every organism is important in biodiversity and holds a necessary niche. Humans need to try to reduce their impacts on biodiversity and the environment as much as possible.
I was able to get Kamut at PCC, which I had never tried before. I thought this tasted pretty good and it seemed healthy for me. Eating new and different types of food are helpful to maintaining biodiversity because it widens the amount of choices that I can eat from. It comes from a different place and different plants and helps balance the options and choices for foods.
Zoos can be very beneficial to animals and bio diversity. People can take animals from the wild that are in need of help and treat them. Zoos can also be helpful connectedness where animals can reproduce and then set back into the wild. A good point that was brought up in class that I had never thought about was about how people form a connection with the animals they see at zoos and tend to care more for the animals. A downside to zoos could be if the animals are not given proper habitats and are unhappy with their lives or if they are not taken properly care of. I think for the most part though, zoos are great and helpful and the animals really do benefit from being there.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
JOURNAL ACTIVITY 1
Lauren Sinclair
October 30, 2007
Envsc 204
Journal Activity 1
AQUARIUM TRIP
I decided to take my journal activity to the aquarium. I have been wanting to go lately and if I can go and get credit at the same time I see a great situation! I also think it really relates to environmental science and what we have been talking about with fishing, pollution, biodiversity and much more. I had been there once or twice before but many years ago so the information was all new to me.
I thought the whole set up and arrangement was really interesting. I first walked into the area that was called “Sound in the Mountains.” Here there was the mock river and lots of information about water around the globe. I liked that we were able to see the river from a side perspective and see both the upper action of the surface as well as what was happening beneath the water. Of course my favorite part of this area was where the northern fur seals were living. It was great to be able to see them so close up. I also thought it was smart of the aquarium to design the tank so that we could see the upper level of the seals habitat where they rested out of the water and also be able to walk down stairs and see them swimming deep in water. I learned that these furry guys, on average, live to be about 26. That is much longer than I would have guessed. I also learned about how the male seals fast during mating season for one to two months! After I did a little more research on these animals I read about how, “The 2000 IUCN Red Data list considers the northern fur seal to be Vulnerable.” [1] The northern fur seal has been hunted for fur since the 18th Century, and in 1911, the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention was founded. I understand now the importance of the food webs these animals live in and the impacts that arise if any species is altered. I know from learning in my environmental class that especially the animals that are higher on the food web are less in abundance on a natural level and generally reproduce at smaller rates than those of say producers or primary consumers. I suspect that this is true for the seals which is why it is easily believable that they could have been vulnerable to extinction if hunted. I hope things are being turned around today to stop this possible issue.
Next I went to the “Puget sound fishes.” There were so many types of fish here and so much information. It was a little time consuming to go through all of the wall postings but well worth it. I thought it was fascinating to learn that there are actually more than 200 different types of fish in just the Puget Sound. There was a type of clingfish in here that one of the staff persons pointed out that was really cute and was suctioned to the wall. I thought it was interesting that they actually use their pelvic fins to suction themselves to rocks. I looked up some more information about clingfish and learned that a clingfish's suction cup does double duty. When the tide goes out, a clingfish's pool might be left high and dry. But the cup holds in moisture, so the fish can still breathe. Tucked safely beneath its rock, the clingfish waits until the tide rolls back in again. [2]
I read about a fish called Prickle Backs which are generally found inshore and at the bottom. They can frequently be found in tide pools. I found research that told me in most species, all the dorsal rays are strong, sharp spines (the source of the name 'prickle back'), although some species have a few soft-rays at the posterior end of the dorsal fin. Prickle backs feed on a variety of invertebrates, larvae and algae. From the knowledge I have acquired from my current environmental class I would guess that these would be maybe primary consumers based on the food they eat. There are about 65 species with 11 found here. This family is common in Puget Sound. [3] Seeing the jellyfish and cowfish were also highlights of the fish area.
After the fish I went into the whale section. This was probably the best part of the tour for me because Orcas are my favorite animal of all time! I thought the life-size dorsal fin of the orca in the ground was neat because we were really able to understand directly what the size of those really are. I also really liked that there was a wall hanging that discussed “heroes” for the orcas. The information described different people that had contributed to the whales’ success in our waters. I think it’s so sweet how these whales like in groups are much like families and how important it is to them to take care of their community and calves. I also thought the information about specific orca pods was interesting. I had learned about these things a long time ago but I had forgotten it and was happy to read about it again. I am glad that it is illegal in the U.S.A for the hunting of whales because their species are not in abundance and should be valued and respected in the waters and how they too have their own niche in the ocean. A really cool piece of information I found when I was researching online was that, “Killer whales are often compared to wolves because both species are top predators, maintain complex social relationships, and hunt cooperatively.” [4]
Lastly I visited the area that had tide pools and touching pools. It was called “Life on the Edge.” The information and facts were impressive and I had never heard of most of them. I liked being able to touch the animals like the starfish and anemones. Some of the hermit crabs were among the biggest I have ever seen in my life. I think it’s pretty funny that I, and almost everyone I know, call ceratin animals “starfish” when they are actually sea stars and not fish at all. When I researched the sea star I found a plethora of interesting information that I had never heard about before. One interesting fact is that sea stars actually have their anus located on top of their body. Also, I read that the sea star uses a hydraulic water vascular system to feed, transport waste and move around. [5] This aspect of the trip showed me another world in the large, complex oceans and I have great appreciation for this part of the waters.
I thought overall the experience was informative and worthwhile. I am glad I went and I gained a lot of new knowledge. One thing that still sticks out in my mind about the trip is the idea of watershed. When I found the answer to the question about whom the biggest influence on watershed I was at first surprised to learn that the answer is people and myself. I even ran into a wall that had the exact question painted on it and the answer was an arrow pointing to a mirror (meaning you). That was when I realized how much we really affect our planet and it showed me how that information directly related into the common topic of global warming. It just made me even more motivated to turn this mess around and take care of our beloved ocean and world. I have always had an interest in the oceans of our world and to learn about the destruction and damage we are doing in great masses really makes me want to change how things are. I genuinely believe that education is key to reform in this world and I think I am a prime example for this as well as our classmates.
Sources:
[1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/174.shtml
[2]http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=418
[3] http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/FishKey/index.htm
[4] http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/NMML/education/cetaceans/killer1.htm
[5] http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/sw/seastarfacts.php
October 30, 2007
Envsc 204
Journal Activity 1
AQUARIUM TRIP
I decided to take my journal activity to the aquarium. I have been wanting to go lately and if I can go and get credit at the same time I see a great situation! I also think it really relates to environmental science and what we have been talking about with fishing, pollution, biodiversity and much more. I had been there once or twice before but many years ago so the information was all new to me.
I thought the whole set up and arrangement was really interesting. I first walked into the area that was called “Sound in the Mountains.” Here there was the mock river and lots of information about water around the globe. I liked that we were able to see the river from a side perspective and see both the upper action of the surface as well as what was happening beneath the water. Of course my favorite part of this area was where the northern fur seals were living. It was great to be able to see them so close up. I also thought it was smart of the aquarium to design the tank so that we could see the upper level of the seals habitat where they rested out of the water and also be able to walk down stairs and see them swimming deep in water. I learned that these furry guys, on average, live to be about 26. That is much longer than I would have guessed. I also learned about how the male seals fast during mating season for one to two months! After I did a little more research on these animals I read about how, “The 2000 IUCN Red Data list considers the northern fur seal to be Vulnerable.” [1] The northern fur seal has been hunted for fur since the 18th Century, and in 1911, the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention was founded. I understand now the importance of the food webs these animals live in and the impacts that arise if any species is altered. I know from learning in my environmental class that especially the animals that are higher on the food web are less in abundance on a natural level and generally reproduce at smaller rates than those of say producers or primary consumers. I suspect that this is true for the seals which is why it is easily believable that they could have been vulnerable to extinction if hunted. I hope things are being turned around today to stop this possible issue.
Next I went to the “Puget sound fishes.” There were so many types of fish here and so much information. It was a little time consuming to go through all of the wall postings but well worth it. I thought it was fascinating to learn that there are actually more than 200 different types of fish in just the Puget Sound. There was a type of clingfish in here that one of the staff persons pointed out that was really cute and was suctioned to the wall. I thought it was interesting that they actually use their pelvic fins to suction themselves to rocks. I looked up some more information about clingfish and learned that a clingfish's suction cup does double duty. When the tide goes out, a clingfish's pool might be left high and dry. But the cup holds in moisture, so the fish can still breathe. Tucked safely beneath its rock, the clingfish waits until the tide rolls back in again. [2]
I read about a fish called Prickle Backs which are generally found inshore and at the bottom. They can frequently be found in tide pools. I found research that told me in most species, all the dorsal rays are strong, sharp spines (the source of the name 'prickle back'), although some species have a few soft-rays at the posterior end of the dorsal fin. Prickle backs feed on a variety of invertebrates, larvae and algae. From the knowledge I have acquired from my current environmental class I would guess that these would be maybe primary consumers based on the food they eat. There are about 65 species with 11 found here. This family is common in Puget Sound. [3] Seeing the jellyfish and cowfish were also highlights of the fish area.
After the fish I went into the whale section. This was probably the best part of the tour for me because Orcas are my favorite animal of all time! I thought the life-size dorsal fin of the orca in the ground was neat because we were really able to understand directly what the size of those really are. I also really liked that there was a wall hanging that discussed “heroes” for the orcas. The information described different people that had contributed to the whales’ success in our waters. I think it’s so sweet how these whales like in groups are much like families and how important it is to them to take care of their community and calves. I also thought the information about specific orca pods was interesting. I had learned about these things a long time ago but I had forgotten it and was happy to read about it again. I am glad that it is illegal in the U.S.A for the hunting of whales because their species are not in abundance and should be valued and respected in the waters and how they too have their own niche in the ocean. A really cool piece of information I found when I was researching online was that, “Killer whales are often compared to wolves because both species are top predators, maintain complex social relationships, and hunt cooperatively.” [4]
Lastly I visited the area that had tide pools and touching pools. It was called “Life on the Edge.” The information and facts were impressive and I had never heard of most of them. I liked being able to touch the animals like the starfish and anemones. Some of the hermit crabs were among the biggest I have ever seen in my life. I think it’s pretty funny that I, and almost everyone I know, call ceratin animals “starfish” when they are actually sea stars and not fish at all. When I researched the sea star I found a plethora of interesting information that I had never heard about before. One interesting fact is that sea stars actually have their anus located on top of their body. Also, I read that the sea star uses a hydraulic water vascular system to feed, transport waste and move around. [5] This aspect of the trip showed me another world in the large, complex oceans and I have great appreciation for this part of the waters.
I thought overall the experience was informative and worthwhile. I am glad I went and I gained a lot of new knowledge. One thing that still sticks out in my mind about the trip is the idea of watershed. When I found the answer to the question about whom the biggest influence on watershed I was at first surprised to learn that the answer is people and myself. I even ran into a wall that had the exact question painted on it and the answer was an arrow pointing to a mirror (meaning you). That was when I realized how much we really affect our planet and it showed me how that information directly related into the common topic of global warming. It just made me even more motivated to turn this mess around and take care of our beloved ocean and world. I have always had an interest in the oceans of our world and to learn about the destruction and damage we are doing in great masses really makes me want to change how things are. I genuinely believe that education is key to reform in this world and I think I am a prime example for this as well as our classmates.
Sources:
[1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/174.shtml
[2]http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=418
[3] http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/FishKey/index.htm
[4] http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/NMML/education/cetaceans/killer1.htm
[5] http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/sw/seastarfacts.php
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)