1. If being flashy and colorful attracts predators, why do you think guppies are so colorful?
To attract a female mate.
2. After viewing the guppy gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish’s scientific name, origin and average size? Describe the coloration of the fish you chose.
Poecilia Reticulata from Brazil. It's dorsal fin is metallic green and it's main body is blue with splotches of pink and orange. 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) Guppy or millions fish
3. After viewing the predator gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish’s common name, scientific name, and origin?
Fat Sleepy. Dormitator maculatus. Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm). Southern and North America, Bahamas, and Latin America
4. View the guppy’s habitats, what habitat conditions would affect the predator populations?
Endler’s Discovery and Variations of Guppy’s in Pools
5. Who is John Endler? What did he study and where did he study it?
John Endler is an ethologist and a evolutionary biologist. He is renowned for his science of adaption of vertebrates and how he noted how the environment affects an organism's adaption (like color adaptation, behavior, etc.).
6. For each of the three stream areas, describe the guppy coloration:
Pool 1:
Pool 2:
Pool 3:
7. Develop your own hypothesis about guppy coloration. The hypothesis should answer the questions: Why do guppies in different areas of the stream have difference in coloration? (You can choose from the list on the simulation, or make up your own)
My hypothesis would be that a male guppy is brightly colored in order to stand out and attract the attention of a female, and as such, a male guppy's coloration would depend upon how much he can stand out in what background. If a red guppy is in waters that run red from soil that has iron in it, well, he won't stand out much. But if he were green, he would contrast well. Same said for a green guppy in a algae-ridden stream, red would be a better color. Though since I wasn't able to run my simulation, that is what I can infer, based on my knowledge of that guppies stand out to attract a mate.
Guppy Simulation
% of Brightest Guppies
(10 generations)
% of Bright Guppies
(10 generations) % of Drab Guppies
(10 generations) % of DrabbestGuppies
(10 generations)
Trial 1
Guppy: Even Mix
Predators: 30 Rivulus
Trial 2
Guppy: Even Mix
Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara
Trial 3
Guppy: Even Mix
Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid
Trial 4
Guppy: Mostly Bright
Predators: 30 Rivulus
Trial 5
Guppy: Mostly Drab
Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid
Summary
8. Describe how predators influence guppy coloration.
9. Was your hypothesis correct, use your data to justify your answer.
10. What does it mean that “male guppies live in a crossfire between their enemies and their would be mates”?
It means that males have to choose sides: they can choose the side of the predator: and loose its colors, hide from said predator, and live, but be unable to pass on its genes for colors that allowed it to live because a mate wouldn't have been attracted. Or it can flash bright colors and have a chance to attract a female, mate, and pass on its genes before its noticed by a predator and eaten; or be eaten first and be unable to pass on those genes that would've gotten it a mate.
11. Why do you think guppies in different areas of the stream have different coloration?
I think it would be to stand out best in their surroundings to capture to attention of their mate or loose the attention of the predator, depending on which coloration they have. So they either blend in or stand out, depending on their standings of getting a mate, or keeping their life.
12. What would happen to mostly drab guppies that were placed in a stream with very few predators?
I think they would either start to die off because they cannot reproduce because they all think the other is ugly or they would thrive because the few predators there wouldn't be able to see them, therefore eat the. Or, it could be that in the new surrounding, they actually stand out because they were colorized for it, or they could develop brighter colors because of the lack of predators.
13. What would happen to brightly colored guppies that were placed in a stream with many predators?
They'd be eaten before they can adapt, I'd assume. Or, they'd adapt very quickly and loose their bright, flashy colors and go with more drab colors.
If evolution had a thought process (which it doesn't), it might think to make guppies' eyesight adapted to see drab colors as bright and flash vice versa. I'm just saying that that would be better for the species to thrive. . . .
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Conservation for the People
Whether you are intrinsic or anthropocentric, we are affecting nature, and whether or not you think that nature only has a value if it affects us (a good or bad value) and nature is affecting us. Ex.) Vultures were declining because they were eating the carrion of cows who had been drugged so as to ward against inflammation. And now since a cow carcasses can't be consumed by a vulture carcass, wild dogs at the free, rotting meat which has created a boom in their population and as such, the huge number of rabid dogs have started to attack humans. Can you imagine that, as you pet you docile, if not a little jumpy or lazy, dog who licks you finger in sweet, innocent animal affection? Can you imagine be attacked by a savage dog?
Before we charge into a green forest to save the day, you need to do some research. Just because there's a lot of green stuff, doesn't mean there's a lot of biodiversity to be had, at least among the animal category. Those places are referred to as "hot spots" and tend to be where the nature reserves are. That's all fine and dandy, but if you are intrinsic, your beliefs are that that humans are part of nature, too, so if you had to barricade a section of land that locals depend on for their livelihood that means those locals are sunk. And if you are anthropocentric, those locals export medicines, furniture, food, etc. Enough said. But the ecosystem services strategy saves the endangered ecosystems that humans depended on without impairing the locals' life-stlye and, sub-sequently, yours.
And just because there aren't graceful, defenseless butterflies fluttering around; cute, fuzzy monkeys eating yellow bananas; or crystal-clear oceans lapping a pristine, sandy beach or dazzling blue waterfalls cascading into a pond with koi swimming around in it with the dense, rich brown of the bark of trees growing up to the heavens and stretching their gloriously green leaves and tendrils like fingers to the sky, doesn't mean it is of no use. Ex.) the mangroves. Let's all face facts, when you're honey-mooning, you are gonna choose the beaches of the Caribbean or the forests of Japan vs. the mangroves. I don't exactly see any sweet butterflies flying there: I see swarms of mosquitos coming to suck the blood out of me 'til I am bone-dry (THAT'S MORE OF A VAMPIRE THAN YOUR STUPID, VEGETARIAN VAMPS, MS. MEYER!), the monkeys there screech like banshees, the water is brown like sludge and under its murky depths lie snakes, piranhas * though they won't attack you, they are scavengers *, and deadly diseases. But it does have some attributes, it saves the people living there from hurricanes and tsunamis (believe me, the people in our village we were saving in our disaster simulation were thankful for our mangroves).
So let's say you care not a whit about the hot, muggy mangroves and that so long as you get your picture-perfect Caribbean honey-moon, it's all the same to you. Well, you know those amazing corals you are supposed to see? Sorry, but they are brown and dying. This is caused by the winds that blew sand over from Africa and deposited it in the very waters you are swimming, chocking the corals. 70% of rare fish live in corals and with dead corals, no rare fishies. Or no fishies at all since, either directly or indirectly, depend upon the corals. I suppose it would still be picture-perfect (if you're looking at pictures of a nature morgue).
But since you are too devastated by your now-ruined Caribbean honey-moon, you're offering you an alternative that may just yet save your pathetic vacation. Governments are taking money from visiting your vacation site and contributing that money to saving environments and protecting biodiversity. So hope on the band-wagon! More and more people are supporting organizations devoted to saving the world. Organizations are working to save hot-spots, life-raft ecosystems, and the ecosystem services strategy to save the world. But they don't have all the money. The money comes from you (or vicariously, through you by medium of your honey-moon. . . .) but it's not just your money. It's you time and effort that is need, as well. " Conservation will only become truly global and widely supported when people are central to its mission." You are being called to further our cause. Will you answer?
Before we charge into a green forest to save the day, you need to do some research. Just because there's a lot of green stuff, doesn't mean there's a lot of biodiversity to be had, at least among the animal category. Those places are referred to as "hot spots" and tend to be where the nature reserves are. That's all fine and dandy, but if you are intrinsic, your beliefs are that that humans are part of nature, too, so if you had to barricade a section of land that locals depend on for their livelihood that means those locals are sunk. And if you are anthropocentric, those locals export medicines, furniture, food, etc. Enough said. But the ecosystem services strategy saves the endangered ecosystems that humans depended on without impairing the locals' life-stlye and, sub-sequently, yours.
And just because there aren't graceful, defenseless butterflies fluttering around; cute, fuzzy monkeys eating yellow bananas; or crystal-clear oceans lapping a pristine, sandy beach or dazzling blue waterfalls cascading into a pond with koi swimming around in it with the dense, rich brown of the bark of trees growing up to the heavens and stretching their gloriously green leaves and tendrils like fingers to the sky, doesn't mean it is of no use. Ex.) the mangroves. Let's all face facts, when you're honey-mooning, you are gonna choose the beaches of the Caribbean or the forests of Japan vs. the mangroves. I don't exactly see any sweet butterflies flying there: I see swarms of mosquitos coming to suck the blood out of me 'til I am bone-dry (THAT'S MORE OF A VAMPIRE THAN YOUR STUPID, VEGETARIAN VAMPS, MS. MEYER!), the monkeys there screech like banshees, the water is brown like sludge and under its murky depths lie snakes, piranhas * though they won't attack you, they are scavengers *, and deadly diseases. But it does have some attributes, it saves the people living there from hurricanes and tsunamis (believe me, the people in our village we were saving in our disaster simulation were thankful for our mangroves).
So let's say you care not a whit about the hot, muggy mangroves and that so long as you get your picture-perfect Caribbean honey-moon, it's all the same to you. Well, you know those amazing corals you are supposed to see? Sorry, but they are brown and dying. This is caused by the winds that blew sand over from Africa and deposited it in the very waters you are swimming, chocking the corals. 70% of rare fish live in corals and with dead corals, no rare fishies. Or no fishies at all since, either directly or indirectly, depend upon the corals. I suppose it would still be picture-perfect (if you're looking at pictures of a nature morgue).
But since you are too devastated by your now-ruined Caribbean honey-moon, you're offering you an alternative that may just yet save your pathetic vacation. Governments are taking money from visiting your vacation site and contributing that money to saving environments and protecting biodiversity. So hope on the band-wagon! More and more people are supporting organizations devoted to saving the world. Organizations are working to save hot-spots, life-raft ecosystems, and the ecosystem services strategy to save the world. But they don't have all the money. The money comes from you (or vicariously, through you by medium of your honey-moon. . . .) but it's not just your money. It's you time and effort that is need, as well. " Conservation will only become truly global and widely supported when people are central to its mission." You are being called to further our cause. Will you answer?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
The biotic variation of organisms within a defined space, usually used to define and measure the status of that region including the array of kingdoms and classes of species.
Biodiversity is the differences in living organisms (biotic factors) from both terrestrial and marine environments. It also refers to the population of species and the genetic variations that play a role in the complex web of effects in an ecosystem.
The quantity and variety of differing plant and animal life present within a specific natural environment.
The richness and variety of organisms in any given ecosystem or habitat on earth This includes variety among more specific species.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity holds the whole world together, in a literal sense. It's almost like a math equation: each factor is a variable and effects the outcome. If you were to take away one variable or subtract/decrease a variable, the outcome would be different. For example, if a forest (f) has lost 20,000 trees (t) then other factors like floods (n) would come into play (trees act as a natural barrier against such disasters). So you equation would read: f-t=n=h-d (h represents humans and d equals those who have died). It used to read f+t=1/2n=h-sd (s representing small amount dead). Only the real equation is far more complex, but the point is, one effect creates another. You could think of it like a domino effect, if one domino wobbles, it may not fall but it could hit another domino that does fall setting off a chain of events.
How does the location of a sanctuary affect its long-term outlook?
Remember, it's all about location, location, location. If you placed an animal sanctuary in a dump, well, that's not serving much of a purpose. If you place an animal sanctuary in a place that was recently a dump, animals may have adapted and learned to stay away from there. If you place a sanctuary at the base of a volcano and it blows up, well, that wasn't the smartest move, now was it? But if you place a sanctuary in an environmental heaven where animals have been coming, you are in a good spot. you can also attract other species to the sanctuary since it's so perfect.
What are ways in which preserving biodiversity locally might have a global effect?
By preserving species in you land, can save them in others, too. If you are providing a home for migratory birds, you are saving them here (as well as the animals that depend upon them as food--predators--or to keep other species from over population by eating them--prey--then that will effect the environment you are protecting as well as the one the birds will fly to. And if you are protecting 100,000 acres of forest, that's 100,000 acres not being used to pollute.
How do habitat destruction and loss of species effect more than just one area?
There's that migratory animal thing I mentioned before. But if you have those 100,000 acres of forest again, and it's all cut down, those trees were serving as more than just to not pollute there, they soaking up CO2 that isn't polluting the Earth. Every animal and plant has a certain niche it plays, but if an animal or plant is suddenly lost, then that niche they held crumbles and so does other organisms that depended on it. If one ecosystem collapses, so does the next ecosystem that had a link to it (a bird that ate that migratory bug but that bug is gone and so the next ecosystem goes because that bird population is dying because it lost a major food source) and on and on until there is nothing left. From what I've read, that's my prediction, at least.
How does preserving biodiversity enhance the life of people?
The point of the medicine document we read pointed out how there is so many different types of life out there and have so many unexplored options that if we aren't protecting that species and it goes extinct, we could have just lost the cure for the common cold. The best cure is nature if we just learn to explore it. The possibilities are endless . . . unless we are the ones ending it, of course.
The biotic variation of organisms within a defined space, usually used to define and measure the status of that region including the array of kingdoms and classes of species.
Biodiversity is the differences in living organisms (biotic factors) from both terrestrial and marine environments. It also refers to the population of species and the genetic variations that play a role in the complex web of effects in an ecosystem.
The quantity and variety of differing plant and animal life present within a specific natural environment.
The richness and variety of organisms in any given ecosystem or habitat on earth This includes variety among more specific species.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity holds the whole world together, in a literal sense. It's almost like a math equation: each factor is a variable and effects the outcome. If you were to take away one variable or subtract/decrease a variable, the outcome would be different. For example, if a forest (f) has lost 20,000 trees (t) then other factors like floods (n) would come into play (trees act as a natural barrier against such disasters). So you equation would read: f-t=n=h-d (h represents humans and d equals those who have died). It used to read f+t=1/2n=h-sd (s representing small amount dead). Only the real equation is far more complex, but the point is, one effect creates another. You could think of it like a domino effect, if one domino wobbles, it may not fall but it could hit another domino that does fall setting off a chain of events.
How does the location of a sanctuary affect its long-term outlook?
Remember, it's all about location, location, location. If you placed an animal sanctuary in a dump, well, that's not serving much of a purpose. If you place an animal sanctuary in a place that was recently a dump, animals may have adapted and learned to stay away from there. If you place a sanctuary at the base of a volcano and it blows up, well, that wasn't the smartest move, now was it? But if you place a sanctuary in an environmental heaven where animals have been coming, you are in a good spot. you can also attract other species to the sanctuary since it's so perfect.
What are ways in which preserving biodiversity locally might have a global effect?
By preserving species in you land, can save them in others, too. If you are providing a home for migratory birds, you are saving them here (as well as the animals that depend upon them as food--predators--or to keep other species from over population by eating them--prey--then that will effect the environment you are protecting as well as the one the birds will fly to. And if you are protecting 100,000 acres of forest, that's 100,000 acres not being used to pollute.
How do habitat destruction and loss of species effect more than just one area?
There's that migratory animal thing I mentioned before. But if you have those 100,000 acres of forest again, and it's all cut down, those trees were serving as more than just to not pollute there, they soaking up CO2 that isn't polluting the Earth. Every animal and plant has a certain niche it plays, but if an animal or plant is suddenly lost, then that niche they held crumbles and so does other organisms that depended on it. If one ecosystem collapses, so does the next ecosystem that had a link to it (a bird that ate that migratory bug but that bug is gone and so the next ecosystem goes because that bird population is dying because it lost a major food source) and on and on until there is nothing left. From what I've read, that's my prediction, at least.
How does preserving biodiversity enhance the life of people?
The point of the medicine document we read pointed out how there is so many different types of life out there and have so many unexplored options that if we aren't protecting that species and it goes extinct, we could have just lost the cure for the common cold. The best cure is nature if we just learn to explore it. The possibilities are endless . . . unless we are the ones ending it, of course.
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