This Tree's Niche

This tree may seem small, but it still has a role in the community. It's niche is to serve as a source of food for many birds with its berries and insects living in it. It gives insects food as well with the leaves. Also, it provides shelter for different birds and insects. They may create a nest in this tree. One another niche is to give out oxygen for different creatures. It absorbs sunlight by photosynthesis and absorbs water and minerals from the soil. Many of these different things it provides are in order for certain organisms to survive. Without it, they may not be able to, and die.

Limiting Factors In My Community

These flowers are a biotic limiting factor. This is because they are food for certain animals, such as bunnies. They are a source if nectar for insects. The flowers limit oxygen for many creatures. All these flowers together make a population.

Plant that increases pollution?

The intrusive and creepy kudzu vines have been spreading throughtout the southeastern part of the United Stated. Originated from Asia, these destructive vines may be a cause for ozone pollution. The kudzu rapidly extends along trees and blocks out sunlight, making it a threat. The amount of Kudzu is increasing at a rate of 120,000 acres of the vine growning a year. Ecologist Jonathan Hickman says that kudzu has a huge and negative impact on ozone pollution. The ozone is a part of the smog that clogs air in certain parts of the Earth. Hickman thought that maybe these kudzu vines were a cause of pollution. He decided to test the soil, and realized that nitrogen oxides, which effect the ozone, were doubled after the kudzu arrived in that area. The invasion of kudzu plants could highly effect the air, and increase the range of pollution levels. When Hickman realized that Kudzu plants were also invading the United States, he checked the level there. Luckily, there was no sign of an increase in pollution because of these plants. Hopefully, there will not be any signs in the future as well.

Source:

http://www.livescience.com/environment/kudzu-could-cause-ozone-pollution-100517.html

Strongest Insect

After many tests, scientific evidence proves that a species of horned dung beetle is given the name of the strongest insect in the world. The amazing beetle is called the Onthophagus Taurus. The tiny beetle can pull up to an incredible amount of 1,141 times its actual body size. To test the beetle's strength, the scientists attached a cotton thread to each beetle that was a part of their research. These horned beetles were much more stronger comparing to the hornless ones. Researchers claim that this may solve a puzzle in evolution. Over the years, biologists have assumed that these beetles show better quality most likely because of genes, but this is not what happens in reality. Instead of this theory, there is actually a lot of variability between strength and other traits. The scientist Knell suggests that some traits are actually carried on by habitat more than genes. Over a long period of time there are mutations throughout genes. The conditions must be stable in order for the organism to be able to survive. Knell states that more traits and conditions such as food availability, habitat, and environment. Without these conditions, a creature would not be able to stay alive. Knell had figured out in the study that the more well fed that the beetles were, the stronger they were while fighting. The Onthophagus beetle is definitely an interesting species, and should not be underestimated.


Source:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/worlds-strongest-insect-100323.html

Global Warming- Math

Math is found in many issues, even ones that don't seem to be related to it at all. Global warming is a world wide problem that is a huge threat to every living organism on Earth. As it continues, people will continue to suffer its negative consequences and severe changes that global warming brings. With this happening, the sea level is rising at a terrifyingly rapid pace. The rise is predicted to be up to three feet, which is enough to flood the three major airports in New York City, and the entire subway system. Clean water supply will be limited, due to salt water combining with freshwater. This will influence other people to leave the places with the rising sea level, and will settle into calmer locations. When more people move to these places, they can soon become overpopulated, and increase by thirty percent, which will make a big difference in the society. Also, global warming affects wildlife habitat. The warmth is causing the necessities of animals during the springtime to be gone by the time that they arrive to the places to get them from because winter would end too early. Animals will not have a place to raise their young, reproduce, or adapt to. According to Global Issues in Context, by 2050, fifteen to thirty-seven percent of wildlife species are to be extinct because of global warming. Out of the most fierce hurricanes, three occurred in 2005. Global warming had killed over 150,000 people that year, and things are getting worse. If humans don't stop polluting and avoiding the chances to attempt the prevention of this issue, the estimated cost for the solution is to be 1.9 trillion dollars. Since things are getting way too unpredictable, such as natural disasters coming our way, climate change, or mass extinction, global warming definitely needs to stop. Without a doubt, negative, or positive, all situations can relate to math in some ways.

Sea Slugs are about to get more interesting

There has been a surprising appearance of oridinary sea slugs transforming into half plant. A green sea slug seems to be half-animal and half-plant. It is the first creature to come across that also has the ability produces chlorophyll. Apparently, the slugs have taken the genes that allow this to happen from all the algae that they consume. With these genes they can perform photosynthesis. Surprisingly these unique slugs can survive without food as long as they get their need of sunlight, which is also true for plants. These animal-plants thrive in salt marshes of Canada and New England. The sea slugs also pass these genes onto the next generation so that when they reproduce their babies are able to produce chlorophyll as well. Still, they can't carry out photosynthesis without the amount of algae necessary to do so. The achievement of these slugs is very astonishing. I think that this is very fascinating because I never knew that there would ever be such thing as a half-plant and half-animal. The discovery of these intriguing slugs being able to be both an an animal and a plant is truley breath-taking. Before these sea slugs, there were seperate animals and plants, but now scientists have found out about a combination of the two. They might have got this ability from an ancestor that may have been able to do this same thing earlier. This is a very amazing accomplishment that they would be able to produce chlorophyll. From these slugs, these genes could pass on through evolution to other creatures along with the slugs. They might even be able to be half animal and plant without even eating anything one day. It reminds me of the saying "We are what we eat" since this fits in very well into what the sea slugs do. It is surprising that the sea slugs can steal the plants way of life by using the chloroplasts from the algae that they eat. Knowing what these creatures have the ability to perform is unbelievable considering very few creatures have the ability to do what these slugs do. That is what makes these sea slugs very interesting.

Source:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/green-slug-animal-plant-100112.html