Writing a short article (maximum 1000 words) on the problems and complexities of using tracks and signs to determine presence (and absence) of mammal species (25%)
In the field of ecology finding and identifying tracks and signs has always been one of the hardest job in that field. This is because a range of different problems can and most likely will occur.
There are several ways to find animal tracking and signs. When looking for a particular species research will need to be conducted to know what habitats it will be spending most of its time at, this will narrow done the list of species when a footprint or sign has been found. But right there is are first problem when someone says we will be tracking animals today you think “great I’m going to find some animal footprints” which is easier said than done.
Footprints can be extremely hard to find especially if you are looking a mammal species that spends it life hiding from predators or even predators hiding from prey waiting to ambush. Their footprint will be affected by a number of things such as:
• The type of soil it’s on: This will effect on how well of a print can be made. There are several ways to catch this out, scientists can place a surface down called “Moon Sand” which is used to gather large mammal prints, and this however will not allow prints of smaller mammals. (Binstead, 2013)
• The weather: The weather can depend on how long a footprint will last. Such as if it been warm and sunny a footprint may last the day or not even affect the ground if the ground is dry. But if it is raining the footprint will become damaged and will be near impossible to tell what animal it is
• The type of Mammal: The type of animal is a major factor if a footprint is to be made. Lar...
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...ooking at colour is very important it can split to groups of mammal apart such as rabbits and deer’s who both produce pellet like faeces but both have different colours. (Trust, n.d.)
The benefits of looking at faeces are that if it hasn’t dried up and are still warm then the animal isn’t too far away giving a clear insight that the mammal is there but not knowing how long ago.
The disadvantage to this is that without experience and proper knowledge at what to look for leads to mistakes in animal identification.
Bibliography
Binstead, M., 2013. british wildlife centre. [Online]
Available at: http://britishwildlifecentre.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mammal-tracking.html
[Accessed March 2014].
Harris, D. W., 2014. Class Notes. Swansea: s.n.
Trust, W., n.d. Poo ID sheet. [Online]
Available at: http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/id_poo.htm
[Accessed March 2014].
New technologies and advancement in the area of field research has allowed biologist and primatologist to analyze information more effectively and efficiently. Through the non-invasive collection of fecal samples, researchers are able to extract and analyze DNA to help determine individual attribute, as well as population dynamics. In addition to DNA, fecal samples also contain hormones and parasites that help in determining the overall health of the depositor (Newton-Fisher NE, 2010). Other technologies include the use of Geographic Information Systems allows for mapping the ranges of chimpanzees, and satellite imagery is used to view the deforestation of select areas (Goodall, 2002).
Works Cited "Animal Planet" Animal Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 09 Apr. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'.
Curtis, Paul D., and Kristi L. Sullivan. "White-Tailed Deer." Ccontario.org. Cornell University, 2001. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.
Canada; known for peacekeeping, multiculturalism and having one the largest ecological footprints in the world. What is an ecological footprint? The ecological footprint is a measurement of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the activities in a person's daily life. One main source of greenhouse gas is burning fossil fuels. That includes the gas in a person's car and the coal burned at the power plant. Scientists have concluded that humans are producing more greenhouse gases than ever before. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing our planet to warm up and changing our climate. The ecological footprint, therefore, measures the amount of potential impact a person's daily life has on the environment. By reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by people's lifestyle, they can reduce the footprint and help slow climate change on Earth. Canadian's are starting to get accustomed to using a surplus amount of energy when it is never needed and throwing garbage on the ground because the trash can is too far away for them reach. Canadian's are also using up the little natural resources left on this planet for sustainability. Crops, oil, trees are being used so much, that there might not be enough for the future generations. Canada must realize that this is a situation that must be taken seriously and that must be executed properly by meeting the social, environmental and economical standpoints. To reduce the ecological footprint and to regain sustainability, there are many things Canadian's can do to change the current situation. Ecological footprints can be reduced by using alternative energy sources, reducing energy consumption and by using cleaner transport to reach destinations.
Fossil preservation has always been the most accurate way to determine what species lived during a specific time period. Through correlations and radiometric dating, time periods have become more accurate and being able to tell what lived during those times became possible. Although conditions have to be correct for fossilization, Pleistocene fossils are widespread and often well preserved. In the La Brea tar pits of present day Los Angeles, hundreds of thousands of preserved bones have been found that give a good idea of the animals that were present during this time. Many of the animals preserved are animals that can still be found today and would be found in the Los Angeles area if not for urbanization. Animals that were present during this time include camels, mammoths, and saber-toothed cats among others (Harris and Jefferson, 1985). Below is a picture of a saber-tooth fossil found in the La Brea tar pits.
The growing issue of the welfare of wild animals has called for immense concerns for multiple reasons. Even so, more now today with the recent animal related incidents that have taken place and are publicized in social media and broadcasted on the local news. Zoo officials feel the best place for wild animals is zoos. However, animal rights activist strongly believe wild animals belong in their natural habitat where they can be free and live the life that they 're entitled to. An ideal habitat for wild animals varies from marine life having billions of cubic km of ocean water to land animals having forests, evergreens, dry desert land, marshes, caves, mountains and open fields to roam.
and history. Many of the animals were found on the four different mountains in the world and
Research teams measure the sizes of turtles as they return from the sea to lay eggs. Many of the turtles have satellite tags that track their movements. The tags were implanted when the turtles were first hatched or found on the beach. The tag data tells scientists how far the turtles travel in search of their favorite food, which is jellyfish. The scientists can even find out how fast the turtles swim and how deep they dive! The tags also tell about environmental hazards that might hurt the
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However, zoos and aquariums reflect responsibility to help and promote animal conservation and protection. Without them, many may have never gotten the chance to see exotic animals such as tigers, elephants, or giraffes up close to examine and learn about their nature. Without zoos, almost all of the best observational, behavioral, biological, or genetically based research on several diverse species would have not been possible. And, without zoos and the help of fundamental captive breeding and reintroduction programs with...
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Sikes, Roberts. and William L. Gannon. "Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research." Journal of Mammalogy 92.1 (Feb. 2011): 235-253. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.
Some other mammal like reptiles arise from the pelycosaurs by the center of Permian period known as therapsid.