There are many types of species throughout the world, from sea creatures to land creatures. Each with different appearances and abilities to help them survive. One very interesting animal is the seahorse but not just any random seahorse. Yet the hippocampus spinosissimus as known as the hedgehog seahorse. Which come from the syngathial family.The hedgehog seahorse has a maximum height of 17.2 cm and are either found in pairs or singles. They are known for being listed as vulnerable, the hedgehog seahorse is one of 47 different species. It is native to twelve different countries, and is known for being seen in four different FAO marine fishing areas. It also has vital parental care meaning they are independent at birth. The hedgehog reproduces by the male getting pregnant. The male seahorse is equipped with a pouch on the ventral, or front-facing, side of the tail. When mating, the female seahorse deposits up to 1,500 eggs in the male's pouch. The male carries the eggs for 9 to 45 days until the seahorses emerge fully developed but very …show more content…
Hippocampus Spinosissimus is traded live for the aquarium trade as well as dry for use in traditional medicine. Hedgehog Seahorse has consistently been recorded as one of the most abundant species in the international trade of seahorse. The population of this seahorse in global population estimate are currently unknown, but analyses of trade and surveys conducted by project seahorse have shown that this species is widely traded for traditional medicine, the aquarium trade and for curios. Based on large volumes of reported trade as a result of bycatch in multiple fisheries throughout its range. It is suspected that there have been continuing declines of at least 30% in the past 10 to 15 years and that these declines are likely to continue into the
The one concept that I feel is most significant in this week’s reading would be the Hedgehog Concept, simplifying a complex world into a single organized idea/principle that guides everything else.
The first goal was to accumulate the molecular phylogeny data for seahorses using the cytochrome b gene sequence information (S.P. Casey et al, 2004). In this particular study, the cytochrome b gene was used to investigate whether or not the Hippocampus was indeed pre-Tethyan in origin and to illuminate the relationship between Indo-Pacific and Atlantic seahorse species. Molecular markers like the cytochrome b gene were used to survey dispersal of seahorse species and to temporally define the evolutionary processes since much of the seahorse fossil record is deficient (Lourie et al.,
Dolphins make up the largest and most diverse family of cetaceans. The family contains 26 recognized species of which 13 tend to have long well defined beaks and streamlined robust bodies. Many vary in size, shape, colors, beaks and flippers, as humans have various characteristics.
Rapidly evolving throughout the late Pleistocene to the early to mid Holocene, hunter-gatherer-fisher societies hunted megafauna creatures in a systematic and ethical way. When one species migrates to a different ecosystem, that species is not usually recognized as a threat to other species. Survival, during the late Pleistocene and Holocene era, was one of the most important aspects to life. Any organism, regardless of size, living within their environment had to stay alive and reproduce. During these two eras, it seems...
...to 300 individuals, the newborn seahorses are independent of parental care and the male is free to fertilize and accept more eggs(Lourie 11). The offspring bearing roles displayed by Hippocampus spp. is an extreme shift in relation to many other species of kingdom Animalia, of which the bearing of young is predominantly carried out by females. According to Foster, growth rates throughout the life cycle and the duration of the life cycle of seahorses in the wild varies between species and cannot be determined due to insufficient research data(foster 22). Once sexual maturity is reached, often determined by the presence of a brood pouch in males, adults are able to reproduce. During reproduction, the overwhelming majority of Hippocampus species display monogamous behaviors, usually mating with the same partner for the duration of the mating cycle(lourie 10-11).
There has been a steep decline in sea otter populations due to water pollution and exploitation of furs. This has adversely affected marine ecology. It is therefore suggested that sea otters should be included in the endangered species list to protect them from further exploitation. This study focuses on the community ecology of sea otters and their impact on marine ecology. The need for their inclusion in the Endangered Species list and the implications of such an intervention are also evaluated.
Works Cited "Animal Planet" Animal Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 09 Apr. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'.
...rients and balance sea floor sediments. Many environmental and government run programs have been created to help the efforts of saving sea turtles. Some of the actions include making mass fishing companies use safer methods to prevent catching turtles, ordinances that control lighting along beachside properties, and small groups protecting nests from their creation to hatching. In addition to these measures, wire mesh gratings are put over the nests in order to protect them from being scavenged by foxes (Kurz, Straley, Degregorio, 2011). Although these efforts do make a positive impact, loggerhead’s migration patterns are so vast and worldwide that it is almost impossible to truly enforce conservation efforts. This is because sometimes they can be seen as an “inconvenience”. It is important that we strive to protect this important component of the ocean’s ecosystem.
Seaworld is a giant marine life theme park. The greatest attraction to these many theme park would be those killer whales. In fact, these killer whales are the face of the park. As gigant as these mammals are, seaworld is keeping them in some pretty tight quarters. Mr. Jett and Mr.Ventre says “Wild killer whales can swim a hundred miles daily as they socialize, forage, communicate, and breed. In stark contrast, with little horizontal or vertical space in their enclosures, captive orcas swim only limited distances, with most spending many hours surface resting.” The animals don't have the freedom they need. Also when taking the whales out of their natural habit the whales tend to be depressed and not as heath in that situation. They need their freedom in the big ocean blue. Bring them into the small living units, breeding whales in captivity all for the entertainment of humans. At young ages the calves are taken away from their mothers on to a new seaworld park. Mothers of the calves have even been seen denying their offspring.
For example the canopies of kelp provide shelter for many organisms . Because the kelp is able to float, it creates a canopy. This canopy has warm temperatures and slow water currents, providing a home to defenseless young. This is important because the kelp is able to protect many organisms from predators and rough storms (6). Kelp is also the base of the food chain. Since kelp is the base of the food chain many organisms eat kelp and other animals eat them.This is important because without the kelp all the primary consumers would starve having no other food source (5). Finally each part of kelp is home to a different species. Because each part of kelp is home to a different species, many species breed in them. This is important because if the kelp where gone there would be no place for the organisms to breed downsizing their population (4). Overall kelp is providing food and shelter to many
Mills, Scott L., Daniel F. Doak, and Michael E. Soule. "The Keystone-species Concept in Ecology and Conservation." BioScience 43.4 (1993): 219-25. Apr. 1993. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
Loggerheads mate in spring and nest from early May all the way through August (Lamont & Fujisaki 2014). Though they spend most of their time in the waters, they will go offshore for egg production. Female loggerheads nest every two to four years and lay between two and five clutches nest (Phillips et al. 2014). Some of the hatchlings will spend their juvenile years in the open ocean, while some will spend those years in coastal areas.
sea otters are from the kingdom animalia. Sea otters are stouter and have large rib cages, smaller tails and muzzle than other species of otters. Yet sea otters posses the fine, dense fur coats characteristic of the Mustelidae. Their forefeet are small and dexterous with retractile claws and the flipper like hind feet are broad and webbed. Sea otters once was abundant along most coastal North pacific ocean. That was before fur traders hunted them for their thick ice, luxurious pelts. By the year 1900, sea otters were nearly extinct . Protected since 1911, alaska sea otters have made a comeback. There lifespan is 10-15 years. Great white sharks are the primary predator of sea otters and occasionally eaten by coyote so the predators that the
Redford, Kent H., Deborah B. Jensen, and James J. Breheny. "Integrating The Captive And The Wild." Science 338.6111 (2012): 1157-1158. Environment Index. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
== = = Human beings are dependent on the Earth's diversity of species for our survival. Wild species play a vital role in the maintenance of the planets ecological functions, yet everyday on the planet 40-100 species become extinct.