Davies, N. A., Gramotnev, G., McAlpine, C., Seabrook, L., Baxter, G., Lunney, D., Rhodes, J. R., & Bradley, A. (2013). Physiological stress in koala populations near the arid edge of their distribution. PLoS ONE, 8(11): e79136. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0079136
This article examined the effect of climate and the stress it causes for the koalas. The location of the study was in South Western Queensland, Australia. It highlighted the issues of chronic stress and how it can reduce resistance to disease. It helped in the understanding of the physiological responses of koala populations exposed to environmental changes. The results provided new insights into the effect of droughts and heat waves and the amount of stress these climate issues pose on the koala. As well as it helped to integrate the importance of a physiological dimension when studying species, and the response different species have in regards to habitat loss, and different environmental threats including those involving climate change. This article helps me to incorporate an understanding of the impact of climate change on koalas, and the physiological stress level they endure. The article helps to give me a more comprehensive knowledge of the koala and the importance of its habitat as well as the impact of contributing external factors such as climate change.
Hundloe, T., & Hamilton, C. (1997). An economic evaluation. Koalas and Tourism, 61.
This article discussed the contribution that koalas have on the Australian economy and evaluated the economic role of the koala. Surveys were conducted at Sydney and Brisbane airports. The study showed how the koala is an icon to Australia. The study looked at the economic value of koalas, and demonstrated the importance the koala...
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...e taken from was at Kola Beach Estate, Pottsville, in northern New, South Wales, Australia. The results highlighted the capabilities of assessing the koala habitat at a local scale over small areas. The article discussed the approach that had been developed for using canopy level field spectrum measurements, which then created canopy scale maps. These maps of the species location were found to be extremely accurate. This helps my paper because in order to have effective management and conservation of koala habitat, you need to have a great deal of information of the location and condition of the habitat of the species. Therefore this study will help to strengthen the materials that are being used to track the habitat of the koala and demonstrate how information about the koala habitat can be accessed and used to prevent further destruction of the koala populations.
The Kokoda Campaign, also known as the Battle that saved Australia, was a series of battles in which the Japanese fought the Australian and Americas for control over Port Moresby. Had the Japanese been successful in taking over Port Moresby, Australia would have been under serious threat. This was a significant event in Australian History because it was the first time the Australian Nation had been threatened by invasion. This was a significant event in Australian History because as it was a time to reflect upon those who put others lives before theirs for the safety of this Country.
Pit Bull-Beauty or Beast? Are pit bulls the best breed of dogs to keep around the house? Pit bulls are the majority of dog attacks that have been covered by news stations. The news coverage has made people really nervous about these animals. People are afraid to let these dogs be around their families and friends.
...ological needs to self-actualization needs (Kotler, Burton, Deans, Brown &Armstrong, 2013). The main target segment of Australia Zoo may be domestic customers aiming to satisfy their social needs. It can be seen from IBIS Report (2013) that 26% revenue of zoos are earned from domestic visitors while only 8% from international visitors. Many of domestic customers are busying with work or study. This characteristic makes them have bigger desire of social needs. Australia Zoo is more than a place to gain family togetherness and companionship. By adopting an animal, customers can also satisfy their social needs, like sense of belonging and love.
One way that the environment impacts the animals is that the animals such as bears adapt and store their energy in the winter. This is also known as hibernating. “Animals in the mountains have also adapted to save energy during the harsh winter months.” (Cassandra Maier, Adaptations of plants and animals to mountains) When animals hibernate, they are less active during the winter, and they just sleep for most of the day. Other animals such as the goat and deer do not hibernate during the winter,
The platypus is highly specialised and dependent on water bodies to acquire food. With increasing incidence of drought across Australia survival of platypus populations is uncertain. Those of the population inhabiting marginal pools are more susceptible to drought, likely suffering considerable mortality, Also, decrease in water level increases the likelihood of death by terrestrial predators, such as foxes, due to the animals inability to move quickly from one pool to another (Hall, 1999).
Climate change, or global warming, is a major issue affecting many species around the globe. Climate change can be caused by burning fossil fuels, breeding cattle that create methane, cutting down forests which absorb carbon dioxide, and the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere trapping the sunlight. These factors warm up the earth, and in the past century the earth has warmed by an average of about 1°. This doesn’t sound like much however on a global scale it’s huge and scientists predict a rise of up to 6°C in this century if greenhouse gasses are not cut drastically. Climate change is not just about the arctic sea ice melting, there are many other implications such as, severe storms, floods, and droughts; the sea becoming more acidic; rainforests dying, and drastic rise in sea levels. There are current strategies in place which are tackling climate change in general such as renewable energy and low carbon transport however there are also management strategies that are specific to species directly affected by climate change. When considering the species affected, many will think of the obvious species such as the polar bear and species living in cold habitats with snow and ice. This essay will address the impacts of climate change on an obvious species, the snow leopard, and a not so obvious species, sea turtles, and evaluate whether the current management of these species will be adequate to protect them in the future. It will also discuss alternative or additional management options that might help these species persist under a changing climate.
Snow leopards use the snow to blend into the environment to hunt for its prey. Receding snow lines is causing the hunting zone to shrink. With only around seven thousand snow leopards in the wild, any change in the environment could be catastrophic. “Results indicate that about 30% of snow leopard habitat in the Himalaya may be lost due to a shifting tree line and consequent shrinking of the alpine zone, mostly along the southern edge of the range and in river valleys (Forest, 129).” A decrease in habitat of thirty percent is an enormous statistic. But not only that, with continuation of global warming, the ice caps will melt faster and worst case scenario, the depletion of a primary water source of all wildlife and humans will be inevitable. “In total, it is estimated that the entire Hindu Kush-Himalayan ice mass has decreased in the last two decades. Furthermore, the rate of melting seems to be accelerating (Barnett, 306).” To further this research, it is stated that if this trend continues for several more decades, the fossil water would cease to produce and therefore run
Koko is a very special gorilla. She can really communicate with humans using her hands. She was the very first gorilla to learn and understand American Sign Language.
After researching and observing the lives of orangutans I can support my hypothesis. The orangutans are restricted into a small area, fed when the trainers feed them, and live on the ground because there are no trees causing them to have a different lifestyle than the wild orangutans. The captive orangutans are taken care of by the trainer and never have to struggle to get food. They seem to sit and sleep at the same time, for majority of the time I was observing. There are no predators for them to have to fight off since they are separated, where in the wild they would have to protect themselves and in some cases their offspring. If an adult female were to give birth while in captivity, the offspring would grow up to have a completely different lifestyle than a juvenile in the wild. The juvenile is cared for and protected by the trainers more than they would be by their own mother. Being in captivity gives the primates the option of medicine in cases of sickness or an injuries. In the wild the primates have to live without the nurture of these trainers which is why they tend to live...
"The Consequences of Global WarmingOn Wildlife." Consequences of Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. .
Have you ever imagined climbing on the roof? Have you ever imagined walking straight up a wall? Well if you have your dream may not be so far away with the new technology that was discovered by Gecko’s. The new technology really isn’t all that new, it was just recently discover by the human race, so therefore we consider it new, but really it has been around for millions of years. The secret to the gecko's ability to climb walls is really complex, it starts down at the molecular level, with what they call a spatula it is a nanohair that is roughly 200 nanometers wide, and tall (Robert Full 2000). The spatula is so small you cannot see it with the naked eye, but it creates a relatively strong force for it size, and that’s what keeps it climbing on the wall, and ceilings. The force that is created is a reality weak force, but because this force is so small a Gecko’s foot has hundreds of millions of these spatulas, and because of the millions of these hairs it creates a force equal too 4x107 μn which is roughly 40N per foot (Robert Full 2000). Given that seems like a minuscule amount but that is per foot that is only 100mm2 (Robert Full 2000). Think about if that only for a 100mm2 and a human foot that’s roughly 10000 mm2 that’s hundred times the force per foot that a gecko foot, so you would be producing 4000N per foot (Robert Full 2000).
Thousands of species have become extinct over the last four decades as a result of changes in land use and as a result of global warming. Whether or not the millions of species can adapt and evolve to climate changes is debatable. As this brief overview will report, the human species is not adapting well to the changes. It must be remembered that increases in the levels of carbon dioxide are certainly responsible for the risk many species face, but so is the way land is used, e.g., rain forest destruction. There is a feedback loop wherein plant life and the climate are interdependent. Each affects the other. When forests are cut down, temperatures in that area will rise. Rising temperatures cause other plant life requiring cooler temperatures To die off.
Climate Change is any substantial change in climate that lasts for an extended period of time. One contributor to current climate change is global warming, which is an increase in Earth’s average temperature. Plants and animal species throughout the world are being affected by rising temperatures. Many plants are flowering earlier now than they once did; animals, such as the yellowbellied marmot, are emerging from hibernation earlier; and many bird and butterfly species are migrating north and breeding earlier in the spring than they did a few decades ago, all because of slight changes in temperature cues. (Shuster)
There are numerous factors that are solely responsible for this change, which are both natural and man-made. Climate change has led to a decrease in quality and quantity of plant produce and livestock because of heat stress, drought and an increase in plant and animal diseases. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), (n.d), heat stress is a component of climate change “that causes the body temperature to fail”, and is a global problem which affects agriculture and livestock. The effect of heat stress on livestock’s has become greater for animals such as dairy cows and beef cattle. When animals are in distress due to temperature rise, they usually cut back on their feeding practices; have a rise in body temperature and face weight loss.
In many parts of the world, ecosystems’ temperatures begin to rise and fall to extreme levels making it very difficult for animals and plants to adapt in time to survive. Climate has never been stable here on Earth. Climate is an important environmental influence on ecosystems. Climate changes the impacts of climate change, and affects ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming could force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive to their survival. Similarly, as sea level rises, saltwater intrusion into a freshwater sys...