This past week in Belize was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I have ever had. In the special topics biology class, I learned so much about the ecology, culture, and history of the newly established country. Not to mention, I obtained a new respect for ornithology and a new interest in birds. About the size of Manhattan and with a population of almost 350,000 people, Belize surprisingly holds approximately 500 species of birds. We were able to spot 135 species of birds during our stay and also learned about a few mutualism relationships.
One of the greatest mutualism relationships is between the ants and the bullhorn acacias. The ants live in the hollow bullhorns and protect the tree, making sure there is no vegetation to harm it. In return, the acacia creates nectar and Beltian bodies, the yellow tips of the leaves and rich in protein, for the ants to eat and prosper. It is quite possible for both parties to live separately; however, the ants and the acacias thrive when they are together.
Another tree and ant mutualism is the Cecropia (trumpet) tree and the Azteca ants. The ants will protect its host, and the tree will provide food and shelter in its hollow internodes. Also, the Cecropia tree is favored among many birds. It also grows three feet a year and is an early successional tree.
Next, the strangler figs are an interesting plant and have their own cut-throat methods of survival. As the name implies, the figs will strangle their host plant and take over. The host plant can die and leave a hollow space inside the strangler fig. They fruit all year, and their seeds are poisonous and spread by birds. The devil’s gut cactus also does the same thing by enclosing in on a host tree. They are called this because of their a...
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...in cow, and more closely-related to a horse and rhino. Mahogany is the national tree, a grand tree of great height and does not mature until 60 to 80 years of age. Black orchid is the national flower, has a unique shape, and the flowers are long-lasting.
There were a variety of species I was able to see and learn about. I was able to learn how to correctly identify the keel-billed toucan, Magnificent frigates, and great-tailed grackles. Also, I gained a vast amount of knowledge from the class and created new bonds with other talented and dedicated students. I brought home not only souvenirs and photos, but also a new awareness to birds. Their calls, appearances, and behaviors are all very unique and my goal is to be able to recognize birds around my area. This class was an unforgettable experience and expanded my interests and knowledge in the beauty of nature.
Alden, Peter, Rich Cech, and Gil Nelson. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Knopf. 2. Brown, Larry W. 1997.
Levin, T. (1998, June/July). Listening to wildlife in the Everglades. National Wildlife, 36, 20- 31. McCally, D. (1999). The Everglades: An Environmental History. Gainsville: University Press of Florida.
Redwoods were named for the color of their bark and heartwood. These trees have a high resistance to fungus and diseases due to the high tanin content in the wood. The dense, fibrous bark has an even higher content, and acts as an insulator from periodic fires which have plagued the countryside for centuries. Though these trees are immense, they have delicate foliage. The needles are narrow and sharp-pointed, and combine to form feathery sprays. The cones are an inch long and typically contain fourteen to twenty-four seeds. The older trees offspring sprout form their parents' roots in order to take advantage of the established root system.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one of the most important and valuable timber species in the world due to its superior wood characteristics, durability, and ability to grow at high densities within inundated habitats. Bald cypress technically is not a true cypress such as those within the genus Cupressus. It is within the genus Taxodium, and family Cupressaceae (Bragg 2011). Bald Cypress is the state tree of the state of Louisiana, where the majority of the United States’ permanent swamps are located. Bald cypress is also commonly called gulf cypress, red cypress, tidewater red cypress, white cypress and yellow cypress (Kennedy 1972).
After this lesson, I will take the students down to the pond so that we can look at the different animals that might be down there. Usually there are geese in this pond and if there are any when we are down there, I can have the students compare them to each other.
As you can see Harry has a great time bird watching and looks forward to his adventures, never really knowing on a particular day what he is going to see. Things change on a daily basis and what you see today may not be what you see tomorrow! And there is so much to look at! The coloring of a bird, the speed, the song, even its personality! Yes, its personality! For a bird can be shy, intelligent, aggressive or outgoing, even meticulous!
8. Taylor, Dan. 1998. Audubon Society Inspired to Action by Bird Die -offs . 17 Jan. 1998 . E-mail . Available bkus@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
The Paper Birchas enemies is basicly any herbivore that is hungry. one symbiotic Is that the Timber wolf sharpen its claw on the tree and the tree gets scratched. The claw marks slips out sap and the sap has a sweet smell which attracts bees and insects to eat.this is an act of symbiosis.
Costa Rica lies in the tropics and originated as a land of peaceful people and lush ecosystems. The Costa Rica of today is much different than a simple ideal tourist location. It is a country that ranks among the world’s highest in biodiversity. In addition, there is no separation between church and state. It is a country with a woman president and no army. The economy of Costa Rica is challenged on a daily basis and the education of its residents is recognizable. The purpose of this paper is to introduce readers to the many unique facets of the small Spanish speaking country of Costa Rica. My intent is to present information about the country’s geographical facts, biodiversity and ecotourism, religion, education, government and economical status.
Costa Rica is covered in huge jungles. Reminding me of the movie Tarzan, the jungles are full of monkeys, macaws, and many other curious creatures. Another interesting thing about Costa Rica was the beach. On the pacific side of the country, the sand is muddy and black. Even though the dark sand made the ocean look dirty, it made the white sea shells shine exceedingly bright. One of the scariest parts about Costa Rica was the reptiles. It seems that every river was full of enormous crocodiles. Although the lush, green jungle was a beautiful sight to see, Bonaire had even prettier views. Since it is located in the Caribbean, the island of Bonaire is surrounded by the most gorgeous turquoise water. The ocean was definitely the prettiest part of the island. The main terrain of Bonaire is desert. Unlike Costa Rica, there are hardly any trees. The island is covered in rocks and cactus. Because of the lack of vegetation, there were very few animals that thrive. For example, donkeys and finches were some of the only animals I saw on the island. Just like Costa Rica, Bonaire has a reptile problem. Thankfully, the reptiles in Bonaire were much nicer. Iguanas ruled the island. They were everywhere. After vacationing in Costa Rica and Bonaire, I realized that both have extraordinary
Plant defences are those mechanisms employed by plants in response to herbivory and parasitism. According to Hanley et al. (2007), “the tissues of virtually all terrestrial, freshwater, and marine plants have qualities that to some degree reduce herbivory, including low nitrogen concentration, low moisture content, toxins or digestibility-reducing compounds”. The type of chemical defence may be species specific (Scott 2008). The defences that plants possess may be in the form of chemical production or in the form of physical defences such as thorns or spikes and even through reinforced, rigid leaves. “The compounds that are produced in response to herbivory can either have a direct effect on the attacker itself (e.g. toxins or digestibility reducers), or serve as indirect defenses by attracting the natural enemies of the herbivores” (Bezemer & van Dam 2005). This essay will focus on chemical plant defences and in particular the effects of terpenes, phenolics, nitrogen-based defences as well as allelopathy in plants.
Working at the Center for Wildlife had a huge impact on my personal growth in many ways. The center was my first experience other than in classes working in my field, so I will always hold a special place for the center, especially with the ...
Evolution is one of the main cornerstones of biology and all living things as humans know them. Without evolution, complex modern organisms, such as the humans, would never have emerged and dominate the planet. Although evolution has been observed over a long period of time, by scientists such as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, it was not solidified and recognized until the revolutionary discoveries made by a young British naturalist by the name of Charles Darwin. Unlike Lamarck, who believed in the inheritance of acquired characteristics, Darwin advocated his theory of revolution with the more modern concept of natural selection.
Stones become hot from the sun and remain warm during the night. The warmth will radiate down into the nest and keep the young and older ants warm. Ants are social insects. Most insects have no family life, but ants are different. Ants have families and live in communities.
There was a significant amount of knowledge given in this course, involving concepts that in our teaching career will be extremely important. From this course I have gained a significant amount of learning experiences. I had the pleasure learning about how the educational system has come to be what it is today and who were the important people in the creation of the public education, like Horace Mann. Watching the videos and reading the chapters required has opened my eyes more of how a teacher should respond to different situations involving a student, For example when we read the chapter on the laws that revolve around the educators and the students. I had absolutely no clue that students had rights while in school property. Another learning