This essay is about the process of pearls, how they are taken from oysters and how it relates to environmental sustainability. It will further more discuss the environmental problem that is caused by pearls. Pearls are an example of my discipline of study; Jewellery Design and Manufacture. Academic sources such as Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful (1973), Braungart and McDonough’s Cradle to Cradle (2002), Dawson’s Pearls of Creations (2011), Silvia Malaguzzi’s The Pearl (2001) and Bar and Lam’s Pearls (2009).
Pearls are “the only gemstones made by living animals; they are the oldest known natural gems “(Pearls a gift….2014: [sp]). The origin of the pearl is not completely known as it has been used for centuries. According to Bari and Lam (2009:18)
…show more content…
They also help remove “plankton and organic particles from the water column; and are capable of filtering up to 50 gallons of water per day which makes them improve water quality and clarity” (Oyster…2014:[sp]).
Oysters can be considered as a cure for the aqua life as “they consume nitrogen containing compound such as nitrates and ammonia, phosphates, detritus, bacteria and dissolved organic matter; removing them from the water (Oyster…2014:[sp]).
Since natural pearls take certain time to develop in oysters, people figured out a way in which pearls can be produced named a human cultivation process. A process in which certain nucleus are injected into molluscs for pearls to be produced, but for this process to happen the aqua life has to be disturbed (Dawson 2011:47).
The way pearls are removed for human cultivation process is environmentally harmful regarding that “95% of oysters are farmed and harvested” (Oyster…2014: [sp]). They are “harvested by harmful dredging, feed on plankton which is very low on the food chain and in fact; improves the marine environment by removing toxins”
Both, people and animals, use the Bays resources every day and have done so for centuries. One of the Bay's biggest resources is its oysters. Oysters are filter feeders which means they feed on algae and clean the water. The oysters feed on algae and other pollutants in the bay, turning them into food, then they condense the food down to nutrients and sometimes develop pearls. Filtering the water helps the oysters grow, and also helps clean the Chesapeake Bay.
They also look after the quality of coastal waters by watering down, sifting, and settling deposits, left-over nutrients and contaminants. They are highly productive ecosystems and provide habitats and act as nurseries for all manner of life.
Pearl, just as those found in nature, is very rare and unique. Her radiance in the “gorgeous robes…” (92) depicts an illuminating child standing out amongst all of the grey puritan children. Although Pearl was made out of a horrifying situation, she is a beautiful, extraordinary girl. As real pearls form from dirt and become beautiful and rare, Pearl is a living example. Hawthorne stresses Pearl as an “outcast of the infantile world” (95) because she is a precious gem that glows against the dark
One of the Bays biggest resources is its oysters. Oysters are filter feeders which mean they feed on agley and clean the water. The oysters feed on agley and other pollutants in the bay turning them into food for them, then they condense the food down to nutrient and developed things like pearls.Filtering the water also helps the oyster to grow. One oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day, Oysters used to be able to filter the Bay in about a week. However these creatures are now scarce in the bay. The Chesapeake Bays Oyster (crassostrea virginica) Population has declined severely because of over harvesting, agricultural runoff, and disease. Now the Chesapeake Bay is becoming polluted without the oysters and the water is not nearly as clean as it once was. The Chesapeake Bay was the first estuary in the nation to be targeted for restoration as an integrated watershed and ecosystem. (Chesapeake Bay Program n/d). This report will show the cause and effect of the Chesapeake Bay's Oyster decline on the Bay.
Since fresh pure sea water is not readily accessible, the easiest water source for the majority of hobbyists is the faucet. However, the tap water that comes from the local water treatment plants may be safe for human consumption but is most likely toxic to marine life. Water treatment plants remove most of the harmful chemicals, but the water delivered is anything but pure. Often this tap water contains high levels of phosphates and nitrates that can be harmful to aquarium inhabitants. Also, copper may leach from pipes, and it is deadly to marine invertebrates (Goldstein 8). This leaves very few options for water to the hobbyist. One of the last, and probably the best option for obtaining a pure water source is by using reverse osmosis water.
First, oysters are natural water purifiers. Because they are filter feeders, oysters help keep the water in the Bay clear by eating (or filtering) algae and sediments from the water. Oysters are such efficient cleaning machines that a single adult oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water a day. Before the Chesapeake Bay’s decline, it took only three to six days for the oysters to clean the amount of water in the bay.
Whether an organization is domestic or international they have social responsibilities to the communities they operate within and to the shielding of the world. Caterpillar, Inc. is one such company that puts social responsibility at the top of their priorities. They have an abundance of engineers and technologists working on solutions to improve on sustainability. According to the 2012 Sustainability Report (2012), “at Caterpillar, we always ask ourselves, ‘What do our customers need? What does the world need?’ World Resources Institute (WRI) asks those same questions about the communities it serves, and truly delivers some amazing results” (p. 19).
There are many impacts that fishing and land animal farming have on the ocean, which are detrimental to ocean ecosystems as well as many other aspects of the environment. Overfishing, killing fish at a much quicker rate than the fish can repopulate, is one major problem. Three-fourths of the world’s fisheries are either fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted (Cowspiracy). Researchers have estimated an end of all viable fisheries by 2018 if the current trends of fishing continue (Mason). According to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, hundreds of thousands of animals die every year as bycatch, with one of the worst offenders being shrimp fisheries, catching up to six pounds of bycatch per pound of shrimp. Endangered species are also caught, including predators which are important in keeping the balance in ocean ecosystems (Smith). While many organizations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommend consumers to eat more “sustainable” fish, this will not stop the massive environmental impacts. Sustainable fishing for one does not account for the natural flux in the population of species of fish; what is considered a sustainable amount of fish to harvest one year may deplete the fishery in another year (Smith). Sustainable fish also are becoming even less sustainable as companies that label sustainable fish must find more For example, after Wal-Mart pledged to selling Marine Stewardship
I have chosen to talk about precious gemstones and crystals. There are many people now and days rediscovering the many uses of gemstones and crystals. To my knowledge each, have many different uses. They can be used as adornments, for health, for healing and for spiritual practices. You have probably never even heard of stones or crystals in this fashion before. I am going to take this opportunity to tell you what I know about this fascinating world that I have grown very accustomed to. I am not a gemstone/crystal specialist but, I do know enough about this topic to give you a slight overview about this topic.
Aquaponics produces the biggest, best, and most diverse fruits and vegetables in the smallest amount of space. Unlike normal gardening and farming, Aquaponics is not limited to seasons or climate, which means all types of fruits and vegetables can be produced year round. When farmers can produce any plant, any where, at any time, the produce can be picked at the peak of its ripeness, which is when it looks and tastes the best, and since farme...
This is a problem because oysters are the Bays natural filtering system. “Before settling in one place, young oysters drift through the water munching on the microscopic life now in abundance, filtering the Bay as a result.” (Baliles, p 9). In order to determine what, when, and how an animal may be in danger we must first tract the environment in which they live.
Seafood has been an important part of the human diet since the first hunter-gatherers realized they could use fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals as a food source. Now, almost 10,000 years later, seafood comprises a major part of animal protein consumption all over the world (Huss et al. 2000). In fact, global seafood consumption has been on the rise within the last two decades. The number of consumed seafood products rose from 140 million tons in 2007, to 145 million tons in 2009 (White 2011). This increase in consumption can be contributed to the many health benefits that have been attributed to the consumption of seafood.
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
What if the world could find a way to dispose of sewage, produce food, and purify bodies of water at the same time? The Aztecs have proven that this idea is possible. Lake Texcoco flowed near the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs disposed of their waste in the lake. The human waste added nitrogen to the water. The nitrogen helped algae to grow, and then the algae performed photosynthesis. Photosynthesis gives off oxygen, and oxygen purifies polluted water. The Aztec's also abstracted the algae from the lake and used it for food. Certain types of algae like red and green algae are edible. Many cultures have eaten seaweed for centuries. Wendy O'Leary Dunn states, "They think of seaweed as a vegetable and eat it as we eat broccoli or spinach" (18). Therefore, when humans dispose of their waste in bodies of water, they help algae grow. Then, the algae cleans the water and they can eat the algae.
For a long time, human overconsumption has depleted the earth’s resources and as a result, has led to the extinction of any important species in all eco systems. Coral Reefs are a major component to the ocean and its marine food chain. Just like many other ecosystems, the health of coral reefs in general is in a decline, for many reasons. Some reasons include but are not limited to: CO2 emissions, Overfishing, Explosive fishing, and Pollution. Coral Reefs are again one of the most diverse yet fragile ecosystems on the planet, they are also regarded to many marine biologists as “the rainforest of the oceans”. The reefs are not only important to the species from there itself but are also protecting species living near coral reefs. The decline in health won’t only result in harming species in the oceans but also many land creatures as well. The effects of over-fishing have/will break the food chain. Causing cases of over/undergrowth to many species linked with coral. However on the other hand, there are many organizations dedicated to protecting environments that are being threatened due to human activity.