Essay on Lab #1 LifeScience 1 Ground Squirrels

If you aren't already well aware of the biology of a Chipmunk, you are in luck today. I will be briefly discussing its connections with other organisms, and a Chipmunks relation to life's domains and kingdoms. I will also be sure to include how a Chipmunk is incorporated in life's organization and characteristics. Although Chipmunks rest near the bottom of the food web, they still take a significant impact on our ecosystem.

A group of researchers collected data to support the theory that the overpopulation of snakes is killing off the mammal population. Ashley Townsend, National Geographic writes, “the python population has continued to grow at a remarkable rate and has caused great distress to the park 's ecosystem.” For this study, the researchers at the South Florida Water Management District recorded the rates of live and dead mammals during a nocturnal road survey and compared it to the 1996-1997 road surveys. Scientists for the South Florida Management District, stated, “Researchers noted that the animals in the park were dying at a greater rate since the python population has gotten so enormous.”

Thought to have been first introduced into the wild via pet owners (Dorcas & Wilson, 20011) have caused significant declines in mammal populations. An observational study conducted by Dorcas et al (2012), found a 90% reduction in encounter rates of a number of species including racoon, opossums, bob cats and white tailed deer over the period 2003-2011 in which Burmese python populations have increased. The introduction of the Burmese python has also caused a significant decline in bird species. A study conducted by Dove et al (2011) found remains of 25 different species of birds in the digestive tracts of 85 Burmese pythons collected from 2003-2008, 4 of which are of special concern in Florida and 1 the ‘Wood Stork’ is listed as endangered. Preying on native wildlife and competing with native predators has impacted the food web and trophic level dynamics of the ecological

success was found, behavioral isolation is very likely to have been the reason why. Our data supports this as well since the St. Kitts rodent spends 12.6 seconds during courtship display while the Nevis rodent spends 21.3 seconds, almost

When feeding in a treacherous environment both prey and predator must develop a varied range of hunting and defense behaviors.

Unlike many other rodents the flying squirrel does not hibernate. Instead they group together during the winter and cold month’s to maintain warmth. Northern flying squirrels usually communicate with a soft low chirp but also cluck just like other squirrels when distressed. These squirrels also use scent and touch to communicate with one another; utilizing their excellent senses of hearing, smell, vision, and touch to correspond with the signals they emanate. “A major food source for the squirrels are mycorrhizal fungi (truffles) of many different species, though they also eat lichens, mushrooms, all mast-crop nuts, tree sap, insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings, buds and flowers. The squirrels are special in that they can find truffles by olfaction, which is the use of smell. They also seem to use clues such as the presence of wood debris, indicating a decaying log, and spatial memory of locations where truffles were found in the past. The northern flying squirrel is also known to stash food for when food supplies are lower such as in the winter. These caches can be in cavities in trees, as well as in the squirrels' nest, or even within the ground. Lichens and seeds are the commonly stored items” (9). Yet in this relationship the most important functions of this squirrel are to provide food for the owls, and in addition, to greatly

In the beginning, the author introduces the nutria rat also known as coypu, it was first brought into the U.S. in 1899 in California for the fur industry. These creatures now live in 15 other states including Louisiana. They were released into “Louisiana wild by state and federal agencies to provide a new fur resource and to control problem plants such as the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)” ( 1). It did not take long for them

The group discovered is more closely related to anteaters than to the other sloths (Document B). Though all of the groups (populations A-D and the anteaters), trace back to one common point, the newly discovered population of sloths is closer to anteaters than it is to the other three populations of sloths. This difference even is evident on the genetic level. The team geologist recorded that the new population shares “little to no common genes with other populations” of sloths in the region (Document E). Therefore, the new group is not closely related to the preexisting

Florida Atlantic University, Dept. of Psychology, Davie, FL 33314 USA [E-mail: wmckibbi@fau.edu, tshackel@fau.edu] The Omnivore’s Dilemma is the latest book by Michael Pollan, best known for his previous best‐ selling work, The Botany of Desire. Here, Pollan has crafted a well‐written and enjoyable  exploration of humans’ relationship with food. The book is written for a lay audience, but is  appreciable by all.    Pollan begins by focusing on a seemingly simple question,

Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat (Young Reader’s Edition) - Grade 7

Figure 3: The graph shows the differences between standard lengths of population A and B. It is easy to see the difference in size between the populations.

Abstract: There is very little known about the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (SMHM). In 1970, SMHM was added to the endangered list, largely due to the fact their salt water habitats 84% gone. With the mouse being just under 3 inches in length, nocturnal, loving its dense cover protection, and the close resemblance to the Western Harvest Mouse, it makes field identification very difficult. Further research is needed not only into the population numbers of SMHM, but its habitat as well. Capture-recapture will be used to assess the SMHM population, where it will be measured, weighed, a patch of hair taken for re-identification, and released back into its habitat. Subplots will also be measured for the Pickleweed population using USFS protocol. Despite conservation efforts, there is a lot more that needs to be done to evaluate SMHM and its habitat to ensure its continued survival. The objective of this research proposal is to measure the SMHM population and its habitat, in order to evaluate the probability of its continued survival. The results of this research will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for further conservation efforts of SMHM in the San Francisco Bay.

The Hipster lifestyle is quickly taking over the world. While thousands of youngsters are picking out their wardrobes based on this strange new style, it now appears that some animals are following the same patterns. In fact, one snake in Texas seems to have come up with a way to wear a pair of sunglasses and even a mustache.

Animal experimentation by scientists can be cruel and unjust, but at the same time it can provide long term benefits for humanity. Animals used in research and experiments have been going on for 2,000 years and keep is going strong. It is a widely debated about topic all over the world. Some say it is inhuman while others say it’s for the good of human kind. There are many different reasons why people perform experiments and why others total disagree with it.

The law proves that natural selection is necessary for evolution to occur ("SparkNotes: population genetics," 2014). The conditions set up by the Hardy-Weinberg Law allow for variability (the existence of different alleles) and inheritance, but they eliminate natural selection ("SparkNotes: population genetics," 2014). The fact that no evolution occurs in a population meeting these conditions proves that evolution can only occur through natural selection ("SparkNotes: population genetics," 2014). The Hardy-Weinberg Law allows us to estimate the effect of selection pressures