Thursday, September 25, 2008

Mini project #4




Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO) that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. The most common modified foods are derived from plants: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil. (Wikipedia)Here is a list of GM products along with its non-GM products:http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Mini project #3





Alligator, American ( Alligator mississippiensis)
Bankclimber, purple ( Elliptoideus sloatianus)
Bat, gray ( Myotis grisescens)
Butterfly, Schaus swallowtail ( Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus)
Caracara, Audubon's crested (FL pop.) ( Polyborus plancus audubonii)
Crane, whooping [XN] ( Grus americana)
Crocodile, American ( Crocodylus acutus)
Darter, Okaloosa ( Etheostoma okaloosae)
Deer, Key ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium)
Eagle, bald (lower 48 States) ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Jay, Florida scrub ( Aphelocoma coerulescens)
Kite, Everglade snail (FL pop.) ( Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)
Manatee, West Indian ( Trichechus manatus)
Moccasinshell, Gulf ( Medionidus penicillatus)
Moccasinshell, Ochlockonee ( Medionidus simpsonianus)
Mouse, Anastasia Island beach ( Peromyscus polionotus phasma)
Mouse, Choctawhatchee beach ( Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)
Mouse, Key Largo cotton ( Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)
Mouse, Perdido Key beach ( Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
Mouse, southeastern beach ( Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)
Mouse, St. Andrew beach ( Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)
Panther, Florida ( Puma concolor coryi)
Pigtoe, oval ( Pleurobema pyriforme)
Plover, piping (except Great Lakes watershed) ( Charadrius melodus)
Pocketbook, shinyrayed ( Lampsilis subangulata)
Puma (FL) ( Puma concolor)
Rabbit, Lower Keys marsh ( Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)
Rice rat (lower FL Keys) ( Oryzomys palustris natator)
Salamander, flatwoods ( Ambystoma cingulatum)
Sea turtle, green (FL, Mexico nesting pops.) ( Chelonia mydas)
Sea turtle, green (except where endangered) ( Chelonia mydas)
Sea turtle, hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata)
Sea turtle, Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii)
Sea turtle, leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea)
Sea turtle, loggerhead ( Caretta caretta)
Seal, Caribbean monk ( Monachus tropicalis)
Shrimp, Squirrel Chimney Cave ( Palaemonetes cummingi)
Skink, bluetail mole ( Eumeces egregius lividus)
Skink, sand ( Neoseps reynoldsi)
Slabshell, Chipola ( Elliptio chipolaensis)
Snail, Stock Island tree ( Orthalicus reses)
Snake, Atlantic salt marsh ( Nerodia clarkii taeniata)
Snake, eastern indigo ( Drymarchon corais couperi)
Sparrow, Cape Sable seaside ( Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)
Sparrow, Florida grasshopper ( Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)
Stork, wood (AL, FL, GA, SC) ( Mycteria americana)
Sturgeon, Gulf ( Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Sturgeon, shortnose ( Acipenser brevirostrum)
Tern, roseate (Western Hemisphere except NE U.S.) ( Sterna dougallii dougallii)
Three-ridge, fat ( Amblema neislerii)
Vole, Florida salt marsh ( Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)
Whale, finback ( Balaenoptera physalus)
Whale, humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae)
Whale, right ( Balaena glacialis)
Woodpecker, red-cockaded ( Picoides borealis)
Woodrat, Key Largo ( Neotoma floridana smalli)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Mini project #2




The Carbon Cycle is defined as the biochemical cycle in which carbon is exchanged through the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere of the Earth. Above is a simplified diagram of how the carbon is exchanged and how the carbon cycle works as a whole.Carbon is abundant in ocean and sedimentary rock. As soon as the carbon reaches the water, it precipitates and forms calcium carbonate. Through this process corals and algae build up limestone reefs. The built up reefs give creatures a suitable environment for which they live in. Also this gives way for future respiration allowing future exchanges for carbon.Through photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates which either liberated into the atmosphere or is consumed by animals or decomposed into the soil for future exchanges.The impact that humans have on the carbon cycle is that humans simply just throw off the entire cycle. By burning fossil fuels, humans release far more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere then the environment naturally releases. This means more demand for plants to convert through photosynthesis. When the demand is not satisfied, there is excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which allows more energy from the sun to reach Earth, but a reduction in how much is released back into space, thus causing global warming.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008




I would join Greenpeace. Greenpeace was founded in British Columbia, Canada in 1971. The reason why it was formed was to oppose the United States from testing nuclear devices in Alaska. Later the organization began focusing on issues like global warming, whaling, bottom trawling, nuclear power etc.
Greenpeace is trying to address numerous problems that we people are facing today such as climate change. Greenpeave also tries to defend oceans by challanging wasteful fishing.
They are protecting forests, and animals, plants and the people as well. Greenpeace is trying to eliminate nuclear weapons.
They are working on creating a safer, toxic free World for everyone.
For all these reasons I would join Greenpeace.