Essays on Biodiversity

The parts that talk about environmental justice are the ones entitled Pollution, waste, and the throwaway culture (Francis 16). These texts assert that many of the activities that human beings get involved in leads to pollution and hence the degradation of our biodiversity. This is a situation that has led to numerous deaths. Such deaths do not mind the age, gender, race, social class, or religion of an individual because people from all sorts of life have suffered problems that are associated the massive pollution. All these are as a result of human activities that they involve in, such ...

Abstract

The ecological settings in an ecosystem change from time to time. The changes in the ecological settings are brought about by a plethora of factors. Through evolution, the organisms that live in the ecosystem also change to adapt to the aforementioned ecological changes. The adaptation of the organisms to the ecological changes yields variations because different organisms and even organisms of the same species are exposed to the elements to different levels. Man has a significant role to play in the ecological changes. Through his economic activities, the effect on ecosystems has been both positive and negative. Urbanization as ...

[Class Title]

Introduction It is common to see people using animals for sports and entertainment. Examples of sporting events that use animals are horse racing, cockfighting and many others, while zoos and circuses are among those who keep animals for entertainment. While most people enjoy these events and public display of animals, there are those who believe that such activities are unethical and morally wrong. There are, at least, four major reasons why people should not use animals for sport and entertainment. These are violation against nature; violation against the sensitivities of other people; cruelty against animals; and violation ...

Introduction

Every parent envisions a future where their children and grandchildren live in a rich and resourceful environment that essentially provides them with everything that they need to survive. However, what if parents were informed of a pending doom where their children will live in an extremely toxic environment where there aren't enough basic resources such as fresh drinking water or where the climate is comprised of harsh conditions that threaten their lives on a daily basis? What if they were informed that by the time their children are adults, a diverse range of the existing species of animals will ...

Defining the Coastal Environments in Tourism Industry

Tourism is one of rapidly developing industries in the global scales. Additional emphasis in this case should be put on the marine and coastal tourism - as two of the most popular options for spending the time and relaxation (Hewawasam, 2002, p. 2). At the same time, even while, taking into account general awareness among the scholars., pertaining to importance of tourism both in environmental and economic contexts, insignificant attention is paid by them to these two contexts of tourism (Sunlu, 2003, p. 263-270) The core need for additional attention to this sector is caused by insignificant understanding of ...

DNA in Forensic Science

Forensic Science deals with investigations of suspects or criminals in crime scenes legally. In most cases, there are usually a lot of people involved in crime scenes. Some of them being innocent while some are the criminals. Also, there may be one criminal involved in an incidence. In Forensic Science, DNA is used to differentiate the individuals so that the criminal among them can be known. Additionally, DNA analysis is performed in the paternity testing. It enables the determination of a parent or parents of a child. DNA analysis is now being regarded as scientific evidence ("Application of forensic ...

Environmental Sociology

Introduction The risk associated with significant projects like the construction if the Belo Monte Dam tends to be quite big. Risks tend to affect people in various aspects, for instance, there is a risk that affects people in the individual context and those that affect them in the general aspects (Mythen 2004, p. 11). However, the manner in which people deal with the possibility of an adverse outcome, especially in an investment like the big dam tends to differ depending on the magnitude of the risk. Though the risks related to the project can cause dangerous and catastrophic problems, ...

My Relationship with the Environment

“You look at that river gently flowing by [] it's peaceful. And all of a sudden, it's a gear shift inside you. And it's like taking a deep breath and going, "Oh yeah, I forgot about this.”” – Al Gore, The Inconvenient Truth (2006). The environment. Since our birth to the world, anything that happens to it affects us in so many ways. We hear it being mentioned in a lot of our current events - something is wrong with it, and that something must be resolved soon. The thing about the environment is that all the problems related to it ...

Question 1

Geography is unique since it is the most basic and essential science. The creation of the field of geography is through human curiosity concerning the atmosphere and the environment in the world. It becomes unique because it is both a social and natural science. The core unifying factor between human and physical geography is the environmental determinism concept which argues that the natural environment directly influences human beings’ moral, mental and physical habits. Both depend on each other while on the earth’s surface since a majority of human’s activities are through the exploration of physical activities.

Question 2

The ...

Introduction

In spite of the contribution of urbanization to the economic growth in Zhejiang, its adverse effects far much outweigh the positives since sustainability of the ecosystem and the society is at stake. Environmental concerns, particularly air pollution, are real threats to the ecosystem since they lead to increased atmospheric temperatures which in turn result in climate changes. Urbanization contributes to pollution through higher energy consumption and motorization that have resulted in higher volumes of greenhouse gasses emitted in the air. The shrinking of natural resources is another consequence of urbanization where there is the rampant destruction of natural habitats, ...

Question 1

DNA replication can be defined as the process by which during cell division the DNA duplicates itself to several copies. In this process, the first step involves the unzipping of the double helix found in the DNA structure. This is done by the helicase enzyme, which breaks hydrogen bonds holding the DNA together. When separated the two DNA strands form a replication fork with a Y shape (Craig et al. 2014). This causes the strands to be oriented in different directions, forming the leading and the lagging strands. Once the two orientations are formed, a short RNA piece called ...

Introduction

Until recently, genetic foods have become popular for their ability to address many production and quality issues faced by natural/organic farming methods. Genetically modified crops are those whose genetic makeup has been improved to enhance the level of nutrients, resistance to diseases, increase yields, adaptability to climatic factors, and reduce the time of production (Ronald & Adamchak, 2008). It is different from the conventional breeding because genetic modification allows introduction of genes from any organism (animal and plants) in altering crops whereas breeding allows transfer of genes across related species only. On the other hand, organic farming is a natural ...

Over a period of 400 million years, animals in the vertebrate category have evolved to a diverse array of life adaptations on earth. Vertebrates represent animals that are most familiar with people and are used for food, adopted as pets and deployed for labor. They include fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals. The classification system that groups vertebrates according to each of the classes that have been mentioned above utilizes genetics, anatomy, and the evolutionary relationships. Animals are classified starting with the kingdom which is a large body that encompasses animals that have similar characteristics and end up with ...

1. Historical evolution of Mumbai Mumbai has a long history of evolution that spans for 1000 years. In 1343 the cluster of seven islands was controlled by the Sultanate of Gujarat, and later in 1534 following Portugal invasion, the area was converted into a trading center (The British Library Board). The Portuguese coined the term Bom Bahia, meaning ‘the good bay’, and developed dwelling units, factories as well as ship building yards in the Island cluster, which later became known as Bombay (The British Library Board). With the establishment of East India Company, the British ousted Portuguese, and used ...

Air pollution can be defined as the act of introducing mixtures of solid particles as well as gases into the environment. Examples of solid molecules or gases entail chemicals, biological materials, as well as particulates. This paper discusses air pollution as an environmental problem within my community. Air pollution affects animals, humans, as well as the environment. Additionally, it affects the health of the environment or that of animals or humans, as well as causes climate change. The paper is set to discuss some mechanisms that can be employed to foster positive environmental actions in curbing air pollution. It ...

Urban Environmental Issues

The current urban growth happening is really harming mother earth. This is because there is a shift in local climate in urban cities. This is normally referred to as the effect of urban heat island. Most urban cities are normally warmer than non-urban cities. These temperature changes are normally responsible for the crumble of many coastal forests. Another harmful effect is that there is a dense population of people in urban cities. This leads to exhaustion of resources due the increased needs of people. There is also the decline of biodiversity, land disturbance and a lot of environmental pollution. ...

The fossil record of hominids provides evidence for evolutionary processes that ultimately defined and shaped humanity. The record documents the emergence of bipedalism, the origin of the genus Homo, the initial utilization of tools made of stone, the gradual increase in brain size, the appearance of the present-day humans or Homo sapiens, and the development of advanced tools and cultural values. According to the National Research Council (2010), the evolutionary events described in geological records coincided with significant changes in Eurasian and African climate. Hence, they raise the possibility that past environmental features controlled or affected major junctures in ...

Different cultures have developed different mythologies and creation stories that try to explain the origin of humans. Similarly, scientists have established the processes of evolution that provide an explanation of the same. However, evolution is different from the mythologies and creation stories in which it is based on the scientific language. Another difference between the creation stories and evolution is that evolution is grounded in the ideas that can be tested. According to Chapter 2, Evolution can be termed as the scientific way to depict how the species appear and change over time. To provide a clear understanding of ...

The environment is everything that surrounds us. It involves not only the natural elements that the word “environment” entails but also people and the man-made components of the world. Nor is the environment restricted to the outside, it also involves the indoor sections in which we live and work. The environment, therefore, is much more than simply the ozone layer and the ocean. It is the soil, air, water, lands, animals, houses, restaurants factories and all that they contain. Anyone who uses pesticides indoors or outdoors, in a city or a country, needs to consider the way that pesticide ...

1. DNA in forensic science: DNA contains the genetic code of a person. The genetic information stored in the DNA, is coded in the form of nucleotide sequence. The nucleotide sequence is formed by four fundamental nucleotides: A, T, G, C nucleotide, that formed a polymer in a set order. A typical human DNA, has 3 billion nucleotide bases. The DNA sequence is 99.8% identical in all human beings and is only 0.2% dissimilar. This dissimilarity is the basis for identification of the suspects in forensic medicine. No two human beings can have a DNA that is 100% identical. ...

3.2.1 Political Constraints There are two main political barriers to the sustainable tourism development policy in Korea. Firstly, there is absence of sufficient legislation to support ecotourism as the ministry of Environment relies on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for developing ecotourism. They required a coordinated initiative from the local authorities, tour operators, and NGOs for implementing their educational programs on resource monitoring, and training facilities for conserving tourism under the Natural Environment Conservation Act article 46.Secondly, entirely centralized decision making has resulted in lack of separation of the tourism development from the land development program, which resulted ...

Abstract

Environmental pollution is among the hotly debated topics in the field of environmental studies. Contamination of this kind ranges from that of water, soil, and air. Industrialization and large organizations have been reported to be the primary sources of pollution across the world. Chevron, a leading multinational energy corporation, has in the recent past been accused and charged for heavy soil and water contamination through oil spills. Such environmental pollution has substantial consequences on the human health, safety, and well being. Van Duzer et al. (2015) assert that one of the most affected nations through the company’s activities ...

Introduction

Seagrass beds are amongst the most productive marine habitats and their wide-ranging distribution. They provide homes and food sources for many marine animals, prevent erosion and provide nurseries for many commercial and recreational fish species. Despite their importance to the environment, seagrass beds are increasingly being decimated by the results of human activities. The destruction of seagrass beds may have serious consequences on the biodiversity of coastal regions and as a consequence, may negatively impact on commercial and recreational fishing, and ultimately all marine species.

Description of Issue

Seagrasses are flowering plants that live in marine and estuarine habitats. They are rooted ...

Silvia Earle is an independent activist who has been fighting for the preservation of the Ocean health for more than 5 decades. Mission Blue is a movie that is named after her initiative with a goal to ignite public support in order to preserve the vital places of Oceans known as “Hope spots.” She has a target to create a global Marine network of protected areas and safeguard 20% of ocean by the year of 2020 ("Home - Mission Blue"). In his article Michael Jay Fogarty argues that MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) are not the most effective way of ...

Reducing the population growth rate is possible. The World Watch Institute highlighted that with universal access to safe and effective contraceptives for both sexes, the pregnancies would reduce significantly, and consequently the population. Besides, expansion access of secondary education would also lead to population decrease because of delayed marriage and increased knowledge on the use of contraceptives. Moreover, offering age-appropriate sex education could help reduce the rate of population growth because the children would adopt birth controls at early stages or make informed choices. It follows that adopting methods of reducing the population would lead to a decrease in ...

Scientists, the world over, have a common belief that over 90% of earth’s species have become extinct over the last three billion years that the planet has supported life . It is estimated that there have been at least five mass extinctions spread over millions of years at a time. The latest known mass extinction was towards the end of the Cretaceous period. It is most likely so well known because, the event which occurred over 65 million years ago, caused the end of the dinosaurs. Although in terms of the scale it was smaller than the previous four, ...

The Name of Class

The Name of the School The City and States where it is located 1. Analysis of findings

Research Question- Why is it a problem if the earth’s average temperature gets a little warmer?

1.1 Results The average rising temperature can have vast impacts only by slight increase. The vast impact the average temperature can have can be shown with the average temperature in the last ice age, when the average temperatures were only around 5 degrees Celsius lower than today’s average temperatures. From the Figure 1 it is seen that the global average temperature, which combines the surface and ocean temperature have been on the rise and have reached the highest levels in the ...

Introduction

Trillions of microbes constitute the “Metagenome” of the human gut. This is the organ called microbiome, which is highly essential, and offers the host benefits such as metabolic abilities, pathogen protection, immune system enhancement, and GI tract developmental modulations (De Fillipo, et al.). In their study, three questions regarding the evolution of the human microbiota have been raised. They are: (1) how does the partitioning of bacterial diversity between and within two populations studied? (2) Does there exist a correlation between the diet and bacterial diversity?; and (3) considering the varied geography and hygienic conditions, what is the bacterial ...

Broad topic – Is inorganic farming really beneficial in agriculture?

Narrowest topic - Should we really adopt the use of inorganic farming practices to boost the agricultural production? Should we really adopt the use of inorganic farming practices to boost the agricultural production? The issue The major differences between conventional and organic farming practices stem down to the farming methods that are applied during the food cultivation process. It is surprising enough that many individuals are yet unaware of the existing differences between the two farming methods. It is crucial to understand what goes on in agriculture because it has a direct effect on our environment. Inorganic farming also ...

Nature in city; seed bank; ecosystem and social-urban development.

The terms “ecology” and environment” have different conceptual meanings which often overlap with the concept of “nature” in the context of academic and scientific research and analysis. For instance, ‘Natures and Ecologies’ studies explore the environmental dimensions of ecosystems which includes both physical parameters and biotic attributes of a particular region. The “environment "includes the physical world, the social world of human relations and the built world of human creation. [Ankers 2005] Within the various uses of the word today, "nature" often refers to geology and wildlife. Nature can refer to the general realm of living plants and animals, ...

Undeniably, environmental issues have attracted global interest. All economic activities take place in the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to address any matter affecting the environment with urgency. Production activities in industries result in high economic benefits since they supply goods and services that are fundamental to human life. However, most of the environmental problems experienced throughout the world emanate from these activities. The decisions made by governments as well as companies’ managements affect the value of the environment positively or negatively. Therefore, the decision-making process in public or private institutions must consider the environmental impacts. Media plays a ...

ABSTRACT

The environmental friendly activities have been given utmost importance in every field. Due to the environmental degradation, the new trend of “go green” has been formed among the people. The people are very persistent about sustainability. The architecture and civil engineering are one of the major fields where the sustainability has to be considered on priority basis. Architect Stefano Boeri has been translating his unique idea of sustainability through world’s first vertical forest building, Bosco Verticale. The objective of the present paper is to explore the safety, durability and the sustainability of the architecture. It these factors are ...

Introduction

A fossil is any substance that evidences a once-living organism (University of Arizona, 2016). As such, fossils evidence the ancient life forms which inhabited the earth long time ago and were preserved by a natural process. Most of the fossils are found in sedimentary rocks formed from the sediments of rivers, seas, and lakes. Some of these fossils are actual remains of living things such as bones, or events that happened in the past, for instance, the dinosaur footprints. However, it is ordinarily the hard parts of organisms that get preserved under the right conditions and the interaction of ...

Introduction

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are arguably beneficial socioeconomically. However, there are rising concerns over the harm GMOs pose to the humans and their environment. The process of genetic modification entails altering the genetic composition of organisms to award them properties that are more desirable. According to Rifkin (17), the world is in transition toward a biotech age as illustrated by the advancement of GMOs. In the current society, the adoption of genetically engineered crops, such as soybeans, cotton, and corn, is widespread in the United States following two decades of concerns over consumer reception, and environmental and economic impact ( ...

Part 1

Rationale In Support Of the Choice Loss of biodiversity is an important concern because it affects the fate of humans on the face of the earth. The issue is approached from an ecocentric angle because it focuses on saving all species from extinction. Human activities cause an extinction threat through the loss of biodiversity. Nevertheless, humanity depends on the threatened ecosystem for survival, which makes the subject an important environmental concern. The earth is on the course of the first greatest mass extinction after the annihilation of dinosaurs, which took place approximately sixty-five million years ago. Scientists speculate that ...

Introduction

The relationship between the influence of water pollution and the economy is important since without the water, no life, no prosperity and no economic development can be achieved. The scarcity of water has been identified in various parts of the world and the predictions for the future are even more concerning. Most of the planet earth is composed of water, but only 3% of it is fresh and drinkable and therefore useful for the global population. There has been seen development of the techniques of desalination, but the prices are still relatively high with various other negative factors. The ...

Carlsbad Cavern National Park 2

General Information 2 Geology 4 Climate 8 Wildlife and Biodiversity 9 Environmental Issues and Concerns 10 A Day in the Park 10 The 8th wonder of the earth Carlsbad Cavern lies in the heart of the United States of America in New Mexico. The park has an approximate of 118 caves and attracts an estimated number of 500,000 tourists yearly. It lies in the underground world and provides an amazing scenery to any tourist who visits the park. It offers vast subterranean chambers, incredible cave formations, and unique features. Touring the park will require some walking, crawling and ...

Pollution in Bishumati River in Nepal (photo courtesy of NTNC)

N epal has experienced rapid growth and urbanization in Nepal is on an upward trend. However, the effect of the increase in human population in the urban areas and the discharge of untreated industrial effluent into water sources has led to pollution of rivers in Nepal (Bajracharya & Newton, 2006). Currently, pollution of water is the most serious issue on public health. Many studies conducted in Nepal have shown that public water supply is of poor quality since the water is contaminated with bacteria. The major sources of water pollution in Nepal have been identified as physical pollutants which are ...

E nvironmental conservation has attracted the attention of the globe because the consequences of environmental degradation are diverse and affect the whole world in one way or the other. Human activities have largely been blamed for environmental degradation and to correct this, steps on environmental conservation have been taken seriously by all countries in the world. Somalia is located in a semi-arid area of Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimate of 5,700,000 Ha of low-density woodland and 52,000 Ha of dense forest (Thulin 14). However, environmental degradation has been on the rise in Somalia, and the major ...

Part one

Biodiversity is essential in the sustainability of the environment. In fact, lack thereof compromises the nature’s ability to adapt to environmental changes, therefore, enhancing its vulnerability. The development of science and technology paved the way for the incorporation of genetic engineering to living organisms. Precisely, since its introduction in 1996, many nations have embraced the conveniences offered by the genetic modification of crops to enhance their resistance and overall sustainability (Rifkin 15). This method is influential as it enables scientists to combat the development of a crop disease by altering the genetic composition of an organism. However, this ...

Is the process of Globalization harmless for the planet and it's population?

Overview With the technological advancement in the contemporary world, the process of globalization has gained moment raising questions regarding its impact on the planet and its population. Globalization is political, economic, and social phenomena that explain on the increased integration of the global society, especially in the economic integration (Gangopadhyay and Chatterji, 2005, 57). Some studies show that although globalization is an essential process in the modern world, the process involved is controversial. According to Dauvergne (2005, 371), some scholars argue that the process is the source of ingenuity, progress, and cooperation of the future world and enhanced the ...

Analysis of Energy Sufficiency, Sustainability and Conflicts of US Forests

Abstract The focus of the paper is to analyze the economics of US forests. In particular, the paper analyses the energy sufficiency, sustainability, as well as potential conflicts regarding this essential us natural resource. Concerning forest sustainability, the paper will consider issues such as how the US can use and retain forests to meet different human needs, how it can preserve and promote healthy forests, and how the country can make ethical choices concerning forests. Key findings in the paper reveal that although the United States has shown some efforts in creating sustainability concerning forests, there is still much ...

Introduction

Siting and Designing decisions for hotels and resorts are major decisions because they influence a considerable number of people and animals both in the current and future generations. Siting and design decisions have a major hand viability and conservation of ecosystems as well as the financial success of the specific hotel or resort. Biodiversity plays an important role in facilitating a hotel’s operational activities. Inside the hotel, the food, furniture and amenities in the spa are all elements of diversity. Outside the hotel, plants and animals (that are also elements of diversity) make a major contribution in making ...

Introduction

Mining activities can pose serious environmental and health implications. Although, these environmental and health hazards can be mitigated and effectively managed through sound engineering and environmental practices, these environmental and health issues associated with mining operations could not be totally eradicated. In general, there are three major players in the mining industry: the company, which include the employees and the stockholders; the regulatory bodies, which include the government and other national and international environmental organizations; and the community, which are not directly related to the mining industry, but is impacted by its operations. Each one of these stakeholders has ...

Abstract

Myanmar (Burma) is blessed with a vast variety of renewable and non-renewable resources. Among these resources is the forest resource which is a vital resource for the country due to its support of livelihoods and economic growth. The country is home to the world’s best quality teak which has proven a valuable commodity all over the world. The extensive logging by government authorities, foreign and private companies, and the local people has caused massive deforestation which has led to increased flooding, biodiversity loss, sedimentation of water bodies, water shortage, soil erosion and loss of wildlife species. The country ...

Introduction

There are about 33 countries that have implemented payment schemes to facilitate the conservation of biodiversity (Duchelle et al 13). For example, in Brazil, rubber tappers have engaged in an agreement with the government where there are provided with payments for their conservation efforts (Duchelle et al 14). Another example is in Guyana where the Conservation International has obtained a conservation concession from their government to promote the conservation of 20,000 acres of forest. The payment scheme as a strategy to facilitate biodiversity conservation is also currently applicable in the United States where farmers are paid for protecting ...

Five centuries years ago the Brazilian Atlantic forest covered approximately 330 million acres of the state’s area but today more than 93% of it has been cut down. The Brazilian Atlantic forest is one of the richest and most biologically diverse forest on the planet. But unfortunately, it is one of the most vulnerable and endangered natural objects of the Earth. During the settlement of these lands, the Atlantic forest was cut down mercilessly for coffee plantations, cattle grazing and for the needs of the construction. Today, only about eight percent of the original Atlantic forest is preserved – ...

The earth’s habitat is rapidly changing owing to human activities that have compromised the stability of ecosystems. In this regard, the degradation of the environment has been attributed to irresponsible use of natural resources and the lack of consideration of vital components essential for a stable ecosystem. One of these human activities is deforestation. As a result of the increase in the human population, incredible strain has been placed on the available resources, in order to accommodate the growing number of individuals. As such, the environment has borne the adverse effects, as currently witnessed in climatic changes such ...

Introduction

The relationship between the influence of water pollution and the economy is really important since without the water, no life, no prosperity and no economic development can be achieved. It is one of the most important parts of people’s daily lives. The scarcity of water has been seen in many parts of the world and the predictions for the future are even more concerning. Most of the planet earth is composed of water but only 3% of it is fresh and drinkable and therefore useful for the global population. There has been seen development of the techniques of ...