Essays on Reptiles

Introduction

An ecosystem is defined as the interaction of the organism and other nonliving factors in a certain community. The living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and other organisms, can be classified as the biotic component of the ecosystem, whereas the environmental conditions such as water amount, humidity, soil nourishment, temperature, and the like are termed as the abiotic factors. In an ecosystem, both the existing biotic and abiotic factors determine what kind of species live there. For example, turtles, which require a large amount of water to live in cannot possibly hope to survive in arid ...

Firstly, it is important to admit that scientists have presented varying opinions and perspectives concerning the physical appearance and other biological characteristics about certain extinct animals. There are myriad paleontological researches that have been performed to explicate evolutionary issues affecting the earth. The recent discovery made about vocalization in dinosaurs is quite surprising. It is relatively difficult to imagine that extremely large animals like dinosaurs did not roar as depicted in many fiction movies but hooted through a closed-mouth vocalization process. Many science fiction movies have instilled the idea that dinosaurs were large and scary animals that could roar ...

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 ...

Introduction

Geology is part science which deals with the study of the structure of the earth. Plate tectonic, climate and evolutionary history of humans’ shows the history of the universe and this is attributed to the large amount of geological information on the various processes. Geology also plays a significant role in explaining mineral and hydrocarbon exploitation and exploration, geotechnical engineering and also the natural hazards. Things like rocks and minerals, fossils and lithology encompass geology, and they are present in different parts of the world including Rolla city. Rolla city is known for its many rocks, minerals, and fossils. ...

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 ...

Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction is one of the greatest mass extinction in the history. According to statistics, over one hundred families became extinct. This was associated with the movement and fragmentation of the supercontinent. Secondly was as a result of ocean cooling beyond levels the organisms could survive. While the organisms had initially adapted to the warm tropical conditions, the sudden transition to the cold climate was unbearable for most organisms (“Ordovician”,n.d.).. The late Devonian mass extinction is thought to have been warm and dry period. It was characterized by Devonian fish that was the main components of ...

Abstract

The current paper talks about TNR (trap-neuter-release) program. It is a program where un-owned free roaming cats are trapped, surgically sterilized, and treated. The sterilization is done to reduce population. Different reviews by different authors on the matter are looked into in this paper. The paper focuses on the different advantages and disadvantages of the process. Despite it being a humane way of controlling free-roaming cats, it is deemed ineffective. The roaming cats pose a public health risk to humans and other animals. They also predate on the wildlife in the environs, such as birds, reptiles, and other small ...

Do we need that Endangered Species Act?

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was an innovative measure for the future of nature and continues to protect the diversity of the animal and plant kingdom of the United States. This law is important to the survival of all living things because every living organism depends on the life of another living thing to survive, including humans. Aquatic species in Florida are essential for the health of the environment in which it lives. For example, because all creatures and plants depend on each other for survival, when one species is allowed to become extinct, all other species in ...

The Permian Extinction was the major event which creates a meaningful boundary between the Permian and Triassic period, and the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. It represents a significant loss of biodiversity, and is interesting to study as it relates to the way that a mass extinction impacts the planet. In order to fully understand the topic, however, it is first important to define what mass extinction is. Mass extinction is actually a mathematical construct, based upon an established ratio. More specifically, when up to 75 % of the existing species fail, globally, in a relatively compact geological time frame, it ...

Biodiversity hotspots refers to a geographic region within a reservoir or biodiversity that is receiving threats from humans. It is described in terms of the number of species inhabiting the region, the number of species exclusive to the region and with the kind of threat faced. Australia has 15 biodiversity hotspots, of which 10 are located in South-Western Australia. These hot spots are discussed below:

Fitzgerald River Ravensthorpe:

Uniqueness: It has a diverse landscape that is made of rugged hills, coastal land, plains, cliffs and ranges. Species present: It is home to 1800 species of flowering plants. More than 70 varieties of ...

Part 1 Video Critique

In the first part of this assignment, the video chosen to do the critique is an Amateur video of the anatomy of the Archaeopteryx (http://bit.ly/1vImeVp). The Archaeopteryx was an animal that lived about 150 million years ago, in the late Jurassic period. The video starts with several images of various fossils of Archaeopteryx. The narrator begins by citing Darwin’s theory of evolution and states that this theory “predicted that we could find fossils of intermediate forms: creatures that bridge the gaps between modern species”. Then, the narrator introduces the Archaeopteryx, and points out that this animal “ ...

Lesson 5 Answers:

24.) Plants are classified into four major groups: Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and lastly the Angiosperms. Bryophytes are the plants that do not have true vascular systems, which consist of the xylem and the phloem. In this group, includes the mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Together, they are considered as land plants that reproduce their own asexually by producing spores. Spores are produced in the ‘sporangium’ (plural sporangia), a bulb-like structure located at the top of the stalk. It can only be seen through the use of high powered microscope. Because they lack vessels that can bring the nutrients from the roots ...

a) cow(herbivore). lion(carnivore). ?- cow(herbivore). true b) cow(herbivore). lion(carnivore). ?- cow(carnivore). false c) cow(herbivore). lion(carnivore). ?- cow(vegitarian). false d) cow(herbivore). lion(carnivore). ?- cow(What). What = herbivore e) ?- write(welcome). welcome f) ?- write(welcome),write(to),write(“PROLOG”),write(world). welcometo[80,82,79,76,79,71]world g) ?- write(welcome),nl,write(to),nl,write(“PROLOG”),nl,write(world). welcome [80,82,79,76,79, ...

Introduction

The study explored the homological characteristics of 22 species. The organisms were human, pygmy chimpanzee, common chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, white-handed gibbon, macaque (Cercopithecine monkey), horse, bison, cat, dog, bird, bat, frog, rattlesnake, alligator, fish, whale, wolf, pig, bacteria, and cow. The species were categorized as mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, or amphibians. However, humans and apes were further classified as primates. Moreover, the research sought to determine whether the species share characteristics that link them to a common ancestor. The research hypothesis was that if the evolutionary path of the 22 organisms were traced, then a common ancestor would be observed.

Universal Genetic Code

The ...

In this project we are going to discuss a topic about Green Sea Turtles. Their population decline, the main reason for this decline. Different effects on Green Sea Turtles that may vary from human f to environmental problem. Current conversation efforts that are done for species. The Green Sea Tuttle well-known as green turtle or Pacific green turtle is a huge species of turtles that come from the Cheloniidae family. The name was given because of its green fatness that can be found underneath turtle’s carapace. Green Sea Turtles is the only one type of species that have Chelonia ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sustainable forests are managed effectively in order to preserve the ecosystems and the forest. The ecological systems that are reliant on the forest are the streams, watershed and the species that inhabit within the environment. The forest is a working environment that can be harvested for the production for paper and pulp products. The sustainable forest management is an outcome of applying the forest to the benefit of all while conserving the ecological systems that are reliant of the forest. Healthy streams are reliant on the forest for their coverage. The forests also enable the lowing of the temperature in ...

In the studying how the human species evolved, a lot of astonishing discoveries, great public interest as well as a great level of controversy have always been involved. Since the early twentieth century the discovery of new hominid fossils has altered the widespread perceptions held concerning how our species evolved. Piltdown Man and Ramapithecus are examples of these new discoveries (Szpak, 2014). The objective of this discussion is to address Australopithecus with regard to migration and subsistence habits. With its first appearance being in Africa about 4.2 million years ago and later diversifying into various forms, australopithecines is a broad group ...

Introduction

Evolution is the change animals and species undergo over time to adapt to certain environmental changes and eventually produce multiple descendent species. Evolution and natural selection are often taken as complimentary to each other. However, evolution, by definition, is a historical process of change, while natural selection is merely a mechanism that results in this change. Advances in technology and biology has thrown light on several causes and consequences of evolution. Some of the deepest understandings of evolution come from understanding fossils and examining phylogeny and from the study of natural selection. Evidences suggest that when natural selection is strong, the rate ...

While anyone - regardless of the strength, potential or life experience - can be injured by threatening situation, for infants and young children the probability of this is higher. Childhood is a special time in the life of every human being. Light, joyful, carefree. Time when the trees seem to be big, and all the problems minor, because around are the closest people - mom and dad. Interestingly, as children we all dream to become adults, and in adult life, with a feeling of light grief remembering childhood (Van der Kolk, 2003). And no matter how many years a person is, he/she ...

Charles Darwin published his masterpiece detailing his theory of evolution by natural selection, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life in 1859. Despite the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community, there are still loud and politically active Creationists that insist that the earth is less than 10,000 years old because the Bible says so. However, the Bible never actually states how old the universe or the earth is. Belief that there is a Creator and in the theory of evolution are compatible for followers of ...

Abstract

The Great American Interchange lasted for about two million years between North America and South America. The objective of the essay is to look at the symmetrical results of the great American interchange in the beginning and how the interchange became asymmetrical after time progressed. The unbalanced nature of the interchange offers a model to explain the asymmetrical results of the land-mammal interchange between the two Americas. Both Geological and biological data are looked into the get insights the past and present distributions of fauna.

Introduction

The Great American Interchange is a crucial paleo zoogeographic event that occurred between North America and ...

God has created all creatures. It is amazing to discover that each creature is unique in its own sense and does not resemble the other creature completely. The various creatures on earth, including plants and animals differ greatly from each other on the basis of their outer morphology and inner anatomy. Humans are considered the most intelligent creatures on earth and they utilize animals extensively for research and development of inventions that may benefit the mankind in the future. It is estimated that nearly 26 million animals are used everyday for scientific and commercial testing in the USA . ...

The Chameleon has one of the unique eyes among the reptiles. This makes it one of the highly visual- oriented reptiles. The eye of the chameleon has a 360-degree arc view. The eyes are unique in that they allow the animal to see in more than one direction at any given time without the chameleon turning its head (Kirmse and Schaeffel 320). A chameleon’s eyes can move independently of each other which allows the animal to focus on one object while scanning the surrounding environment simultaneously. The eyes have separated nodal and center points which allow them to have a ...

Background and significance of the problem

Salmonella species are a group of Gram-negative enterobacteria associated with human and animal infections. There are two types of Salmonella strains viz. Typhoid Salmonella and non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS). The former causes enteric fever that leads to significant morbidity and mortality, especially in the developing countries. The epidemiology of Salmonella infections vary considerably depending on the species involved. The enteric fever caused by S. typhi and S. paratyphi is severe and life threatening condition whereas NTS infections are self-limiting. Humans serve as the reservoirs for typhoid Salmonella that transmits predominantly through water. On the contrary, NTS strains harbor animals as reservoirs ...

The term pollution in the simplest and most basic meaning refers to the condition, situation and circumstance where harmful and toxic materials and substances find their way to the environment thereby making human life inhabitable and unhealthy. In the recent history and empirical evidence has confirmed that human activities have contributed to pollution to the environment and in effect exposing the human race to danger and threats. They hazardous human activities are evident in the most developed nation in the planet, whereby the industrial refuse are deposited to water bodies. With the above background in mind, marine or water ...

Invertebrates are animal genus that lack or do not build up a spinal column. They account for the largest percent of all the living species. The first animals to have evolved were invertebrates. Data from fossils collection shows that invertebrates were there 600 million years ago. Some paleontologists propose that invertebrate animals emerged much earlier probably one billion years ago. Trace fossils such as burrows and tracks established in the Tonian age signify the presence of triploblastic worms approximately as large and complex as earthworms. Animals began diversifying at around 453 MYA, and many of the essential groups of invertebrates ...

Abstract

The K–Pg mass extinction took place at the end of Cretaceous Era and the onset of the Paleogene System. At the end of the Cretaceous, just before the K–Pg event, between 40% and 75% of marine life forms and terrestrial species disappear from fossilized records. Included in K-Pg mass extinction were well-known groups as flightless dinosaurs, related reptile species and many species of marine plankton.

Introduction

The K-Pg (Cretaceous–Paleogene) mass extinction, also termed as the K-T (Cretaceous–Tertiary) extinction, is documented as a mass extinction of nearly three-quarters of fauna and flora on Earth, which includes all non-avian ...

- Fitzroy River Turtle (R Leukops) - The Biology Fitzroy River Turtle, Rheodytes leukops is also called the white eyed river diver referring to its Latin name. Locally, it is sometimes called the “bum breathing turtle referring to its ability to utilize cloacal ventilating. This method of breathing improves its breath-holding capacity and enabling it to colonize riffle zones and take advantage of the associated greater densities of food resources during the wet season and early dry season. . “R. leukops was first described as a new genus and species in 1980 (Legler and Cann,1980) and most publications ...

Question2

Isolating mechanisms is the reproductive features which inhibit species from fusing. They are mainly significant in the genetic species concept, whereby species of organisms are distinct by generative isolation, that is, an absence of gene mixture. They include: - Premating isolating mechanisms – these are aspects that cause species to mate with their own kind (assortative mating), thus prevents the union of gametes to forma zygote. An example is a behavioral isolation technique where prospective mates meet, but select members of their own species. - Post-mating isolating mechanisms –this involves issues regarding genomic mismatch, sterility hybrid or in-viability which ...

Geckos are small reptiles classified as lizards. They belong to a classification of lizards called gekkota. Most geckos are found in the warm climate areas all over the world. Geckos are spread all over across the world and have different sizes ranging from 1.6 cm to about two feet long (60 cm). Geckos can be easily identified through their unique vocalizations.

Scientific classification

The geckos are classified under kingdom animalia. The phylum chordata, classified as reptiles and the order reptilian. Furthermore, geckos are classified under a sub-order called squamata and an infra-order named gekkota. Generally, geckos are mistaken for other lizards because of ...

Jurassic Park (1993) is a theme park hosting an array of non-animatronic entertainment that delights, excites, and horrifies its tourists. Despite their beauty and aggression, some of the animals represented are not where they belong. Under a geological lens, not a few but the majority of the reptilian cast represented are sorely misplace if not lost from their respective place in time. Though several of them are present for the sake an audience, it matters that such a blockbuster hit names its main event after the wrong era. The species of Jurassic Park whose range of existence was within one of the ...

Filmography

The American Science fiction film entitled Evolution starring David Chucovny, Orlando Jones, Sean William Scott and Julianne Moore was released in 2001, in which the story started when a meteor fell on earth carrying alien organisms that evolved into more complex organisms threatening to take over the earth.

Relevance to the Field of Biology

The film features several significant facts about biology and particularly in evolution. In the film, the origin of life came from one-celled organisms carried by the meteor that felon the Arizona flatlands. The organism have shown remarkable rate of evolutionary change that only happens within hours. The single-celled organism undergoes the process ...

Mark Twain once wrote, “I am not interested to know whether Vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn't. [] The pains which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity towards it” (Twain 26). Most people find themselves in a dilemma when confronted with the subject of animal testing in research. Although many people support animal testing for the sake of basic research, and biomedical research, others believe that forcing animals to suffer distress, fear, and pain, regardless of the purpose or the outcome, is unethical. There is evidence that suggests that ...

The temperate climate of South Florida provides a suitable environment for a large variety of plants and animals in the area (Kras, 2009). Its unique water habitat provides a home for many reptiles and other endangered species such as the manatee, the Florida panther and the wood stork. In addition, most of the wading birds are endangered and need to be preserved.

Birds

According to Kras (2009), more than 360 species of birds exist or visit the Everglades. Some of this includes wading birds, of which currently about 90 to 95 percent have disappeared. This is because of construction of dikes and poor ...

Introduction

We face a continuous encounter, with the environment that surrounds us, however the response of each person remains different, at times people of different ages also show different reactions to similar situations, and this phenomenon is investigated here and can be derived by capturing the relative reactions of different aged groups to hypothetical situations. The whole idea behind the exercise will be to study and calculate the impact of positive and negative situations on emotions according to the age. This study will be based on the interpretation of positive and negative emotions, which are introduced by means of images ...