http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/videos/Saving-the-Endangered-Monk-Seal.html#ooid=ZzNmd1MToklu_CQzrd3dkyBe7qLC1Lxf
The endangered monk seals are due to human contact and habitat destruction. More than 2/3rds of the population has decreased. Humans was fished out the primary prey species for the seals. Also, marine debri allows the seals o get tangeled or trapped. In the main Hawaiian Islands the number of monk seals are increasing due to an effort by governments to protect the species. A downside of such an increase is that many do not have a place to go and according to the video find themselves facing humanity with little to no place to go. It is likely that they will be affected by human activity, even if humans are careful and aware.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Current Event #12 "Otterly Fascinating"
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/otterly.html
Although otters are endangered, the biodiverse waterscape in Brazil attracts thousands of otters that tourists are enjoying. The unspoiled, biodiverse waterscape is a place were " giant river otters" can reside. The area was unknown until a decade ago, which goes to show how we should protect and cherish our planet. The area is made up of wetland which is about the size of kansas and in 1994 an opera singer took over surronding area, but agencies came in and the area is now protected. The area is a major tourist attraction and many people from all over, as well as locals visit to see the amount of diversity and otter play. Helen Waldemarin, a27 year old graduate student in ecology at Rio de JaneiroStateUniversity is surveying the otter population for CI and feels that ecotourism can be a win or lost. She feels everyone views the area differently and that showing people the area, some may feel it's a waste and others may see the beauty in it. Hope fully it will encourage conservation.
Although otters are endangered, the biodiverse waterscape in Brazil attracts thousands of otters that tourists are enjoying. The unspoiled, biodiverse waterscape is a place were " giant river otters" can reside. The area was unknown until a decade ago, which goes to show how we should protect and cherish our planet. The area is made up of wetland which is about the size of kansas and in 1994 an opera singer took over surronding area, but agencies came in and the area is now protected. The area is a major tourist attraction and many people from all over, as well as locals visit to see the amount of diversity and otter play. Helen Waldemarin, a27 year old graduate student in ecology at Rio de JaneiroStateUniversity is surveying the otter population for CI and feels that ecotourism can be a win or lost. She feels everyone views the area differently and that showing people the area, some may feel it's a waste and others may see the beauty in it. Hope fully it will encourage conservation.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Current Event #11 " Increasing Population and Food Shortage"
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/Rosamond-Naylor-on-Feeding-the-World.html
The article explains the problems with climate change and an increase in the worlds population, and how both will effect food supply. The following question is asked,"By 2050, there will be an estimated nine billion people in the world. Do we have the land and water to feed them?" Rosamond Naylor proposes that there will need to be a lot more agriculture and raising of live stock to support people, and since agriculture requires vast amounts of water, there may be water shortages. Also, farms are dynamic in production rate. A farm could be providing well and then create scarcity. Certain foundations such as The Gates Foundation, The McKnight Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation are trying to help world hunger and poverty. Trying to make rural areas places of economical sucess is important.
The article explains the problems with climate change and an increase in the worlds population, and how both will effect food supply. The following question is asked,"By 2050, there will be an estimated nine billion people in the world. Do we have the land and water to feed them?" Rosamond Naylor proposes that there will need to be a lot more agriculture and raising of live stock to support people, and since agriculture requires vast amounts of water, there may be water shortages. Also, farms are dynamic in production rate. A farm could be providing well and then create scarcity. Certain foundations such as The Gates Foundation, The McKnight Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation are trying to help world hunger and poverty. Trying to make rural areas places of economical sucess is important.
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