Blog 10

Why is dissection an important part of a biology curriculum? Which animals and/or plants should be included in biological studies?

Dissection is nessecary to use one of our senses to observe. In the process of observing internal structures we can understand the functions. Different specimen parts can be used to compared to others. While dissecting , you would have to take to careful consideration on how the product functions, how it was assembled, and what materials were used. Frogs are included in biological studies to odserve the internal and external structures features of the frog's atonomy.Also, recently our class disected a flower to differeinate its gender and parts.

Blog 9

Define the different forms of community interaction: competition, commensalism, mutualism, predation, parasitism Give an example and a picture for each

Community interactions are factors that can have a huge affect on an ecosystem. In competition, organisms of the same or different species try to use ecological resources,necessities to life, at the same place and time. For example, oak trees compete with other trees for sunlight. As their leaves spread out, they block sunlight for the shorter trees. In competition, they have to follow the competitive exclusion principle,where two species can not use the same resources at the same place and place. Resources must be founded in different areas.

Also, Predation is when an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism. The organism that captures and feeds is the predator. The organsim being eaten is the prey.An example of predation would be a lion using his characteristic such as strong  legs, sharp claws and teeth to aid him in killing other animals.

In addition, symbiosis is any relationship of two species living closely together. Symbolism is divided into three class: mutalism, commenalism,parasitism. In mutualism, both species benefit from living together. For example, flowers depend on bees to help spread their pollen or nector so the plants can reproduce. In commenalism, one benefits and the other is neutral.Barnacles attach themselves to whales to attain food as the waters pass by without harming  the whale in any whale. Finally, in parasitiam one organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. The parasite uses a host to attain nutrients. Fleas, ticks, lice, and tapeworms are examples of paratism eating the host's blood and skin.

blog 8

 Your choice talk about something you learned or ask a question about something that is confusing you

This quarter, one topic I learned about is the effect of population. Population is shaped by threee characteristics 1. Geographic Distribution 2. Density 3. Growth Rate. It can change by the number of births, deaths, and individuals that enter or leave the population area. It is usually measued by exponential and logistic growth. In exponential growth, the population reproduce at a constant rate, in contrast with logistic growth which occurs when a population's growth stops or slows.Carrying capacity is also used to display the average growth rate when it reaches zero, so the number represent the largest number of individuals that the enviroment can support.Population density is the number of individuals per unit area. It depends on the species and the ecosystem. Population density is seperated by two types of factors: density dependent factors and density IN dependent factors to limit the growth of a population. Density dependent factors are competition, predation,parasitism,and disease. Density independent factors are unusual weather, natural disaster, seasonal cycle, and  human activity such as clearing the forset or damming  the rivers.However, like many organisms, the size of human population increase during time.

blog 7

Compare and contrast two biomes describe them in detail include pictures of plants and animals you are liklely to see.

In the tropical rainforest biome,as you can tell by the photogragh, the landscape consist of many tall trees with leafy tops forming a canopy. Which is then layered by shorter trees and vines. The abiotic matters consist of hot,wet,thin,nutrient poor soils year roud.The organic matter falls are nutrients use and recycled to become home of many species. Animals such as sloths, tapirs, jaguars, monkeys, toucan, and insects like butterflies are found there. Tropical Rain Forest are founded in locations such as parts of South and Central America,Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, southern India, and northeastern Austrailia.

In contrast, the tropical dry forest photogragh appears to be less leafy and drier. It grows in places where rainfall is in season because during the dry season, almost all the trees leaves drop to conserve water. It's generally warm year round with a few alternative to wet and dry seasons.Plants that can grow in theis forest can adapt to the dry weather are also tall trees but also include orchids,aloes, and ect. In addition, animals also have to be able to adapt are tigers,monkeys, elephants, types of birds, snakes, termites, and lizards. Tropical dry forest are usually found in parts of Africa, Mexico, India, Australia, and other tropical islands.

Sources: http://marialice4.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/montage.jpg
http://mlauni.pottsgrove.wikispaces.net/file/view/Chacachacare_dry_forest_3.JPG/185661377/Chacachacare_dry_forest_3.JPG
http://www.visitnacogdoches.org/news/Orchid.jpg

Blog #6

Which level of a food pyramid is the most important? Support your answer

 The producers, like the name it helps more animals become produced. Producers are plants that use light energy from the sun to produce sugar, therefore it doesn't need anything else. However, other levels in the food pyramid rely on the producers. Consumers, animals fall to the category of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Herbivores eat plants,producers so they need plants to survive.  Consumers eat animals, which most of those animals eat plants to survive. In order to eat those animals, plants must be available to them or they'll not have their food and omnivores eat both, so its the same for them. In the illustration on the left, plants ans shrub supply as food for giraffes and the giraffes are a source of food or lions.