Concept Map
Article Response
Pesticides Spark Broad Biodiversity Loss
Agriculture pesticides have been one of the main reasons to general invertebrate biodiversity loss. Agricultural chemicals have affected invertebrates in steams and soils. A study published in the National Academy of Sciences has found that pesticide use has reduced the biodiversity of invertebrates; this includes mayflies, and dragonflies. The team of Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research examined twenty three streams in the central plains, sixteen in western plains of France and twenty four in southern Victoria, Australia. They examined and classified the streams according to three different levels of pesticide contamination; uncontaminated, somewhat contaminated, and highly contaminated. Researchers found that there were up to forty two percent fewer species in highly contaminated than in uncontaminated streams. Highly contaminated steams showed a decrease of invertebrate’s families by twenty seven percent. According to aquatic ecologist, Mikhail Beketov, this study shows that “our risk assessments don’t work” and also that we should give this situation more concern since invertebrates are an important part of the food web. Biologist Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex, UK reviews the environmental risks of neonicotinoid insectides. The journal of Applied Ecology recently announced the two year ban on three commonly used neonicotinoids. This is mainly because it killed bees. Goulson’s data suggested that the neonicotinoid gathers together in the soil which then kills the vertebrates such as earthworms. According to Goulson’studies, grain eating birds for instance partridges may be dying after eating seeds treated with neonicotinoid. This insecticide is mostly applied to seed dressing to a crop for example soybeans. This insectide has been a very strong focus on bees and also has blinded several people. Both biologist and ecologist arguments demonstrate the importance of conducting ecosystem assessment after pesticide use.
This problem can be a huge issue for our environment and the citizens living it in. So the best way to eliminate this problem is to ban pesticides that create harm to us and our environment.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticides-spark-broad-biodiversity-loss/
Agriculture pesticides have been one of the main reasons to general invertebrate biodiversity loss. Agricultural chemicals have affected invertebrates in steams and soils. A study published in the National Academy of Sciences has found that pesticide use has reduced the biodiversity of invertebrates; this includes mayflies, and dragonflies. The team of Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research examined twenty three streams in the central plains, sixteen in western plains of France and twenty four in southern Victoria, Australia. They examined and classified the streams according to three different levels of pesticide contamination; uncontaminated, somewhat contaminated, and highly contaminated. Researchers found that there were up to forty two percent fewer species in highly contaminated than in uncontaminated streams. Highly contaminated steams showed a decrease of invertebrate’s families by twenty seven percent. According to aquatic ecologist, Mikhail Beketov, this study shows that “our risk assessments don’t work” and also that we should give this situation more concern since invertebrates are an important part of the food web. Biologist Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex, UK reviews the environmental risks of neonicotinoid insectides. The journal of Applied Ecology recently announced the two year ban on three commonly used neonicotinoids. This is mainly because it killed bees. Goulson’s data suggested that the neonicotinoid gathers together in the soil which then kills the vertebrates such as earthworms. According to Goulson’studies, grain eating birds for instance partridges may be dying after eating seeds treated with neonicotinoid. This insecticide is mostly applied to seed dressing to a crop for example soybeans. This insectide has been a very strong focus on bees and also has blinded several people. Both biologist and ecologist arguments demonstrate the importance of conducting ecosystem assessment after pesticide use.
This problem can be a huge issue for our environment and the citizens living it in. So the best way to eliminate this problem is to ban pesticides that create harm to us and our environment.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticides-spark-broad-biodiversity-loss/
Unit Artefacts
In the picture above, there is a piece of bread in a petri dish which as you can see has fungi growth on it. This was for a experiment conducted for the biodiversity unit. My group and I had conducted an experiment to determine which temperature fungi grow the best in. So we took three different pieces of bread, moisturized them with five drops of water, wiped them over a dusty place and then kept them in 3 different temperatures; room temperature, fridge, and an incubator. This experiment was conducted because we learnt the different factors affecting fungi growth. I learnt that fungi grow the best in room temperature. This is because fungi cells require warm and humid places to grow in. Therefore a fungus grows best in temperatures that range from 60 to 80 degrees because factors that affect fungi growth are enzyme activity. The enzymes located in the fungi are active at certain temperatures. When temperatures are too low then the enzymes are not active and when the temperatures are too high then the enzymes are no longer being active. Since room temperature is in the middle and it has favorable conditions, it is the best place for fungi growth. This information is important to me because bread is a product in the food industry that is eaten almost every day, in every meal. Since food itself plays a huge role in our lives, it is an essential part of our live, and it is important to keep these food items clean and healthy. Storing these products in the right way and location can prevent illnesses. Fungi can cause serious illnesses; it can also cause food poisoning. The knowledge learnt in this class can obviously be connected and used in real life. For instance fungi can be found on all types of foods so it is important that one understands the significance of fungi growth. Especially in which temperatures since some people store bread in room temperature to help remain freshness. According to bread.com, fridge temperatures can cause the bread to get stale and room temperature is the best place to store it. If it weren’t for this experiment, I would have never known that this information was wrong. I learnt new concepts from this lab but it did not help me learn the entire unit since fungi was a small component of the unit itself. Although I have realized that there will be many opportunities similar to this one in this course for me to learn from.