Dangerous Animals of the Great Barrier Reef
According to Dennis Fulkerson, one of the Australia Explorers (1996), the Great Barrier Reef is "God's underwater playground." Indeed, everyone in the group seemed to have a fabulous time exploring the reef. However, many of the group expressed some amount of fear about snorkelling on the reef, far away from the mainland. I began to wonder if there was really that much to be afraid of. We were only told that it was not box jellyfish season, and, more importantly, not to touch anything. According to Ryan (p 167), "In general, animals of the reef are benign; only a hungry shark or a mentally defective barracuda is likely to attack unprovoked." Nevertheless, there are a few creatures of which to be aware. Sea snakes, jellyfish, and certain varieties of sea urchins, coral, worms, starfish, mollusks, and fish possess defense and/or feeding mechanisms which can render them harmful if handled by humans.
Bristle Worms
Bristle worms possess numerous razor-sharp calcium carbonate bristles (setae) which the animal may raise if threatened. These bristles penetrate the skin easily and cause intense itching and sometimes infections. Bristles should be removed with forceps and a local anesthetic and ointment may be applied. The worm may also bite (Ryan, p 170).
Sea Urchins
Sea urchins, along with heart urchins and sand dollars, belong to the class Echinoidea, which is in the phylum Echinodermata. Echinoids possess numerous spines, which are used for locomotion and defense, and pedicellariae, tiny, pincer-like structures which are used in feeding. The spines, interestingly, consist of a single crystal of calcium carbonate "that would be as brittle as chalk if not for certain glycoproteins in it" (Harris, p 718). Some urchins have venomous spines which can cause severe pain. For example, according to Lutz (p 679), "Some sea urchins, especially those living on coral reefs, have hollow spines that contain a poison; the pacific Asthenoma has needle-sharp spines that can easily penetrate the skin, break off, and release a poison that is extremely painful and dangerous to humans." The flower urchin, Toxopneustes pileolus, (Figure 1) has poisonous pedicellariae which can potentially kill a human. Toxic material can also be contained in the layer of skin covering the spines, so injection of a spine itself is enough to cause intense pain (Endean, p256). As for treatment, Ryan (p170) recommends removing all spines from affected area with forceps, as long as this can be accomplished without breaking the spine and thus releasing more of the poison.
The nonnative species of the lionfish, living in tropical waters to depths far below is an unseen threat by first glance. Truth behold, this fish is a serious pest since the first sighting in Dania Beach back in the 1980s. Presently, it has grown out of its bounds and causes harm not only to the sea life but trouble to humans as well. An unmatched appetite with a fast and large reproduction to spawn its species in a matter of only a short time, makes this invasive fish at the top of a sounding alarm. Clever biological adaptations have made this fish a tough fighter to the ecosystem and only in the past few years have we learned to take effective measures to control their population to save our coral reefs.
Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef.
Earth, an endless source of wonder and beauty, produced the Great Barrier Reef. Hustling and bustling, the Reef thrives like a busy city, teeming with life. Sheltering thousands, corals, maintain the well-being of the Reef; however, the world threatens its nature and delicacy. Populations growing and technological advances increasing, the world becomes more and more disconnected with the natural world, posing an alarming risk for the planet we live on. Although many organizations try to keep the oceans clean, because of human interference and unnatural occurrences, the Great Barrier Reef needs scientific help to adapt corals to new conditions for means of survival, putting pressure on the Australian government to save their ocean environment.
Brigham and Women’s and Faulkner Hospitals. (2013, September 19). Patient-Centered Comparative Effectiveness Research Center. Why is This Research Important? Retrieved from http://www.brighamandwomens.org/research/centers/pcerc/default.aspx
Although it is a well-known fact that George Washington was the first president of the United States of America, it is less commonly thought about Washington led a new continent striving for independence through its struggle. As Shogan said in her article Washington, George, ”On June 15, 1775, the Continental Congress named George Washington the commander in chief of the Revolutionary army. Although Washington was not a military genius, his strategy during the war proved effective. Acutely aware that an outright defeat of the British was unlikely, Washington persistently harassed the enemy and relied upon surprise attacks and skillful retreats to win the war.”
Julius Caesar is the most well known Roman ruler of all time. His military and political careers were both successful. This helped Caesar gain complete trust of the Roman people even though he killed the previous leader of Rome, Pompey. He was well liked by most everyone in Rome except for those who disapproved of him being named dictator of Rome. An assassination plot was devised to put an end to his rule. His death ultimately led to the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar’s legacy will be remembered by his brilliant military victories, his rise to political fame, and his role in the First Triumvirate.
As the great Sir David Attenborough would say “The great barrier reef is in grave danger” and everything that comes out of his mouth is in fact a fact.
Throughout many literary works we are met with characters who appear briefly throughout that work. In the literary work Hamlet (Shakespeare, 1603), we are introduced to the character Ophelia. Ophelia can either been seen as driven for her mad love towards Hamlet, or seen just as a victim to society for the outrageous expectations she has for being a woman. Ophelia appears briefly throughout Hamlet, but when she appears she is caught between the her father and brother’s instructions, and Hamlet’s overwhelming demands.
Veterinarians uses medicine to diagnose, treat diseases and dysfunction of animals. Medicine used such as antibiotics and vaccines. A veterinarian’s role in their career is to help and serve also trying to find a new treatment to disorders for humans and animals. Some vets teach other people or other vets how to do something.
Julius Caesar’s legacy and attributes are just as robust today as they were in his time. From the time he took power to the time of his death he accomplished more than many other men would have done in a lifetime. He brought the Roman Empire to its height and from his death on, the Empire did nothing but fall. He was one of the world’s greatest leaders and probably the best.
Gaius Julius Caesar, commonly known as Julius Caesar, is an important figure who laid the foundation of the Roman Empire. He is one of the most famous roman ruler, Rome as ever had. He helped to establish the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, ended the Republic System when he was named Perpetual Dictator (44BC). And vastly created many other political and civil reforms. He was a very influential leader.
All of the male characters in her life control Ophelia. She is inferior to all the men and has to obey them because it is her duty as a woman. The men in the play can easily manipulate her and use her as a pawn in their plots to gain insight about Hamlet. Polonius uses her to gain more affection from the king and to gain more power. Laertes asserts himself and tells her how to behave, and Hamlet shows that she can be easily manipulated. As a woman she is not able to show her emotions or opinions on events in the play. The men dominate her life. Ophelia is a young woman who is portrayed as naïve and easily controlled. Ophelia cannot show her emotions, her opinions, or her desires within the court because it was male dominate.
In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, he portrays a young Ophelia, who battles with her desire to please her father and Hamlet, eventually driving her to her own demise. The way Ophelia is perceived by the other characters in the book is not how the reader perceives her. Her love for Hamlet is strong, and very apparent throughout the play. The other characters, however, view her in the opposite manner. Her own father, Polonius, labeled her as a whore, casting her aside as useless. Ophelia’s pain consumes her as she fails to please her family and the man she loves dearly.
They are invertebrates (spineless animals) and are cousins of anemones and jellyfish. When thousands of these animals are grouped together, they are referred to as coral colonies. Each coral "tree" or "mound" is one colony of coral polyps. A polyp has a sac-like body and an opening or mouth encircled by stinging tentacles called cnidae.
Animal bites on humans may cause open wounds or even crushing injuries. Like us, all animals carry certain bacteria or viruses that can cause illness if passed on to humans via the open wounds. The pathogen entry pathway for these zoonotic infections include bites or scratches, and direct contact saliva or waste. These diseases bring about a considerable amount of inconvenience to humans and therefore, the greatest concerns are of young children and immunocompromised patients. Children are especially susceptible to getting bitten and an adult supervision is always recommended because their immune systems are still weak and an infection that might mildly infect an adult can be fatal for them.