I am lucky to have a flourishing ecosystem in my backyard. I live on a small lake that is flourishing with wildlife consisting of many species including birds, amphibians, fish, and small animals. During my time outside, the sun was shining with minimal cloud coverage. I noticed a light breeze, and could smell the different trees and plants in the area. It has a peaceful feeling, and being that I am far enough from any main highways it was quiet and I could hear the ducks playing and the calls from the family of sandhill crane that frequent the area. My observation of the lakes abiotic environment shows it to be in a healthy state compared to others in the area. It gets ample sunlight throughout the day, and has a dark topsoil layer meaning
There is this feeling we all experience when we step away from the chaos of rushing cars, infrastructure, and artificial lights, and we step into nature. Some describe it as bliss, comfort, excitement, pleasure or just pure happiness. This is the answer to the question Paul Bloom asks “Why should we care about nature?” in his article “Natural Happiness.” Paul goes through this process in which he uncovers the fact that “real natural habitats provide significant sources of pleasure for modern humans”, regardless of our need for food, clean water, and air. There are 3 main arguments that Paul makes in this article that I find particularly interesting, they include: “Our hunger for the natural is everywhere. In many regards our species has already kissed nature goodbye, and we are better off for it. There is a considerable mismatch between
The lake’s pH level is slightly acidic at a level of 6 and the lakes dissolved oxygen level is slightly stressful for aquatic life at a level of 4ppm. These slightly stressful levels could be a result of human activity over time and could continue to progress negatively. This could only be determined through years of continuous testing, but is quite possible.
It was early, the sun was just beginning to peak over the mountains that lined the distant horizon. The breeze carried with it the scents of dew and the variety of wildflowers that grew along the lake shore. Flocks of birds flew over head, their cries piercing the silence of morning.
in the rainforest. I felt like I had to write this letter. I believe I
The water was calm, like the morning; both were starting to get ready for the day ahead. The silent water signals that although rough times occurred previously, the new day was a new start for the world. As I went closer to the water, I heard the subtle lapping of the water against the small rocks on the shore. Every sign of nature signals a change in life; no matter how slight, a change is significant. We can learn a lot from nature: whatever happens in the natural world, change comes and starts a new occurrence. I gazed over the water to where the sky met the sea. The body of water seemed to be endless under the clear blue sky. The scope of nature shows endless possibilities. Nature impresses us with the brilliant colors of the sky, the leaves, the water. She keeps us all in our places and warns us when we are careless with her. After all the leaves have fallen from the trees, she will offer us the first snows of the year to coat the earth with a tranquil covering. That will only be after we have recognized the lessons of autumn, the gradual change from warm to cold, rain to snow, summer to winter.
The controversy over logging, and more specifically clearcutting, is not a new issue in America. Ever since the 1920's and 1930's, when this nation started to become conscious of conservation, citizens have weighed the consequences of logging. Critics have questioned whether the increase in jobs, tax dollars, and economic growth was worth the destruction of forest lands. Regardless of what they believe today, the logging industry had become so efficient that by the late 1980's nearly 100,000 acres of federal land had been clearcut since the industry began. Logging technology has advanced rapidly in terms of speed, to meet the increasing demands for lumber, paper, and other products derived from trees. This in turn has greatly impacted the environment by severely degrading watersheds, leading to increased soil erosion, the diminution in the quality of drinking water, and the decline of fish stocks, among many other consequences. In this essay I will examine the progression of logging equipment throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and discuss how these changes in technology have not only changed the relationship of those who work in the industry, but also haw this has changed the wider relationship of society and nature.
There are many rainforests in the world but one of the biggest one is the Amazon rainforest, which is located in the northern half of South America and lies in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The Amazon also lies in between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. The size of the Amazon resembles the size of the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Since this rain forest lies next to the Equator, the climate is warm and humid. The average temperature is in between sixty-eight to ninety- three degrees. The Amazon has two seasons but each one is six months each. They are classified as the wet season and the dry season. The wet season occurs between December to May and the dry season occurs between June to November. The average rainfall is fifty to two hundred and sixty inches per year. The forest floor only gets up to two to five percent of sunlight since the canopy blocks the sunlight from getting to the forest floor. The Amazon rain forest got the nickname, the world’s pharmacy, because many medicines have been found in the tree bark, the tree’s leaves, and other parts of the trees.
Most of the food in temperate rainforest is found in the understory and canopy layers.
I am surrounded by the splendor of the nature. On a moderately sunny morning, birds are peeping while sitting on the gigantic mature tree in the park. The stream of water rising from the fountain is crafting a magical melody. The mesmerizing winds have imprisoned everyone’s attention. The bright colorful flowers are depicting the charms of their juvenile. Different pleasant sounds in the environment are contributing to the concerto of nature. Leaves rustling in the cool breeze are an amazing part of the environment. A young couple sitting on the bench beside the fountain is relishing the pleasant sight.
The Human Impact on Rainforests Human Impact on Rainforest is it a necessity? Rainforest are the beautiful gift of Mother Nature. It consists of the most magnificent species and plants in the world. 4.2% of the world’s animals live in the rainforest. This statistic it self shows how bad it would be to destroy such essential part of the worlds biodiversity.
The Disappearing Rainforests Conserving the rainforest is a global issue of great importance. Tropical rainforests provide a habitat for animals, a unique ecosystem for vegetation, and an abundance of resources for humans, yet they are being destroyed at an astonishing rate. Experts estimate that if these endangered territories continue to be consumed in this manner, no more will be standing in forty years (Rainforest). Examining the social, environmental, and economic costs of the continued destruction of the Earth's tropical rainforests will prove that deforestation for short-term profit is ultimately not viable.
What is a tropical rain forest? A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem that is anywhere near the equator. These areas are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. A tropical rainforests experience high average temperatures and high amounts of rain fall. Tropical rainforests are divided into three parts. The uppermost part is the canopy. This is the layer with the tallest tress. Trees in this climate can reach up to 240 feet (blueplanetbiomes.com). The next layer is the lower canopy. This layer is made up of the smaller tress. The last layer is the forest floor. This is made up of all the plants and bushes. You can find tropical rainforests in many parts of the world like Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and also on the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean islands.
As Martin walks through the Amazon Rainforest with his guide, the humidity causes his hands to become clammy. Since the rainforest is on the equator the heat and the humidity causes his shirt to cling to his back like paper and glue. To Martin the forest seemed to be alive. In only 250 acres Pablo had showed him about 1,000 different types of plants in just half an acre. Apparently there were over 6,000 types of plants in just 250 acres. Pablo also showed him the diversity of the animals in the Amazon Rainforest. He pointed out the different monkeys that were swinging from tree to tree which caused the trees to shake. His guide, Pablo, shows Martin all the different species of snakes while they are slithering through the undergrowth. Then Pablo shows Martin his home. The one out of the few places someone can do this is in Peru. Located in South America, Peru has one of the world’s most diverse life. The Pacific Ocean borders this country to the west. It shares a border with four other South American countries. In the north is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia. In the west is the country of Brazil and bordering it in the south is Bolivia. Lima, the capital of Peru, is one of the most populated cities in this country. It has about 8,180,000 residents in the city. Some may describe this city as noisy and crowded. It is like this because an increasing amount of people are leaving the farms and more rural areas to come to cities for more opportunities. Almost twice the size of Texas Peru is the third largest country in South America. With an area in square mile of 496,225, this country holds about 27,947,000 people.
Whenever I look outside from my desk, I get the feeling of getting synched with nature. When it’s summer, my mind is like,” Fresh, tired and also green”. But when it’s Winter, it’s a mixed feeling altogether. On one hand, nature has fallen down into a deep sleep with the blanket of white snows. On the other hand, it gives me the joy of knowing that the remuneration of new life is coming forward every single day. I look at my life and find exactly the same. Nature is doing its work in a mysterious way, just like our life, a cycle to follow to finish another cycle.
The faint glow of dawn spreads across. Birds wake and chirp in an uncoordinated symphony. With passage of time, some more join the grand orchestra. The quietness of the humankind is a moment of triumph for all the other species. So much pleasant activity ensues before it is overwhelmed by the artificial clanging dissonance of humans. Birds set out for their prey. The nocturnal slowly retreat back to their hiding. Some raccoons flee leaving their trace uncovered. All the crickets and the humming insects start to quieten. The warmth of the sun condenses the fog into dew on the grass, reminiscent of the cold night. There is crispness to the air in the morning hours. Beneath the green coat of grass layer, there is a ton of metabolic activity going on. Various insects, bugs, worms begin their covert missions to get food. Birds with their watchful eyes glide across to gather worms for their flightless off-springs.