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The influence of colours on humans
The influence of colours on humans
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The coloration of an organism is often correlated to its ability to hide or advertise. However, we can correlate it to the organism’s level of toxicity. We see the relationship between colors and toxicity in many different organisms. The relationship is shown in different classes of vertebrates like the reptiles, amphibian and mammals.
The reptiles show a very wide variety of animals that show either crypsis or aposematism. The Bothriechis schlegelii (Eyelash pit viper) is an example of a snake that is highly toxic. The snake’s venom (poison) is being injected into its prey to immobilize it quickly. The B.schlegelii has a wide variety of colors including yellow, green, brown and even pink. Its coloration has no specific relation to advertising its toxicity form other predators or hiding, however, it is used for hunting (Sinnett 2011). The Anolis carolinensis is a species of a non-toxic reptile, yet it shows change in coloration. The change in coloration can be stimulated by various factors such as excitement, temperature, lighting and shade on the background behind the animal. The ability to change colors is due to 3 layers of pigmented cells (chromatophores) providing 3 colors, blue, yellow and brown. The A.carolinensis can change its color by mixing the 3 types of chromatophores on the epidermis layer. By changing the outer more layer of its skin the A.carolinensis changes the visible light its skin absorbs or reflects. Even though it has only a few variations in color (green- brown) it uses these variations to camouflage itself in it’s own habitat (Losos 2012). These animals are only two species of a wide class of reptiles. Many members of this class show wide varieties of camouflages as means of protection. Others use colora...
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...n in the examples above that some animals prefer to build a toxic chemical and to advertise it to their surroundings for protection, while others rather not do so. Other animals rather build the ability to blend in the surrounding as a protection key in different ways. Some blending mechanisms result in changing of coloration of having a color similar to your native habitat in exchange for toxicity. On the other hand animals use the ability to produce poison or the ability to blend in to hunt as well. The B.schlegelii uses its poison to hunt and immobilize its prey. Yet it uses bright colors to advertise itself from other potential predators. Furthermore, there are animals that use hiding abilities to hunt. Overall, we see different examples in 3 different related classes, the reptiles, amphibians and mammals of usage of coloration and it relationship with toxicity.
In the nineteenth century, the Florida manatee population started to decline in numbers due to settlers hunting them for their meat (Pittman 15). In addition, during that time some of the scientists started to notice a decline in manatee sightings in areas they were known to migrate. Since permits were being granted to kill Florida manatees for science, and poachers were hunting them for their meat, government officials and researchers were concerned for the manatee's future (Pittman 17). Currently, there are many factors the Florida manatee is facing that poses a threat to their existence. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to the Florida manatee in the twenty-first century is boating and the loss of their natural habitat (McAullife 18). In fact, many boaters who have businesses have protested that their businesses are more important than the clumsy animals. Currently, another public concern for the Florida manatee is the increase of toxic blooms that cause red tide. In addition, since records have been kept researchers have discovered that red tide has been playing a role in the decline of the Florida manatee as well (Raloff 56). Red tide is a form of many toxins that are consumed by the manatee when they feed on seagrasses causing lung
Deborah L. Duffy, Yuying Hsu, James A. Serpell ,Applied Animal Behavior Science - 1 December 2008 (Vol. 114, Issue 3, Pages 441-460, DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.04.006)
Ménez, Andre’. The Subtle Beast: Snakes, from Myth to Medicine. New York, New York: CRC Press, 2003.
Dr. Nachman's research explores the connection between genotype and coat color in four populations of rock pocket mice. Rock pocket mice live in rocky habitats in the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico. In the 1930s, classical studies revealed that there was a close correlation between the color of a mouse's coat, and the color of the rocks the mouse lived on. Light-colored mice...
Loggerhead turtles are becoming endangered more and more often. Not many people understand the dangers that these turtles are in, especially when the females are nesting. Nesting takes an important role in the lives of these turtles and is an amazing process that occurs during the season. Unfortunately, many factors disturb the process of these hatching eggs. This paper explains these factors in depth to educate the audience about the dangers involved in loggerhead nesting. Light pollution, natural disasters, and predators are described and explained as to why they affect the process of nesting. Many organizations are trying to share their knowledge on these loggerhead-nesting dangers with people and are trying to help keep the loggerheads alive.
Poison arrow frogs are one of the most interesting animals of the Amazon rainforest. Poison Arrow Frogs are very colorful. The Poison arrow frogs skin holds all of the poison. Female Poison arrow frogs lay eggs in the water which then turn into tadpoles, when nursing the tadpoles stay on the females back. They’re colorful and vibrant body warn predators to not go near them. Most Poison arrow frogs are a bright colored. The Poison arrow frogs scientific name is Dendrobatidae. Poison arrow frogs are not poisonous in captivity. They gain their poison from bugs and arthropods that they eat. Poison arrow frogs gained their name from indian tribes putting the Poison arrow frogs poison on darts and arrows. Poison arrow frogs are small and about a centimetre tall and wide. The most poisonous part of a poison arrow frog is the Poison arrow frogs skin that can kill a 180 pound 6 ft man but usually it isn’t bad. All Poison frogs are poisonous but only 3 are deadly. The most poisonous and deadly Poison arrow frog is the famous Golden arrow frog. Its poison, Batrachotoxin can kill small animals and humans. As you can see Poison arrow frogs are unique and colorful frogs.
Vinther, J., Briggs, D.E.G., Clarke, J., Mayr, G., Prum, R.O. 2010. Structural coloration in a fossil feather. Biol. Lett. 6: 128-131.
One of the largest controversies involving the testing on animals is the harm that is inflicted on them. Proof lies in the many leaked photographs showing the horrific pain that has been forced onto beings that cannot speak for themselves. A test called Lethal Dose 50%, or LD50, is a test to assess cosmetics such as lipstick, nail polish, skin care products, and others. This can leave the rabbits, dogs, mice, or other unfortunate animals left crippled with severe untreated chemical burns. During the assessment of the product the animals are force...
c. replicates the traits of bunnies, rats, or guinea pigs to determine if the product will corrode the skin
Second, some corals in New Caledonia were found fluorescing with vivid colors. This is in fact a chemical sunscreen they secrete in order to protect themselves from the heat they are experiencing. In a way, their brilliance can be a tool for people to notice them and their current situation or as what one scientist said in the film, it is an “incredible and beautiful face of death”.
Approximately two to four million animals have been used in safety tests. Safety tests are conducted with a wide range of chemicals and products, including drugs, vaccines, cosmetics, household cleaners, and packing materials. This raises issues such as the ethics and humaneness of deliberately poisoning animals, thus harming them, for the sake of marketing a new cosmetic or household product.
...emale leatherback turtle and her habits in order to fully understand this critically endangered marine animal.
Toxicology is the investigation of the unfavourable impacts of chemicals on living creatures. Forensic toxicology takes it above and beyond, including various related controls to aid in the location and elucidation of pills and harms poisons and drugs in medico legitimate passing examinations, human execution issues; e.g.,
Rowe, KS; & Rowe, KJ (1994). Synthetic food coloring and behavior: A dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study. The Journal of Pediatrics, 125(5): 691-698. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(06)80164-2.
" Society & Animals 18.2 (2010): 183-203. Academic Search Premier -. EBSCO. Web. The Web. The Web.