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Evolutionary Science for Beginners - Monday, 1st Period
Monday, November 13th, 2023 03:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anomaly_research_nerdConnor was still a little tired after everything the last few weeks but he was feeling good and there was a grin on his face as he glanced at the clock and then set the coffee cup down. With a nod at Cutter, he picked up his notes and cleared his throat as he started the class.
“Today class, we will be talking about another aspect of evolutionary science with a look at how habitats change and evolve over time. Habitats rarely stay the same. Short term changes from season to season bring changes to the plants as well as the animals that come and go throughout a given habitat. Over longer periods of time, some species disappear, and new species may take their place. Sometimes the actions of people can change habitats. Natural areas are often removed or paved over for building, gathering resources, or may be eroded by foot travel or by vehicles or other human activities. And there are also changes in habitat biodiversity that can significantly impact what plants and animals thrive and live in the area. Usually, there is a correlation between a high degree of biodiversity in an area and a healthy environment. When biodiversity is threatened, there are often negative repercussions for the environment. A habitat’s carrying capacity demonstrates this—the balance between the availability of habitat components (food, water, shelter) and the number of animals a habitat can support—and the limiting factors that affect animal populations. Examples are disease, predator and prey relationships, weather, pollution, and habitat destruction.”
Connor looked over at Cutter with a nod as he waited to see if there was anything he wanted to add.
Cutter gave a warm smile to Connor as he put down his cup of coffee to continue the lecture, “wildlife depends on healthy habitats, this includes needing the right temperatures, fresh water, food sources and places to raise their young. Warm temperatures will result in melting ice so polar bears lose their hunting grounds and the warmer waters will mean there is a decline in trout and salmon and other species that need cold water to survive. With water, larger floods will lead to an increase to erosion levels and this reduces the water quality and degrading aquatic habitat. On the opposite end of the scale severe droughts can kill plants that the wildlife depend for food and shelter. With food a lot of animals are migrating or emerging from hibernation too earlier and their food source haven’t arrived yet, climate change has altered food availability for the migratory species and milder winters and cause seasonal food to spoil. Finally with needing a place to raise their young, many wildlife have lost their breeding grounds such as wetlands, which are an essential breeding ground for geese, ducks and other migratory species, meanwhile rising sea levels and changes in salinity could wipe out mangrove forests that will leave a lot of fish and shellfish and other wildlife without place stop raise their young,” he finished his part of the lecture and nodded back over at Connor that he could continue.
Connor picked up the papers from the desk. “Today we have worksheets and a small quiz going over the various connections we’ve discussed between habitats and the plants and animals that live there” Connor said and began handing them out. “Professor Cutter and I will be here as always to answer any questions or provide any direction with the assignments should you need it.”
“Today class, we will be talking about another aspect of evolutionary science with a look at how habitats change and evolve over time. Habitats rarely stay the same. Short term changes from season to season bring changes to the plants as well as the animals that come and go throughout a given habitat. Over longer periods of time, some species disappear, and new species may take their place. Sometimes the actions of people can change habitats. Natural areas are often removed or paved over for building, gathering resources, or may be eroded by foot travel or by vehicles or other human activities. And there are also changes in habitat biodiversity that can significantly impact what plants and animals thrive and live in the area. Usually, there is a correlation between a high degree of biodiversity in an area and a healthy environment. When biodiversity is threatened, there are often negative repercussions for the environment. A habitat’s carrying capacity demonstrates this—the balance between the availability of habitat components (food, water, shelter) and the number of animals a habitat can support—and the limiting factors that affect animal populations. Examples are disease, predator and prey relationships, weather, pollution, and habitat destruction.”
Connor looked over at Cutter with a nod as he waited to see if there was anything he wanted to add.
Cutter gave a warm smile to Connor as he put down his cup of coffee to continue the lecture, “wildlife depends on healthy habitats, this includes needing the right temperatures, fresh water, food sources and places to raise their young. Warm temperatures will result in melting ice so polar bears lose their hunting grounds and the warmer waters will mean there is a decline in trout and salmon and other species that need cold water to survive. With water, larger floods will lead to an increase to erosion levels and this reduces the water quality and degrading aquatic habitat. On the opposite end of the scale severe droughts can kill plants that the wildlife depend for food and shelter. With food a lot of animals are migrating or emerging from hibernation too earlier and their food source haven’t arrived yet, climate change has altered food availability for the migratory species and milder winters and cause seasonal food to spoil. Finally with needing a place to raise their young, many wildlife have lost their breeding grounds such as wetlands, which are an essential breeding ground for geese, ducks and other migratory species, meanwhile rising sea levels and changes in salinity could wipe out mangrove forests that will leave a lot of fish and shellfish and other wildlife without place stop raise their young,” he finished his part of the lecture and nodded back over at Connor that he could continue.
Connor picked up the papers from the desk. “Today we have worksheets and a small quiz going over the various connections we’ve discussed between habitats and the plants and animals that live there” Connor said and began handing them out. “Professor Cutter and I will be here as always to answer any questions or provide any direction with the assignments should you need it.”