The Loss of the Lemur: The Road to Extinction
The Loss of the Lemur: The Road to Extinction T he Madagascan rainforest is home to an abundance of unique species of animal. After the island split from mainland Africa many millions of years ago, unique ecosystems have evolved and developed there. Madagascar (roughly the size of France) is home to approximately 250,000 species of animal, of which 70% are endemic to the island.1 One such species is the Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata). One of 42 subspecies of Lemur it is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN 2008 red list. This list states that the species has undergone a decline of 80% over the last 27 years. Such a worrying statistic identifies the terrible position the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur finds itself in, in the wild. It is clear that the downward trend in their population of 80% and their status as critically endangered presents the problem that they could become extinct in the wild in the not so distant future. However, what is the cause of this problem, and what is being done to improve their situation in the wild? I undertook a visit to Woburn Safari Park, which keeps this sub-species of lemur, in order to find the answers to these questions and visit the very animals facing extinction half way around the world. The Cause Although the problem of the declining lemur population was identified by 1986, the problems in Madagascar are
Thalassemia is a genetic (inherited) conditions affecting the blood. There are different types of thalassemia.
Beta Thalassemia [Wolverhampton University] Introduction Thalassemia is a genetic (inherited) conditions affecting the blood. There are different types of thalassemia. Depending what you have, thalassemia can cause disease at all, or it could be a serious life condition requiring treatment. What causes thalassemia? The cause is genetic changes, including the genes that indicate the body as an important chemical called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a chemical which carries oxygen in the blood - is the one who gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin is in the cells, called "red blood cells, which are an integral part of blood. (Nassar, Rechdan, 2006) Hemoglobin is made from various parts. The main part is called "Alpha chains and beta chains, which are put together to make a molecule of hemoglobin. In thalassemia, a part of hemoglobin is damaged - usually either the alpha chain or beta-chain. This means that some of the hemoglobin is not working properly. As a result, not enough normal hemoglobin and red blood cells break down easily. This makes a person "anemic" (not in hemoglobin), with different symptoms. Meanwhile, the body trys to make more hemoglobin and red blood cells. Thus, the blood is in the 'surplus' mode, which can lead to symptoms and complications. (Nassar, Rechdan, 2006) Depending on the type of thalassemia, the number of abnormal hemoglobin is different. This
Thalassaemia is an inherited disease that is caused when there are mutations or a missing gene that affects how haemoglobin is produced. Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Thalassaemia Thalassaemia is an inherited disease that is caused when there are mutations or a missing gene that affects how haemoglobin is produced. Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. If you have thalassaemia, it means you don't have enough red blood cells, and therefore do not produce enough haemoglobin; this could result in either mild or severe anaemia. Haemoglobin is made up of four polypeptide chains, two alpha globin and two beta globin. If you have alpha thalassaemia, this means that you have a mutation with your alpha chains: you can either have minor (a) or major (b) Alpha To make enough alpha globin protein chains, you inherit two genes (one from each parent). Alpha Thalassaemia occurs when one or more of these genes are missing or have been mutated, the severity of the disease depends on how many of the genes are missing/mutated. * if one gene is affected you are likely to have no or little symptoms and are known as a silent carrier * If two genes are affected this means that you will have alpha thalassaemia trait and are therefore known as a carrier. you will also experience mild anaemia * If you have three genes affected, you will have moderate to severe anaemia, also known as haemoglobin H disease. This results in chronic anaemia. * if all your genes are mutated you will have alpha thalasaemia major,
To investigate the energy content of different foods.
Food for fuel Aim: To investigate the energy content of different foods. Introduction: We can show that food is a fuel by burning it, using this, we are going to investigate the energy content of four different foods; peanut, bread, pasta and a Brazil nut. Food is also a fuel in another sense. Plants and animals use food to get their energy. Different foods contain different types and amounts of energy. When food, and all other fuels (e.g. coal, oil, etc.), is burned, energy in the form of heat is transferred to it's surroundings warming them. The body's most basic need is for energy. To get energy it needs food as a fuel and oxygen to burn it. The amount of energy foods can produce is measured in units called calories. A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of water 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The body changes the calories in food into energy, which is necessary for every act from blinking an eye to running a race. Energy is also used for the growing process, for rebuilding damaged cells, and for regulating body systems. The number of calories needed each day depends upon how much energy an individual's body uses. An active child can need more calories than an adult who works at a desk. The body needs more calories in cold weather to stay at an even temperature.
Succession is the progression of plant and animal species in an area from smaller simpler organisms to larger more complex organisms, eventually leading to a climax community.
Succession Introduction Succession is the progression of plant and animal species in an area from smaller simpler organisms to larger more complex organisms, eventually leading to a climax community. The climax community is reached when the species found in the area remain constant over time with few or no species being wiped out or starting to grow- there is an equal balance between births and deaths and gross primary productivity is the same as total respiration. The climax community exists as long as biotic and abiotic factors allow. Things which could devastate a climax community include forest fires and drastic changes in climate, or biotic factors like Dutch elm disease, a fungus transmitted by European and American bark beetles which killed millions of elm trees in the 1980's. The climax community arises in stages called seral stages. There are two types of succession, primary and secondary. Primary succession A primary succession is one that takes place in an area or piece of land which was not previously populated by other organisms. Examples of places where primary successions can take place include newly bared rocks, sand dunes, river deltas where fertile silt is deposited, hardened lava from a volcanic eruption or in a freshwater lake. A xerosere is the name given to a succession which begins on dry rock and the plants which grow there are called
Why is pyramid of biomass important in illustration than pyramid of numbers?
Task - Providing information about biomass; two examples of studies or research into biomass. Why is pyramid of biomass important in illustration than pyramid of numbers? Information about biomass - A biomass is a measure of the amount of living material present such as the biomass of plants in a rainforest or of worms in the soil. Biomass is expressed in units such as gm-2. These units reflect both the mass and the size of the sample. Because the amount of water in living organisms is very variable, samples are often dried, in which case the term dry biomass is used. It is not essential, however, to use dry biomass. There are some circumstances where it is far more sensible and convenient to consider fresh or live biomass. Pyramids of biomass may be expressed in terms of biomass at each trophic level. Information from: http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iv/ecosystem/biomass-pyramid.php "Pyramid of biomass is the graphic representation of biomass present per unit area of different trophic levels, with producers at the base and top carnivores at the tip". The total amount of living or organic matter in an ecosystem at any time is called 'Biomass'. In a terrestrial ecosystem, the maximum biomass occurs in producers, and there is progressive decrease in biomass from lower to higher trophic levels. Thus, the pyramid of biomass in a terrestrial ecosystem is
The effect of caffeine on the heart rate
The effect of caffeine on heart rate Aim: To investigate the effect of caffeine on the heart rate of Daphnia (water fleas). Introduction: Plants produce caffeine as an insecticide. Cocoa in South America, coffee in Africa and tea in Asia have all been used for hundreds of years to produce 'pick me up' drinks containing caffeine. These days, caffeine is also used as a flavour enhancer in a wide range of cola and other soft drinks. In addition, it has medicinal uses in aspirin preparations, and is found in weight-loss drugs and as a stimulant in students' exam-time favourites like Pro-plus and Red Bull. In humans, caffeine acts as a stimulant drug, causing increased amount of stimulatory neurotransmitters to be released. At high levels of consumption caffeine has been linked to restlessness, insomnia and anxiety, causing raised stress and blood pressure. This can lead to heart and circulation problems. Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because of their saltatory swimming style (although fleas are insects and thus only very distantly related). They live in various aquatic environments ranging from acidic swamps to freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. Hypothesis: Caffeine will increase the heart rate of the Daphnia (water fleas). Equipment needed: * Culture of Daphnia (water fleas) * Cavity slides * Dropping pipettes *
Biology - Most effective way of reducing blood pressure
The Problem - High Blood Pressure has always been the cause of Stokes and CHD (Coronary Heart Disease) leading to a Heart Attack or even CVD (Cardio Vascular Disease). It indeed is the biggest killer in this developed world. High blood pressure directly implicates on the blood vessels, the veins and the arteries. When blood pressure increases, it constantly damages the arteries, whereas arteries already have narrow lumens. When the artery wall gets damaged, by the high blood pressure putting an extra strain on the layer of cells (Endothelium), there are white blood cells moving to the damaged area, and they accumulate cholesterol from the blood. This cholesterol builds a deposit, known as atheroma. This is an inflammatory response. There also are calcium salts and fibrous tissue building up at the site, resulting in a hard swelling called a plaque on the inner wall of the artery. This hardens the artery. Those plaques case the artery to become narrower, which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body, in other words, there is a rise in blood pressure plus there now is a positive feedback building up as the process continues. A Blood Clot may also form there and even block the artery completely, minimising the blood supply, containing oxygen, to the heart which can lead to a heart attack and major CHD(s). {Results show that over 7 million people had
The Role of ATP
The Role of ATP Living organisms all need energy to live, for reproduction and for movement. This energy is used in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is known as the 'energy currency of living organisms' and can be produced by two methods: . Photosynthesis 2. Chemical Energy Photosynthesis is the absorption of light energy from the sun, which is then transferred into chemical energy. It occurs in plants and results in a useful supply of carbon. Chemical energy is acquired from a 'ready made' source of carbon such as biological materials found in plants and animals, although this energy still originally comes from the sun. ATP * One molecule can contain large amounts of energy which can be used very easily. * ATP is not a storage molecule. * Every cell makes its on ATP, depending on how active it is and its job. * ATP is constantly made and used. 40 kg is made in a 24hr period. Structure Organic base - adenine Pentose sugar - ribose 3 Phosphate groups - inorganic phosphates which are joined by high energy bonds. ATP is a nucleotide and because of its structure, is water soluble and is easily transported around the cell. To release the energy in ATP it is hydrolysed. When water is added, a phosphate group is broken off and energy is released. An enzyme called ATPase catalyses this reaction. When phosphate 1 is removed, a total of 30.6 kJ mol-1
Investigation on the size of Limpets.
Investigation on the size of Limpets Abstract: During my preliminary investigations, I established that sheltered and exposed rocky shores, differed immensely in their size of Limpets. Thus I was inspired to compare the size of Limpets on the sheltered rocky shore, Frenchman's Steps. The background knowledge and preliminary work enabled me conclude the following hypothesis; there will be a statistically significant difference between the size of limpets found on the sheltered rocky shore at two different vertical heights. I decided to look at 3M and 6M above chart datum for my investigation, as looking at the profile graph (appendix) the number of limpets was high at that chart datum. Aim: To determine if there is a difference in the size of limpets at two heights in there Vertical range. Scientific Background Limpets are animals that belong to the family Patellidae, subclass Prosobranchia of the phylum Molluscs. They have a strong, conical shell composed mainly of calcium carbonate, protecting the internal tissue, underneath which is a sucker, also known as the limpet foot, which allows limpets to adhere to rock surfaces, as shown in the photographs. Limpets are usually immobile unless they are foraging and so zonation is less apparent. As can be seen from the pictures above, limpets have a hydrodynamic shape so that resistance to water flow is reduced. This
