EAP2 051

Coral reefs in the Florida Keys

2005-03-08T05:25:00.000-08:00

ABSTRACT
In the Florida Keys, there is so much amazing beautiful scenery, such as coral reefs, fishes, sea turtles, and other species. Every year, many tourists travel to the Keys to enjoy these beautiful things. Unfortunately, these beautiful marine lives are under danger because their home, coral reefs are dying. The main reasons for` dying coral are overfishing, pollutions, overfishing, habitat destruction, sedimentation, sewage discharge, eutrophication, oil pollution, outbreak of sea anemone, coral bleaching, and over-development on coast. These threats are from human activities that damaged the coral reefs ecosystem and had already caused a lot of coral reefs to die. So, we need to do some things to protect the valuab0.le coral reefs. For example, tourists should pay the fee for cleaning beach, and sea. Everyone can do some thing for decreasing greenhouse gases to reduce global effect. Such as, avoiding use fuel that can reduce carbon dioxide. Laws can be made more effective to ban pollutions into sea and overfishing.

Body

Coral reefs are important to our life and marine life because they are the home of many million fishes and other species. Coral reefs with fishes and other species make a coral reefs ecosystem. There are not only many maritime living organisms which depend on coral reefs, but also human tourism industries and seafood industries depend on coral reefs for the economic benefits. In addition, part of the function of coral reefs is preventing the shoreline from being destroyed from "tropical storm waves" (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par.10), which can reduce land's soil into the sea. Unfortunately, human activities cause many impacts that threaten coral health, such as ships hit coral reefs. For example, in 1993 to 1994, there were about 500 ships grounding in the Florida Keys. (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10). In the Florida Keys, there are more than "three million people who visit the keys" every year (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10), because many tourists like the clean water and beautiful coral reefs and fishes. But too many tourists cause local residents to build more ships, ports, and other facilities for entertainments, which had cause coral reefs to face that threat. There are some reasons causing coral dying in the Florida Key, including water pollution, urban development, introduced species, overfishing, boating, global climate change or global warming, diseases and coral bleaching, such as "the sea temperatures globally in 1998 were high. And 1998 was the worst year ever recorded globally for coral bleaching," which was caused by global warming, caused many coral reefs to die in the world (Segelken, 1999, par. 9&11).

The Florida Keys depend on many beautiful coral reefs that bring to the local economy things such as tourism and food industries, and it is one of the Earth's most important ecosystem, but recent years the Keys coral death has been occurring so suddenly and rapidly, we should get to the bottom of the dying coral reef ecosystems. Because of human actives such as pollutions, overfishing, over developed...etc, most of coral are dying from tern temperature change, coral bleaching, and diseases. So, there are some things we should do to protection coral reefs ecosystem, such as decreasing pollutions from farmlands, industries, and domestic water. First, educating the local residents and tourists is a good way to protecting coral reefs ecosystems. Secondly, making strong laws and enforce is not only protecting coral reefs and decrease number of ships around the areas of coral reefs, but also brings some benefits for fishermen and tourists. Moreover, there are some things anyone can do for improving coral reefs predicaments, such as avoiding puts pollutants and sewage into sea, reducing uses fuel sewage for decreasing carbon dioxide in greenhouse gases.

To begin with, we should know how important the coral reef ecosystem is. In economy, local residents earn the money from tourists who come to the Keys for looking and playing clean seawater, and amazing coral reefs and fishes. If humans destroyed the coral ecological balance, may be the Florida Keys would not have people willing to come. According to the article of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, coral reefs offer habitat and foods for several hundred species of marine lives, such as fishes, and sea turtles. On the other hand, because of a coral ecological imbalance, if coral reefs don't have good health or die, and then many fishes and other species would leave or died. At the same time, the Keys will not attract tourists who come again. According to the news writer of States News Service, coral reefs supply about "$375 billion to the world economy or more $3 billion to Florida per year from recreation, tourism, food, pharmaceuticals, and other purposes" (2004, par. 1), so the coral reefs are very important to the coastal economical future.

In the marine ecosystem, there are many marine lives whose life depends on coral reefs or has cooperation relationship. For example, "A complex of microscopic plants", which are called "tiny algae or zooxanthellae, lives in coral tissues, offers the energy or oxygen to coral reefs "from photosynthesis", and these kinds of plants are getting nutrients from animal wastes (Florida department of Environmental Protection, 2005, par. 3). According to the article of Coral Reefs Alliance, "Coral Bleaching", "zoozanthellae" has some dyes and lets coral to become colorful, so when coral became white that shows the coral under threatened and probably would die (2002, par. 1). These threats are caused by the local chemical pollutions from industries and agriculture, sediment and flood from rivers, outbreak of sea anemone, and temperature change etc. (Coral Reefs Alliance, 2003, par. 2). However, there reasons were mostly from human activities, the global warming already happen and caused a lot coral reefs death on global coral bleaching event in 1998 (Segelken, 1999, par. 9&11). When the coral reefs dies, then fish will lose their home, and then the Florida Keys will quickly decease their economy from the commercial fishing because it "bring many millions of dollars to the state" every year ((Florida department of Environmental Protection, 2005, par. 4). So, local people should control their pollutions and avoid dumping into rivers and sea are necessary. Also, all humans can do some thing to decrease carbon dioxide into air, and decrease greenhouse gases, such as don't burn fuel and wood. Protecting coral reefs ecosystem is protecting earth and other life.
Moreover, over fishing is a serious problem, because it will lead to the imbalance of the coral reef ecosystem. Fishermen caught too many fish and other maritime species to satisfied their demand, but that would cause not only plants to lose nutrients from animals, but also coral reefs loss balance from coral reefs ecosystem. According to the article of Courrege, a great threat is to the coral reef ecosystem overfishing because fishermen caught the "plant-eating fish" causes more algae, which can demolish coral reefs (2002, par. 4), because it needs enough sunlight, but too many algae cover the surface of seawater. So, fishermen should avoid overfishing in order to keep and sustain the health of coral reefs ecosystem. Particular fishing practices are causing damage, because fishermen used some destructive methods to catch more fishes, such as trawl destroyed coral reefs, and bursting fishes for easing to collect fishes. According to article by Campbell, some fishermen use "cyanide to stun the fish" and catch a lot fishes for earning money from "aquarium industry", but the cyanide can destroy the coral life or degradation (2002, par. 16). On the other hand, the fisherman thinks about "setting up reserves" which were "taking away their livelihood", but the senior director with Conservation International's marine division thinks marine reserves will benefit to coral reefs and other areas (Campbell, 2002, par, 23). I think catching fish without coral reef areas that is a best way to protect the coral reefs from fisherman's destroy and overfishing, because it can keep coral reef ecosystem in the better condition without fisherman's destroying it and make ecological balance for fish and coral reefs, and than other areas around the marine reserves will have more and more fish to live. So, it also benefits to fishermen.
Fishermen should keep the coral ecosystem sustainable, by catching as many fishes as they need, because decreasing yields are necessary for keeping a balance of the coral ecosystem, because coral reefs are main habitats of fishes and other maritime species. According to Bowles, C., in his article, he mentions Grego Hodgson (director of the Reef Check Foundation in LA) who said "the two biggest causes of coral death are still overfishing and climate change" (2002, par5). So, strong laws should been made for restricting fishermen.

Too many recreation boats and fishermen caused many coral reefs to die and the imbalance of the coral ecosystem, and the laws didn't protect the coral reefs. For example, "the 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Act will reduce penalties and regulations for overfishing, making it harder to prosecute people who overfish" (Courrege, 2002, par. 14), this kind of laws seems to protect the fisherman, but not coral reefs. So, people should look at the fact of the laws if are really protecting the coral reefs and improving the serious problem of overfishing. Furthermore, there are many cases of boats hitting coral reefs in the Florida Keys, which cause many coral reefs damage. According to article of Courrege, fishing boats had increased "from 37,435 in 1964 to 166,343 boats in 1998, increased rate of 344 percent in South Florida", and among these boats had "667 boats damaging coral reefs in the Florida Keys in 2001" (2002, Par. 11&12).

Laws should be made to strongly limit and be strictly enforced the overdevelopment and overfishing in the Florida Keys for protecting coral reefs. Because of the Florida Keys are a tourist attraction, a lot of local people and tourist industry's life depend the tourists. So in the Keys developed many travel service, such as airport, ports and hotels that can threaten the coral reefs. For example, wastewater and sewage from hotel through river into sea impacts coral and fish health. I think that marine life must have clean seawater because fishes get disease, and then human eat them that also damage to human health. The Florida Keys seems too crowded because there are "three million people who visit the keys, and more than 80,000 people who live full time" (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10), in the small area with many people cause many pollution. So, people should make a law and strictly enforce to reducing developments and pollutions in the Keys. For example, tourists must pay the money to the Florida government when they go to and play at the beach. And the money can be used on cleaning pollutions on the sea. Also, tourist industries should pay money to government for using on marine researches and reducing pollutions into the sea, such as waste water processing stations that is only protecting marine lives, but also river's lives.

Finally, reducing human activities can be less threatening to coral reefs ecosystem, such ship drives through shallow waters along the coast of coral reefs areas, and divers should learn how to avoid harming the coral reefs. For example, "snorkelers standing on coral and destructive fishing methods" (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10). So I think that fisherman, snorkelers and divers should learn about how to care for coral reefs. Moreover, human sewage and chemical pollution can cause coral reefs getting diseases. For example, researchers of University of Illinois found the unhealthy coral reefs, which included some "metals such as aluminum, cadmium and zinc, are common pollutants from oil refineries", they think these pollutant may be a main reason of causing coral to get disease (Kloppel, 2001, par. 3). In 1975, a lot of oil had been spilled about "26 miles" around the Florida Keys, which caused coral reefs were covered by oil, and some "pearl oyster, black mangroves, and other speices" (Evans, Scott, & Davison, 2001, p. 60).

There are some things humans have to do for protecting the coral reef ecosystem, such as reducing use fuel, decreasing boats, cleaning rivers, decreasing pollutions into sea, and cleaning sewage. Also tourists shouldn't bring coral to their home and stand on coral reefs. The governments should make more conservation areas for coral reef ecosystem, and laws to limited fishermen. Also, coast areas should stop to overdevelop. If we can decrease greenhouse gases which can not only survive coral reefs and fishes, but also survive Earth's lives.

In conclusion, coral reefs are very important things for human life and marine life, so we should protect them from human impact, such as overfishing, pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, sedimentation, sewage discharge, eutrophication, oil pollution, outbreak of sea anemone, coral bleach. Stopping over-development is the better way for protecting coral reefs. By keeping coral reefs ecosystem can be sustainable now, and we can see and eat marine species forever. Also we can take a trip to Florida any time because coral reefs will be there.

Bibliography
Courrege, D. (2002, July 10). Recreational fishing as destructive as commercial boats,
marine group says. Naples (Fla.) daily News. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from
Southeastern Fisheries Association, Inc.
Courrege, D. (2002, July 10). Recreational fishing as destructive as commercial boats,
marine group says. Naples (Fla.) daily News. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from
Southeastern Fisheries Association, Inc.
Campbell, T. (2002, February 15). A system important for global biodiversity and
economics. CNN.com. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from www.cnn.com Evans, Donald L, Gudes, Scott B, & Davidson, Margaret A. (2001). Oil Spills in Coral Reefs (p. 60). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Segelken, R. (1999, Jan 22). Coral bleaching and death could be early warning of environmental change, Comell Ecologists warn. Cornell News. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from www.news.cornell.edu
ICRIN news writer. (2002). Coral Bleaching. The coral reef alliance. Retrieved Feb. 27,
2005 from www. coralreef.org/factsheets/coralbleaching .html.
Author of Florida Department of Environment Protection. (2005, January 20). Florida Reefs
Facts. Florida Department of Environment Protection. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from
www.dep.state.fl.us/coatal/habitats/coral.htm
Author of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (2001, January 31). Sanctuary
Resources — Coral Reefs. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2005 from
www.fknms.nos.noaa.sov/sanctuarv resources/morecoral.html

Sierra Club Initiates Legal Action to Clean Up Coal Plant Proposal

2005-03-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

This article is about the legal action taken by the sierra club to stop the construction of several tecnology-outdated coal-fired power plants in Illinois. The Sierra Club is concerned with the health of Illinois residents and is pressing Illinois Governor Blagojevich not only to require the new coal-fired power plants to have state-of-yhe-art tecnology to reduce emissions, but also to shut down twenty-two obsolete coal-burning power plants built in Illinois in the 1970's. Their main health concerns are because of a very direct air pollution effect that increases cardiopulmonary diseases and the high mercury percentage found in fish caught from several water bodies in Illinois, which can be traced to emissions (in U.S. from all possible mercury emissions sources, 41% of it comes from coal burning power plants) from these outdated coal burning power plants. The sierra Club is raising awareness on the high environmental and health impact that the actual "Coal Rush" can have on Illinois Residents.

Reaction

I agree with Sierra Club actions to protect Illinois residents by requesting Governor Blagojevich to upgrade emissionn control tecnology. These tough regulations must be applied not only on these types of power plants, but also on new vehicles that are sold in the state by automotive industry, as an overall plant to reduce air pollution and decrease cardiopulmonary incidences in the population in general

RESEARCH PAPER DATA EXERCISE

2005-03-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

EAP2 WW051
SANG HEE
RESEARCH PAPER DATA EXERCISE

The destruction of the tropical rainforests
Tropical rainforest is a thick forest in tropical parts of the world that have a lot of rain. The forests role not only maintain the climate but also offer useful resources to us. They are the biological heritage that deveopled over billions of years. Though they are very precious resources to us, we are destroying the tropical rainforests at random. So twelve percent of all Brazil’s rain forests have already been destroyed. And the rainforests are being destroyed more and more. But the problem is that we could not give up both saving resource and protecting forests.
The rainforests are being destroyed not out of ignorance or stupidity but largely because of poverty and greed(Taken from Robinsin, M. H.(1996) The fate of the tropics and the fate of man ZooGoer, 3,P.6). Demand for hardwood in industrial nations has risen dramatically since 1950, and many tropical countries have hardwood timber as well as low labor costs. Consequently, much of this demand has been met by developing nations. Tropical nations also use large quantities of wood for fuel.(Taken from the Global Ecology handbook 1998). But one obvious thing is run out of forests. Continued degradation and elimination of these interdependent and vulnerable tropical forests could eliminate several hundred thousand to over a million species by the year 2000. Since less than 5 percent of all tropical forests receive any protection, mass extinctions of species appear certain.(Taken from the global ecology handbook 1998).
I think that the destruction of the tropical forests is the most serious problem. Because we should get resources from the forests. Without wood, we could not build houses and so on. But we should think about our future. Wood is not renewable resource. Wood is just potential resource. That means wood could extinct like dinosaurs. If wood is extinct forever, we could not live any more. Because the forests offer fresh air and main environmental equality. So we should protect the forests. Although we could not cut nothing, we could cut the forests the minimum. Finally I think that we should protect the destruction of the tropical rainforests. This way is how to save our environment.

Reference
Ehrlich, P. (1987, Jun). Multinational Monitor, P. 6.
Myers. N. (1998). The Global Ecology Handbook.
The Global Ecology Handbook. (1998)

UNPREDICTABLE ART OF TACKING A HURRICANE(summary-response)

2005-03-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

EAP2
WRITING CLASS
SUMMARY-RESPONSE
SANE HEE

UNPREDICTABLE ART OF TACKING A HURRICANE
Summary
In the article, “Unpredictable art of tacking a hurricane”, from Warren Richey, the author introduces predicting the path of a hurricane and the method to reduce the damage of the hurricane. The author first introduces the effort of meteorologists to predict the hurricane and took the example of actual strong hurricane. Furthermore, the author also says that main purpose of a hurricane research team is an early- warning system. Sometimes they fail in the forecasting. And sometimes they success in the hurricane forecasting. The author writes that they confirmed the direction of the hurricane to the satellite picture at the past. Recently they are using a more developed method using sensors. The sensor plays the role that they predict various numerical values and to reduce the damage of the hurricane. Lastly the author writes the data which we can gain from sensor could decrease the danger of hurricane.
Response
To begin with, recently we had an earthquake damage at Indonesia. Many people died and buildings were broken. During I watched in the news, I was very frustrated. Most frustrating thing is that they could not predict at all. Therefore they were damaged badly more. Of course, this article is about hurricane. But I think a kind of disaster. So I want to show just example. I think the most important thing is that meteorologists should protect a route of the hurricane.
I think that we need the effort of meteorologists to predict the route accurately. Every kind of equipments should be developed more and more. If the hurricane came once, these are very important a fast judgment of meteorologists and quick shunt of people.
Consequently, we can not keep the hurricane to the power of the human. But we must make efforts to reduce the damage of the at least. I think that meteorologists make more better equipment. If the hurricane is the area to happen much, we must prepare the condition to shunt fast.

Chapter 8 summary Tomomi Ikeuchi

2005-03-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

Chapter 8 summary

In chapter 8 of Sarah, Plain and Tall, many important things happen. First, Sarah put on Jacob’s overalls. Second, she says, ’I want to learn how to ride a horse.’ and ‘I want to learn how to drive the wagon, by myself.’ Fourth, she run from the barn into a sheet of rain. Fifth, Sarah touched Papa’s shoulder. Finally, Papa put his arm around her and learned over to rest his chin in her hair.
Tomomi Ikeuchi

Haruka Kawano Chapter 8 summary

2005-03-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

Haruka Kawano

Chapter 8 summary

In chapter 8 of Sarah, Plain and Tall, many important things happen. First, Sarah dressed in a pair of overalls. Next, she said, ‘I want to lean how to ride a horse,’ and ‘I will ride Jack.’ Also, she said ‘I am a good carpenter.’ On the other hand, Anna tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, but there was no time to cry. Jacob ordered them ‘to get horses inside and to get the sheep and cows’ because hail was coming. Finally, Sarah said, ‘My chickens!’ and ran from the barn into a sheet of rain.

Chika Azuma Chapter8 Summary

2005-03-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

(Chika Azuma)

Chapter8 Summary

In Chapter8 of Sarah, Plain and Tall, many important things happen. First, Sarah puts on Jacob’s overalls. Second, Sarah said, “I want to learn how to ride a horse.” Third, Sarah said, “I will ride Jack.” Next, Sarah said, “I am a good carpenter.” Also, Anna’s tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. Sarah said, “My chickens!” and run from the barn into a sheet of rain, too. Finally, Papa put his arm around Sarah and leaned over to rest his chin in her hair.

Coral feefs in the Florida Keys

2005-03-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

Argumentative Essay

Coral reefs are important to our life because they are the home of many million fishes and other species. Coral reefs with fishes and other species make a coral reefs ecosystem. There are not only many maritime organisms living depended on coral reefs, but also human tourism industries and seafood industries depend on coral reefs for the economy. Unfortunately, human activities cause many impacts that threaten coral health, such as ships hit coral reefs. For example, in 1993 to 1994, there were about 500 ships grounding in the Florida Keys. (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10). In the Florida Keys, there are more than “three million people who visit the keys” (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10), because many tourists like the clean water and beautiful coral reefs and fishes. But too many tourists cause local residents to build more ships, ports, and other facilities for entertainments, which had cause coral reefs that face threat.
In the Florida Keys depend on many beautiful coral reefs that bring to local economy such as tourism and food industries, and is one of the Earth most important ecosystem, but recent years the Keys coral death has been occurring so suddenly and rapidly, we should get to the bottom of the dying coral reef ecosystem.
To begin with, local residents should know how important the coral reef ecosystem is. Because local residents earn the money from tourists who come to the Keys for clean seawater, and amazing coral reefs and fishes. If humans destroyed the coral ecological balance, may be the Florida Keys would not have people willing to come. Because of a coral ecological imbalance, coral reefs don’t have good health or died, and then many fishes and other species would leave or died. At the same time, the Keys will not attract tourists who come again. According to the news writer of States News Service, coral reefs supply about “$375 billion to the world economy or more $3 billion to Florida per year from recreation, tourism, food, pharmaceuticals, and other purposes” (2004, par. 1), so the coral reefs are very important to coastal economical future.
Laws should strongly limit the over-development in the Florida Keys to protect the coral reefs. Over-development can affect coral reefs ecosystem because airports, ports and hotels can threaten the coral reefs. For example, wastewater from hotel through river into sea impacts coral and fish health. Marine life must have clean seawater because fishes get disease, and then human eat them that also damage to human health. The Florida Keys seems too crowded because there are “three million people who visit the keys, and more than 80,000 people who live full time” (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10), in the small area with many people cause many pollution. So, people should make the law to reducing developments and pollutions in the Keys.
Finally, reducing human activities can be less threat to effect coral reefs ecosystem, such ship drives through shallow waters along the coast of coral reefs areas, and divers should learn how to avoid harming the coral reefs. For example, “snorkelers standing on coral and destructive fishing methods” (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10). So I think like fish man, snorkelers and divers should learn about how to care for coral reefs.
In conclusion, coral reefs are very important things for human life, so we should protect them. Stopping over-development is a better way to protect coral reefs.

Posted by Yen

Impact coral in Florida Keys - Outline

2005-03-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

Preliminary Outline

I. Introduction
A. Background Information

1. Why should we care about coral reefs?
a. Coral reefs offer habitats for million fish and other species.
b. Coral reefs support the significant tourism industry depends on
the clean seawater and amazing coral reefs and fish.
c. Coral reefs bring to local many economic benefits, according to
the news writer of States News Service, coral reefs supply about
“$375 billion to the world economy or more $3 billion to Florida
per year from recreation, tourism, food, pharmaceuticals, and
other purposes” (2004, par. 1).

2. Why do the impacts threatening on coral reefs?

a. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as Increasing the tourism industry causes water pollution.
b. Natural disturbances, such as unusual temperature changes that sea-surface continues warming effect the coral life (Kirby, 2004, par. 2).

B. Nature of problems

1. Natural factors effect coral health.
For example, in 2002, the Black water caused some coral reef death in the Florida Keys because it included many “toxic and non-toxic microscopic plants” (Gutro, 2003, par. 1)
2. Human activities threaten coral reefs ecosystem.
For example, boatman drives ship with careless, and diver stands on coral, such as in 1993 to 1994, there were about 500 of ships grounding in the Florida Keys. (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10)
3. Coastal developments contaminate coast and seawater, such as increasing tourism industries earn a lot of money and promote local economical growth (States News Service, 2004, par. 1).
4. others

II. Thesis: although the local people depend on tourism and food industry for earning money, getting to the bottom of their economic lifeline is from the coral reef ecosystem.

III. Main arguments

1. Local residents should know how important the coral reef ecosystem is.

2. Laws should limit over-development in Florida Keys for protecting coral reefs.

3. Reducing Human activities threaten coral reefs ecosystem, such ship drives through shallow waters along the coast of coral reefs areas, and divers should learn how to avoid harming the coral reefs.

IV. conclusion

A. People should know or learn about coral reefs.

B. People should do something to protect the coral reefs.

C. I suggest that law should limit the over-deployments in Florida Keys.

Posted by Yen

Impact coral in Florida Keys-proposal

2005-03-02T04:03:00.000-08:00

Research Paper proposal

I became interested in one of most important thing of the sea of Florida Keys that is coral reef ecosystem after I read some articles about it. Coral reefs offer habitats for million fish and other species, such as home. Also, Coral reefs support the significant tourism industry depends on the clean seawater and amazing coral reefs and fish, and bring to local many economic benefits, according to the news writer of States News Service, coral reefs supply about “$375 billion to the world economy or more $3 billion to Florida per year from recreation, tourism, food, pharmaceuticals, and other purposes” (2004, par. 1). Unfortunately, human and nature cause some problem to effect the coral life. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as increasing the tourism industry causes water pollution. Natural disturbances, such as unusual temperature changes that sea-surface continues warming effect the coral life (Kirby, 2004, par. 2). Although coral reefs provide local many economic benefits, local people and tourists’ actions were sometimes a threat to the life, of the coral reefs ecosystem. For example, boatman drives a ship carelessly, and divers stand on corals, such as in 1993 to 1994, there were about 500 of ships grounding in the Florida Keys. (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2001, par. 10). Moreover, Coastal developments contaminate coast and seawater, such as increasing tourism industries earn a lot of money and promote local economical growth (States News Service, 2004, par. 1). There are not only artificial factors, but also the natural factors impact the coral reefs too. For example, in 2002, the Black water caused some coral reef death in the Florida Keys because it included many “toxic and non-toxic microscopic plants” (Gutro, 2003, par. 1).
In the Florida Keys depend on many beautiful coral reefs that bring to local economy such as tourism and food industries, and is one of the Earth most important ecosystem, but recent years the Keys coral death has been occurring so suddenly and rapidly, we should get to the bottom of the dying coral reefs ecosystem.
I will write some thing that people should be done for protecting the coral reefs. Firs, Local residents should know how important the coral reef ecosystem is, because their economic source is from the coral reef ecosystem, and clean water. Second, Laws should limit over-development in Florida Keys for protecting coral reefs because that will cause more than more pollutants. Finally, reducing human activities can be less threat to effect coral reefs ecosystem, such ship drives through shallow waters along the coast of coral reefs areas, and divers should learn how to avoid harming the coral reefs.
I have found some articles that show some information about how important coral reefs are to me. Moreover, I found some websites that can help me doing my paper. I still need some articles about why some coral reefs get disease or death, which I hope it can show to people know human influence and threaten coral health.

Posted by Yen

Understanding of Coral Reefs

2005-03-02T03:48:00.000-08:00

Summary and Response #2
In the article, “Coral Reefs”, J.S Levinton describes coral‘s growth, types, areas of distribution, and threats. In the first place, he explains that coral’s size depend on the “amount of carbonate calcium”(Levinton, 1982) in its frame, also different types of corals can grow quick or slow, for example branching corals can grew very swiftly, but they are easily destroyed by strong storms or human activities. In addition, the coral’s age can be calculated, like calculating the tree’s age. There are two kind of coral’s propagation, which are asexual reproduction or sexual propagation, also the producing of sexual reproduction is very wonderful which it happens on “August full moon in the Florida Keys” (Levinton, 1982) every year. Next, the coral reefs have three different types, which are “barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls” (Levinton, 1982). Moreover, the distributional areas of coral reefs depend on their level of emerge and “amount of wave action” (Levinton, 1982). For example, Soft corals are Caribbean characteristic, such as sea whips and sea fans. In the most important thing is the function of coral reefs, which are preventing the shoreline from being to destroyed “tropical storm waves”, and offer habitat for several hundred species of marine lives, such as fish. Furthermore, coral reefs also offer coast’s economic benefits, such as diving, snorkeling, and sport fishing…etc. Unfortunately, the aggravation of the oceanic environment causes condition of coral health that became to go down. For example, In Florida Bay, there was a decreased freshwater flow that caused “sponge and seagrass die-offs, and fish kills” (Levinton, 1982). Also, the tourists damage the coastal environment, which can be discriminated between “direct human impacts” and indirect human impacts (Levinton, 1982). The coral reefs bring or offer to marine life and human economy and entertainments, but some people don’t know how to treasure the valuable coral.
To begin with, humans usually only consider how to have fun on their trip, but they forget the coral reefs are the most important things that offer habitat for many beautiful marine life. Assuming there weren’t any coral reefs, and then there would not be many beautiful marine lives. At the same, if the human will go to diving or fishing, or not. After that the local economy will descend. So, people should consider more about their activity if can effect the coral life or not.
The valuable coral reefs offer many species life, and supposing they are destroyed, then human will not have delicious food from sea to eat, because the coral protect these marine lives from tropical storm waves. Humans dump a lot of pollution into sea that can effect these coral’s health and marine life’s survival. Such as, tourist waste, pleasure-boat waste and dash against coral. So, human activities are most important key to destroy coral.
So, when people travel to beach, I hope people don’t make any human waste into seawater. Also, when people leave, they can do some things to protect the marine life and coral reefs such as picking up and clean up your own trash. Encourage your friends to protect and don’t touch coral reefs with you, if you are a dive.
In conclusion, coral reefs offer to human economy and entertainments, and give many species to life. So, people should know the protecting coral is very important thing because human and marine lives should depend on its functions.

Reference
Levintion, J.S. (1982). Coral Reefs. Marine Ecology. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Retrieved Feb. 03, 2005 from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary website.
Posted by Yen

Heat Impact Coral Life

2005-03-02T03:31:00.000-08:00

Summary and Response #1

In the article, “Some Tropical Corals Can't Take the Heat; Smith College Study Shows Some Reefs May Disappear If Sea Surface Continues to Warm”, Kristen Cole writes that the researchers of Smith College found if the “sea-surface temperature” changes, this can impact coral subsistence. To begin with, the researchers made a test which separates some corals from the heating sea waters to observing the death of corals. They found if the “sea-surface temperature” keeps changing it would impact the marine ecosystem. Moreover, the main thing the different temperature will affect is the protein, which is most element affecting coral flexibility or frailty. The protein allows it to adapt to temperature change if it has it will live, if not it will die. The Temperature anomalies unusual change had caused many corals to die in 1998, “such as in southern Florida”. Lastly, the sciences think if the sea-surface continues, warning will affect the tropical zone of the globe. It seems like not possible to change the unusual sea-surface continuing warning nowadays.
First, the global warming was caused by human activities which are ruining the environment. Nowadays, although some people try to improve the usual phenomenon, prevention of global warming will take a long time to prevent and improve ecological environment. For example, the ozone hole has been destroyed for several decades already. Although most people have stopped using ozone depleting substances for several years, the hole is still on the ozone layer at the present time. So, I think if the sea-surface temperature change can cause the corals death, and then a lot the ocean’s coral will die in next several years or several decades.
Moreover, humans can destroy things very quickly, but they can’t save and improve the environment quickly. People should think more about what they are doing if they are destroying the ecological environment, or not. Humans have very limited power to save nature, but we can do something to prevent other pollutions that continue to degenerate the environment. For example, we can prohibit human domestic water and industrial sewage from going into the sea.
In conclusion, we can’t stop global warming as soon as possible, but we can do something to prohibit human activities to continue destroying the ecological environment. This may be an only way to get our environment better. If we protect and stop destroying the environment, we would have more coral to see in the future. If not so, the global warming will not only impact the coral, but also humans will be impacted, such as injurious by ultraviolet rays.

Colek, K. (2004). Some Tropical Corals Can’t Take the Heat; Smith College Study Shows Some Reefs May Disappear If Sea Surface Continues to Warm. Ascribe Newswire. Retrieved by Jan. 27, 2005 from Lexis-Nexis website.
By Yen

Southern Illinois Bobcats

2005-03-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

In the article, “Bobcat”, the author describes bobcats and their distribution, etc. To begin with, he talks about the bobcat’s appearance: that it is double the size of a house cat, and its height can be 20-23 inches. Its length can be 30-35 inches and weight can be 10-40 pounds. Bobcats were distributed in Illinois when the first Europeans came here. Unfortunately, the bobcat began to decrease in the 1880s, and it was the first threatened species of Illinois’s list in 1977, because of its “Habitat changes and unregulated harvest”. Until the early 1990s, bobcat’s number was beginning to increase, and in 1998 bobcats were put away from the Illinois’s threatened species list in 1998. Its distributions are in the southern and northwestern Illinois. Bobcats like to live not only in forest land or wooded areas, but also close to humans. They are a kind of nocturnal animal. Male may need about 8 square miles of activities area, and female may need about 3 square miles. Because Illinois has better protections of bobcat from hunting, the there begin to increase the number of bobcats in the early 1990s. Currently most deaths are caused by car, and small cats are usually killed by “coyotes, domestic dogs, and owls”. Bobcats use their sharp visioning and hearing to catch their food. They usually eat “rabbits, squirrels, birds, and mice, etc. Their mating season is from January through June, and the mating peak is in February, one female can generate 1 to 6 babies, but usually 2 to 3 kittens. Finally, the author writes that protecting forests is most important for animals because it is the home of plants and animals. Appropriate cutting down of trees is good for wildlife because forests, animals, and plants need enough sun-light.
I learned from the article of Bobcat, which let me know about the bobcat and its condition. Illinois did a good job for bobcat because in the past, the bobcats were an endangered species in Illinois, but now they had been getting away from the endangered species list since 1998. According to the article, the author talks about how humans should cut down some trees to offer more sunlight to wildlife, but I don’t agree with the author’s idea, because a long time ago, when the humans never touched these forests, most wildlife could live well without human activities or cutting trees. I don’t know why human should cut down some trees in order to give more sunlight to forest’s animals and plants. So, I think that human should let the natural world makes its own ecosystem without human activities, because the natural world has its own rules.
Retrieved from Bobcat.
By Yen

Going with the flow?

2005-03-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

The article, "Going with the flow?" from the Economist, the author mentions the debate about that fresh water should pour into Florida's Bay, or not. There are widely spreading coral and many species of animals which depend on coral. But, those are decreasing now. Some environmentalists and the American government, consider that pouring fresh water is the best solution of the problem, which is a dying coral. The reason is that Florida's marshes suffer from salt damaging. So, they believe that Florida's marshes require fresh water. However, other environmentalists consider that pouring fresh water cannot care about coral, and they believe that problem is a sewage discharging. In addition, the author mentions about economy of Florida that depends on visitors, so, if Florida's coral were to extinct in the future, it would lose industry of tourist.
I do not agree that the idea of pouring water into Florida's marshes, because this is not obey the natural rules which means normal environmental law. In addition, nobody decides the problem of dying coral. Perhaps, these are true that not only the idea of suffering from salt water but also the author points out that bacteria increase for fresh water. However, the American government does not have to pay for pouring water because if we meddle to nature, we do not go back again. We should entrust with natural power. Of course, at first we must not blot the water in Florida.
The American government should pay money for sewage protecting. I already know that Florida has a lot of illegal cesspit, and sewage from there to sea. The central disposal system is a good solution of sewage problem. However, the government does not like to make a new sewage protecting system, because this needs a lot of money. Obviously, much sewage destroys Florida's corals. So, the government should not regret paying money for environment, and we need to think about taking care of environment.
Many environmentalists argue that which one is better way to do pouring water, or not. But, it is true that they really think about Florida's future. I think sewage is main reason of dying corals. However, I believe that both environmentalists' goal is one. That is a regenerating corals and a recovering clean sea.

Reference:
The Economist. (2002, November 30). The Economist 365, 8301, p71. Retrieved from EBSCO, Academic Serch Premier Database, Jun. 26, 2005.

By Masaki

Future of corals is going down the pan

2005-03-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

According to M. Schrope in “Future of corals is going to down the pan,” Florida’s corals suffer from a pollutant which is human waste. In Florida, there is the “third largest barrier reef” on the earth. However, a lot of corals are dying from bacteria and viruses. Those causes are from human waste. Over the past five years, half the number of corals have died. Many people argue about what the main problem of dying corals is, but they cannot identify a main cause. Some people insist that the specific reason for the corals dying cannot be found. But, the author believes that reason for the corals dying is sewage from human life. In fact, it is a fact that “over 24,000 septic tanks and up to 10,000 illegal cesspools,” and sewage go in to Florida’s sea. However, many politicians do not accept making the “centralised sewage system,” and they say that it is too expensive to do this.
I agree, with what the author points out, that the reason Florida’s coral is dying, is sewage from human’s everyday life. We should think about our waste management and Florida’s government must promote the “centralised sewage system.” At first, we need to notice that our stool and urine are dangerous substance for corals. Perhaps, we think that the reason for dying coral is pollutant from factory or farm. However, our sewage is a pollutant. Our life cannot avoid evacuation, but we can think about how to take better care of our drainage. For example, when we wash dishes, we should wipe dirty dishes before run water. If we do not throw oil and dirty water from a drain, Florida’s sea water would be cleaner.
In addition, Florida’s government has to make the “centralised sewage system,” because there are a lot of illegal cesspools in Florida. Those cesspools may overflow and run in to the river. If all Florida’s sewage disposal system was perfect, coral would not need to die. So, we really need the “centralised sewage system.” We should use the money for a protection in the environment, because this means the investment for our future. For example, if Florida’s coral die out and Florida’s sea is dirtier than now, Florida loses a lot of tourists. In fact, making the “centralised sewage system” is very expensive, but Florida’s government should still make it.
In conclusion, Florida’s coral is facing extinction by dirty water from human life. I think we have to consider our environment, first. Moreover, government should support the “centralised sewage system,” I believe this method can save corals, and can help recover Florida’s coral. So, we ought to think again for our future.

Reference:
Schrope, Mark. (2002, Aug 10). Future of corals is going down the pan. New Scientist 175, 2355, p.11. Retrieved from EBSCO, Academic Search Premier Database, Jun. 26, 2005.

By Masaki

Scientists tracking cougars' eastward migration

2005-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Cougar is a deer hunter in the nountains. He seems to be seekinh the simple things in life. Acutually there are 21 cougars in the Midwestern states and one Canadian province. And some data is the most credible of data on cougars' eastward migration. So scientists have started to about how cougars may fare. Rising cougar populations and habitat loss are main factors in the felines' recent forays east. In that case, these cougars should be released like pets. There are no reasons to lock cougars. And they are not dangerous animals for people. So we would like to help their successful arrival and we could co-exist.
I think that cougar is nor dangerous animal but necessary. This is because there are so many deer in the mountains. They eat grass or something. If their numbers are more incredibly increased, their living patterns will be changed in the near future. So cougars could maintain the number of deer. This is the most important reason to unlock cougars. And the second reason I think that cougars are protected. Because they are important ecological like other animals. So we should help cougars to have their habitat.

by Sang Hee

Outline and proposal of research paper

2005-02-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

Outline

I. Introduction

A. Background Information

1. What is the manatee?

a. endangered manatee in Florida and other place

b. habitat and geography of manatee

2. what is meaning endangered?

a. species of endangered organisms

B. Nature of problem

1. manatee mortality has increased dramatically in recent years

(FDNR 1994)

2. reasons for the manatee endangered?

a. collision with boat -article

b. perinatal mortality – cold temperatures, premature births, pollution, death of nursing mothers due to collisions with boat

–Endangered species recovery(book). By Tim W. Clark

c. habitat degradation - book. By Tim W. Clark

3. Evidence that the manatee endangered

a. source- website?

b. ???

II. Thesis : The endangered manatee is in serious trouble in Florida, and three things should be done about it.

III. Main Arguments

A. speed of boat should reduce to protect collision

- the rental business VS environmentists

B. laws should be made and strictly enforced to protect the manatee

1. listed as endangered by state and federal government

2.panalty

C. recovery program

1. what is recovery program?

2. how to work program?

IV. Conclusion

Proposal

I became interested in the endangered manatee in Florida after reading several articles and a book about it. As the manatees are one of the endangered species, they are found year-round throughout the Florida and other place. The manatee move freely between fresh and salt water, usually occupying estuarine and riverine habitat.(Hartman 1979) The problem is that the manatee is an endangered specie. According to FDNR(1994), manatee mortality has increased dramatically in recent years. There are several reasons for this. According to Jay Cridirin(2004), one is that most of the deaths of manatee occur by collision with boats. That is related to the economic profit of people like boat rental business. Another reason is perinatal mortality due to cold temperatures, premature births, and other natural factors or human-related causes such as pollution and death of nursing mothers (Tim W. Clark, 1994). Finally, habitat degradation is occurred endangered manatee indirectly. The growth of Florida’s human population is a critical threat to the manatee.

I plan on writing that three things should be done about protection manatee in Florida. First, the speed of boats should reduce to protect collision. So, that would mean setting 25-mph speed limits and instituting idle-speed zones. Second, laws should be made and strictly enforced that will protect the endangered manatee in Florida and other place. Finally, FWS and Florida state government should activate the recovery program. The recovery program was initiated by FWS in 1976. and its goal is “to restore the Florida manatee as a viable self-sustaining element of its ecosystem”(p. 131). So, they should inform that endangered manatee is a serious problem and should protect it.

I have found a variety of articles, a book and website that give background information and solutions. I should find more articles and websites because I still need a lot of information to support logically.

Reference:

Tim. C, Richard. R, Alice. C(Ed.).(1994). Endangered Species Recovery: Finding the lessons, improving the process. pp.131-155.

Salinero, M.(2004. Dec, 19). Manatees, Others Could Exit Protected List. The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2005. Jan, 26.

fromhttp://web.lexisnexis.com/universe/document?_m=2ae3810bda50dcb725d96b326d547fcd&_docnum=4&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkVA&_md5=48992a81879

Cridlin, J.(2004. Sep, 17). Zones for Manatee Protection Proposed. Company St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2005. Feb, 3.

Fromhttp://web.lexisnexis.com/universe/document?_m=b06427d9b6acb5c5a4f982e7dbf7af5f&_docnum=74&wchp=dGLbVtzzSkVA&_md5=2f6a0591735e013142e65d5dd296cf39

Zones for Manatee Protection Proposed

2005-02-28T22:09:00.000-08:00

In the article, “Zones For Manatee Protection Proposed”, the J. Cridlin introduces that The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is waiting to pass a new rule that parts of Tamps Bay is denominate to manatee protection zones. A lot of manatees die by of people’s boat and the number of watercraft is increasing in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee counties. So, FWC claims that speed of watercraft should be limited 25-mph and this place should be settled idle-speed zone. That is minimum speed to move boat. But boat rental enterprises oppose this rule because it is too restrictive to do well their business. Now both FWC and people who opposed this rule is waiting result of vote.
To begin with, both cons and pros of new rule about protection manatee are reasonable words but environment is more important than profit of boat rental business. I think this controversy is an example about conflict between environmentalists and economists. I agree that economy growth and maintaining livelihood is very important but once the environment is destroyed, it is difficult to recover. Especially, as manatee is endangered animal, we should protect their life.
Moreover, boat rental business can do at other place except manatee protection zone. I believe if the government helps them to fill shortage, their dissatisfaction of damage will be disappeared. Also, they should consider other ways to get profit in order to protect manatee.
Consequently, I believe rules about zones for manatee protection should be adopted for environment and ecosystem. As the speed of boat decrease, the death of manatee could reduce. Therefore, The people who earned living expenses by around the bay like boat rental shop should consider endangered manatee and their ecosystem and protect.

New Evaluation Method May Alter Species status

2005-02-28T22:08:00.000-08:00

In the article, “New Evaluation Method May Alter Species status , Salinero states that there are two opinion about status of endangered manatee and other mammal. The author first introduces the views of scientists with the Florida fish and Wildlife Commission which claim manatee and other animals such as gopher tortoise, peregrine falcon, crawfish have protected but their status may re-evaluate because the number of manatee have increased. On the contrary, U.S. Geological Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service claim manatee populations is urgent on South Atlantic and Southwest Florida coasts due to watercraft collisions. Therefore, there are a discussion on this contention whether is listed to protect manatee and other animals.
To begin with, manatee should be listed by several agency and government. Manatee is primarily endangered and the number of it is now scarce. The force of nature is strong but it has connected in close. Therefore, if there are a little bit change in this environment where has endangered species, they may face a crisis again. For example, manatee population is increase so manatee is not in a list. But if their circumstance is change like going down their food, they will starve and die. Also, many habitat of manatee has become extinct except Florida.
Second, extermination of a stock is responsible to human because most of the problems are made by human. Especially, watercraft collisions occur through human’s carelessness. Therefore, to maintain or protect manatee, agency should add the name in the list about extermination.
Consequently, manatee should be listed in order to protect them because habitat of manatee is so sensitive that it may have easily a bad effect. In addition, people made the problems which menace the right to live. I think that manatee is the object to protect and everybody should make effort.

Manatee in Florida

2005-02-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

I became interested in the endangered manatee in Florida after reading several articles and a book about it. As the manatees are one of the endangered species, they are found year-round throughout the Florida and other places. The manatees inhabit fresh, warm, and salt waters of the Western Atlantic from Florida to Brazil. The problem is that the manatee is an endangered specie. According to FDNR (1994), the manatee mortality has increased dramatically in recent years. There are several reasons for this. One is that most of the deaths of manatee occur by collision with boats. That is related to the economic profit of people like boat rental business. Another reason is perinatal mortality due to cold temperatures, premature births, and other natural factors or human-related causes such as pollution and death of nursing mothers. Finally, habitat degradation that has is occurred endangering the manatee indirectly. That is, coastal development, over exploitation, chemical pollution and epidemic are affected mortality of manatee. The growth of Florida’s human population is a critical threat to the manatee. The endangered manatee is in serious trouble in Florida, and three things, speed limit of boat, strict laws, recovery program, should be done to protect the manatee in Florida.
As the manatee is a large marine mammal, it is streamlined in shape and its weight is averaging 1000 to 1500 pounds. It lives in Crystal River, near the middle of Florida’s West Coast and flows into the Gulf of Mexico, for spring and it move to the Kings Bay for wintertime. Because the manatee thrives in warm water and if the temperature is cold, below 68 degrees F, it would suffer stress and sometimes die. So it tends to go by coastal power plants to looking for warm water. And the manatee eats vegetation and many tiny animals lived in the grasses.
Now the manatee is an endangered species and it is in a crisis to extinct like the dinosaurs. Today, there are less than 2,000 manatees in the United States. The manatee mortality has continually increased. According to FDNR (1994), seven manatees died in 1974 years but its death became two hundreds and six in1990 years and one hundred and forty-five in 1993 years. Especially, about 40% of all manatee deaths are occurred by human activity.
One of the greatest reasons for death is powerboat collision. A lot of manatees die by of people’s boat and the number of watercraft is increasing in Florida. The manatees are hear well so they that are awake are usually scared by the sound of boat, but when manatees sleep, state called “torpor,” they occasionally float to the surface of water for fresh air and suffer an injury from boat. In addition, as people carelessly thrown fishing lines or net into the water, manatee’ fins or tails get tangled with them.
Second reason is causes of perinatal mortality. When mothers had a baby, cold temperatures premature births, and other natural factors are affected the living of the manatee. Also, mothers do not produce many offspring. Although mothers are strongly bonded to their calves, the manatee’s social ties among manatee are very loose. Therefore, more manatees are killed annually than are born.
Third problem is the about degradation of habitat. In the 18th and 19th centuries, humans hunted manatees widely for their meat and tough skin but these days hunting manatee was inhibited. However, in the Caribbean and South America, the manatees are still hunted. And coastal development along rivers has destruct habitat of the manatee. Foods of the manatee such as, estuarine sea grass, has damaged. In addition, chemical pollution of human has injured the immune systems of the manatee as be vulnerable to infection. For example, in 1988, canine distemper killed over 10,000 harbor seals in Sweden and Denmark. The fish that the seals eat has the PCB’s in the water and more fish the seals eat, more susceptible diseases their body accumulates. Moreover, since 1996, over 250 manatees have been found dead in southwestern Florida due to an epidemic. Another death of manatee is caused by exposure to red tide due to increasing pollution in Florida’s coastal water. As the result, development and pollution in coastal areas bring the loss of habitat and loss of the coastal grasses that are the manatee’s food.
The manatee is in serious trouble in Florida and to protect the endangered manatee we need to endeavor of human. First, the speed of boats should reduce to protect collision. So, that would mean setting 25-mph speed limits and instituting idle-speed zones. But developers, which were business like boat rental enterprise in coast are, opposed this rule because it is too restrictive to do well their business. In my opinion, both cons and pros of this rule about speed limit are reasonable words but environment is more important than profit of boat rental business. Once the environment is destroyed, it is difficult to recover. Especially, as the manatee is endangered animal, we have a duty to protect their life. Moreover, boat rental business can do at other place except manatee protection zone. There are a lot of lakes in the United States. I believe the government could aid make up for rental business that could be occurred by law of speed limit. The Florida is a tourist state. Every product, which made in Florida, could add the tax to protect manatee. I think that would be better the both sides environment and developer.
Second, laws should be made and strictly enforced that will protect the endangered manatee in the Florida and other place. There are many laws to protect manatees at present. Since 1970, when anyone harms or kills a manatee, they have imposed $500 fine. And then in 1967 the manatee was listed as an endangered species. In 1978 the State of Florida was assigned a refuge and sanctuary of manatee. However, the manatee still faces the risk of extinction. I agree with that all visitors should educate on proper and legal behavior around the manatees. And manatee should be listed in order to protect them because habitat of manatee is so sensitive that it may have easily a bad effect. According to an article, some agency like The Coastal Conservation Association insists on down listing the manatee is from endangered to threatened. The endangered species mean, “Its species has lost 80 percent of its population in the last 10 years or during its last three generations.” And threatened species identify that its species “has lost 50 percent of its population in the last 10 years” (2004). However, the manatee is still endangered and the number of the manatee is now scarce. Every organism has connected in close ecosystem. Therefore, if a little bit of change in this environment that has endangered species, they may face a crisis again. Many habitats of the manatee have become extinct except in Florida. Also, extermination of a species is human responsibility because humans make most of the problems. Therefore, to maintain or protect the manatees, the Fish and Wildlife Commission should keep the name on the endangered species list.
Third, FWS and Florida state government should activate the recovery program. The recovery program was initiated by FWS in 1976. Its goal is “to restore the Florida manatee as a viable self-sustaining element of its ecosystem.”(Clark, 1994). There are various activities in recovery program. Manatee rescue program is that insured and sick manatees capture by using telemetry equipment and rescue them. And manatee carcass salvage program is that trace the cause of death. Information, which, is collected from each animal, about anatomical, physiological, and life history, is used better understand the biological limitations of species. Also, enforcement activities’ purpose is to enhance community awareness of manatee issues. Habitat protection program is to restore manatee’s habitat degradation by human population in Florida and extensive coastal development. In addition, government conservation program is to understand of the problems facing manatees and to educate people. So these programs about recovery manatee could inform that endangered manatee is a serious problem and should protect it.
Consequently, the manatee in Florida is an endangered specie and it should strongly protect by speed limit of boat, strict laws, and recovery program. Manatee’s habit is slow and like warm water so occurred many accidents to them. Especially, the collision of boat is one of the greatest reasons when manatees have died. Moreover, manatees have a couple of perinatal mortality and mothers do not produce many offspring. Third problem is to degrade habitat by coastal development, human activity, red tide, and chemical pollution. These problems are made trouble more serious and threaten their life. Therefore, we need to make effort to protect the manatee. To begin with, speed of boat should reduce in manatee protection zone. And laws should be made and strictly enforced. The endangered status should maintain continually by Florida state and federal government. Finally, we should know what recovery programs mean and activate it. And then, I believe that the manatees could overcome at the endangered species status.

“Bambi has outgrown the forest, and alternatives for control are elusive, inefficient or unpleasant"

2005-02-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

I have read about an article called “Bambi has outgrown the forest, and alternatives for control are elusive, inefficient or unpleasant,” and I have found that there is a big problem about it and there are also many people concern about the white-tailed deer destiny. In the North East of the U.S especially in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, New York and Massachusetts the white-tailed deer are overwhelming their habitat over these parts of the United States. People have many deer-auto collisions and each year more that 29,000 human injuries and the vehicle repair costs are too high. As a result, there is an enigma about what we should do with the deer and what is the best option for the species. Some of the possible solutions are:
1. Reintroduce natural predators
2. Kill some
3. Immunocontraceptives (birth control)
4. Relocation
5. Combination bait and shoot plans
6. Surgical sterilization

However, those solutions results hard to go over because of many reasons, for example the birth control have limited effectiveness and it includes high costs. The relocation is not an option because it is stressful for the deer. To introduce natural predators, which is where we life, we have to teach people about how to deal with it and study about it too, because people could be killed. About the combination of bait and plants have low public acceptance. The surgical sterilization is expensive.

I think the best solution could be to reintroduce natural predators. I know that is hard and dangerous because there is where we life and where we interact with everything, but we are humans and we should be able to learn about how to deal with predators and how to be away from those areas, or what to do in those cases, we suppose to have the capacity of learn easier than animals. In addition, in order to develop we should use more our brain and cooperate with the alternatives which will define the white-tailed deer destiny.

If you want to know more about deers “clik here” !!!!

By LUCIANA MOTTOLA

New plant for Illinois air pollution

2005-02-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

According to PR Newswire US (2004), The Illinois Clean Coal Review Board gives $2.5 million to Steelhead Energy Company LLC for making new coal gasification plant which can help the Illinois coal industry and the Southern Illinois environment. Steelhead Energy indicates that this new plant will not produce much air pollution and this will be “the cleanest coal-fueled energy facilities in the world.” The new plant is able to use coal made from Illinois that will create “545 MW of electricity and 95 million standard cubic feet per day.” The new plant removes pollutants which are sulfur and mercury before burning coal for generation of electricity. In addition, those wastes, such as sulfur and mercury, can be sold for other uses. This method is cleaner than existent coal power plant. So, environmental organizations like this project. Southern Illinois University organized The Illinois Clean Coal Review Board to consider southern Illinois environment and much coal resources. The Steelhead Energy must reward this project for investors.
I believe that this new power plant can aid with cleaning southern Illinois air pollution because that pollution mostly comes from present coal power plants. Moreover, southern Illinois has a large amount of coal, and that is cheaper than other resources for getting energy. So, this plan is a good solution for keeping clean air, getting energy, and maintaining jobs. However, soil pollution might increase for mining coal, because mined coal makes pollutants, such as mercury. That pollutant might go to ground and flow into rivers and lakes. If this plant succeeds decreasing air pollution, the soil pollution problem will be increasing. We need to think about how to be in safe keeping mined coal on the ground.

by Masaki

Scientists tracking cougar’s eastward migration

2005-02-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

The cougar is a deer hunter and it seeks the simple things. 150 years ago, people tended to eliminate the cougar from the eastern half of the USA. But, 18months ago confirmed populations of the cougar were 21. People have become interested in the cougar right now. In the article, Nielsen is anxious about the fact that the cougar population is increased but its habitat is declined. But, Nielsen said that the cougar is less dangerous than other human activity. The cougar is naturally increasing and scientists want to co-exist with it.
I think that the cougar is a very important animal because it can control the population of deer. In Carbondale, there are too many deer. So people think of solutions to this problem. For example, sometimes we should kill some deer. Or the government could loosen hunting regulations. And there is a way of infertilizing. Then the latter is the most ideal way among these but it is too expensive. And the looser hunting regulations and killing some are so artificial that these may have a harmful effect. But, using the predators is more natural than other ways. The cougar, one of the predators, will help to control the population of deer. Therefore, we should throw away wrong cognition that the cougar is a bad animal to humans. To control population of deer I believe that we should consider using the cougar.

by youjin lee

Deer Damage-Summary Response

2005-02-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

In the article, “Deer Damage : Numbers Climb, Threat Escalates,” from the ILFB website, the author states the population of whitetail deer has risen in Illinois since 30 years ago because of the supplies of good food and warm winters. An increase in population of deer leads to a lot of ‘deer-vehicle accidents’ and spread of disease which could kill the herd of deer. Also, the diseases that come into being because of the overpopulation of deer can threaten human health. In addition, crop damage becomes larger because of the surplus population of wildlife. According to Erickson, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources gives “a nuisance permit to a landowner, allowing the taking of up to 10 deer out of season, as long as it can be proven that there is crop damage”; however, it is “not working as it should”. In addition, “Illinois has no compensation program”.
To begin with, the overpopulation of a specific living thing affects the ecology and human life badly. Studies have shown that the state suffers damage from the overpopulation of deer in Illinois. I think that The Illinois Department of Natural Resources should try to think of the way of decrease the number of deer, for example, by having a day of deer hunting that has restriction to catch a number of deer for each person. Also, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources should think about the compensation program for the farmer who has crop damage because of wildlife. Moreover, the problem of deer population is not only Illinois’ problem. Therefore the government should think about the solution of the overpopulation of deer for the ecology and our life.
http://www.ilfb.org/viewdocument.asp?did=8683&r=0.3996698&r=0.9534113&r=0.6312372

By Ri-Na Park

More species

2005-02-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sorry to interrupt the great movie-posts again!

I realize that cougar and bobcat aren't exactly the same...

this story might be more interesting to the people studying deer, because it shows several things: first, people at SIU are studying the return of the cougar. Second, it's coming back because it has plenty of food and more free space. Third, "the likelihood of a human getting attacked by a cougar here in Illinois is lower than death by vending machine," says the guy...I like that quote!

-Tom Leverett

Environmental project links

2005-02-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

Wow! You are doing well with the movie links! I'm interrupting here to give you the links for a final Core project on an environmental issue in the Carbondale area....just read or listen to one of these, tell us about it, put it on the weblog...

Bobcat in southern Illinois:
http://www.siu.edu/~wildlife/research/Bobcat%20Research/bobcat.html
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/dnr/fur/species/bobcat.html
http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/oi000219.html

Air pollution in southern Illinois (Power plant): http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/ED01276A1CFAF12F86256F96001BB3C0?OpenDocument&Headline=Federal+agency+may+appeal+power+plant+OK

Deer in Carbondale
http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/bambi_forest.htm
http://www.arec.umd.edu/Policycenter/Deer-Management-in-Maryland/marchinton.htm

Use of Public lands (listening available)
http://www.loe.org/ETS/organizations.php3?action=printContentItem&orgid=33&typeID=18&itemID=220&User_Session=3a2ecc5ba5cf641c4a384c990ad45967#feature2

How to lose a guy in ten days (by Youjin)

2005-02-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie genre is romantic comedy, like How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Until the end of this movie I couldn’t stop laughing. Especially the hero and heroine of the movie were very handsome and gorgeous. The movie is about a woman who works in a magazine company. She meets one man for writing article and she deliberately acts strangely in order to lose to him. Also, he makes efforts to keep company with her because he has a bet on her attendance at a party. This movie is a very well expressed psychological description of them. I would like to watch the movie again.

Remember the Titans (by Shasha)

2005-02-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie is Remember the Titans. During winter vacation, I could not move my leg because I hurted my pelvis. so I watched movies all the time. One of those is Remember the Titans. And my favorite actor is Denzel Washington. He is a very excellent actor. I am impressed with the story of the movie. In America so many people love football. The movie shows this. But black man and white man could not live together in 1971. In that situation, a black coach came to a school. He didn't discriminate. He said that he is only a coach. He judged ability of them. Eventually players could be friends with each other. The movie subtitles were very impressive,too. I love this movie so much.

The Children of Heaven (Phoebe)

2005-02-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

The Children of Heaven

My favorite movie is "The Children of Heaven", which is an Iranian movie.
This movie started with the scene that one boy went to shoe repair shop to mend his sister's shoes. But he lost it and from that time he and his sister started to share his shoes, because they knew their parents were poor and could not afford to buy new one. His sister was in morning class and he was in afternoon class, so she had to run fast in order to return the shoes to her brother. Although she did her best to run, her brother was always late and couldn't help avoiding his teacher's scolding.

One day, the sister found the girl who wore her shoes and ran after the girl with her brother. But they realized the girl's father was blind and her family was much poorer than them, so they decided to give up the shoes.

A few days later, the brother found a poster that said there would be a marathon and the third prize was a pair of shoes. He took part in the marathon and tried to be the third to get the shoes. Even though he could win first place, he let two people go before him.

In the end, however, he won first place and he cried, because he couldn't get the shoes. This part was my favorite. How cute he is!

The last scene is that their father bought two pairs of new shoes and came back to home.

Back to the future

2005-02-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

by JUNKI

Marty is a teenager who likes rock’n roll and a skate board. His friend Dr. Brown, a wacky scientist, invents the time machine. The time machine needs Plutonium fuel to work. So Dr. Brown gets the fuel from terrorists, he promises making nuclear weapons for them. When Dr. Brown tries to time-travel, the terrorists kill him and Marty uses the time machine and escapes. He goes back 1955, when his parents first met. He has to back to the future, but the fuel is low. So he finds Dr. Brown living and talks about the fuel. Because they can’t get Plutonium, they find the other way. It was an electric. By the way, Marty meets his father when he is observing his mother over the tree. His father falls down from the tree at the same time a car run to his father. Marty saves his father, and he is dumped with the car instead of his father. The driver was Marty’s grandfather (his mother’s father). Grandpa takes Marty into his house. And then Marty meets his mother, Lorraine at home. She become interested in Marty and fall in love. She loves Marty instead of George, so future is confused. Marty should make them fall in love. Marty’s father, George is stupid and only interested in SF such as U.F.O. Marty fails to make George date with Lorraine because she loves Marty so much. Finally Marty suggest going to the dancing party. By the way, Biff comes to them. He is outlaw. He tries to rape Lorraine. At that time, George come and save her. Future is changed. George becomes brave and confident. And Marty back to the future safely… I had fun after watching this movie. I tried to thought that my future can be changed.

Amelie of Montmarte

2005-02-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

Han, Hyo JU

I want to introduce to you is my favorite movie, “Amelie of Montmarte”. It is a romantic comedy. The main actress is Audrey Tautou and the main actor is Mathieu Kassovitz. It’s a love story. The main characters are good at picturing to themselves. In the movie, people or animals are in the picture and they talk to each other. The woman wants to be a kind person, helping other people with unhappy lives, because she is so happy when she helps the old man but he doesn't know. So she does something for others. But nobody knows except the painter in the neighborhood. At first she's happy because helping people makes her happy. But as time passes, she feels that she isn't helping herself. So she is sad about herself. She finds a man who she will love. She doesn't know him, even doesn't see his face. But she believes that he is the only man for her. He has sweet smile and is an unidentified man. She fears to fall in love with him. The man tries to find her. It breaks her fear and he makes her happy. The neat and sweet story, all kinds of photographing technique and beautiful scene match well. So I love this movie.

Billy Eliot (Maria)

2005-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

This movie is about a boy who wants to be a ballet dancer. His name is Billy Eliot and his family is working class in England. To make him strong, his father tries to teach him boxing, but Billy is interested in the Ballet class which is held next to the boxing class. A ballet teacher recognizes his talent for dance and starts to train him. This movie says if we don't lose our dream, it can come true. And one of the most enjoyable things in it is watching Billy's lively and amazing dance.

Matrix I ( Jun Hui, Min)

2005-02-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie is Matrix I. I like this movie about its technique the movie showed. And I also liked about its themes such as making a choice, love, and faith. In that movie, there are two worlds. One is the world in which Matrix(whchi is Machine) control human beings. In this world, people can enjoy the normal life. but the other is the world in which human beings suffer from reality. People in this life are in danger because they have to fight against Matrix. In the movie, there are lots of fightings using special effects. One of the scene I liked was when Neo,main character,could avoid the bullit that Matrix shoot because Neo was faster than the bullit. The special effects made the movie more exciting and fun. After lots of fighting, Neo met a critical situation. Actually he got shoot by Matrix and fell down. It seemed he died. At that moment, Trinity, who was the main actress, kissed Neo. And He got returned to life again by "power of love", I guess. And Neo became very stronger because he had a faith in himself. Finally, he could destroy Matrix. I didn't like Scient Fiction movies before because they were too unrealistic. But Matrix changed my type of movie because of the reasons that I mentioned.

Junhui, Min

my favorite movie (BK) - Truman Show-

2005-02-09T08:43:00.001-08:00

This movie is famous for surprising story I saw this movie 6years ago.
at that time, I thought about privacy of humans and human rights because
of whatching this movie.

The life of Truman Burbank has been broadcast around world since the day
he was born. A star for the mere fact that he exists.
Truman has no idea that tere are cameras in every corner of his world.
finally he knows about his circumstance and tries to escape from his fake life

Castaway

2005-02-08T21:47:00.000-08:00

Masaki Kitagawa
EAP2

My best favorite movie is a “Castaway,” and the main actor is Tom Hanks. He worked in a FedEx and his work was so busy everyday. When he was flying for his business, his airplane crashed near an uninhabited island. Then, he tried to live alone on the island. At first, he thought that someone would help him soon, but nobody came. He spent a lot of time for searching food. His everyday life was boring, because he had nothing to do. After surviving, he notices that life is an empty dream. This movie tells me about human’s view of life. So, I have a good chance for thinking about what is important for the human life. And the movie is a good practice for making progress with my English. I strongly recommend it.

Blind Faith

2005-02-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

EAP2-SELENA<8/Feb/2005>NOVEL /FILM CLASS
Name of the movie: Blind Faith
Director: Ernest Dickerson
Time, location: Bronx, 1957
Actors in the movie: Charles, Carol, John, Anna, Charly William
Plot : This is a sad story about a society where all men “were” far from equal.
An Africa-American student sacrificed his life to keep his secret .Who did he try to protect? What kind of the secret let the alleged murderer be sentenced the death penalty and not defend himself at all? His uncle who was an attorney and the best at criminal law was trying to save his nephew because he found out the big secret at the end.
The Africa –American student ENDED his life in the prison and left a touching letter to his family. The letter revealed the student’s struggling story in 1957.

American Sweethearts-my favorite movie

2005-02-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

The story is about two movie stars: the guy, played by John Cusack, is desperately in love with the girl, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. She, however, doesn't want anything to do with him. Then there's the sweet sister of the girl movie star. This is Julia Roberts, and she happens to be in love with John Cusack.The really fun part of the film, however, is Christopher Walken, who happens to make every role memorable.
By RiNa

My favorite movie

2005-02-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie is "The Mask" by Jim Carey. I like Jim Carey's humor in the movie. What is most interesting to me in this movie is how the actor can have an extra power by wearing a mask. This mask was not a normal mask but a special mask which has extra power.

There is a strong belief about mask in Africa. Masks are closely considered with statue. Statue too has an extra power in African belief. "Afo Akom" is an example of a statue which has been sent from Cameroon to USA museum. The "Afo Akom" distroyed a lot of art which was in the museum. Due to this destruction, "Afo Akom" was sent back to its home town in Bamenda, Cameroon.

My favorite movie - Flapping the Tae kuk ki (Young)

2005-02-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

This movie is about two brothers’ brotherly affection during the Korea war. The brothers were poor, but they were very happy because they had each other. However, the Korea war broke out. The older brother was drafted. The younger one wasn’t drafted, but he rode a train to find his brother. And they were sent to the battles. At the battles, the older brother sometimes did very dangerous missions to send his brother back home. One day, the older brother thought his brother was dead because of the commander of South Korea. So he was crazy and surrendered to North Korea and became a commander of North Korea. The younger brother went to the battle fields again to find his brother. They eventually found each other, but the older brother couldn’t recognize the younger brother because he was very crazy and despondent. Suddenly, the older one was able to recognize his brother. But they had to part from each other because the battle was going on. They promised that they would meet each other soon. But, now 2005, they still haven’t found each other.

Future of corals is going down the pan

2005-01-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

Masaki Kitagawa
EAP2 WW
01/28/05

According to Schrope in “Future of corals is going to down the pan,” Florida’s corals suffer from a pollutant which is human waste. In Florida, there is the “third largest barrier reef” on the earth. However, a lot of corals are dying from bacteria and viruses. Those causes are from human waste. Over the past five years ago, half a number of corals have dead. Many people argue about what the main problem of dying corals is, but they cannot identify a main cause. Some people insist that the specific reason for the corals dying cannot find. But, the author believes that reason for the corals dying is sewage from human life. In fact, it is a fact that “over 24,000 septic tanks and up to 10,000 illegal cesspools,” and sewage go in to Florida’s sea. However, many politicians do not accept making the “centralised sewage system,” and they say that it is too expensive to do this.

I agree, with what the author points out, that the reason Florida’s coral is dying, is sewage from human’s everyday life. We should think about our waste management and Florida’s government must promote the “centralised sewage system.” At first, we need to notice that our stool and urine are dangerous substance for corals. Perhaps, we think that the reason for dying coral is pollutant from factory or farm. However, our sewage is a pollutant. Our life cannot avoid evacuation, but we can think about how to take better care of our drainage. For example, when we wash dishes, we should wipe dirty dishes before run water. If we do not throw oil and dirty water from a drain, Florida’s sea water would be cleaner.

In addition, Florida’s government has to make the “centralised sewage system,” because there are a lot of illegal cesspools in Florida. Those cesspools may overflow and run in to the river. If all Florida’s sewage disposal system was perfect, coral would not need to die. So, we really need the “centralised sewage system.” We should use the money for a protection in the environment, because this means the investment for our future. For example, if Florida’s coral die out and Florida’s sea is dirtier than now, Florida loses a lot of tourists. In fact, making the “centralised sewage system” is too expensive, but Florida’s government should do make it.

In conclusion, Florida’s coral is facing extinction by dirty water from human life. I think we have to consider our environment, first. Moreover, government should support the “centralised sewage system,” I believe this method can save corals, and can help recover Florida’s coral. So, we ought to think again for our future.

Reference:
Schrope, Mark. (2002, Aug 10). Future of corals is going down the pan. New Scientist 175, 2355, p.11. Retrieved from EBSCO, Academic Search Premier Database, Jun. 26, 2005.

Hurricanes Cap off Bad Year for Turtles

2005-01-31T09:49:00.000-08:00

EAP2ww051
Ri-Na Park
Final Draft
summary-response(1)

In the article, “Hurricanes Cap off Bad Year for Turtles,” from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the author mentions that half of ‘sea turtle nests’ were destroyed by summer hurricanes in Florida in 2004. Moreover, the author says that the number of turtle’s nests is decreasing between 36 percent and 38 percent in the USA country every year, and also this happening in Florida. According to Mote Marine Laboratory sea turtle research in Florida, a cause of the decreasing of the sea turtle was the weather in 2004. However, there are also other problems such as the quality of the water, tide embankments, ‘other man-made structures’, fishermen killing them carelessly, and people stealing their eggs from their nests.
To begin with, now a lot of species are placed in a crisis of extermination because of environment problems. This study says that the number of turtles is decreasing every year because the temperature of the water is getting warmer and people eat the eggs of turtle, the construction of building near sea and the carelessness of people.
The decline of turtles is mainly caused by of environmental problems and humans. For example, when people are at the beach, they throw away a lot of trash. Also, people construct buildings in the sea. For these reasons there are no longer homes for the turtles. In addition, people eat turtles. On the other hand, Hurricanes are not the main reason. Because hurricanes always happen annually. Therefore, we should think about the way to preserve turtles, so as not to make them to become extinct.
Consequently, if the turtles become extinct, it will affect the ecosystem. Therefore, if the ecosystem is destroyed, people will have some troubles from this. In my opinion, we need to try to preserve the ecosystem before we get into trouble.

Reference
Bayles, T. (2004, Nov 25), Hurricanes cap off bad year for turtles, retrieved January 27, 2005 from http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=c10f1365d558fb63d2cf0c001746bd7e&_docnum=11&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkVA&_md5=3966ee26f2f2200b5728b8fed39a8f3c

EAP2 Novel/Film class

2005-01-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is the place where you can write something about your favorite movie or, if you prefer, your favorite actor or actress. You can also choose to write about your favorite book, or you can write about the upcoming Academy Awards. This year Leonardo di Caprio has been nominated as best actor for his role in Aviator. I haven't seen that yet, but I hope to.

By the way, I have three favorite movies that I can think of off the top of my head: Jules and Jim, a French movie; Moonstruck, with Cher and Nicholas Cage; and Life Is Beautiful, with Roberto Begnini. I also love Il Postino, come to think of it!

I look forward to reading about your favorites!

Lynne Davis

051 begins!

2005-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is your place to write about your movie, Big Fish, or whatever you want!
Have a good term!

Shalaigh has left us for somewhere we don't know....I hope you contact us and tell us where you are! You know the password!

Welcome!

2005-01-24T19:37:00.000-08:00