Constructing a life table is a simple method for keeping track of births, deaths, and reproductive output in a population of interest. Basically, there are three methods of constructing such a table: 1) the cohort life table follows a group of same-aged individuals from birth (or fertilized eggs) throughout their lives, 2) a static life table is made from data collected from all ages at one particular time-it assumes the age distribution is stable from generation to generation, and 3) a life table can be made from mortality data collected from a specifed time period and also assumes a stable age distribution. An important sidenote to remember about population life tables is that for organisms that have seperate sexes, life tables frequently follow only female individuals.~I've included a link below that shows an age-dependent life-table that is well organized and easy to follow! http://home.comcast.net/~sharov/PopEcol/lec6/agedep.html
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Making biodiesel and bioethenal
Making biodiesel fuel:
Biodiesel is basically diesel fuel that you can make yourself. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, renewable, and it will work in any diesel engine without any engine modifications. You make Biodiesel out of animal or vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, or used restaurant fryer grease.Many can make their own biodiesel fuel for $1 per gallon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL-M2IzYGuU
This video gives helpful step by step instructions about how to make biodiesel at home!
Making bioethanol fuel:
Lots of people make a fuss about how ethanol costs more per gallon and is less efficient to produce than gasoline. One thing is certain: Ethanol production does have a lot of variables: everything from the feedstock (bio-material required to make ethanol fuel), all the way to the equipment used to distill it. One way you can control both of these variables, however, is to make your own ethanol.
Making your own ethanol can be fun, cost-effective and better for the environment. There are many positives to making your own bioethenal. Your engine will run cleaner and there will be a reduction in the amount of toxic emissions that burning gasoline produces. It's a relatively simple process: All you need is some form of feedstock, a way to ferment it and a way to distill it. Basically that's it. Of course, there's also a certain level of danger involved in producing your own ethanol as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmFwSogNAEc
This video discusses how to make bioethanol!
Biodiesel is basically diesel fuel that you can make yourself. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, renewable, and it will work in any diesel engine without any engine modifications. You make Biodiesel out of animal or vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, or used restaurant fryer grease.Many can make their own biodiesel fuel for $1 per gallon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL-M2IzYGuU
This video gives helpful step by step instructions about how to make biodiesel at home!
Making bioethanol fuel:
Lots of people make a fuss about how ethanol costs more per gallon and is less efficient to produce than gasoline. One thing is certain: Ethanol production does have a lot of variables: everything from the feedstock (bio-material required to make ethanol fuel), all the way to the equipment used to distill it. One way you can control both of these variables, however, is to make your own ethanol.
Making your own ethanol can be fun, cost-effective and better for the environment. There are many positives to making your own bioethenal. Your engine will run cleaner and there will be a reduction in the amount of toxic emissions that burning gasoline produces. It's a relatively simple process: All you need is some form of feedstock, a way to ferment it and a way to distill it. Basically that's it. Of course, there's also a certain level of danger involved in producing your own ethanol as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmFwSogNAEc
This video discusses how to make bioethanol!
Mitochondrial Eve
In 1987, a group of geneticists examined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) taken from 147 people across all of today's major racial groups. These researchers found that the lineage of all people alive today falls on one of two branches in humanity's family tree. One of these branches consists of nothing but African lineage, the other contains all other groups, including some African lineage.
Even more impressive, the geneticists concluded that every person on Earth right now can trace his or her lineage back to a single common female ancestor who lived around 200,000 years ago. Because one entire branch of human lineage is of African origin and the other contains African lineage as well, the study's authors concluded Africa is the place where this woman lived. The scientists named this common female ancestor Mitochondrial Eve.
Even more impressive, the geneticists concluded that every person on Earth right now can trace his or her lineage back to a single common female ancestor who lived around 200,000 years ago. Because one entire branch of human lineage is of African origin and the other contains African lineage as well, the study's authors concluded Africa is the place where this woman lived. The scientists named this common female ancestor Mitochondrial Eve.
Amphioxus
Amphioxus is a noun for a small translucent lancet-shaped burrowing marine animal; primitive forerunner of the vertebrates.
Amphioxus are usually found buried in sand in shallow parts of termperate or tropical seas . In Asia, they are harvested commercially as food for humans and domesticated animals . They are an important object of study in zoology as they provide indications about the origins of the vertebrates.. Lancelets serve as an intriguing comparison point for tracing how vertebrates have evolved and adapted. Although they supposedly split from vertebrates more than 520 million years ago, their genomes hold clues about evolution, particularly how vertebrates have employed old genes for new functions.
Macon Dog Park
Darwin's Dilemma
“Darwin’s dilemma” refers to Charles Darwin’s bafflement that the fossil record contradicted what his theory of evolution predicted. In his classic book On the Origin of Species, Darwin declared that if his theory of evolution were true “it is indisputable that before the lowest Cambrian stratum was deposited… the world swarmed with living creatures.” Yet Darwin admitted that the fossil record below the Cambrian strata seemed to be deprived of such creatures. Instead “species belonging to several of the main divisions of the animal kingdom suddenly appear in the lowest known fossiliferous rocks”—without any evidence of prior ancestral forms. Darwin frankly acknowledged that this lack of ancestral forms was “a valid argument” against his theory. But he hoped that time—and more research—would provide the evidence that was lacking. Researches now acknowledge how Darwin’s dilemma has been aggravated—not resolved—by the last century of fossil discoveries, starting with the strange and wonderful creatures uncovered a century ago in the Burgess shale in British Columbia, Canada.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Hitchiti Experimental Forest
The Hitchiti Experimental Forest occupies 4,735 acres of land in Jones County, Georgia about 18 miles northeast of Macon. It lies on the east bank of the Ocmulgee River in the lower piedmont. The areas first known inhabitants were the Hitchiti Indians. In 1946 the Federal Government established the Hitchiti Experimental Forest that now makes up the Brender Demonstration Forest. Today the Forest is an active research facility of the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station.
We saw lots of diverse vegetation on our hike including Wild Ginger and Sassafras!
Wild Ginger!
Sassafras!
Piedmont Region
The Georgia Piedmont lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Upper Coastal Plain. It is part of a larger area,
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Geologists continue to study the origins of the rocks in the Piedmont province.The area is large and includes rocks ranging widely in age. The dynamic changes over time in this area are complex, but research has revealed the broad patterns of origin and development and specific structures in zones of special interest. The plateau of the Piedmont region has been formed largely on the edges of steeply upturned and altered rocks. Topographically, the Piedmont is made up of low hills and narrow valleys. The worn-down rocks of the Piedmont region pass below the sedimentary rocks of the Atlantic Coastal Plain for more than 150 miles from the fall line.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lake Blog
Lake Nottely is where I go to the lake back home in the North Georgia Mountains of Blairsville, Georgia. It is 4,180 acres in size with a shore line of 106 miles. Construction on the lake began on July 17, 1941 and was completed on January 14, 1942. Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Bass and Crappie, just to name a few of many, can all be found in Lake Nottely.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sunflower Progress
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Blood Sugar Graph (Negative Feedback Loop)
Blood Sugar
After the ingestion of a carbohydrate rich meal, blood glucose levels increase rapidly. Once the body detects these elevated blood glucose levels it releases insulin. Blood glucose levels peak and then fall off and insulin does the same, however insulin levels peak later than blood glucose. Once blood glucose levels reach normal again, it takes insulin a little bit longer to reach normal again. It is this lag time in normalization of insulin levels which gives us those sugar cravings after carbohydrate rich meals.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Leaf litter Decomposition (Ocmulgee Indian Moud Lab)
Explanation of the Decomposition of Leaf litter
Decomposition of leaf litter is a major source of nutrients in forest ecosystems. As leaves are broken down by insect and microbial decomposers, organically-bound nutrients are released as free ions to the soil solution which are then available for uptake by plants.
In most forests the major source of nutrients for trees is the process of decomposition. Decomposition refers to the processes that convert dead organic matter into smaller and simpler compounds. The products of complete decomposition are carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic ions (like ammonium or nitrate). Decomposition is mainly a biological process carried out by insects, worms, bacteria, and fungi both on the soil surface and in the soil.
Decomposition of leaf litter is a major source of nutrients in forest ecosystems. As leaves are broken down by insect and microbial decomposers, organically-bound nutrients are released as free ions to the soil solution which are then available for uptake by plants.
In most forests the major source of nutrients for trees is the process of decomposition. Decomposition refers to the processes that convert dead organic matter into smaller and simpler compounds. The products of complete decomposition are carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic ions (like ammonium or nitrate). Decomposition is mainly a biological process carried out by insects, worms, bacteria, and fungi both on the soil surface and in the soil.
The rate of decomposition is influenced by many factors. Because decomposition is a biological process carried out primarily by bacteria and fungi, its speed will be affected by temperature and soil moisture. Generally decomposition increases exponentially with temperature.
Decomposition is inhibited in very dry soils because bacteria and fungi dry out. Decomposition is very slow in wet soils because anaerobic conditions develop in saturated soils. Anaerobic decomposition is less efficient than aerobic and as a result is slower. Decomposition proceeds fastest at intermediate water contents.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Community Gardens
A community garden is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. In this week's lab we got to visit the community garden at Centenary United Methodist Church. Mark Vanderhook talked with us about the garden's importance and purpose. There are many advantages of community gardens. A few of these advantages are listed below:
1.) Community gardens gives gardening space to those who live in apartments, have yards that are not garden friendly or live in cities.
2.) These gardens create friendships and build community spirit.Garden tips and advice can be shared by gardeners that will benefit in the raising of crops.
3.) Gardeners often share their crops that they have more produce than they can use.
4.) With the high cost of gasoline communities can help out by raising their own crops without the use of large machinery.
5.) Gardening is environmentally friendly and with people raising more crops and plants it helps balance out the negative effects of population and pollution.
6.) Most community gardens encourage organic growing methods. This is better for the environment and the food that is produced is healthier for humans and animals.
It was also very interesting to learn about how harmful and prevalent lead contamination is in urban soil and the effect it has on gardens. I have attached a link below that includes an article explaining one farmer's difficulty with lead contamination in the soil.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/garden/14lead.html?pagewanted=all
1.) Community gardens gives gardening space to those who live in apartments, have yards that are not garden friendly or live in cities.
2.) These gardens create friendships and build community spirit.Garden tips and advice can be shared by gardeners that will benefit in the raising of crops.
3.) Gardeners often share their crops that they have more produce than they can use.
4.) With the high cost of gasoline communities can help out by raising their own crops without the use of large machinery.
5.) Gardening is environmentally friendly and with people raising more crops and plants it helps balance out the negative effects of population and pollution.
6.) Most community gardens encourage organic growing methods. This is better for the environment and the food that is produced is healthier for humans and animals.
It was also very interesting to learn about how harmful and prevalent lead contamination is in urban soil and the effect it has on gardens. I have attached a link below that includes an article explaining one farmer's difficulty with lead contamination in the soil.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/garden/14lead.html?pagewanted=all
Soil Type: Andisols
Andisols are soils that have formed in volcanic ash. They differ from those of other orders in that they typically are dominated by glass and short-range-order colloidal weathering products such as allophane, imogolite, and ferrihydrite. Globally, Andisols are the least extensive soil order and only account for ~1% of the ice-free land area. They occupy ~1.7% of the US land area, including some very productive forests in the Pacific Northwest region. Below is a map of andisols eight suborder's distribution in the U.S.
I have also included a link to an article below which is about infiltration rate in andisols and the effect of changes in vegetation cover.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Plant Analysis Lab
Shrubs:
#1.) Lorapetalum: a genus of 3 species of shrub in the witch-hazel family.
http://deliveryshrubs.com/PLANTIMAGES/1620649135-1ac8ffce-d8b1-4acd-9fed-3b15aca72a9cLoropetalum.jpg
#2.) Angel Trumpets: large shrubs in the genus Brugsmansia. There are seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae.
http://www.2020garysplace.com/images/white_angel_trumpet.jpg
#3.) Azalea: a flowering shrub of the genus Rhododendron.
http://hawcreekoutdoors.com/Arkansas/garvan_woodland_gardens/azaleas.jpg
#4.) Holly: in the genus Ilex of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae.
http://www.virginiagarden.com/holly/shrub.jpg
#5.) Onion: the most widely cultivated species, which is A. cepa, of the genus allium.
http://www.nathankramer.com/garden/plants/herbs/winter_onions_2004.JPG
Trees:
#1.) Juniper: coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae.
http://fwpiis.mt.gov/content/3163,0,0.jpg
#2.) Willow Oak: a deciduous tree in the genus Quercus, species phellos, in the red oak group of oaks.
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/ekosal/arboretum/images/willow_oak.jpg
#3.) Crape Myrtle: in the genus Lagerstroemia. There are around fifty species of deciduous and evergreen.
http://www.anythinggreen.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/600x600/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/r/crape-myrtle-natchez-white.jpg
#4.) Magnolia: is a large genus (Magnolia) of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/magnolia_tree.jpg
#5.) Dogwood: in the genus Cornus which is a group of about 30-60 species.
http://www.rlrouse.com/pic-of-the-day/dogwood.jpg
Plants:
#1.) Zinnia: a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae.Zinnia elegans is the most familiar species.
http://prairiegardens.ca/images/PlantPhotos/Annuals/ZnMx1.jpg
#2.) Monkey Grass: in the genus Ophiopogon and species japonicus, it is an evergreen plant native to Japan.
http://www.monkeygrass.net/wp-content/uploads/monkey-grass-1.jpg
#3.) Chrysanthemums are of the genus Chrysanthemum constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
http://flikieapp02.appspot.com/4e136adfc54a4e9e97e062a554384d10.jpg
#4.) Daisy: in the genus Aster, comprises the largest family of vascular.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/daisy.jpg
#5.) Elephant Ear: Xanthosomia is a genus of about 50 species of tropical and sub-tropical arums in the flowering plant family, Araceae.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/xanthosoma_sagittifolium.jpg
#1.) Lorapetalum: a genus of 3 species of shrub in the witch-hazel family.
http://deliveryshrubs.com/PLANTIMAGES/1620649135-1ac8ffce-d8b1-4acd-9fed-3b15aca72a9cLoropetalum.jpg
#2.) Angel Trumpets: large shrubs in the genus Brugsmansia. There are seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae.
http://www.2020garysplace.com/images/white_angel_trumpet.jpg
#3.) Azalea: a flowering shrub of the genus Rhododendron.
http://hawcreekoutdoors.com/Arkansas/garvan_woodland_gardens/azaleas.jpg
#4.) Holly: in the genus Ilex of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae.
http://www.virginiagarden.com/holly/shrub.jpg
#5.) Onion: the most widely cultivated species, which is A. cepa, of the genus allium.
http://www.nathankramer.com/garden/plants/herbs/winter_onions_2004.JPG
Trees:
#1.) Juniper: coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae.
http://fwpiis.mt.gov/content/3163,0,0.jpg
#2.) Willow Oak: a deciduous tree in the genus Quercus, species phellos, in the red oak group of oaks.
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/ekosal/arboretum/images/willow_oak.jpg
#3.) Crape Myrtle: in the genus Lagerstroemia. There are around fifty species of deciduous and evergreen.
http://www.anythinggreen.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/600x600/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/r/crape-myrtle-natchez-white.jpg
#4.) Magnolia: is a large genus (Magnolia) of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/magnolia_tree.jpg
#5.) Dogwood: in the genus Cornus which is a group of about 30-60 species.
http://www.rlrouse.com/pic-of-the-day/dogwood.jpg
Plants:
#1.) Zinnia: a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae.Zinnia elegans is the most familiar species.
http://prairiegardens.ca/images/PlantPhotos/Annuals/ZnMx1.jpg
#2.) Monkey Grass: in the genus Ophiopogon and species japonicus, it is an evergreen plant native to Japan.
http://www.monkeygrass.net/wp-content/uploads/monkey-grass-1.jpg
#3.) Chrysanthemums are of the genus Chrysanthemum constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
http://flikieapp02.appspot.com/4e136adfc54a4e9e97e062a554384d10.jpg
#4.) Daisy: in the genus Aster, comprises the largest family of vascular.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/daisy.jpg
#5.) Elephant Ear: Xanthosomia is a genus of about 50 species of tropical and sub-tropical arums in the flowering plant family, Araceae.
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/xanthosoma_sagittifolium.jpg
Monday, September 5, 2011
Map Types
The first map I found was an Isarithmic Map which showed the average precipitaion in of Idaho!
#1. Isarithmic Map: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OxAI4iF-bhURp5KtqW_kjMu8kg1KcNpJudgucq3FwhzFdaVuo9tU1f-tLHzaKX_yhsnDEZOuanJCjWq5ouFc22-Y_gXhEqXCSWR3uLACg05sXxscwx74N9VghMHjSaTOWngJN6pligjg/s320/Lab5_Part2_kyle_seigley.jpg
The second map I found was a Dot Density Map which shows San Bernardino's Population Density in the year 2004.
#2. Dot Density Map:
http://blogs.esri.com/Support/photos/mapping_center_apr_2008/images/600/621x480.aspx
The third map I found was a Choropleth Map which showed the estimated median household income in the year 2008.
#3. Choropleth Map:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERf3edJzIWhiBdZOxOau_R81pV-Dr2O4A6m6MiExABO-EJC5-7ruUuUTKBh0_x1Mig9eavWaIRfSJhlM8dU_zK7fpQNb4mZeZeeVgSbxmJ8a_zaKpTdk6G4RzD2JN0-7KOwyhGnD8hOQz/s1600/Map.jpg
#1. Isarithmic Map: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OxAI4iF-bhURp5KtqW_kjMu8kg1KcNpJudgucq3FwhzFdaVuo9tU1f-tLHzaKX_yhsnDEZOuanJCjWq5ouFc22-Y_gXhEqXCSWR3uLACg05sXxscwx74N9VghMHjSaTOWngJN6pligjg/s320/Lab5_Part2_kyle_seigley.jpg
The second map I found was a Dot Density Map which shows San Bernardino's Population Density in the year 2004.
#2. Dot Density Map:
http://blogs.esri.com/Support/photos/mapping_center_apr_2008/images/600/621x480.aspx
The third map I found was a Choropleth Map which showed the estimated median household income in the year 2008.
#3. Choropleth Map:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERf3edJzIWhiBdZOxOau_R81pV-Dr2O4A6m6MiExABO-EJC5-7ruUuUTKBh0_x1Mig9eavWaIRfSJhlM8dU_zK7fpQNb4mZeZeeVgSbxmJ8a_zaKpTdk6G4RzD2JN0-7KOwyhGnD8hOQz/s1600/Map.jpg
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Favorite Animal
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQITCeBjF8R6hzhojKeefG8vvXYZKmnl7L55glyY7KyRRaw5b7DTKCQhbSrbb15gZYU37h3nSqSWYz75Jfq42HOPdYaBR-72FCyjUofUO_RlE8fIrZILvTVSCZGVnLwAAJNVtOobEMw4/s1600/Adelie-Penguin-Animal-wallpaper.jpg
My favorite animal is the penguin! This flightless bird is so unique and completely ADORABLE! I have always been obsessed with penguins...I mean who wouldn't be after watching this video of a king penguin in Japan...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xs9mFKObs
My favorite animal is the penguin! This flightless bird is so unique and completely ADORABLE! I have always been obsessed with penguins...I mean who wouldn't be after watching this video of a king penguin in Japan...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xs9mFKObs
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