Mini-Project #6. Darwin's Evolution Theory.

What is Evolution? "Evolution is a change in the gene pool of a population over time .A gene is a hereditary unit that can be passed on unaltered for many generations. The gene pool is the set of all genes in a species or population".

The theory evolution by means of natural selection (which was Charles Darwin's theory) has been shown to be the best explanation for the path evolution has taken life. The hypotesis of how natural selection works are frenquently modified and challenged as we learn more every day of our world.

Dawin's theory is called the theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin's theory of natural selection was based in different things. First, that organisms increase more rapidly than their food supply. Due to limited resources, all life forms struggle to survive, but only the superior ones survive. Those individuals that possess some characteristic that is useful in adapting to the environment increase their chances of survival, and produce more offspring with the favorable characteristic and pass them to the next generations

Mini-Project #5. What is the closets Superfound Site to your home?

According to the EPA website the closet Superfound site in my area is Jacksonville

"Jax Ash Cleanup, Jacksonville, FloridaEPA Region 4 successfully negotiated a complex Consent Decree with the City of Jacksonville for the cleanup of the Jacksonville Ash/Brown’s Dump Superfund Sites in 2007. This settlement entails approximately $100 million in Remedial Design/Remedial Action, one of the largest settlements in the history of Region 4, and will address more than 1.6 million cubic yards of contaminated soil located in four neighborhoods in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The remedy will provide for the removal or isolation of contaminated soil and address concerns about both public health and property values for thousands of residents in low-income environmental justice neighborhoods." (http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf/index.htm)

Mini-Project #4. List of genetically altered foods that are on sale for the public consumption

-Eggo Frozen Waffles (Kellogg's)
-Nesquick Straberry (Nestle)
-Heinz Ketchup
-Wheat thing Ritz (Nabisco)
-Chicken Parmagiana (Healthy Choice)
-Energy Bars: Oatmeal raisin, Apple cinamon
-Capri Sun juices
-Gatorate
-Ocean Spray
-Ragu Sauces (Lipton/Unilever)

Mini-Project #3: List of endangered animals in Cuba

Bee Hummingbird (Calypte helenae)
This bird is the world's smallest bird species.
This bird grows to a maximum length of 2.25 in.
This species is an endemic bird species of Cuba.
The Cuban Hummingbird has been labeled as threatened since 2000 due to loss of habitat.
This species is usually found in forests, gardens, and valleys.

Cuban Ground Iguana (Cyclura nubila)
This species of iguana is listed as vulnerable in Cuba.
It can be commonly found on the U.S. Naval base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cunbanus)
The Solenodon is endangered and was once thought to be extinct.
This species is an insectivore and feeds mostly on insects and spiders.
The Cuban Solenodon is found mostly in forests and thick shrub habitats.
This is a nocturnal species, spending the day hiding under rocks or in trees

Cuban Crocodile (Crocodilius rhombifer)
This crocodile can grow to be up to 4.9m in length
This species is endangered due to the loss of its habitat. It currently has the smallest wild habitat area of any crocodile and will only swim in fresh water habitats.
Cuban crocodiles feed on fish, turtles, and small mammals.
The crocodile was hunted for its skin and meat in the past. However, it has been protected as an endangered species since 1996.

Monte Iberia Dwarf Eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia)
This endangered species is endemic to Cuba.
It is primarily nocturnal, finding cover during the day and moving about at night.
This species is extremely small (as seen in the picture) and is the smallest of its genus

Cuban Kite (Chondrohierax wilsoni)
The Cuban Kite is a critically endangered species due to habitat loss.
It was once thought extinct, but 3 birds were recently found in eastern Cuba.
The Cuban Kite's habitat is heavily forested land.
This species is thought to feed mostly on snails.

Cuban Parakeet (Aratinga euops)
This species is endemic to Cuba.
This bird has been labeled as vulnerable since 2000 due to habitat loss and trapping.

Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus)
This species of bird is known as Cuba's national bird becuase its coloration is the same as the Cuban Flag.

Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides)
The Cuban Hutia is the largest endemic land mammal of Cuba.
It can grow to be about 60 cm in length.
This rodent lives in the forests and rocky areas of Cuba.
This animal is an omnivore and is known to eat fruits, leaves, small reptiles, and small mammals.
Many other Hutia species are critically endangered on the island of Cuba.

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Mini-Project #2: Carbon Cycle

Mini-Project #1. Environmental Organizations

I was asked to analyze the mission statements of the National Resource Defense, Greenpeace, and the Wild Spots Foundation to determine which of these organization I would to be part of.
By analyzing the mission statement of the National Resource Defense Council, I can say that this organization only focuses on protecting our natural resources here in the US( but unfortunately the conservation of the natural resources is not only a local issue). On the other hand, the Greenpeace organization concentrates more in worldwide issues such as the climate changes, reducing air pollution and creating awareness among others. Definitely, the one organization that caught my attention was the Wild Spot Foundation because it focuses on biodiversity, which is very important .The biodiversity boost the ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. At the same time, the Wild Spots Foundation has a very interesting and unique way to educated people in biodiversity topic, the organization educates through ecotourism, technology, science and visual art (my favorite).

Lebanon Cedars (Cedrus Libani)

Is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region, in Lebanon, western Syria and south central Turkey, with varieties of it (some treated as separate species by some authors) in southwest Turkey, Cyprus, and the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco in northwest Africa.The Cedars Conservancy parks in Lebanon are candidates in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition