Weekly homework 7/15

This week my partners and I began carrying out the first step of processing plant specimens online. This first step requires one to list the date when the specimen was collected as well as its localization. This process proved to be complicated at times as some of the handwriting was, in some ways, very complicated to understand. We were given this task as a way to introduce us as to how one starts to log plant specimens online. In the future we will most likely be completing stage 2 and 3 processing on the specimens so that they can be put online for other universities to view.


Article Question #1:

Ocean Acidification is the decrease of pH in the oceans around the world. The rising acidity is caused by an uptake of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Sea creatures such as sea butterflies are affected by ocean Acidification when their shells and fins become more thin and deformed. This causes sea butterflies to become vulnerable to predators. Salmon use sea butterflies as a food source, and scientists predict that a ten percent drop in sea butterfly numbers equals a twenty percent drop in a mature salmons body weight. This affects humans as we use salmon as a food source. More importantly, the negative affects of ocean Acidification can be transfered to humans when they consume seafood. Many people eat crab, lobster, and salmon often which poses high risks for the health of humans as well.

Article Question #2:

Researchers have found that Kelp is successful in combating Acidification through acting as a shield to protect vulnerable coats as well as fen off toxic algae which can harm native fish life. Such as unique and beneficial species would be studied at a botany lab as researchers would want to continue to study Kelp and the benefits it holds.

Article Question #3:

Researchers in the article have found that using Kelp as a barrier can protect vulnerable oceans from the harmful affects of Acidification. This can further help sea creatures such as the sea butterfly which are directly affected by the acidity of the water. The use of Kelp also can help the US save 82 million dollars year when it can fend off the growth of harmful algae and algal blooms by the use of its bacteria. This also assists sea life such as fish as algal blooms can directly harm them.