Monday, June 3, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Planet Earth: Shallow Seas Documentary
In this Planet Earth documentary put out by the discovery channel, it showed many aspects of the ocean world. Everything from the smallest creatures to the largest were analyzed as well as many of their habitats and lifestyles/life cycles. The lives of many marine species were followed and recorded doing things that many people would rarely be able to view like the fishing techniques of dolphins, the attacking methods of seals and sharks, and the rare species that many people have never heard of. It explained how everything in the oceans ecosystems works together to maintain a balance of marine life and why it is important. It focused on one species for a little bit of time and moved on to the next explaining many of the species characteristics and how it contributes to the ocean world. For example, one of the species that was viewed was the dolphin, the footage showed the viewer how these mammals go about attacking their food. Brownlow, Mark, prod. "Shallow Seas." Planet Earth. Discovery Channel. DSC, Silver Spring, MD, 8 Apr. 2007. Television.
I thought this documentary was very interesting and it kept me interested throughout the whole thing unlike other documentaries I have viewed before. It showed very cool footage of many species and situations we would never get to view in person, unless we were in the right place at exactly the right time which would be really rare. It also helped to explain how every species depends on another for survival whether it be for food or protection. I think that it was a very informational documentary that everyone who enjoys animals and marine species would enjoy watching, since you would rarely get to see these animals in the wild doing the things that were shown in this documentary.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Web Content #5: Plastic Plague
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdhKl9r_fWY
This video describes the impacts that plastic garbage has had on the ocean and its species, as well as how these plastics effect them. The main species that this video focuses on is the albatross, a bird that uses the ocean as its provider for its main food sources. Plastic litters many of the beaches and surfaces of our oceans, which many of these animals mistaken as food. There is a certain area out in the Pacific Ocean that is known as the garbage patch, at this location you can find many plastics and other garbage floating at the surface of the water. It was found that the albatross flew over that area often and the research linked that to the deaths of many of these animals. When the researchers dissected the dead albatross they found many different types of plastic debris, this plastic debris would never exit their body and also displaces water which results in dehydration. The garbage patch is a big issue since the plastic that is currently in that area is never going to go away.
Plastic Plague. YouTube. YouTube, 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdhKl9r_fWY.
I thought that this video was very informational and can make the viewer have feelings about the issue. You never realize how much plastic we actually don't discard correctly or the total plastic that gets discarded until some bigger issue results because of it. Now after watching this video, I finally realize the issue of plastic on the environment because another issue has arose because of the pollution of many different plastics.
This video describes the impacts that plastic garbage has had on the ocean and its species, as well as how these plastics effect them. The main species that this video focuses on is the albatross, a bird that uses the ocean as its provider for its main food sources. Plastic litters many of the beaches and surfaces of our oceans, which many of these animals mistaken as food. There is a certain area out in the Pacific Ocean that is known as the garbage patch, at this location you can find many plastics and other garbage floating at the surface of the water. It was found that the albatross flew over that area often and the research linked that to the deaths of many of these animals. When the researchers dissected the dead albatross they found many different types of plastic debris, this plastic debris would never exit their body and also displaces water which results in dehydration. The garbage patch is a big issue since the plastic that is currently in that area is never going to go away.
Plastic Plague. YouTube. YouTube, 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdhKl9r_fWY.
I thought that this video was very informational and can make the viewer have feelings about the issue. You never realize how much plastic we actually don't discard correctly or the total plastic that gets discarded until some bigger issue results because of it. Now after watching this video, I finally realize the issue of plastic on the environment because another issue has arose because of the pollution of many different plastics.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Web Content #4: Oceans Overview~National Geographic
Video: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/parks-and-nature-places/oceans/oceans-overview/
In this video put out by National Geographic, it describes the importance of the ocean for all life on earth and describes how pollution and industrial fishing has affected the ocean over the years. This video described how the ocean is a source for all life because without it the earth would be similar to the moon or mars. The ocean also absorbs the majority of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produces about 70% of the oxygen that we all live off of. It drives weather and regulates temperature, and evaporating water from the ocean gets sent back down as rain and other precipitation. The ocean covers 3/4 of the earths surface and its maximum depth is 7 miles. 97% of the earths water is present in the ocean and that also means that 97% of the living space on earth is held in the ocean. The ocean is so vast that we have barely touched it with exploration, we have only explored about 5% of the ocean. The vastness of the ocean had led people to believe that there was an endless abundance of resources and food sources, many fish had been taken from the ocean in industrial fishing decreasing the diversity of those species in the ocean. Industrial pollution, global warming, human waste, and plastic debris have had huge affects on the ocean, creating many dead zones off the coasts and creating a huge garbage pile in the Pacific Ocean.
Oceans Overview. Perf. Sylvia Earle. National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013 http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/parks-and-nature-places/oceans/oceans-overview/
This was a very interesting video that described the ocean and its many importances for life on earth. It was a really good overview of all of the things that the ocean does and all of the things that we have done that have affected it. I thought it was really intersting that the ocean produces about 70% of the earths oxygen supply, because i normally think of plants on land as producing oxygen for us. Overall, this video was a good overview of the ocean and how important marine biology is in understanding the oceans.
In this video put out by National Geographic, it describes the importance of the ocean for all life on earth and describes how pollution and industrial fishing has affected the ocean over the years. This video described how the ocean is a source for all life because without it the earth would be similar to the moon or mars. The ocean also absorbs the majority of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produces about 70% of the oxygen that we all live off of. It drives weather and regulates temperature, and evaporating water from the ocean gets sent back down as rain and other precipitation. The ocean covers 3/4 of the earths surface and its maximum depth is 7 miles. 97% of the earths water is present in the ocean and that also means that 97% of the living space on earth is held in the ocean. The ocean is so vast that we have barely touched it with exploration, we have only explored about 5% of the ocean. The vastness of the ocean had led people to believe that there was an endless abundance of resources and food sources, many fish had been taken from the ocean in industrial fishing decreasing the diversity of those species in the ocean. Industrial pollution, global warming, human waste, and plastic debris have had huge affects on the ocean, creating many dead zones off the coasts and creating a huge garbage pile in the Pacific Ocean.
Oceans Overview. Perf. Sylvia Earle. National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013 http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/parks-and-nature-places/oceans/oceans-overview/
This was a very interesting video that described the ocean and its many importances for life on earth. It was a really good overview of all of the things that the ocean does and all of the things that we have done that have affected it. I thought it was really intersting that the ocean produces about 70% of the earths oxygen supply, because i normally think of plants on land as producing oxygen for us. Overall, this video was a good overview of the ocean and how important marine biology is in understanding the oceans.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Web Content #3: Marines in Captivity
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxoEMK1e-vQ
This video was originally a news story and talks about the debate on whether or not marine mammals should be kept in captivity. There are many different reasons why many people disagree with the captivity of marine mammals and their use for our amusement. One of the major disagreements comes about when people start to discuss the living arrangements of these huge mammals. Orcas normally travel for many miles at a time in their natural habitats, but when put in small enclosed tanks they can only swim so far until they find themselves at a wall. Most people who are concerned about the situation would argue that that is an animal rights issue, that the orcas deserve to live in their natural habitat where they can have the freedom to swim as far as they please instead of in circles in a small enclosed tank. Another issue that was brought up in the video was that many of these marine mammals are at risk of injury. It was explained that when you house orcas together who aren't familiar with each other it could bring on aggression and injury. In the wild these mammals pick their pods and when they get captured and put into tanks they are forced to live with others that they are not familiar with. Another issue that came about in the video was safety for the people who work with these mammals at amusement parks such at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. (In 2010 a trainer was killed by one of her trained orcas when it pulled her under the water). Overall, this video showed many different sides of the argument on whether or not marine mammals should be in captivity.
Marines in Captivity. Prod. Michael Pell. YouTube. YouTube, 05 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxoEMK1e-vQ.
I think that this is a very interesting debate. I have been to Sea World in Orlando Florida twice and I enjoyed going to the dolphin and orca shows both times but on the other hand I understand the impact that captivity could have on those mammals. I think it is a fun experience for everybody to see these animals in captivity since it would be a rare sight to be able to see them in the wild but is it really worth the stress that we put the animal through? I don't think I could pick a side on this issue, I would probably lean more towards disagreeing with having them in captivity since they deserve to live their full lives out in their natural habitats and not be taken away from it.
This video was originally a news story and talks about the debate on whether or not marine mammals should be kept in captivity. There are many different reasons why many people disagree with the captivity of marine mammals and their use for our amusement. One of the major disagreements comes about when people start to discuss the living arrangements of these huge mammals. Orcas normally travel for many miles at a time in their natural habitats, but when put in small enclosed tanks they can only swim so far until they find themselves at a wall. Most people who are concerned about the situation would argue that that is an animal rights issue, that the orcas deserve to live in their natural habitat where they can have the freedom to swim as far as they please instead of in circles in a small enclosed tank. Another issue that was brought up in the video was that many of these marine mammals are at risk of injury. It was explained that when you house orcas together who aren't familiar with each other it could bring on aggression and injury. In the wild these mammals pick their pods and when they get captured and put into tanks they are forced to live with others that they are not familiar with. Another issue that came about in the video was safety for the people who work with these mammals at amusement parks such at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. (In 2010 a trainer was killed by one of her trained orcas when it pulled her under the water). Overall, this video showed many different sides of the argument on whether or not marine mammals should be in captivity.
Marines in Captivity. Prod. Michael Pell. YouTube. YouTube, 05 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxoEMK1e-vQ.
I think that this is a very interesting debate. I have been to Sea World in Orlando Florida twice and I enjoyed going to the dolphin and orca shows both times but on the other hand I understand the impact that captivity could have on those mammals. I think it is a fun experience for everybody to see these animals in captivity since it would be a rare sight to be able to see them in the wild but is it really worth the stress that we put the animal through? I don't think I could pick a side on this issue, I would probably lean more towards disagreeing with having them in captivity since they deserve to live their full lives out in their natural habitats and not be taken away from it.
Web Content #2: Sunshine Coast marine biodiversity assessment - short documentary
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48SLP4dCydE
In this short documentary/video produced by Under Sea Productions, they talked about the biodiversity of marine life in the sunshine coast in Australia. Marine surveys are taken to observe what different kinds of marine life live there, what habitats are present, what different species occupy those habitats and how many of those species and habitats are present in the area. They use the information that they gather to have information to go off of in the future, to see how much the biodiversity of that area changes over certain periods of time. Gathering information now can help to determine how the biodiversity of the region reacts to certain environmental impacts such as pollution, fishing, and climate changes. This research also helps in making conservation decisions of marine life in the area. They also talked about the different types of corals and fish that inhabit coral reefs in that area and mentioned that having large diverse numbers of different fish species makes for a very healthy coral reef. With having many different species of fish in one area one could only imagine the impact that fishing has on this marine environment, as well as the capture of commercial salt water fish that could potentially become your pet.
Sunshine Coast Marine Biodiversity Assessment - Short Documentary. Prod. Under Sea Productions. YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48SLP4dCydE.
I thought this was a very interesting and informational video about the research that scientists use to determine the biodiversity of certain areas of the ocean. I think it was a very good video that told the basic ideas of biodiversity of marine life and how that biodiversity gets affected by many different environmental factors. I always thought that pollution was a big factor in destroying many different habitats and killing different species of fish but recreational and commercial fishing also puts a big impact on biodiversity.
In this short documentary/video produced by Under Sea Productions, they talked about the biodiversity of marine life in the sunshine coast in Australia. Marine surveys are taken to observe what different kinds of marine life live there, what habitats are present, what different species occupy those habitats and how many of those species and habitats are present in the area. They use the information that they gather to have information to go off of in the future, to see how much the biodiversity of that area changes over certain periods of time. Gathering information now can help to determine how the biodiversity of the region reacts to certain environmental impacts such as pollution, fishing, and climate changes. This research also helps in making conservation decisions of marine life in the area. They also talked about the different types of corals and fish that inhabit coral reefs in that area and mentioned that having large diverse numbers of different fish species makes for a very healthy coral reef. With having many different species of fish in one area one could only imagine the impact that fishing has on this marine environment, as well as the capture of commercial salt water fish that could potentially become your pet.
Sunshine Coast Marine Biodiversity Assessment - Short Documentary. Prod. Under Sea Productions. YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48SLP4dCydE.
I thought this was a very interesting and informational video about the research that scientists use to determine the biodiversity of certain areas of the ocean. I think it was a very good video that told the basic ideas of biodiversity of marine life and how that biodiversity gets affected by many different environmental factors. I always thought that pollution was a big factor in destroying many different habitats and killing different species of fish but recreational and commercial fishing also puts a big impact on biodiversity.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Web Content #1: The Unseen Threat of Noise in Our Oceans: Kristin Westdal
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_GZ3q_Ays
This video put out by TEDxVancouver, discusses the importance of noise and sound to marine mammals. In this video, Kristin Westdal is a arctic marine biologist who had been studying the impact of human made sounds on these animals and how it affects their sense of surroundings. She discussed how sound is a very critical sense for marine mammals since they use their sonar for finding food, finding their breathing holes, and finding other members of their pods. When other human made sounds sounds from ships, icebreakers, and drilling put more sounds into the ocean, these sounds can really disorient marine mammals sense of direction. She explained how these extra sounds have prevented many whales and their young from leaving parts of the ocean that consistently cover with ice, leaving dozens of whales to use the same breathing hole and mortality rate to increase for those areas. It is very unusual that those mammals don't leave those areas, but the extra sounds that humans have put into the ocean have confused them and they couldn't pick out their sonar signals from the rest of the noise that was occurring around them. She used this example to help us to better understand the situation: Imagine that you were driving down the road and an ambulance siren was going off but everyone around you was also honking their horns, it would be pretty difficult for you to locate the direction the sound of the ambulance was coming from with all of the other noises occurring around you.
YouTube. Prod. TEDx Vancouver. Perf. Kristin Westdal. YouTube. YouTube, 06 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_GZ3q_Ays.
This is a very interesting topic that i have never been aware of. Kristen Westdal talked about how we can pollute the ocean with chemicals but polluting it with noise and sound could also be just as bad. Marine mammals need to use their sense of sonar to locate things in their surroundings if they lose that sense they would be like us out in the middle of nowhere without a map or a GPS. Just like we can't communicate when there is a bunch of background noise in our environment, these mammals can't tell which sound to follow when their sonar signal gets blocked by a bunch of other unnecessary noises that also occupy their surroundings. I thought that it was really interesting that these animals use their sonar for so many different survival needs, like looking for food, finding their breathing holes in the ice, and finding each other. If we take away their ability to perform these tasks we would basically be leaving them out there to die.
This video put out by TEDxVancouver, discusses the importance of noise and sound to marine mammals. In this video, Kristin Westdal is a arctic marine biologist who had been studying the impact of human made sounds on these animals and how it affects their sense of surroundings. She discussed how sound is a very critical sense for marine mammals since they use their sonar for finding food, finding their breathing holes, and finding other members of their pods. When other human made sounds sounds from ships, icebreakers, and drilling put more sounds into the ocean, these sounds can really disorient marine mammals sense of direction. She explained how these extra sounds have prevented many whales and their young from leaving parts of the ocean that consistently cover with ice, leaving dozens of whales to use the same breathing hole and mortality rate to increase for those areas. It is very unusual that those mammals don't leave those areas, but the extra sounds that humans have put into the ocean have confused them and they couldn't pick out their sonar signals from the rest of the noise that was occurring around them. She used this example to help us to better understand the situation: Imagine that you were driving down the road and an ambulance siren was going off but everyone around you was also honking their horns, it would be pretty difficult for you to locate the direction the sound of the ambulance was coming from with all of the other noises occurring around you.
YouTube. Prod. TEDx Vancouver. Perf. Kristin Westdal. YouTube. YouTube, 06 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_GZ3q_Ays.
This is a very interesting topic that i have never been aware of. Kristen Westdal talked about how we can pollute the ocean with chemicals but polluting it with noise and sound could also be just as bad. Marine mammals need to use their sense of sonar to locate things in their surroundings if they lose that sense they would be like us out in the middle of nowhere without a map or a GPS. Just like we can't communicate when there is a bunch of background noise in our environment, these mammals can't tell which sound to follow when their sonar signal gets blocked by a bunch of other unnecessary noises that also occupy their surroundings. I thought that it was really interesting that these animals use their sonar for so many different survival needs, like looking for food, finding their breathing holes in the ice, and finding each other. If we take away their ability to perform these tasks we would basically be leaving them out there to die.
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