Ant Population Study:
This project required the most amount of field work and laboratory examination than any project I have ever conducted. The project aided me to refine my team building and leadership skills. It was an intensive process that needed two days of baiting, two days of sample collections, and about 50 hours of laboratory time to identify hundreds of small ants of a variety of species. I was involved in the planning processes as well as the physical labor aspects. I learned the dangers and threats of field work, the primary threat was ticks which had the potential of passing Lyme Disease in the thick of the underbrush in the Pineland Forest.
We inputted our data into tables to observe any changes in population given the temperature changes of past years. We had the opportunity to suggest new techniques that could further aid the study for future classes. Some of the suggestions included using a better system of trapping ant samples as to not loose potential data and recommended using a more natural bait to catch ants, such as fruit or honey. I refined my organizational skills as well as team building skills and found this project to be very valuable to build my professional outlook.
Cave Ecosystem Essay:
I chose to display my project on the cave ecosystem because of its uniqueness. The cave ecosystems are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The typical ecosystem is ultimately dependent on the sun's rays in order to conduct photosynthesis. But in the cave's ecosystem, sun light is entirely absent not far beyond the entrance of the cave. Cave dwelling species are among the most specialized organisms I have learned about. The most interesting concept that I came across was that the cave ecosystems rely on outside nutrients for its natural cycle, nutrients that are only made possible by photosynthesis. The outside nutrients brought into the cave system by bats and other organisms who forage beyond the cave, are how the cave dwellers successfully exist; ultimately the dark world of the cave dwellers rely on the sun that they have never seen. I enjoyed studying and understanding an ecosystem so foreign to the typical ecosystems we are familiar with. This was the first time I was exposed to learn about such exotic and unique species that are so far removed from their terrestrial relatives.
Climate Journal Project:
The climate journal project allowed me to build upon many analytic computer skills. We received climate data from over many years from many different climate stations in the world; from a variety of different longitudes, latitudes, altitudes, and cultural/economic status. The important lesson I learned from this particular project was that climate characteristics not only depend on the specific location on the world, bu also that projections show that human activity also impact local climates. There was significant differences throughout the years that show that human activity such as urban sprawl, construction, and industry can affect climate characteristics. Data such as this can be used to alter human techniques to better the natural systems around us. Changing land use practices, has the potential of bettering the natural order intended for any area. Heat island effects are inevitable in densely populated urban centers due to the increase of impervious surfaces, and surface runoff is sure to increase which takes precipitation away from the natural cycles.
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