The first method described in the article is manipulating predator-prey relationships to control the number of animals. Conservationists keep track of the number of predators in an area and how they affect the population of the prey, and if necessary, reduce the number of predators in an area. They do this with collars they place on the animals to keep track of their locations. The second method is relocation. Conservationists move animals to different locations so they can continue to reproduce and spread. Both involve the use of technology to keep track of the animals, but the second is closer to the natural way populations grow. Instead of reducing one population to help increase another, they grow naturally. I think the second will be more successful because both populations will be allowed to grow more than if they were being controlled by humans.
The bighorn sheep have less diversity than they did 200 years ago because the species almost went extinct, so the gene pool is not as diverse. Many of the gene variations were lost as the species began to die out. The species is being bred more in order to try and increase the gene pool once again.
I think that the restored populations will be considered wild once they are released and able to maintain stable populations on their own. While their populations are being manipulated by humans, they aren't wild, however they still can be one day.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Topic 4: Rural America
In recent times, agriculture has become very industrialized. There are no longer a large number of family-owned farms producing diverse crops, as they have been replaced with large-scale farms usually only producing one crop or animal product. This has hurt the smaller farms and has brought lower wages and increased poverty rates. Smaller farms cannot compete with the efficiency of the larger ones, and often are forced to go into contracts to sell their products. The increased efficiency is a good thing because it helps feed people as the population continues to grow, but because of it, the standards of living in rural America are growing worse.
CSA is one way to support local farmers. It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a commitment between farmers and a community of supporters that provides a direct link between producers and consumers, instead of being sold to stores beforehand. CSA members cover a share of the farm's yearly operating budget and the harvest for that season is distributed among them. The goal of CSA arrangement is sustainability and to keep crop prices at the fairest they can be. Most products bought from stores are much more expensive because of what is known as 'externalities.' Stores have to mark up their prices from what they paid to buy food from distributors, who have to sell for more than what they paid buying from slaughterhouses, and so on. The cost eventually ends up higher for the family buying the meat so the store can make a profit.
A solution to the poverty in rural America can be more farmers keeping their farms independent of the larger industrial ones and selling their products at farmers markets. Many people enjoy getting food straight from the markets because they're fresher and haven't been treated with any chemicals. People also like to support local farmers which they can do at the markets. In places where there's no CSA arrangements, this can help farmers make money.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-to-bring-farmers-markets-to-the-urban-poor/2013/09/20/23cbe10c-14ac-11e3-880b-7503237cc69d_story.html
CSA is one way to support local farmers. It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a commitment between farmers and a community of supporters that provides a direct link between producers and consumers, instead of being sold to stores beforehand. CSA members cover a share of the farm's yearly operating budget and the harvest for that season is distributed among them. The goal of CSA arrangement is sustainability and to keep crop prices at the fairest they can be. Most products bought from stores are much more expensive because of what is known as 'externalities.' Stores have to mark up their prices from what they paid to buy food from distributors, who have to sell for more than what they paid buying from slaughterhouses, and so on. The cost eventually ends up higher for the family buying the meat so the store can make a profit.
A solution to the poverty in rural America can be more farmers keeping their farms independent of the larger industrial ones and selling their products at farmers markets. Many people enjoy getting food straight from the markets because they're fresher and haven't been treated with any chemicals. People also like to support local farmers which they can do at the markets. In places where there's no CSA arrangements, this can help farmers make money.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-to-bring-farmers-markets-to-the-urban-poor/2013/09/20/23cbe10c-14ac-11e3-880b-7503237cc69d_story.html
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
EROI
1) We should use tar sands to extract oil because it has a higher EROI.
2) A similarity is the use of heat. Heat is used to form crude oil in oil shale. Heat is used to get the oil from the tar sands.
3) A key difference is that with oil shale, heat is needed to change the substances into something else to use it. With tar sands, the heat does not change any substances, but only helps extract the oil.
4) The author believes this because when oil with a low EROI is drilled, there isn't as much gained and we don't have as much to use. Because of this, we end up buying foreign oil to make up for what we don't have. Lots of foreign oil isn't as clean, so when it's burned more greenhouse gases are released.
5) I always do my easy homework first because I don't want to do the hard stuff
2) A similarity is the use of heat. Heat is used to form crude oil in oil shale. Heat is used to get the oil from the tar sands.
3) A key difference is that with oil shale, heat is needed to change the substances into something else to use it. With tar sands, the heat does not change any substances, but only helps extract the oil.
4) The author believes this because when oil with a low EROI is drilled, there isn't as much gained and we don't have as much to use. Because of this, we end up buying foreign oil to make up for what we don't have. Lots of foreign oil isn't as clean, so when it's burned more greenhouse gases are released.
5) I always do my easy homework first because I don't want to do the hard stuff
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