Essay Intro
If you have ever worn a uniform in your life you probably thought it was a terrible way to torture children. However, you you most likely didn't know that it was a great way to bring down violence in schools. In addition kids will do better in school. Futhermore it will help the students have a better sense of belonging,
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Madagascar subhumid forests by: yessenia guillen
where:
Southern Africa: Central Madagascar Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
size:
77,000 square miles (199,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of South Dakota Critical/Endangered
Isolated Island:
Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, sits just off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Isolation from neighboring continents for 150-180 million years created a "living laboratory" for evolution, and the rich biodiversity leads some scientists to call Madagascar the "seventh continent." The sub-humid forests on the island are scattered like emeralds throughout the central plateau, surrounded by degraded forests, secondary grasslands, and exotic tree plantations.
Special Features:
When traveling through the sub-humid forests of Madagascar you are likely to see species unlike those found anywhere else on Earth. In fact, it’s typical for 80 to 90 percent of the species in all taxonomic groups found here to be endemic! More endangered and critically endangered primates live on Madagascar than anywhere else in the world. Ten species of lemurs are near-endemic to this region, and, like many species on the island, they are under constant threat.
did you know:
Local superstitions further endanger many species on the island. For example, the bizarre appearance of the aye-aye, with its large ears and long, spindly fingers, has led native people to think this primate, the rarest of all lemurs, is an omen of evil, so they kill the primate on sight.
Wild Side:
If you focus your attention on the branches of one of the many flowering trees in the sub-humid forests of Madagascar, you might see a black lemur using his long, bushy tail for balance as it looks down at you with its big, golden eyes. You might even hear some grunts as it tells the other two to fifteen lemurs in his group that you are watching them. Black lemurs are about the size of domestic cats and feed on fruits and leaves in the forest canopy. You might also see one of Madagascar’s many chameleon species, although it would probably see you first: By rotating each eye independently, chameleons can see 360° around them without moving their heads. If you watch one of these chameleons for a while, you may see it snatch an insect from a nearby leaf with a tongue longer than its body, or you may see it change color as it responds to changes in temperature, light, or mood. Keep an eye out, too, for the many species of leaf-tailed gecko blending into the forest cover. One of these species rolls into a ball, drops to the ground, and rushes into the underbrush when it is threatened. Given Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity, it is possible that if you spend enough time looking, you might even discover a new species!
Cause for Concern:
Since the arrival of humans 2,000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 90 percent of its original forest cover and many of its endemic species. For example, the world’s largest flightless bird, the ten-foot-tall "elephant bird" Aepyornis, once lived in this ecoregion, as did the pygmy hippopotamus, the giant tortoise, and 16 additional species of lemur, including a giant ground-dwelling species. Today’s species face a similar fate as their habitats are destroyed. In addition to habitat destruction, the exportation of reptiles for the pet trade has greatly reduced the population of leaf-tailed geckos and chameleons.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
where:
Southern Africa: Central Madagascar Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
size:
77,000 square miles (199,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of South Dakota Critical/Endangered
Isolated Island:
Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, sits just off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Isolation from neighboring continents for 150-180 million years created a "living laboratory" for evolution, and the rich biodiversity leads some scientists to call Madagascar the "seventh continent." The sub-humid forests on the island are scattered like emeralds throughout the central plateau, surrounded by degraded forests, secondary grasslands, and exotic tree plantations.
Special Features:
When traveling through the sub-humid forests of Madagascar you are likely to see species unlike those found anywhere else on Earth. In fact, it’s typical for 80 to 90 percent of the species in all taxonomic groups found here to be endemic! More endangered and critically endangered primates live on Madagascar than anywhere else in the world. Ten species of lemurs are near-endemic to this region, and, like many species on the island, they are under constant threat.
did you know:
Local superstitions further endanger many species on the island. For example, the bizarre appearance of the aye-aye, with its large ears and long, spindly fingers, has led native people to think this primate, the rarest of all lemurs, is an omen of evil, so they kill the primate on sight.
Wild Side:
If you focus your attention on the branches of one of the many flowering trees in the sub-humid forests of Madagascar, you might see a black lemur using his long, bushy tail for balance as it looks down at you with its big, golden eyes. You might even hear some grunts as it tells the other two to fifteen lemurs in his group that you are watching them. Black lemurs are about the size of domestic cats and feed on fruits and leaves in the forest canopy. You might also see one of Madagascar’s many chameleon species, although it would probably see you first: By rotating each eye independently, chameleons can see 360° around them without moving their heads. If you watch one of these chameleons for a while, you may see it snatch an insect from a nearby leaf with a tongue longer than its body, or you may see it change color as it responds to changes in temperature, light, or mood. Keep an eye out, too, for the many species of leaf-tailed gecko blending into the forest cover. One of these species rolls into a ball, drops to the ground, and rushes into the underbrush when it is threatened. Given Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity, it is possible that if you spend enough time looking, you might even discover a new species!
Cause for Concern:
Since the arrival of humans 2,000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 90 percent of its original forest cover and many of its endemic species. For example, the world’s largest flightless bird, the ten-foot-tall "elephant bird" Aepyornis, once lived in this ecoregion, as did the pygmy hippopotamus, the giant tortoise, and 16 additional species of lemur, including a giant ground-dwelling species. Today’s species face a similar fate as their habitats are destroyed. In addition to habitat destruction, the exportation of reptiles for the pet trade has greatly reduced the population of leaf-tailed geckos and chameleons.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
madagascar/elizabeth10=D
Madagascar dry deciduous forests (AT0202)
Kirindy, MadagascarPhotograph by David Olson
Southern Africa: Northwestern Madagascar Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
58,400 square miles (151,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Georgia Critical/Endangered
· A Forest Mosaic · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for ConcernMore Photos
A Forest Mosaic
Grasslands, forests, wetlands, lakes, and cragged limestone formations form a rich mosaic of habitats in this ecoregion, which houses many endangered and endemic species. Patches of primary dry deciduous forests alternate with secondary forests and relatively sterile secondary grasslands--the result of frequent fires in the region, largely set by humans to clear the land for agriculture. The Manambolomaty lake complex and surrounding forest provides critical habitat for a rare species of spur tortoise as well as for many species of fish and birds. Dotting the landscape are bottle-shaped baobab trees, whose bulging trunks hold stores of water for the dry season.
Special Features:
This ecoregion boasts several outcroppings of fantastically eroded spires called karsts--or "tsingy" in the local dialect. Razor-sharp limestone pinnacles jut upwards as high as 100 feet (30 m) above the landscape, creating a labyrinth of other-worldly rock formations.
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur hibernates up to nine months a year, using the nutrients stored in its thick tail to survive.
Wild Side
Lemurs--tree-hopping, furry primates--are strictly endemic to Madagascar, and several of the 32 species that still exist make their home in this ecoregion. These include the red-tailed sportive lemur and the pale fork-marked lemur. The brown lemur, in particular, plays an important role in the health of this region’s forests by dispersing seeds. One of the most endangered species in the world, the northern Madagascar spur tortoise, lives in the scrubland and bamboo forests here, foraging on leaves. Several endemic species of chameleons unfurl tongues up to twice as long as their bodies, snapping up insects to eat. Near the lakes and rivers of this ecoregion, birds such as the Madagascar fish eagle and Humblot’s heron search the waters for their prey.
Cause for Concern
Primary dry deciduous forests once covered this ecoregion. However, much of the area is now secondary grassland as a result of human-set fires. People have cleared a large portion of the land for cattle and agriculture, and the forests that remain are under significant pressure from logging. This deforestation has caused soil erosion, which has in turn threatened the river, wetland, and lake systems with siltation. Rice cultivation, overfishing, and invasive species are also destroying lake and wetland habitats.
Kirindy, MadagascarPhotograph by David Olson
Southern Africa: Northwestern Madagascar Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
58,400 square miles (151,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Georgia Critical/Endangered
· A Forest Mosaic · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for ConcernMore Photos
A Forest Mosaic
Grasslands, forests, wetlands, lakes, and cragged limestone formations form a rich mosaic of habitats in this ecoregion, which houses many endangered and endemic species. Patches of primary dry deciduous forests alternate with secondary forests and relatively sterile secondary grasslands--the result of frequent fires in the region, largely set by humans to clear the land for agriculture. The Manambolomaty lake complex and surrounding forest provides critical habitat for a rare species of spur tortoise as well as for many species of fish and birds. Dotting the landscape are bottle-shaped baobab trees, whose bulging trunks hold stores of water for the dry season.
Special Features:
This ecoregion boasts several outcroppings of fantastically eroded spires called karsts--or "tsingy" in the local dialect. Razor-sharp limestone pinnacles jut upwards as high as 100 feet (30 m) above the landscape, creating a labyrinth of other-worldly rock formations.
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur hibernates up to nine months a year, using the nutrients stored in its thick tail to survive.
Wild Side
Lemurs--tree-hopping, furry primates--are strictly endemic to Madagascar, and several of the 32 species that still exist make their home in this ecoregion. These include the red-tailed sportive lemur and the pale fork-marked lemur. The brown lemur, in particular, plays an important role in the health of this region’s forests by dispersing seeds. One of the most endangered species in the world, the northern Madagascar spur tortoise, lives in the scrubland and bamboo forests here, foraging on leaves. Several endemic species of chameleons unfurl tongues up to twice as long as their bodies, snapping up insects to eat. Near the lakes and rivers of this ecoregion, birds such as the Madagascar fish eagle and Humblot’s heron search the waters for their prey.
Cause for Concern
Primary dry deciduous forests once covered this ecoregion. However, much of the area is now secondary grassland as a result of human-set fires. People have cleared a large portion of the land for cattle and agriculture, and the forests that remain are under significant pressure from logging. This deforestation has caused soil erosion, which has in turn threatened the river, wetland, and lake systems with siltation. Rice cultivation, overfishing, and invasive species are also destroying lake and wetland habitats.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
17 rebekah
MULTITASKING Rebekah DeJesus 2/5/09
Multitasking is not possible. Most people say you can do it, but they’re wrong. It can also be stressing when you have to do it so fast. You also take longer.
Multitasking is not possible. Most people say you can do it, but they’re wrong. It can also be stressing when you have to do it so fast. You also take longer.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
