Project: Report Project

Nathan Gonzalez notable species
Project Name : Nathan Gonzalez notable species
Description :
Carbon Reduction : 0.00
Gambassa Point : 60.00
United Water - Making the Planet Sustainable Is The Best Job On Earth
United Water is Committed To:
  • Conserving Natural Resources
  • Proactive Sustainable Development
  • Social Responsibility
  • Environmental Stewardship
Learn more about United Water
Name Status Sequence View
Report End 1 View
Review End 2 View

Project Views


What is the title of your report?
Nathan Gonzalez Notable Species
Report:

Most Invasive



The Sohal Surgeonfish, also known as Sohal tang  grows up to 16 inches.It is found in the Red sea. Its a popular aquarium fish. It has blue and white horizontal stripes and they call it a poster fish for the red sea reef environment.The sohal body shape makes it extremely maneuverable and fast in the reefs. It eats different sort of algae and has a vegetarian diet.  Its living range is all reefs particularly in Red sea and up to 90 feet in depth. It has a horizontal , blade like spine which folds into the fish pointing towards the head.(1)
             The Sohal is very aggressive and with its large size it becomes very dominant. Its the most invasive because it originates from the red sea, But is now starting to invade the everglades in Florida. Currently CISMA organization has the Sohal Surgeonfish on top of its most fish invasive list in the everglades. Since Sohal Tang has no specific sea level due to a broad niche also with its aggressive traits it makes it one of the most invasive species.(2)
Common Name: Sohal Surgeonfish
Scientific Name: Acanthurus Sohal
Where on Earth is it a problem: The top fish invading the Everglades
Where did it come from?: Western Indian Ocean from the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf

Most Endangered



The Dhole, also known as Asiatic wild dog is a highly social and cooperative animal. They live in packs which typically consist of between 5 and 12 individuals. The Dhole is unique because its the only kind of wild dog that can whistle, scream, mew, and cluck like a chicken. Dholes prey on Sambar, Chital, swamp deer, nilgai, blackbuck, gaur, wild pigs, ground dwelling birds and rodents. The IUCN classify Dhole endangered because of there habitat loss. There habitat is forests in southern Asia, but throughout the last decade there has been massive habitat loss in its area.
                Also Depletion of the Dholes prey base has been a major contributor to their decline. Humans have also been hunting Dhole for their fur. Other reasons is there competition with other predators and disease from domestic and feral dogs. These are all contributing factors to the rapid decline in Dhole population. Sadly, there are now fewer than 2,500 left in the wild. This is what makes the Dhole one of the most endangered species on Earth.(3) 

Common Name: Dhole
Scientific Name: Cuon Alpinus
Where does it live?: Southern Asia

Favorite Keystone


Bats are the only true mammals capable of flight. There are about 1,100 different species of bats on Earth known to man. Most common bats are found in cities. Maternity colonies, numbering up to 500-600 bats, are usually located in buildings, but sometimes under a bridge or a HotLlow tree, farmlands, parks and forests. During the winter, they can be found in caves, mines and other protected areas. While hibernating, the body temperature is only slightly above freezing. Depending on the type of bat species it eats fruits and most of the the common insects like beetles, wasp, ants etc. Bats that eat insects acts as a natural pest control Bats are an important part of there ecosystem.
                 They are Keystone species because plants and animals depend on them for their survival. For fruit eating bats they spread seed of plants all over their ecosystem which is an important for their habitat.They are increasingly important in natural reforestation of cleared or burned areas. Also bats waste is one of the most best fertilizer on Earth. In caves bats droppings serves as the caves source of nutients for other organisms. Bats make healthier crops and healthier people, they are major contributors to such ecosystems as rainforests, deserts, and cave systems, and for providing numerous items of use to humans such as balsa wood, mangos, carob, figs, tequila, cashews, guavas, bananas, rope fibers and fertilizer. This is why bats are my favorite keystone species.(4)

Common Name: Bat
Scientific Name: Chiroptera
Where does it live?: Bats can be found in almost all habitats except extremely hot deserts and the cold polar regions.

Coolest Predator Adaptation



The Snowy Owl has the most coolest predator adaptation for numerous reasons. First adaptation is its light coloration. It helps the owl camouflage when hiding in the snow and in spring when the ground is bare it sits in the patches of snow and ice to camouflage. Next adaptation is its dense layers of thick feathers to keep warm and insulate the owls body. The snowy owl is the only type of owl who have ear like feather tufts which are very small. Its barley visible which give the snowy owl the round headed shape, which helps it camouflage better. Another amazing adaption is its large yellow eyes surrounded by disks of stiff feathers that reflect sound waves to ear openings directly behind. (5)
                  Even acute hearing helps snowy owls to detect prey in dim light where its hard to see. Snowy owls are active day and night because of the daylight being continuous in the Artic during the summer season. The snowy owls incredible vision and sharp claws are also helping tools for when its hunting. Snowy owls are opportunistic hunters, they can feed on mammals ranging from shrews to jackrabbits, and birds ranging from sparrows to ducks. These are clearly all reasons why I think the snowy owl has the coolest predator adaptations.(6)


              

Common Name: Snowy Owl
Scientific Name: Nyctea Scandiaca
Where does it live?: The Artic Tundra, northern Greenland, the Canadian islands, Northern Eurasia, Wrangel island and North America.

Coolest Prey Adaptation


There are 80 different Chameleon species on Earth. Chameleons have a long sticky tongue that can be propelled to catch insects for their meals. But Chameleons walk slowly, moving just one limb at a time. So to survive against predators they have to have a very good defence. Chameleons have evolved into having to me some of the coolest prey adaptations. First adaptation is its perfect claws for climbing thick branches to stay hidden from predators.  Skin pigment cells is another adaptation for example when a mammal attacks a chameleon it turns reddish with brown or yellow stripes because predators do not distinguish the colors well and the predator becomes confused. (7)
               A chameleon is constantly changing its color according to its emotions, light and temperature. it also communicates with its color changing. Adding to their natural colors, their ability to stay still for minutes and their wagging and extremely slow movements that makes their laterally flattened bodies, covered by spikes, horns and protuberances, to look like a leaf or twig shaken by wind. Also its eyes can move and focus independently. This all helps them stay hidden from predators. This is why I believe a Chameleon has the coolest prey adaptation.(8)

Common Name: Chameleons
Scientific Name: Chamaeleo Calyptratus.
Where does it live?: Africa, Madagascar, Spain, Portugal, across south Asia, Sri lanka, Hawaii, Florida and California 
Bibliography:
1) http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2145+2208&aid=2046
2)http://www.evergladescisma.org/species/fish.cfm
3)http://www.cuon.net/dholes/dholinfo.htm
4)http://www.batsnorthwest.org/basic_bat_FAQs.html
5)http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/snowy_owl.html
6)http://www.conservationcentre.org/scase1.html
7)http://switchzoo.com/profiles/chameleon.htm
8)http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-chameleon.html

Greentorch photoluminescent exit signs help the environment by using no electricity, no batteries, and last longer than other self-luminous exit signs. Gambassa's "Energy efficiency and exit signs" project curriculum teaches students how to generate income by using available utility retrofit rebate programs to replace incandescent exit signs. Earn while you learn.