Project: Report Project

Dylan Merchant. Notable Species Report
Project Name : Dylan Merchant. Notable Species Report
Description :
Carbon Reduction : 0.00
Gambassa Point : 60.00
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Notable Species Report
Report:

Most Invasive




            The Zebra Mussel is an extrememely invasive species that can take over lakes all over the world and is becoming a major problem in the United States. The theory in which zebra mussels were brought to America is that a boat that was capable of oceanic activity was being used in the Caspion Sea, which is where zebra mussels are native to. That boat was believed to have zebra mussels attached to it. From there the boat was launched into lakes in America. This would start the process in which zebra mussels begin to take over the lakes of America (3).

            Zebra Mussels proved to be very dangerous for the area that it inhabits. Since zebra mussels are a non-native species in American Lakes it has very little to no predators, and thrives in mostly any lake. Lakes that have been infested with these have experienced a frightening decline in various species mainly including fish and birds. Also zebra mussels can directly affect human activity. Some zebra mussels find there homes on boats and their engines. This can potentially break the engine and cause thousands of dollars in repairs for a single person. Also a very common occurence is that zebra mussels make their homes in pipes which clogs the waterways for the people of that community. These cost the nation millions of dollars for cleaning up annually (4).
Common Name: Zebra Mussel
Scientific Name: Dreissena polymorpha
Where on Earth is it a problem: Zebra Mussels ruin boats, harm the lake and riverecosystems, and clog pipes and waterways.
Where did it come from?: Caspion Sea in Asia.

Most Endangered


            The Hawaiian Monk Seal nicknamed llio-holo-ikauaua, which mean dog that runs in the sea, lives in the waters of Hawaii. They have been living on this Earth for around thirteen million years. Today they mostly live around the coral reefs of Hawaii. This seal's population is at its lowest in history at about 1200. Just in the last fifty years the population decreased to 2/5 of it's previous size. Although these seals can live up to the age of thirty, many of them fail to reach adulthood (5).

            The main reason in which these seals decreased put humans at fault. Starting around the early 1900's these animals were slaughtered for their oil and pelts. These seals were very easily captured and killed. This is due to their evolution with an absence of land predators. This means that when on land the Hawaiian Monk Seal would sit on the beach with out any fear of being hunted. They were able to do this successfully until humans came and drastically decreased their population. Another problem is these animals are overly playful and see fishing gear as a fun oppurtunity and become entangled in nets and lines which can cause their death (6).

Common Name: Hawaiian Monk Seal
Scientific Name: Monachus schauinslandi
Where does it live?: North West Hawaiian Islands

Favorite Keystone


            The Egyptian fruit bat is very important to the world. This bat can be up to seven inches in length and can have a wingspan of about two feet. The lifespan of this bats is around the twenty year mark. Bats are the only true flying mammal in the world. These bats are known for flying up to twenty five miles from the roosting site when they are looking for some food. Their diet consists of fruit which is the reason behind their name (7).

            Fruit Bats are very important to the growing of fruit. The statistic is that fruit bats are responsible for pollinating seventy percent of the worlds fruit. Since the bats travel such a great distance from their roosting site to go get food, they carry seeds and drop them on their way back. Fruit bats are not very picky when it comes to which fruit they want to eat which is important because this means that they will pollinate almost every type of fruit (8).

Common Name: Egyptian fruit bat
Scientific Name: Rousettus aegyptiacus
Where does it live?: Turkey and Cyprus to Pakistan, Arabian Peninsula, Egypt and most of Africa

Coolest Predator Adaptation

            At first site these snakes appear to be just a normal tree snake. These snakes are slightly venomous and almost always ready to attack. These snakes feed on almost any type of small vertabre animals. These overall just seem like your average everyday tree snake. But this snake developed an adaptation in which it's hunting can be made easier, it can fly (9).

            Not much is known about this snake, but the fact that it can fly is a definate. This snake will be sitting in a tree and all of the sudden it will leap, the height at which the snake leaps from would be suicidal for almost any other reptile. This species will compress it's body and glide from one tree to another. At speed up to 33 feet per second it can reach distances up to 80 feet from it's launch point. The reasoning which is thought for why this snake travels from one tree to another is to find food (10).

Common Name: Flying snake
Scientific Name: Chrysopelea ornata
Where does it live?: Southeastern Asia

Coolest Prey Adaptation


            The Malaysian ant is an ant in which is a member of the carpenter ant genus. The body of this ant is oddly shapened. This ant is actually a rather large ant. But the abdomen is unproportioned to the rest of it's body. The Abdomen is larger than that of a regular carpenter ant. This is because the abdomen is filled with chemicals that are very poisonus. Not only is this chemical fluid poisonus but it works as an adhevise which will stick onto it's victim (1).

            The way that the Malaysian Ant releases it's poisonus adhevise is what makes it the "coolest prey adaptation." The soldier ants have one responsibility, and that is to protect the colony from predators no matter what would be needed to be done. When in a battle and it takes a turn for the worst for this ant it will actually contract muscles in it's abdomen which causes it to exploxde. This explosion sprays a sticky poison onto any surrounding enemy which proves to be very effective in protecting it's colony and scares away the predators (2).

Common Name: Malaysian Ant
Scientific Name: Camponotus saundersi
Where does it live?: Malaysia and Brunei
Bibliography:

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.