EcoBook #22- Producer

Plants are producers because it uses the sun's energy to create usable energy (photosynthesis).  

EcoBook #21- Herbivore

A Camel is a Herbivore because they eat plants which provides them nutrients and energy. 

EcoBook #20- Food Wed

This picture is an example of a food web because it shows how all the species in an ecosystem are connected. The strings represent the flow of energy and matter that moves through the trophic levels; it shows who eats whom. 

"ScrAPES #11- Apple's New Solar Projects To Slash Over 20 Million Tons Of Emissions"

Article- Apple's New Solar Projects To Slash Over 20 Million Tons Of Emissions, Valerie Volcovivi and Julia Love, October 22, 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/apples-new-solar-projects-will-generate-as-much-power-as-265000-homes_5628e8fee4b0aac0b8fbc760?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green&section=green&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000044

Topic: Renewable resources 

Summary: 
     Apple has announced that they are going to use green energy in Chinese supply chain; stopping all the criticism that they are producing harmful pollutants in China. The technology company has decided to built a 200 megawatts of solar energy projects in China, and work closely with local  suppliers to "source more renewable energy." Apple wants to influence other manufacturing partners  to turn green. Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, said that in 2018, 400 MW of solar energy projects will be well along the way to help suppliers to adapt to being green. This new approach will avoid 20 million tons of greenhouse gas in China. The company's next step is to become green in California. 
     I chose this article because I was surprised to learn that Apple, a major technology company, has decided to go green. What I found most interesting was that Apple is installing 200 MW all over China. This approach reminds me of the Vancouver Company that has decided to created G-Cups to help the environment. 
     This Article is important to environmental science because companies are starting to make a change in the environment. This approach is going to help cut back greenhouse gasses; bettering the environment. The next step is to start making other technology companies see the good in changing their supply chain to green. Now is the time for other companies to see the good in saving the environment, and that it is doable. 

EcoBook #19- Food Chain

Grass is part of a food chain because it feeds many different types of animals, and flows through the food chain.  For example, a rabbit eats grass, and then the rabbit is eaten by a fox; which is at the top of the food chain. 

EcoBook #18- Carnivore

A dog is a carnivore because they eat meat to maintain a healthy diet. 

EcoBook #17- Decomposer

A worm is a decomposer because it breaks down food waste and turns it into good soil (compost). 

"ScrAPES #10- After Hottest Year On Record, Ocean Warming Is Now 'Unstoppable' "

Article- After Hottest Year On Record, Ocean Warming Is Now 'Unstoppable', Josh L Davis, July 17, 2015, http://www.iflscience.com/environment/hottest-year-record-ocean-warming-now-unstoppable

Topic: Ocean Warming 

Summary: 
     In 2014, sea levels, ocean warming, greenhouse gasses, and land temperatures all hit the highest record; as well as, the melting of glaciers and tropical storms reached its highest peek. 413 independent scientists from 58 countries conducted a study that lead them to their findings that our climate is not only changing in temperature, but also in the ocean and outer atmosphere. They claim that if we cut down the greenhouse gases it would not stop the effect of ocean warming; we have reached our tipping point and we can not fix it. The rest of the article provides graphs of their findings. Europe and Africa hit the highest record for high- temperature records for global warming.   As sea surface average temperature escalate, sea levels start to rise; cyclones, and sea ice and glaciers continue to melt rapidly. Finally, high sea levels can cause more cyclones and storms that can bring negative impacts to people's lives that live near the water. 
     I chose this article because it reminded me about another article that I did on climate change: the effects it had on polar bears' habitat and diet. The thing that I found most interesting was that we have reached the tipping point, and there is no way of going back and fixing it. This connects to the polar bear article because this article proves that climate change is causing major impacts to the environment. 
     This article is important to environmental science because climate change is a major issue that causes debates. Climate change has already caused impacts on our environment, but as we keep harming it, it would only get worse. Our next step is to make people see that climate change is a reality, and is caused by us. We have to spread awareness and start making changes before it's to late. 

EcoBook #16- Mutualism

In this picture, there is a mutualism relationship between the dog and its owner; they both benefit  each other. The dog receives shelter, food, and love, and the owner receives companionship and protection. 

EcoBook #15- Population

The U.S population is 321, 882, 647 and counting. 

EcoBook #14- Commensalism

Clownfish benefits from the Sea Anemones. The anemone provides protection to the Clownfish with out harming them because they are coated with mucus that helps them not to be stung by the anemone's sting tentacles, which protects them from their predators. 

"Rain Garden" Reflection

     We took a field trip down to the Greenway. There were many varieties of plants and tress. I learned that they planted different types of plants to attract different types of bugs to balance each other out. They also had a Rain Garden that collected rain water from the near by building, that creates a stream down to the garden to store the water underground. There were also many different kind of venders in that location with organically grown products. 
       Urban environment has its downsides and upsides. Urban sprawl causes negative impact on the environment. Due to the construction of many highways, using tax money from gasoline use, it causes more cars to be used and gasoline to travel back and forth through the newly built highways; however, the development of smart growth helps to limit the use of cars and fuels to develop a more sustainable, healthy community. This is important to our environment because their goal is to develop stores, housing, and buildings close together to encourage people to walk, bike, or other transportation. The need to create a sustainable environment helps to encourage a better living and a safe community. I like the idea of smart growth because it is really convenient to have everything in one place.