"Aquarium Reflection" Assignment

     The new things that I have learned are biodiversities and adaptations. In the Amazon Rainforest, there are many different species, especially 2,000 species of fish living in the Amazon River. A couple of the different species are the Plumed basilisk lizard, Arapaima, and Capybara. The Plumed basilisk lizard is found in the streams and rivers in the rainforest of Central and South America. Their nickname is "Jesus Christ lizard" because they can walk on water due to great speed as they escape from danger. The Arapaimas an Amazon River fish that grows up to 10 feet long and weigh more then 250 pounds. An interesting fact about them is that they have to rise at the surface to breathe air. Finally, the Capybara is a guinea pig that is 4 foot long and weighs 150 pounds. 
    Another group of biodiversity is found in the Blue Planet, Earth. Because Earth is surrounded by water it has many biodiversity in the ocean. They are different species of fishes that live in the icy polar seas, mountain streams, hot volcanic streams, etc. Biodiversity is important to our planet because it helps to keep productivity within each ecosystem; everyone of these species has an important role in their environment. Biodiversity also helps scientists to examine the environmental health. I chose this because it was fun learning about the different types of species in an ecosystem. What I found interesting is the nickname that people give to the Plumed basilisk lizard. 
     The adaptations that I learned about are the penguins and Capybara. Penguins adapted to have sharp beaks with a hook at the end to trap wiggling fish. They also have heavy bones that helps them to dive underwater. Their steering feet allows them to swim, stand, waddle as they walk. Furthermore, they have adapted a keen eye sight with flattened corneas that helps them to see clearly above and below the water. The Capybara, in the Amazon Rainforest, adapted to their ecosystem by evolving webbed feet and nostrils allowing them to spend more in the water. This is important to our planet because in order to maintain biodiversity each species must adapt to their environment to survive; adaptations help many species to thrive in their ecosystems. What I thought was interesting was the different kind of adaptations.