Reduce plastic use....

source: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0vqpmjzR41rqm2k4o1_500.jpg

Easy Ways To Reduce Plastic Use :)

Source: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma6k41eqT81qh61mgo1_500.jpg

The Circle of Life

     For my environmental science class I sat in my front yard for about 20 minutes. During that time I kept track of all the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things that surrounded me in my imaginary sphere. The obvious biotic things that I immediately noticed included the grass I sat on, the tree in front of me, the ants in the grass, and the birds above. The abiotic things that were equally as noticeable included the rock to the left of me and the one in front, the soil under the grass, the sun in the sky, the clouds above, the light breeze and the heat that was present. After a short period of time though, the biotic list increased.  I had wasps and bees fly in my area around me, I witnessed a lizard sunbathe on the rock to the left followed by a wild cat that tried to catch it. When I looked up in my tree I saw a squirrel sitting on a branch when it moved leaves fell to the ground. 

     The relationship between the grass and tree, and the sun is that the grass and tree are producers who photosynthesis thanks to the energy from the sun. The ants seemed to be living in the soil under the grass, and the birds and squirrel lived in the tree. The lizard enjoyed the heat from the rock which was warm because of the energy from the sun. The cat tried to eat the lizard, but had no success, if it had though it could easily be classified as a tertiary consumer because lizards eat insects, which would have made them a secondary consumer. The wasps and bees were the primary consumers, and the birds were also secondary consumers like the lizard.  There was predation going on; the predators were easily the cat, the birds, and the lizard, while the prey were the ants and the lizard. The lizard was both a prey and a predator because it would eat the insects and then the cat tried to eat it. Another biotic thing that was both a predator and prey was the black ants in the grass. They are a predator because they other insects, but also a prey because they could also be eaten.

     In the short period of time I spent in my front yard I realized that everything benefits from each other in some way or another. I am positive that I missed some things because there was a lot more going on than I had expected. 

The two pictures above were taken by me while in my front yard. I only had my phone for pictures, so it wasn't as easy to capture pictures of the other things around. Instead, I googled and found images of the biotic things I saw.

 The lizard that was on my rock was a blue-belly lizard that looked similar to the one in the picture above.

 The ants were black ants; also known as a real nuisance because they are everywhere in the summer time.

After reading up about wasps I learned that they are also a predator because they consume insects, and there are certain wasps known as spider wasps that eat spiders. 

Think about it...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkszv84IWX1qjkwqyo1_400.jpg

41 WAYS YOU CAN GO GREEN :)

1. Start carrying a reusable bag.
2. Bring a travel mug to your favorite coffee shop.
3. Eat an all-local meal.
4. Take public transit.
5. Walk or bike instead of driving.
6. Install a water filter on your tap so you don’t feel the need to drink bottled water.
7. Install an aerator on your kitchen tap to reduce water use.
8. Replace old toilets with dual flush models.
9. Invest in rechargeable batteries.
10. Start buying and using compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or LED light bulbs.
11. Take hazardous waste to your local drop-off center.
12. Switch to all-natural cleaners (homemade or store-bought).
13. Stop using paper plates.
14. Buy a bunch of tea towels and ban paper towels from your home.
15. Build a backyard compost bin.
16. Plant a garden to help promote biodiversity.
17. Switch to eating organics, especially fruits and vegetables.
18. Flush your pet’s poop instead of throwing it in the garbage.
19. Install a water-saving shower head.
20. Invest in cloth napkins and stop buying paper ones!
21. Plant a tree in your yard.
22. Share your green know-how with others.
23. Try a locally-brewed and/or organic beer.
24. Plug your electronics into a smart power strip, which automatically senses when electronics aren’t being used and cuts power to avoid phantom power use.
25. Take a short shower (5 to 10 minutes).
26. Head to the library to indulge your reading habit instead of the bookstore.
27. Turn your thermostat down at night or when you’re at work.
28. Throw a clothing swap.
29. Find new ways to use old things.
30. Recycle your old sneakers with Nike’s Reuse a Shoe program.
31. Get a solar charger for your iPod and other electronics with built-in batteries.
32. Take the train instead of a plane if you’re traveling.
33. Switch to a renewable energy provider.
34. If you’re not doing it already, start recycling!
35. Carpool with coworkers or friends who work close to your office.
36. Ask your boss if you can telecommute even one day per week.
37. Plan a green vacation.
38. Repair a pair of favorite shoes instead of buying a new pair.
39. Recycle your old electronics at Best Buy.
40. Donate your old cell phone to a charity.
41. Turn off your computer, head outside, and do something that requires only your own energy!

Source:http://fuckyeahincrediblygreen.tumblr.com/post/4840671559/40-ways-you-can-go-green-on-earth-day

Some things to consider...

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My Ecological Footprint

As an assignment for my environmental science class, I was told to calculate my ecological footprint. So, I went to the site provided, http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/, and preceded to follow the instructions. First I chose my location, and then I began. After choosing my avatar I answered the detailed questions about my lifestyle instead of the basic questions. After a few inputs I was done and the information below was presented to me. It was a real eye-opener, as I found out that it would take 3.5 Earths to provide enough resources if everyone lived like me. This got me to think about how many Earths it would take for someone who doesn't recycle, and use a lot more resources than I do. Broken down I notices that my largest area of resource consumption is services, 56% to be exact. This is something that I would like to work on, but it will take some work. Exploring different scenarios lead me to reducing the number of Earths from 3.5 to 3.1, a small start but still better than before. I hope to decrease my ecological footprint overtime by changing things I can. Feel free to check out your own footprint by clicking the link above.

Something cool...

This mudskipper from Japan is a fish that spends much of its time out of the water. It  can walk on land and breathe air. (Life - BBC)
http://ahippoonyourcampus.tumblr.com/post/30198591503/headlikeanorange-this-mudskipper-from-japan-is

Environmental Science Websites & Blogs

Here's a list of some interesting blogs/websites to check out! I will always add more as I come across them, so keep an eye out for the new additions :)

Dot Earth
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/

Cool Green Science
http://blog.nature.org/

On Earth
http://onearth.tumblr.com/

Lady Darwin
http://ladydarwin.tumblr.com/

Real Clever Science
http://realcleverscience.tumblr.com/

Let me introduce myself....

     My name is Rachelle, and I am 23 years of age. I am a strict vegetarian, borderline vegan. I am a biochemistry major, and will be attending Philadelphia University in the Spring. My end goal is to be a cardiothoracic surgeon; I would like to become a part of Doctors Without Borders someday. I currently have two associates degrees: one in math & science and the other in humanities. I am a certified nerd when in comes to math and science, I love it! My hobbies included listening to music, reading, and I work as an CCE volunteer at Riverside Community Hospital. 

     I love helping people however I can. I have always been interested in environmental science, and I would just like to expand on my knowledge of the subject. I currently recycle and have my own little garden, but I would like to do better at reducing my ecological footprint. I would also like to get my family more interested in the subject, but that is a little bit more of a challenge. Always remember the three R's: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and have a great day! :)