Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Hometown Demographics Mini project # 7





Turks & Caicos Islands



The Turks & Caicos Islands, physical features is made up mostly from each individual Island. However, its most distinct feature and physical property would be the beautiful white sandy beaches and its’ crystal clear turquoise water that separates the Islands by short distance.

In addition to having beautiful beaches surrounding these few inhabitant Islands, they also have festivals, sport tournaments, seafood drives etc.

For example, Providenciales which is the most developed, and most popular of the Turks Islands has a number of events that takes place each year, which encourages the number one industry “Tourism” to developed even more rapidly. Some of the events or physical features that takes place in Providenciales is the “Provo Summer Festival” which is considered to be the largest of them all, taking place around the end of July each year for a period of one week of different events for each day. At the end of the week it will end with a beauty pageant and the winner gets to go to Miss Universe to represent the Turks and Caicos Island.

In Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos which is the capital, their biggest physical feature would be the carnival cruise line which comes in on a weekly base. This has become a big promotion to the population of Grant Turk within the last couple of years. Tourist and Natives usually take advantage of this mostly during the summer months. This cruise only goes from Grand Turk to the other Caribbean Islands throughout the world. Grand Turk is also known for its diverse Caribbean food day, where there are people from other Caribbean countries come in with their native dish to sell and tell of how it was produced.

South Caicos is another of the nicer Islands. Its physical features and natural resources come from most of their beautiful coral reefs. It is known for the best boat race festival better known as “Regatta”. This is a big event that also takes place every year around Easter time. There will be a boat from each Island participating in a race on best quality, fastest, most creative, and different contest as such. There will be about seven to ten judges and the people in the crowd will be betting on a particular boat of their choice, and whoever wins will be given a gift, maybe a cash prize or a travel get a way trip around the world.

North Caicos, has a festival in the summer months as well which is better known as “Festa rama”. This is also a major event that takes place during the years that encourage thousands of people into the islands of North Caicos. They usually have three to four days of events, including bike a tons, music fest, beauty pageants, and street parades. North Caicos, Natural resources is very distinct among the other Islands. It is native farming. This is the only Islands in the Turks & Caicos Islands that actually continues to farm certain foods. For instant, pumpkins, okra, cabbage, potatoes, yams etc.

Middle Caicos has one of the smaller and most unique physical features with in the Turks & Caicos Islands. In addition, to having some of softest sand and beautiful beaches, it also has one of the best historical sites, “The Cave” which pulls along the natives and tourist to visiting middle caicos more than once or twice a year. This is one of its mean attraction sites’ that people look forward to visiting.

On the other hand, the other islands and cays are mealy surrounded by just beaches and land mass of bush or trees. The Turks and Caicos Islands primary natural resource is fishing. Every year tourist comes to Turks Islands to dive into its beautiful ocean and snorkel throughout its sandy shores. In the month of August is when it mostly has its primary natural resource (fishing) displayed and populated throughout the world for tourist enjoyment.

Fishing as its primary number one natural resource, has affect the Turks and Caicos Islands in a good way. It has promoted the populations within the Islands, and encourages a massive increase in its number one industry, which is tourism.



In the Turks & Caicos Island there is a population growth rate of about 2.722% since 2007 as estimated. In addition to this population growth rate, we also have high birth rate and low death rate within the previous year. About 90% of its ethnic group is black and the other 10% is mixed between Europeans and North Americans.

There are many religions in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Some of which are Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, church of god, and seventh day Adventist; with Baptist having the largest percentage of them all. I believe the reason why Baptist is the largest of the denominations is because they have the largest and most modern facility on the Islands.

In conclusion, the Turks & Caicos Islands number one industry is tourism. It is economically depended upon offshore financial services, and fishing. However, most of its capital goods and food for domestic consumption is imported.







Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Darwin Theory of Evolution







Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature).
One definition of a species is a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another and produce fertile offspring. When a species is separated into populations that are prevented from interbreeding, mutations, genetic drift, and natural selection cause the accumulation of differences over generations and the emergence of new species.




Natural Selection




While Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a relatively young archetype, the evolutionary worldview itself is as old as antiquity.." Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage (it grew wings and learned to fly). Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior (disadvantaged) members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior (advantaged) members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild.


Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we've made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level.




Soft Shell Turtle
Trionychidae is a taxinomic family which comprises a number of turtle genera commonly known as soft-shell turtles. It consists of some of the world's largest fresh water turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackrish areas. Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, North America, and the East Indies.
They are called "soft shelled" because their carapace lacks horny scutes (scales), though the Spiny Softshell Turtle, Apalone Spinifera, does have some scale-like projections, hence its name. The carapace is leathery and pliable, particularly at the sides. The central part of the carapace has a layer of solid bone beneath it, as in other turtles, but this is absent at the outer edges. Some species also have dermal bones in the plastron, but these are not attached to the bones of the shell. The light and flexible shell of these turtles allows them to move more easily in open water, or in muddy lake bottoms. Females can grow up to several feet in carapace diameter, while males stay much smaller; this is their main form of sexual dimorphism.
These turtles have many characteristics pertaining to their aquatic lifestyle. Like all aquatic turtles, they need to be submerged to be able to swallow food. Most are strict carnivores, with diets consisting mainly of fishes, aquatic crustaceans, snails, amphibians, and sometimes birds and small mammals.
Snake neck turtle
The Common snake-neck turtle (Chelodina longicollis), also known as the Eastern long-neck turtle, Eastern snake-neck turtle, or Common long-neck turtle has as its most distinctive feature its extremely long neck. In some cases, this turtle's neck can be as long as its carapace. It is a type of side-necked turtle, meaning that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than pulling it directly back.
The common snakeback turtle also has powerful webbed feet for swimming, digging, and tearing apart prey. Its carapace (shell) is flattened, broad, and brown with black-edged scutes. On the underside plates (plastron) there are distinctive black lines or seams.

These turtles are found in the inland slow-moving freshwater habitats such as swamps, dams, and lakes of eastern Australia.
They prefer a soft, sandy bottom and will bask on logs or rocks during the day. The common snake-neck turtle is carnivorous, eating a variety of animals. They feed on insects, worms, tadpoles, frogs, small fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Mud Turtle
Mud turtles are known for their dull shell colors and relation to the smelly musk turtles. African and American mud turtles are very different and are not closely related. Their only similarities are in their choice of habitat, both preferring shallow, slow moving bodies of water with muddy bottoms, and having a dome shaped carapace. They can grow up to about 5 inches. They live up to 50 years of age.
Mud turtles are primarily carnivorous and will consume almost anything they can catch including: fish, worms, insects, grubs, crustaceans, tadpoles, small berries and even carrion.
Mud turtles prefer damp, sandy or muddy dwellings as their name suggests. They will rarely go in the water unlike Aquatic turtles but they will occasionally go in fo a dip in a swamp or a pond.
Red foot turtle
Geochelone carbonaria sometimes also called red foot (or redfoot), redleg, or Savanna tortoises. Red footed tortoises live up to 50 years, possibly longer.
Red footed tortoises often reach a length of 10-14 inches, although they can be larger (16 inches or more). A slightly smaller "dwarf" variety is also being sold, commonly called the cherry-head that only attains a length of 10 - 12 inches as an adult. They can reach weights up to 30 pounds.

In the wild, red footed tortoises are omnivores and eat a wider range of foods than many other tortoises. It is important to not overfeed animal protein, though; one very small serving of moistened low fat cat food or lean meat (e.g. 1 ounce for a full A large enclosure is needed - 4 feet by 6 feet or larger. Cypress grown red foot) every 1-2 weeks is enough. A variety of fresh leafy greens (dandelion greens, endive, mustard greens, escarole; not lettuce, spinach or kale), vegetables, and fruits should also be fed (they also tolerate fruit better than many other species). A calcium and vitamin D3 supplement should be used. This species is tropical and prefers a humid climate.
Texas box turtle
The American Box Turtle is one of the most highly recognized and loved turtles in North America. However, due to a loss of natural environment, an increase in roads, and indiscriminate gathering of these native turtles, they are becoming increasingly rare in the wild. Studies done over the last 50 years have shown a steady decline in the population of the American Box Turtle.
As with other box turtles, Gulf Coast box turtles can be very long-lived, possibly up to 100 years.
Males are slightly larger on average than females, the posterior lobe of their plastron is concave, and the claws on their hind legs are short, thick, and curved. Males also have thicker and longer tails. Females' rear claws are longer, straighter, and more slender, and the posterior lobe of their plastron is flat or slightly convex. Males have red irises and females have yellowish-brown irises.


In the northern regions, box turtles go into hibernation in October or November, but farther south they remain active later in the year. They may return to the same place to hibernate in successive years and sometimes more than one turtle hibernates in the same hibernacula. They usually emerge from hibernation in April.
When frightened, box turtles retract their head, tail, and limbs into their shell and clamp it shut. They wait in this position until the perceived threat is gone. While juveniles have several predators, very few species can prey effectively on adults due to this defense technique.
Russian Tortoise
When frightened, box turtles retract their head, tail, and limbs into their shell and clamp it shut. They wait in this position until the perceived threat is gone. While juveniles have several predators, very few species can prey effectively on adults due to this defense technique.
In the wild, the Russian Tortoise is considered vulnerable to extinction in the mid-long term. Human construction encroaching upon its habitat is the main cause of endangerment. Trade in wild animals is restricted, and captive-breds should be preferred as pets as they are hardier.
Russian tortoises are popular pets primarily because of their small size, but they are also an extremely hardy species.
They will also eat fruit, but should only be given it in small quantities, as excess sugars are not good for them. These tortoises use fiber for energy instead of protein.
Central American ornated wood turtle
The Central American Ornate Wood Turtle is also known as the Pracht-Erdschildkrote, Painted Wood Turtle, or Ornate Wood Turtle. They are native to Central America, as the name would suggest, and are a beautiful animal that is a gracious addition to any terrarium.
The Ornate Wood Turtle generally makes its home in damp woodlands and scrublands. They usually are found near water and during dry weather will wade and swim in water. The Ornate Wood Turtle is terrestrial rather than aquatic, meaning it spends most of its time on land. In the wild, the Ornate Wood Turtle is omnivorous, meaning it feeds on both plants and animals. They eat wildflowers, fruit, grasses, fish, worms, and insects. Ornate Wood Turtles are generally quite outgoing and curious. Ornate Wood Turtles are usually active creatures. When mating, males bob their head and nose the female's tail and shell. Later, the female and male both bob their heads. Ornate Wood Turtles can survive in temperatures as high as 44 degrees Celsius and can live in very dry conditions for an extended period.
A very attractive animal, the Ornate Wood Turtle is awash in red and black. The face is adorned with thin red lines, and the legs, tail, plastron (underside of the shell), and marginal scutes (sides of the shell) are heavily marked with red and black.
Ornate Wood Turtles can be found throughout Central America. They range between Sonora, Mexico, and Costa Rica. They are beneficial to human beings because they feed on many insects that often become pests. Unfortunately, people who want to sell them as pets are taking them out of their natural habitats. Central American Ornate Wood Turtles usually do not do well in captivity.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Biological Terrorism

Biological Terrorism


The use and dissemination of various kinds of microbes or toxins with the intent to intimidate or coerce a government or civilian population to further political or social objectives; humans, animals, and plants are often targets.


A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants as i've mentioned earlier. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food. Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Pollution in your neighborhood





Pollution in your neighborhood



Superfund Sites where I live



A Superfund site is an uncontrolled or abandoned place where hazardous waste is located, possibly affecting local ecosystems or people.



According to studies, Superfund has located and analyzed tens of thousands of hazardous waste sites, protected people and the environment from contamination at the worst sites, and involved states, local communities, and other partners in cleanups.



Superfund measures its cleanup goals through various criteria including construction and post construction completions of hazardous waste sites.


















Monday, September 22, 2008

Grocery List project #:4











Genetically Altered Foods





Genetically altered foods are food products that have been directly altered through genetic engineering. Unlike conventional genetic modification that is carried out through time-tested conventional breeding and that have been consumed for thousands of years. Genetically altered foods were first put on the market in the early 1990's. The most common altered foods that are on sale for public consumption are derived from plants: soybean, sweet corn, tomotoes, canola oil, and rice. There are many more foods that are genetically altered for public consumption such as wheat bread, general mills corn flakes cereal, ball park franks, jiffy corn muffin mix, gardenburgers and quaker chewy granola bars.






There are many major controversies surround genetically engineered crops and foods. These commonly focus on the long-term health effects for anyone eating them, environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction, environmental conservation, and potential disruption or even possible destruction of the food chain.






Research show that the biggest supporters are these multi-national corporations and governments engaged in the genetic engineering of food claim the technology to be a boon for the human race, while many health-conscious people believe it to be a potential and/or actual disaster.






Genetically altered foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.


Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Endangered Species Project # : 3


























Endangered Species

Turks & Caicos Islands



Provide a list of all endangered animals found within 100 miles of your home.



An Endangered Species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct, because it is either fewer in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. It is usually a taxonomic species.


I am from the beautiful Turks & Caicos Islands, home of the best beaches in the world. Turks & Caicos Islands beckon you to an undiscovered Caribbean. World class hotels, spas, and restaurants await, as do our famous stretches of uncrowded beaches and vibrant coral reefs. On land or below the water, you’ll relax in the unique serenity, hospitality and beauty of our islands.



The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. The islands are located 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just below the Bahamas chain and just to the east of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti.) Technically, the Turks and Caicos are located in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea.
The islands are home to roughly 30,000 full time residents




The birds




The salt ponds and inland marshes serve as excellent feeding grounds for resident and migratory birds. Search for Great Blue Herons, Flamingos, Osprey and Pelicans alongside Egrets, Terns, Frigates, Boobies and other water birds. As part of the National Parks system more than twelve small cays have been set aside and protected for breeding grounds. 170 species of bird can be found in the Turks and Caicos Islands from Pelicans and Flamingos to Osprey and Cuban Crows. The variety is staggering and the photographs that have been taken here have been published across the world. On North Caicos in particular the tidal flats on the South side of the island attract scores of birds including wild Pink Flamingos that regularly inhabit the aptly named Flamingo Pond.
Turks and Caicos also is home to the West Indian Whistling-Duck, a rare bird that gets its name from a distinctive whistling call.





Humpback Whales


North Atlantic Humpback Whales are seen around the islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay during the months of late January through early April. These magestic creatures pass through our area as part or their annual migration for mating and birth. While on a whale watching trip you will not only have the opportunity to encounter these amazing creatures by sight, you will also learn many interesting and educational facts. You can combined a morning of great diving where you may be able to hear the songs of the whales while under water and an afternoon of whale watching from the boat. A must see and hear experience.





JoJo the Dolphin


JoJo is a unique Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin that has been living and playing in the shallow waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies since 1980. He is one of the few dolphins around the world that voluntarily interacts with human beings in his own natural habitat. Much loved by the islanders, the government has proclaimed JoJo a National Treasure, with a specially appointed warden to protect him. The friendly dolphin has become a powerful symbol for nature conservation in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Sparsely populated and so far unspoiled, the islands and their turquoise waters are a unique haven for wildlife. Marine Turtles, migrating whales, schools of wild dolphins and a variety of rare birds are found in the area. Seeing so many tropical islands ruined by careless development, the government has recently committed itself to the path of ' eco - tourism' in an effort to protect the Country's fragile natural heritage. The small island nation has already established 27 national parks and protected areas, in an effort to safeguard its pristine shores.






The Rock Iguana



The Rock Iguana (Cyclura carinata) is found nowhere else in the world. It is a shy and harmless reptile. These large lizards were once found on nearly all of the islands of the Turks & Caicos archipelago. Unfortunately, iguanas are no longer found on islands where livestock and domesticated animals (especially cats and dogs) have been introduced. These docile creatures have now taken refuge mainly on small-uninhabited cays away from human settlement. Little Water Cay is their most famous refuge, a small island totally inhabited by some 2000 Rock Iguanas which has a board walk that goes through the island for easy viewing of these amazing creatures. We have something that is the only one of its kind. We should be proud of it and continue to protect and preserve this unique animal as part of our national heritage.




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Carbon Cycle Project # 2







The paths taken by carbon atoms through this cycle are extremely complex, and may take millions of years to come full circle.









The Carbon Cycle



Carbon is known to be the basis of all organic molecules. It is a greenhouse gas that makes up our genetic material (DNA, RNA and protein) which is very important for life. It is a major element in our body that has the ability to bond with almost any molecule.


The Carbon cycle is the process for which carbon is cycle through the air, plants animals, fossil fuel and ground. It is usually though of as four major reservoirs interacting by pathways of exchange. According to statistics, large amount of carbon is given off into the atmosphere forming into carbon dioxide (Co2). Carbon dioxide is then cycle by green plants forming into a well known process called photosynthesis which produces organic molecules. It is the great natural recycler of the carbon atoms.


In Oceans photosynthesis is carried out by microscopic aquatic plants called phytoplankton. After this is done the carbohydrates then becomes the foundation for a system of chemical energy that fuel living cells in plants and animals. In the ocean extremely large amounts of carbon sinks to the ocean floor to be burn into the crust of the earth. In consumers, carbon dioxide reenters the air through respiration, as food molecules are broken down for energy and Co2 and other byproducts are emitted.


In the carbon cycle plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere along with water they get from the soil to make the substance they need in order to grow. Without the proper functioning of the carbon cycle every aspect of life could change dramatically. It is very vital to know and understand the importance of its working functions.


In accordance with the Carbon cycle website at various times in the history of the earth, different parts of the earth have had different levels of importance and the amount held in sinks and movements between them has varied enormously.