Global Warming and its impacts

Global Warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth.

Global Warming Impacts

Many of the following "harbingers" and "fingerprints" are now well under way:

1.     Rising Seas--- inundation of fresh water marshlands (the everglades), low-lying cities, and islands with seawater.

2.     Changes in rainfall patterns --- droughts and fires in some areas, flooding in other areas.

3.     Increased likelihood of extreme events--- such as flooding, hurricanes, etc.

4.     Melting of the ice caps --- loss of habitat near the poles. Polar bears are now thought to be greatly endangered by the shortening of their feeding season due to dwindling ice packs. 

5.     Melting glaciers - significant melting of old glaciers is already observed.

6.     Widespread vanishing of animal populations --- following widespread habitat loss.

7.     Spread of disease --- migration of diseases such as malaria to new, now warmer, regions.

8.     Bleaching of Coral Reefs due to warming seas and acidification due to carbonic acid formation --- One third of coral reefs now appear to have been severely damaged by warming seas.

9.     Loss of Plankton due to warming seas --- The enormous (900 mile long) Aleution island ecosystems of orcas (killer whales), sea lions, sea otters, sea urchins, kelp beds, and fish populations, appears to have collapsed due to loss of plankton, leading to loss of sea lions, leading orcas to eat too many sea otters, leading to urchin explosions, leading to loss of kelp beds and their associated fish populations. 

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Bioenergy or Biofuels:

Bioenergy can be produced from a variety of biomass feedstocks, including forest agricultural and livestock residues; short-rotation forest plantations; energy crops; the organic component of municipal solid waste; and other organic waste streams.

Direct solar energy:

These technologies harness the energy of solar irradiance to produce electricity using photovoltics.

Geo thermal energy

Utilizes the acceptable thermal energy from the earth interiors, where the heat is extracted from a  reservoirs that are naturally sufficient hot and permeable(Hydrothermal Reservoirs)used to generate electricity, analogue to fuel source

Hydropower:

Uses the potential energy stored in the water(at rest) by making the water to flow from higher to lower elevation. used to produce hydro electricity, encompasses the large centralized urban needs of energy.

GIS AND CONSERVATION

GIS AND CONSERVATION

 Conservation biologists have come to recognize the importance of GIS in their domain. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has become a most effective tool in the field of landscape ecology.  With the increase in available landscape data from satellite imagery and public agencies (like NRSC), GIS has established a niche in the field of biodiversity conservation for spatial analyses. Some important topics where the tool finds application are below:

Gap Analysis

An area where GIS found early application is gap analysis.  Gap Analysis is the process of mapping out sensitive species habitats and overlaying the protected and undisturbed areas of habitat. This allows conservation biologists to visualize areas of sensitive species that are currently unprotected.

GIS and Corridor Mapping

Over the recent years, GIS has found great use in mapping of corridors. These corridors when identified are restored for the effective migration of different terrestrial species. Corridors connect habitats cut off due to anthropogenic factors (like agriculture, construction of roads etc.). Corridor restoration is important for species having large home range in order to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Land cover- Land use Mapping

Another key area where GIS is gaining wide application is the mapping of land use-land cover changes. Due to various human induced factors landscape structure has been constantly changing for the worse so far as wildlife conservation is concerned. The availability of satellite images for a landscape enables one to monitor the spatio-temporal changes and thus future projection is made. Bassed on these future projections, steps are taken by decision makers.

Biomimicry

Biomimicry – Inspired by Nature

Biomimicry refers to the imitation of the nature’s systems, processes, phenomena and deriving ideas to develop man made systems, models and processes so as to analyze and solve human problems.Although it is a newly developed scientific field, the idea of biomimicry was applied in earlier centuries itself. The depiction of flying machine by DaVinci and later the first airplane by the Wright brothers were inspired by birds.

Biomimicry can be done in both micro (even in nano) and macro scales and can be followed in two ways to seek answers to some problems

• ·         A process can be analyzed within nature and can be applied to an existing problem , or

Image Source: Blemya.com

• ·         Check the biological world for the most suitable process that is in analogy to the existing problem so as to obtain a solution.

Some of the best examples of biomimicry are

• ·         The Velcro, that was inspired by burs

• ·         Sonar inspired by bats, dolphins

• ·         Biologically inspired engineering (e.g. Eastgate centre, Harare)

Save our Vembanad lake...... at least for tourism...... Its condition is really hurting.....

DEGRADATION OF WETLAND VEMBANAD LAKE

IMPORTANCE OF SENSOR WEBS IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

IMPORTANCE OF SENSOR WEBS IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

Sensors are basic instruments have the capacity to transform various types of environmental stimuli (physical, biological, chemical) in to transmissible and interpretable signals. Sensor web consists of three layers sensor layer, communication layer and information layer.

For environmental research numerous sensors aggregated and use. Sensor web is a web of sensors, sensor system, its networks, data and metadata capabilities to act as a coordinated macro instrument. Sensor web used for sensing system such as weather and air pollution monitoring stations and earth observation satellites. Sensor web provide valuable tool for earth system science used as real time and open ended (Open standards, models, service and Meta data definition) tool. Sensor web also used for social ecological system sustainability by using qualitative and quantitative model.

REFERENCE:Holling,c.s.(2001):Understanding complexity of Economic,Ecological and Social systems.
Sensor web for environmental research-Nishadh,K.A-AZZEZ,P.A.

Image from:http://www.eeweb.com/websites/sensors-web-portal

IMPACTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION

Habitat fragmentation is a serious issue that today our entire world is facing. It is the disintegration of the environment of the organism into patches due to natural or anthropogenic activities. These fragmented patches cannot fully accommodate the entire organism this ultimately support only small population which leads to species extinction. In the process of fragmentation there forms discontinuity in the spatial distribution of resources which affects occupancy, reproduction and survival in a particular species. But this it can also provide new environment for new species to evolve. Thus earth shows the resiliency on the earth.

1. The most important part which is affected is the biodiversity that is the ecological niche of the organisms.

2. The organisms in these areas directed to the patches left which leads to crowding and increased competition.

3.  The destruction of the habitat causes climatic changes due to deforestation.

4.  Formation of new species leads to inbreeding.

5.  Inbreeding effects causes reduced heterogeneity and vigor among the organism.

6. Due to these effects species are prone to disease and predation.

7.   This all finally results in species extinction.

                            

                      So it’s our responsibility of each and every individual to conserve our nature…

<image courtesy :Photo taken by Priyanka Babu, Ponnmudi, 10.11.2012>

Environmental Degradation

 Environmental degradation is the weakening of the environmental quality from original atmosphere. Economic growth, Urbanizations, transportation and intensification of the agriculture are the major causes of the environmental changes. Some environmentalist are in the opinion of population growth is the major factor for environmental degradation when it exceeds the carrying capacity.

The in appropriable use of the natural resources and the production of waste and other pollutants changes the equilibrium of the planet’s ecosystem. The anthropogenic activities like mining, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation increased the rate of degradation.

In order to   reduce environmental degradation, collective orientations are needed. Governments across the globe and action plan designed to minimize their impact on the environment. This will require action from all members of society from businesses to households.

INTERMEDIATE DISTURBANCE HYPOTHESIS:

INTERMEDIATE DISTURBANCE HYPOTHESIS:

The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis  states that diversity is

maximized when ecological disturbance is neither too rare nor too frequent. At low levels of disturbance, more competitive organisms will push subordinate species to extinction and dominate the ecosystem. At high levels of disturbance, due to frequent forest fires or human impacts like deforestation, all species are at risk of going extinct(both r and k-selected species). According to intermediate disturbance theory, at intermediate levels of disturbance, diversity is thus maximized because both competitive k-selected selected and opportunistic r-selected species can coexist

      This coexistence is a result of the differing life history strategies of species,which dictate a preference for high or low disturbance. K-selected species tend to be more competitive, because they invest a larger proportion of resources into growth and competition and thus generally dominate stable ecosystems over long time periods. In contrast, r-selected species, which colonize open areas quickly, can dominate landscapes recently cleared by

disturbance. Therefore the areas where disturbance occurs frequently, but in intermediate magnitude both r-selected and k-selected species exist.

     The intermediate disturbance hypothesis is consistent with diversity patterns observed in natural and altered lotic ecosystems. Species diversity is reduced in stream habitats exposed to levels of disturbances that are severe. In addition, habitats with enhanced environmental consistency exhibit suppressed diversity even if adverse conditions (e.g., oxygen deficits) are not apparent. It is postulated that ‘undisturbed’ lotic systems are in fact ‘disturbed’ and that the high biotic diversity of natural streams is a function of moderate perturbation. Diversity is enhanced by the spatio-temporal heterogeneity resulting from intermediate disturbance, which maintains the   community in a non-equilibrium state (a state where both ‘k’ as well as ‘r’-selected species co-exist.

What will be your signature for YUCCA ?

"NIGHTMARE OR  DREAM"

Image courtesy: GOOGLE

 

                                                          Remember YUCCA?

 

Lawmakers and policy planners must revive the search for safe ways to store used fuel rods from nuclear power reactors. The long-term solution favored by most experts, which we endorse, is to bury the material in geologically stable formations capable of preventing leakage far into the future.

But no politically acceptable site has yet been found, and leaving the used fuel rods at each reactor — more than 65,000 metric tons had accumulated across the country by the end of 2012 — seems increasingly problematic. At least nine states have banned the construction of new reactors until a permanent storage site is found or progress toward finding one is made. The only potential permanent storage site examined so far — at Yucca Mountain in Nevada— has been blocked for more than two decades by technical problems, legal challenges and political opposition from the state.

It is worth remembering what the president of  USA stands,  he  has shut down the project, and his Energy Department withdrew its application for a license before the safety of the project could be evaluated.in short we had some pros and cones against this like

·        No potential global warming via co2 emission

·        It doesn’t cause acid rain

But still

·        Uncertainty in security

·        Known reserve willl explore rapidly

·        Nuclear weapons

Those recommendations are sensible, and President Obama and Congress should work with the states to move that ahead. If nuclear power is to have a future in this world, politicians, scientists and industry leaders need to commit to finding a solution instead of just hoping that everything will somehow work out.

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Ecological succession is defined as the observed process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. The succession begins with relatively few species called ‘pioneers’, develops through several stages called ‘seral stages’ until it reaches the final stabilized stage called ‘climax community’.

Ecological succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.

·        Primary Succession: begins on a bare area that has not been previously occupied by any community e.g. newly exposed rock.  

·   Secondary Succession: begins on an area where a community has previously existed but has been destroyed by either natural calamities (landslide, flood, volcanoes) or anthropogenic impacts (deforestation, railway tracks).                    

                                        

Types of succession on the basis of substratum

·        Hydrosere: Succession starts in freshwater

·        Lithosere: Succession starts on rock

·        Psammosere: Succession starts on sand

·        Xerosere: Succession starts in a dry area

·        Halosere: Succession starts in a saline body (e.g. a marsh)

Clement's theory of succession

As per Clement succession involves the following 6 processes:

· Nudation: Succession starts with the formation of a bare area (devoid of vegetation). The process leading to the formation of bare area is called Nudation.

·   Migration: It refers to arrival of propagules (spores, seeds etc.).

·     Ecesis: It involves the establishment of newly arrived propagules and initial growth of vegetation.

· Competition: As newly arrived propagules became well established, grew, and spread, various species began to compete for space, light and nutrients by a process called competition.

·  Reaction: Autogenic changes (changes made by organisms themselves) affect the habitat resulting in replacement of one plant community by another.

·  Stabilization: Reaction phase leads to development of a final community called climax community.

Sustainable Energy for all

                

Sustainable energy is simply the energy needed for the sustainable development, which means the energy   that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future energy needs. Renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, hydroelectricity and tidal power are the technologies that promote the energy efficiency for sustainable development.

 Sustainable energy technologies are important because of its advantages in the field of environmental and energy safety. Green energy is the term closely related and which means natural energetic process and cause no pollution. Green energy   can be effective competitive energy sources to oil and gas suppliers that can   reduce carbon emissions and pollution


In short, the only way to meet the requirements of the future generation is the   renewable wind and solar generated power. The availability of the reliable system of energy supply is its affordable, efficient and environmental development of the country.

Bioluminescent BioReporter for tackling environmental Challenges

  Bioluminescent  BioReporters for  Enviromental Monitoring 

 

Bioreporters are genetically engineered living microbial cell, which produce measurable signals in response to the changes in the environment. The main principle is based on the detection of light emitted by the genetically modified organism. A physical or chemical change in the surrounding leads to the activation of the genes that code for the protein and generate signals, which indicate the bioreporter, has sensed a particular change in the environment.

The potential applications of bioreporters are in monitoring the environmental problems like pollution and biochip development for predicting the natural disasters. If pollutants are present in the atmosphere, the signal indicates the level of pollution. The other proposed application of bioreporters are in monitoring the water availability of the plants and   glowing trees in road highways to save the energy and in detecting the contamination in water.

To conclude, bioreporter technology is evolving as a emerging technology to provide the  intense application in all tha areas of science. 

< image courtesy :http://browseyard.com/collegeessay/biotechnology-how-it-can-affect-our-daily-life/> 

Ecological footprint

Ecological footprint

The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate.  It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to supply the resources a human population consumes, and to assimilate associated waste. Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how much of the Earth (or how many planet Earths) it would take to support humanity if everybody followed a given lifestyle. For 2007, humanity's total ecological footprint was estimated at 1.5 planet Earths; that is, humanity uses ecological services 1.5 times as quickly as Earth can renew them.  Every year, this number is recalculated to incorporate the three-year lag due to the time it takes for the UN to collect and publish statistics and relevant research.

Although the term ecological footprint is widely used and well known , the methods used to calculate it vary greatly. However, standards are now emerging to make results more comparable and consistent.

Biodiversity Databases

Biodiversity databases are the databases which store information on the biodiversity of a particular area or group of living organisms.

These databases contain information on the three level of biodiversity i.e. Species diversity, ecosystem diversity and genetic diversity. Specimen-specific databases contain data about individual specimens, that are preserved in various museums and laboratories around the world. specimens, collections of specimen photographs, data on field-based specimen observations and morphological or genetic data.

Browser view of Integrated Taxonomic Information System(ITIS)

Browser view of Global Biodiversity Information Facility(GBIF)

Biodiversity databases are being created for record, research to be used by scientists, conservation managers, policy makers, government and non-profit organizations.

Some of the well known biodiversity databases are:

·   Global Biodiversity and Information Facilty (GBIF)- World’s largest database on biodiversity of earth

·    Integrated Taxonomic Information System-information on all taxa of interest to North America

·    NatureServe-plants, animals, and ecosystems of the United States and Canada

·    CITES species database-all species ever listed in CITES Appendices I, II or III