Abstract In the first section, this paper, discusses the peoples of the Kodiak Archipelago since the Late Holocene to present day compared to those of the Canadian Arctic. In the second part it explores biogeography, defining it and discussing how it is affected over time because of changes in climate and ecology.
From the Paper "The Kodiak Archipelago lies off the Pacific coast of Alaska and the islands traditionally belonged to the Alutiq peoples in Modern times who lived in large settlements, kept slaves and had a permanent elite Ames. There are four culture periods in the Late ..."
Tags: Kodial Archipelago, Canacian Arctic, East Arctic, biogeography
Abstract This paper describes the effects that the brown tree snake had on the wildlife of Guam. The brown tree snake, accidentally imported to Guam shortly after World War II, appeared all over the island and ended up killing several species of the native forest birds that lived in Guam. This paper is a historical description of the development of the brown tree snake as a plague. It details the origin of the Brown Tree Snake and the terrible effects it had on the island of Guam. Moreover, this paper shows the environmental effects on the development of the Island.
From the Paper "Determining the number of animal species existing on the island of Guam prior to the arrival of humans has presented a distinct difficulty. From archeological excavations on the nearby island of Rota, scientists have determined that the original human colonists' domesticated animals extirpated many species thousands of years ago (Chiszar et al1997). World War II "subjected" Guam to naval bombardment so severe that some artillery fire leveled some forests (Chiszar et al 1997). After the war, extensive seeding of the island took place with an exotic legume (Leucaena leucocephala.) It permanently replaced native trees over vast areas (Chiszar et al 1997). The fauna of Guam seemed stable until the 1960's. At this time Wildlife authorities noticed the entire absence of birds from the southern one-third of the island. The boundary of the absence of birds seemed to be moving steadily northward. Birds were missing from the southern two-thirds of the island by the end of the 1970's (Enbring & Ramsey 1983). Thirteen years later, in 1983, all 10 forest species occurred concurrently only in 160 ha of mature forest beneath the cliff line at the northern tip of Guam, with a few species still occupying parts of the northern plateau (Savidge 1987). The early 1980's reveals many factors blamed for the decline in Guam's forest birds. Disease, pesticides, habitat loss, hunting, and introduced species evolve as the major suspect reasons. Elimination of the forest's mosquitoes that possibly harbor avian malaria or avian pox brought an influx of pesticide usage. During World War II to the-mid 1970's, the military used pesticides such as DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons to kill the mosquitoes (Enbring & Ramsy 1983). Pesticides might have caused declines in the past; therefore, it cannot be ruled out as a cause for the earlier reed-warbler extinction (Reichel et al 1992). Tests conducted in 1981 indicate low pesticide levels on Guam. Pesticides probably were not responsible for the current declines of forest birds (Reichel et al 1992). The years since 1945 have witnessed an increase in weedy species, though substantial native habitat remains in southern and northern Guam. Birds have disappeared from forests that previously supported healthy bird populations (Savidge 1987)."
Tags:biogeography, birds, brown, introduced, island, snake, Guam, species, treeWorld, War, II, forest
Abstract The paper defines the term ecosystem as an area which includes all the living organisms, their physical surroundings, and the natural cycles that sustain them. It also gives several examples of ecosystems such as forests. The paper then studies the ecosystem of Mono Lake in California. It covers issues such as tools used to study the ecosystem, the biogeography of the area, plants and animals of the area, the food web, water recycling and the human impact.
From the Paper "For at least the last 5,500 years, Paiute Indians have lived off the land and waters of the Mono Basin. Using shallow skimming baskets, Kutzadika"a Paiute women collected kutsavi, the pupae of alkali flies"an excellent source of protein. The arrival of miners and those who supplied them with food, clothing, and other goods brought the peaceful coexistence of the Kutzadika?a with their surroundings to a rapid end.
Settlements of gold miners came and went quickly in the last half of the 19th century. With the collapse of mining in the 1880s, Mono Lake began its irregular career as a resort destination. As late as the 1930s, hotels attracted tourists to the lake by claiming its waters had healing properties. Until the 1950s, excursion boats sometimes ferried tourists to the islands for hiking and picnics."
Abstract This paper is on North America. It includes geographical analysis of this realm. It also includes systematic fields listed: geomorphology, climatology, urban geography, historical geography, economic geography, cultural geography, medical geography, population geography, the geography of development, political geography, biogeography, marine geography.
Abstract This paper provides a review and discussion to determine the biogeography of the rainforest ecosystem, some of the tools needed to study the environment, an examination of the flora and fauna to be found there, and how the food web works. An analysis of the impact of humans on the rainforest ecosystem is followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "In fact, not all rainforests are by definition jungles. Generally speaking, an ecosystem is any community together with its nonliving surroundings (Audesirk 3). The principles underlying the study of ecosystems are based on the concept that all of the elements of a life-supporting environment of any size, whether natural or man-made, are parts of an interrelated network in which each element interacts directly or indirectly with all others and serves to affect the function of the whole as well. All of the ecosystems on Earth are contained within the largest of them, the ecosphere, which encompasses the entire physical Earth (geosphere) and all of its biological components (biosphere) (Ecosystems 5). According to Teresa and Gerald Audesirk, large areas of South America and Africa lie along the equator. "Here the temperature averages between 77 degrees and 86 degrees F with little variation, and rainfall ranges from 100 to 160 inches each year" (921). Rainforests usually occur in regions where there is a high annual rainfall of generally more than 70 inches and a hot and steamy climate. The trees found in these regions are evergreen."
Abstract This paper examines the world's ecological systems. It begins by defining ecosystems and describing what makes them up. It then describes the formation of different ecosystems. The paper then looks at what is being done to protect and promote the ecological systems in the world and if these measures are effective.
From the Paper "The Endangered Species Act of 1973, often referred to as 'nature's safety net,' was passed to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend (Endangered). In other words, when management practices and other conservation laws fail to maintain healthy animal and plant populations, the ESA acts as a last barrier to a species' extinction (Endangered). When a species becomes listed on the ESA list, it stands a good chance of survival, yet then the more difficult, time consuming, and expensive task of reversing the decline, restoring the species to a secure status, and removing it from the list begins (Endangered)."
Tags: conservation, ESA, biology, ecology, biogeography
