Lab 9: Macon's Dog Park

Tyler's Place Dog Park

For this lab, we were supposed to go to the local dog park down the street from Mercer's campus.  However, due to an intense thunderstorm, we only made it halfway down Adams Street.

With regards to the health of the dog, dog parks are great as it allows them to roam (somewhat) free, run around, and just have a good time.  More so, dog parks allow for fraternization between owners.  It creates an atmosphere that allows, to an extent, like minded people to socialize.  (I say like minded because I feel that it is safe to assume that almost everyone who goes to a dog park is a zoophile or at least a lover of dogs.

However, concerns do exist.  There is the potential that dogs might attack one another.  While we attempt to humanize these creatures, it must not be forgotten that some are very territorial creatures.  Secondly, there is the potential threat that dogs could pick up illnesses or diseases from bugs or other dogs.  These include rabies, Bordatella aka the "kennel cough," and intestinal parasites.   Finally, this website highlights the potential threat of dogs ending up in packs.

So before you take your dog to the park, remember to be vigilant of the other dogs and be sure your friend has had his/her shots.

Amphioxus

Vertebrate world, say hello to your Uncle Amphioxus!!  Or maybe not...

Once thought to be one of the first creatures to possess a vertebrate like substance, amphioxus has over time grown out of favor in the scientific community.  Now, it is thought that cephalopods may be closer to humans that previously thought.

 Just as a plus, be sure to watch this video in which two guys sing a (now factually inaccurate) song from the early 20th century about amphioxus.

 

It's a long, long way from amphioxus,

But we all came from there!

It wasn't much to look at, and it scarce knew how to swim.

And Nereis was very sure it hadn't come from him.

The molluscs wouldn't own it, and the arthropods got sore,

So the poor thing had to burrow in the sand along the shore.

He burrowed in the sand before a crab could nip his tail.

He said "Gill slits and myotomes are all to no avail

I've grown some metapleural folds, and sport an oral hood.  

And all these fine new characters don't do me any good!"

Chorus:

It's a long way from amphioxus

It's a long way to us…

It's a long way from amphioxus

To the meanest human cuss. 

 

It's good-bye, fins and gill slits,

Hello, lungs and hair!

It's a long, long way from amphioxus,

But we all came from there!

 

He sulked a while down in the sand without a bit of pep.

Then he stiffened up his notochord and said "I'll beat 'em yet!

Let 'em laugh and show their ignorance; I don't mind their jeers!

Just wait until they see me in a hundred million years!"

"My notochord shall turn into a chain of vertebrae;

As fins, my metapleural folds will agitate the sea.

My tiny dorsal nervous chord shall be a mighty brain  

And the vertebrates will dominate the animal domain!"

For more info about the song, check out this webpage.

Mitochondrial Eve

In our cells, we possess Mitochondrial DNA.  This DNA is different from standard DNA as it is passed only through the maternal line.  Ergo, no matter who  the father might be, if the children have the same mother, their mtDNA will be the same.  Of course, over time, with the passage of generations, mutations can occur within the mtDNA to allow some variation.  My mtDNA is not the exact same as that of my great-great-great-great grandmother.  If you go back far enough, one finds that all humans can trace their mtDNA to a single parent: Mitochondrial Eve.  

Of course, we all look different, but it is possible that we all have a common ancestor.  This idea can then be combined with that of allopatric speciation in which a population splits and finds itself in different geographic areas.  This leads to limited genetic drift as those sub-populations is forced to mate within themselves. (Limited due to the fact that the result in this situation didn't not lead to a new species but to greater variation within the species.)  The figure below show possible historic allopatric speciation patterns in humans.

Lab 10: Biodesel

I first heard of Biodesel several years ago while watching Mike Rowe on "Dirty Jobs."  This is a really good clip that I highly recommend.  It is split into 2 parts.  

                  Here is the process explained by steps.

Biodesel is an alternative fuel source but I don't see it ever becoming as powerful (in terms of popularity) as oil.  This is unfortunate as it gets the job done.

My idyllic fuel source would be waste/trash/garbage.  If you have seen Back to the Future, think to the end of the first movie when the Doc Brown shows up from the years 2015 with his DeLorean which was retrofitted to turn Marty's trash into fuel for his nuclear powered car.  In reality, the best scenario possible for the future of American fuels is to allow for a multitude of options.  In my mind, biodesel would be on equal footing with ethanol, methane, hydrogen, oil, natural gas, and electric.  (Of course, the creation of some of these fuel types, particularly that of electric, requires changes to the US's energy production system which are also unsustainable.)

Lab 8: Darwin's Dilemna

Darwin's Dilemna was an interesting video we watched during our last lab.  I highlighted intelligent design over standard Darwinian theory of evolution.  

Here is a trailer for the film.

There were elements of it which I did and did not like.  In particular, I hated their intentional diction.  During many of the interviews, the people being interviewed said that indicated that, to paraphrase, "there must have been some sort of design.  Randomness does not justify the historical scientific evidence.  The most plausible answer is that some intelligence was behind it."  That just got annoying after the first five minutes.  

However, I did like that they presented the alternative point of view.  Certainly Darwinism has become the dominant paradigm and is what is often taught to students.  The minority opinion should still be protected as some elements of the ruling opinion fall short.  Assuming that they were not just trying to push an agenda, the intelligent designists have some qualms with Darwinism as it fails to answer all questions for them.  While intelligent design might not hold the answer, there questions are still valid.

Finally, in the movie, they mention the Cambrian explosion and the biodiversity that we find fossilized at the Burgess Shale.  Below is a video clip from the Field Museum in Chicago which seeks to recreate life from that time.  Note the biodiversity within the exhibit and how aquatic life then differs from aquatic life now.

Lab 7: Hitchiti

I enjoy hiking so I definitely enjoyed our lab in the Hitchiti Experimental Forest.  The lab consisted of us walking a few miles through the woods, taking a picture of us hugging a tree, and getting a chance to see the Oconee River.

Me hugging the tree

Me on rock structure in the middle of the Oconee

I don't know what else to say besides that.  The purpose of the lab was to see the trees and discuss experimental burning techniques to study the regeneration of the ecosystem as well as to guard against overgrowth plants.  (Smokey the Bear was a little bit too successful in his attempts to prevent forest fires.  But forest fires are a nature part of the life cycle of a forest.)  

In conclusion, if anyone likes nature hikes or even rock climbing, check out the Hitchiti Experimental Forest.

http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Georgia/Georgia_South/Hitchiti_boulders/

Lab 6: Jackson Springs

I studied abroad in England the spring semester of my sophomore year.  While there, I was obligated to attend weekly lectures pertaining to English culture that were often informative and enjoyable.  During that semester, I came to understand the distinction between Classical French and English Gardens.  (I can't remember if I learned this distinction during one of those lectures or not.  But I know I learned it at some point that semester.)

An example of a French formal garden can be found at the Gardens of Versailles.

Note how everything has a proper shape and size.  Manicuring and upkeep for this garden is a must as the visual effect is diminished if a blade is out of place.  

Contrast that with the garden found at Stourhead Manor in England.

Note the untamed nature of the garden.  Certainly, such a garden is manicured, but at significantly lower levels than that of its French counterpart.  The rise in popularity of the English Garden coincides with the rise of English Romantic poetry which highlights the beauty of wild, untamed nature.  

While Jackson Springs features neither a lake not a grotto, I immediately thought of Stourhead upon seeing the cover created by the trees, the little bridge, and the multiple levels to the park.

Lab 5: Indian Mounds

For this lab ,we took a trip to the Ocmulgee National Trail.

I don't have much to say about the park as I've been there numerous times before in high school in college.  (The last time I went actually, my class was split into different groups; each of which had to take different paths to the Great Temple Mount.  My group had the fortune of going through the swampy area.  It was interesting as I had never been that route before. )  However, this time was unique as I got to hear a little about Macon's history in the process.

Apparently the knowledge of the mounds was lost.  People just thought they were large hills.  In Macon, this makes sense as you have the convergence of two geographic regions: the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.  The Piedmont is more hilly.  An example of this in Macon is Coleman Hill, one of the highest points in Macon.  It wasn't in fact until the 1930s with the execution of New Deal programs when the "hills" were excavated and bodies started pouring out.  The significance of these mounds was then realized.

The ancient Mounds were once lost have been discovered and are annually celebrated.  It is now up to us to participate in nature and with it's history so that they won't be forgotten again.

Lab 3: Trees, Shubs, and Plants

During our walking tour of Mercer, we saw a plethora of flora indigenous to the South East as well as other vegetation from across the globe.

Trees

Common Name: Ginkgo Trees

Scientific Name: Ginkgo biloba

While this tree is not indigenous to the Southeastern US, as they are aesthetically pleasing, Mercer is the home to several Ginkgo biloba.  It is best known for its medicinal effect.  It is often sold as a drug to those looking to improve their memory.

Common Name: Loblolly Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus taeda

These are common throughout the southeast and a few can even be found on Mercer's campus.

Common Name: American Chestnut

Scientific Name: Castanea dentata

It was once seen throughout the east more is more rare now due to a chestnut blight caused by a fungus.  The nuts are also noteworthy as Christmas time is upon us.

Common Name: Southern Live Oak

Scientific Name:Quercus virginiana

As the Live Oak is the state tree of Georgia, I felt compelled to include it.  But while it is the state tree of Georgia, it can be found throughout the Southeast at large and is someone iconic of the south.

Common Name: American Holly

Scientific Name: Ilex opaca

Again, as it is now close to Christmas time, the American Holly seemed to be a perfect fit for the season.  While it is commonly thought to be just a bush, holly is in fact a tree which, with time, grows to be 10-20 meters tall.  It's fruit which is only produced by the female holly is the characteristic red berry.

Shrubs

Common Name: Honeysuckle

Scientific Name: Diervilla lonicera

There are many types of Honeysuckle.  This species is found, for the most part, throughout the Eastern seaboard.    This plant is notable as the trumpet shaped flowers and its sweet nectar.

Common Name: Juniper

Scientific Name: Juniperus osteosperma

Junipers aren't indigenous or to the south east but are still found in this region due to landscape architects.  They can actually be seen on Mercer's campus.  There are Juniper bushes near the base of the stairwell.

Common Name: Crepe Myrtle

Scientific Name: Lagerstronemia indica

Again, like the Juniper, Crepe Myrtles don't grow naturally in this regions but have transplanted by landscape architects.  Over time, these scrubs have grown to flourish in this region and have become a symbol of the region.

Common Name: Rabiteye Blueberry

Scientific Name: Vaccinium virgatum

This shrub is commonly found in Georgia.  It is particularly abundant in Georgia but can be found throughout the Southeast at large.  It is known for its fruit: the blueberry.

Common Name: American Snowbell

Scientific Name: Styrax americanus

Plants

Common Name: Cherokee Rose

Scientific Name: Rosa laevigata

The Cherokee rose is the state flower of GA.  It is indigenous to Southeast Asia but has become can invasive species and became naturalized here sometime in the 1780s.

Common Name: Aloe 

Scientific Name:Aloe vera

Aloe is not native to the Southeast but has found its way here over time.  It is popular as oil extracted from the plant is used in lotions to assist with everything from sun burn to general moisturizing to antibacterial and anti-fungal treatments.

Common Name: Monkey Grass

Scientific Name: Ophiopogon japonicus

Monkey grass is often a plant of choice for landscape architects.  It is native to Japan but can be found across the Mercer campus and the South East at large, often lining sidewalks.

Common Name: Mexican Petunia

Scientific Name: Arrhostoxylum microphyllum

Common Name: Poison Ivy

Scientific Name: Toxicodendron radicans

Poison Ivy can be found throughout North America.  It is common found in wooded areas: as a vine lurking on trees, waiting for someone to touch it.  Of course, many people have an allergic reaction upon contact with the plant as they are allergic to the Urushiol within the plan.

My Favorite Lake

The picture below looks like it is from a fantasy or science fiction movie such as Avatar, but this place exists on Earth!

This is Plitvice Lakes National Park in Crotatia.  The park hosts sixteen lakes and two waterfalls.  I am a fan of large nature scenes, and this one is simply breathtakingly beautiful.  According to the park website, during the Pleistocene era, water ate away at the porous rock of a mountain creating a multitude of reliefs which form the lake basins today.  These lakes also host a wide variety of flora and fauna including 28 different endemic plant species.  Another notable feature about this ecosystem is that the different lakes tend to vary in color.  The lakes flow and cascade into one another allowing the accumulation of organic matter which leaves varying levels of minerals in the lakes.  More so, this flow of organic matter has

Compare the different shades of the water.  The top one is more aqua marine while the one below has more of a green tint.

For more information about the Plitvice Lakes National Park, look at its UNESCO page at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/98/ 

and the official park page at 

http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=32