Exotic/Invasive Species and Burmese Pythons

            The Ecosystem is very tricky. It all pertains to the environment surrounding us. A person would have to learn the Ecological Literacy to fully be aware of what is going on in the world. An Exotic species is a non-native species, from somewhere else, not part of the local ecosystem. Invasive is a species whose populations are growing out of control, causing harm to humans, animals and crops.

            Exotic and Invasive species come from all type of different things. Sometimes they can come from pet trades. For example, iguanas invading on Boca Grande. Hurricanes can often bring different effects. Each different species has a niche. The role of the native species is jeopardized by non-native species. Everything works together as a whole in a particular ecosystem. Nothing can stand alone. We all need one another. It is a relationship between the environment and the organisms. When new species come in, the ecosystem could change. It causes old species to lose their niche, causing instability.

            The exotic species, which are the non-native, could cause the native species to become extinct, because it is not part of the local ecosystem. The lack of biodiversity, as a result, can create monoculture. The Melaleuca Trees comes from Australia. Allelopathy has a bio chemical that comes out. It kills anything that shades under it. It does not adapt for this area. Developers brought them in to soak up water. Exotics can cause the spread of diseases and blights. The delicate balance of nature is disturbed.

            The Burmese Pythons in Florida came by pet owners and the hurricanes. They are very large in size. The females are over 20 feet long, and the males are over 14 feet long. In 2010, the population was estimated at around 150,000. There are few predators in Florida for this species. (306)

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

            The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the largest remaining cypress forest. In the 1800’s, the Plume Hunters slaughtered hundreds of thousands of egrets and herons for the sake of fashion.  In 1886, millions were paying $32 an ounce. That was twice the price of gold at the time. It would take four egret plumes to adorn a lady’s hat.                                                 

            The Sanctuary works with nature to manage the quality and quantity of our water. Water is the lifeblood of the Corkscrew swamp and the everglades. Yet during the last century, people altered the natural flow, attempting to control flooding and to make more land available for agriculture and residential development. As ground water supplies dwindle and water quality deteriorates, we are beginning to understand the impact of our actions and the need to restore the natural system.

            The slough was the lettuce lakes along the boardwalk tail are in the bald cypress forest, but when water levels are too deep, no trees can grow. The deeper water and open skies attract a variety of wildlife, especially during the spring.

            The Corkscrew Swamp has the largest nesting colony of the wood storks in North America. They nest here during the winter. The wood stork is one of the endangered species that depends on the protected habitat of the Corkscrew Swamp. When shallower ponds elsewhere begin to dry up, it is the best time to see wading birds, turtles, alligators, and other animals that require an aquatic environment.

            One of the most amazing things I saw happened when they had a telescope set up on the boardwalk facing this Red shouldered Hawk. It was in the process of eating something, but I could not tell exactly what it was. While there, our class also saw a 10 foot alligator right up under the boardwalk. I had never been so close to an alligator before. The whole time I was there I kept thinking about A Land Remembered. Anyone who enjoys the wildlife should definitely take a trip there. It will blow you away! It puts you in the mind of Jurassic Park! (351) 

Impact of Packaging in a Consumer Society

In the system of values of the consumer society, health has become a fundamental determinant of quality of life, and it has evolved into a major factor in economic and social policy. According to the Resource Library online, “The Consumer behavior definition is the dynamic interaction of affect and cognition, behavior, and the environment by which human beings conduct the exchange aspects of their lives. In addition, the overt actions of consumers, and the behavior of the consumer or decision maker in the market place of products and services. It often is used to describe the interdisciplinary field of scientific study that attempts to understand and describe such behavior.”

    Within a 24 hour period, everything I have was packaged. Every Tuesday and Thursday I have class. That means there is no time to cook. By the time I leave school, I have to go and pick up my daughter from school. Afterwards, we stop at home, she does her homework, change her clothes and we are off to her tee ball practice. Leaving her practice I normally stop at a fast food place and grab us something to eat. That way she does not have to wait for me to cook, because I like her in the bed by a certain time on school nights. Almost nothing is healthy at fast food restaurants. From the burger to the fries, even the cups that the drinks come in are packaged. I know it is terrible for the environment, but a lot of times, I do it for the convenience. What a selfish thing for me to say, but I am working on being more sustainable.                                                     

  

            A recent food article talked about food packaging and the environmental issues affected by packaging. The article stated, fast-food chains are under pressure to reduce the amount of solid waste they generate, and Maine has banned fruit drinks in aseptic packages (juice boxes). Yet, packaging is integral to today's life style. Nowhere would the loss of modern packaging be more quickly felt than in the food processing and distribution system. In underdeveloped countries where packaging is minimal or nonexistent, food losses of 30-50 percent are not uncommon. In the United States, packaged food losses are less than 3 percent, while fresh food losses are 10 to 15 percent. Reduced food losses lower food costs. As a society we are trying more now than before. We have come a long way with sustainability but still have so much more to do. (421)