Reference:
Simon, E. (2010,Jan 29). CCNY biologists identify new Spiny Pocket Mouse species. The City University Of New York. Retrieved Feb.16, 2010, from
http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2010/01/29/ccny-biologists-identify-new-spiny-pocket-mouse-species/
Summary:
This article tells us that biologists have found a new species of spiny pocket mouse, which is called Heteromys catopterius. And makes a comparison between the Heteromys catopterius and Overlook Spiny Pocket Mouse, in order to explain why this kind of mouse is a new species. There are a lot of differences, such as the Heteromys catopterius ‘ fur is darker than that of the Overlook Spiny Pocket Mouse and this mouse doesn’t have obviously rounded ears. Besides, the skull of H. anomalus is broader and shorter. The Overlook Spiny Pocket Mouse usually lives in the place which is from 350 to 2,450 meters higher than the sea level. But the H. anomalus lives in the mountains of the area or some forests , which are lower than this number. Many people are very surprised that we still have a new mammal species, which we could not find in the past. Most new species are found in some genetic work; biologists need to check the data when they identify an isolated species. But this time, the new species is a special one; researchers had never paid attention to it. Professor Anderson, who found the H. anomalus, explains that if there are distinguishable changes from one place to another place, more likely we can find new species between these two places. In addition, Professor Anderson is a monitor of a group which does research about “geographic information systems (GIS)”. His purpose is to connect the Heteromys and GIS , do research about the requirement of climate and make a comparison between the suitable habitat and location habitat.
Reaction:
After reading this article, I found that there still are some dead angles that our science cannot touch. This new species is a branch of the spiny pocket mouse, so the biological scientists never focused on it. Through this case, I realized that our nature has varied species; human is just one kind of living thing in the natural world. Human’s science, power and wisdom cannot be mentioned of the same time with our nature. I believe after this discovery, we will find other new species in the future. On the other hand, I am glad to hear this news, because we can get clues and more information to fill in our zoology data store house. Like professor Anderson, we can use the new species to do some research, which can help improve our life. As we know, all the science research or experiments serve our human beings; the purpose is of improve our life,and our living environment. Because now, the natural environment has become worse than before, all the scientists try their best to save our earth; therefore we need more patience. As for me, even though I am just a student, I still can learn the spirit of scientists, and use this spirit in my daily study.
2010年2月8日星期一
RRJ#2
Reference:
Dybas, C. and NSF. Cain, E. (2010, January 28). dinosaur discovery helps solve piece of evolutionary puzzle. National Science Foundation directorate for biological sciences (BIO), George Washington University, retrieved Feb. 1, 2010, from
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116291&org=BIO&from=news.
Summary:
This article tells us about the new evidence of a kind of dinosaurs, which looks like bird, but does not belong to birds. This kind of dinosaurs is distinct from the birds. National Science Foundation supposed some scientists’ expeditions. They went to Xinjiang Autonomous Region, a part of northwestern China. This place is famous for Late Jurassic fossils. After through many of expeditions, these scientists found many interesting fossils. Especially, they found the fossil of Haplocheirus, which was their major discovery. Haplocheirus is a transitional fossil; it displays an early evolutionary process, so it reflects the process that the later alvarezsaurs develop and change from earlier predatory dinosaurs. And this kind of fossil also proves the scientists’ predictions-the Alvarezsauridae is used to develop in the Late Jurassic time period. Besides, according this article, the Late Jurassic period is very important in that the birds evolved in this time.
Reaction:
After reading, I feel this expedition was historic. The new fossil can return a real situation of the Late Jurassic period, and let our people find the truth of the dinosaurs’ evolution. Before I held the same view with scientists, that the birds are evolved from the group of Alvarezsauridae. Even though this result is announced to republic but I was so shocked that I could not believe this fact. That is because it is totally different; the knowledge that students learned before was the opposite. In addition, as a Chinese I’m very proud of our country; this most important historic thing was found in China. This new discovery can help us to fix the erroneous theory, and let our students obtain the right knowledge; it is good for our science development. I realize that sometimes the firm knowledge maybe is wrong, even if people believe it for so many years. When we have different views, we should point out our questions, not just follow the rules.
Dybas, C. and NSF. Cain, E. (2010, January 28). dinosaur discovery helps solve piece of evolutionary puzzle. National Science Foundation directorate for biological sciences (BIO), George Washington University, retrieved Feb. 1, 2010, from
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116291&org=BIO&from=news.
Summary:
This article tells us about the new evidence of a kind of dinosaurs, which looks like bird, but does not belong to birds. This kind of dinosaurs is distinct from the birds. National Science Foundation supposed some scientists’ expeditions. They went to Xinjiang Autonomous Region, a part of northwestern China. This place is famous for Late Jurassic fossils. After through many of expeditions, these scientists found many interesting fossils. Especially, they found the fossil of Haplocheirus, which was their major discovery. Haplocheirus is a transitional fossil; it displays an early evolutionary process, so it reflects the process that the later alvarezsaurs develop and change from earlier predatory dinosaurs. And this kind of fossil also proves the scientists’ predictions-the Alvarezsauridae is used to develop in the Late Jurassic time period. Besides, according this article, the Late Jurassic period is very important in that the birds evolved in this time.
Reaction:
After reading, I feel this expedition was historic. The new fossil can return a real situation of the Late Jurassic period, and let our people find the truth of the dinosaurs’ evolution. Before I held the same view with scientists, that the birds are evolved from the group of Alvarezsauridae. Even though this result is announced to republic but I was so shocked that I could not believe this fact. That is because it is totally different; the knowledge that students learned before was the opposite. In addition, as a Chinese I’m very proud of our country; this most important historic thing was found in China. This new discovery can help us to fix the erroneous theory, and let our students obtain the right knowledge; it is good for our science development. I realize that sometimes the firm knowledge maybe is wrong, even if people believe it for so many years. When we have different views, we should point out our questions, not just follow the rules.
2010年2月2日星期二
Reference:
Mike, W. (2010, Jan 12). Butterflies impacted by climate change, habitat destruction. University of Nevada, Reno. Retrieved Jan 25, 2010, from http://www.unr.edu/nevadanews/templates/details.aspx?articleid=5305&zoneid=8
Summary:
This article is about the climate changing effect butterflies are impacted and their habitats are breaking so that change a lot. So the butterflies move to high elevations because the loss habitats. This phenomenon is analyzed by biologist Matthew Forister, a University of Nevada, Reno assistant professor in the College of Science. As we known, butterflies are important sign of our ecosystem. They show if the environment worldwide is healthy. There is about 35 years data shows that climate has changed over the past three decades, with an increase daily temperatures, changing some low-elevation butterfly populations to higher elevations. These biologists found that climate change alone cannot account in full for the deteriorating low-altitude fauna. They used information on land use to prove that the declines also follow change of habitat from rural to urban and suburban types. Their most important findings: Butterfly diversity is falling fast at all the places near sea level. It is declining more slowly or holding roughly constant in the mountains, except at tree line. At tree line, butterfly diversity is actually going up, as lower-elevation species react to the warming climate by moving upslope to higher, cooler elevations. Diversity among the high-elevation-specialist butterflies is beginning to fall as temperatures become uncomfortably warm for them.
Reaction:
After I read this article, I concert about our environment. Because our serious problem-global warming, leads the butterflies move to high elevations, they are losing habitats. Eventhough I’m not very sure about why the butterflies are used as indicators of the health of the environment worldwide, I still believe our habitats become very weak, worse than before. Also I very appreciate the biologist Matthew Forister and his work group, they can spent so many years to do this study. That’s not original people can finish it. About this article, I learned much biology knowledge and becoming very interested in butterflies. I really want to know how they can be a important sign of our environment. Although the tempreture is higher than last year but we still should come up with some ways to solve this serious problem.
Mike, W. (2010, Jan 12). Butterflies impacted by climate change, habitat destruction. University of Nevada, Reno. Retrieved Jan 25, 2010, from http://www.unr.edu/nevadanews/templates/details.aspx?articleid=5305&zoneid=8
Summary:
This article is about the climate changing effect butterflies are impacted and their habitats are breaking so that change a lot. So the butterflies move to high elevations because the loss habitats. This phenomenon is analyzed by biologist Matthew Forister, a University of Nevada, Reno assistant professor in the College of Science. As we known, butterflies are important sign of our ecosystem. They show if the environment worldwide is healthy. There is about 35 years data shows that climate has changed over the past three decades, with an increase daily temperatures, changing some low-elevation butterfly populations to higher elevations. These biologists found that climate change alone cannot account in full for the deteriorating low-altitude fauna. They used information on land use to prove that the declines also follow change of habitat from rural to urban and suburban types. Their most important findings: Butterfly diversity is falling fast at all the places near sea level. It is declining more slowly or holding roughly constant in the mountains, except at tree line. At tree line, butterfly diversity is actually going up, as lower-elevation species react to the warming climate by moving upslope to higher, cooler elevations. Diversity among the high-elevation-specialist butterflies is beginning to fall as temperatures become uncomfortably warm for them.
Reaction:
After I read this article, I concert about our environment. Because our serious problem-global warming, leads the butterflies move to high elevations, they are losing habitats. Eventhough I’m not very sure about why the butterflies are used as indicators of the health of the environment worldwide, I still believe our habitats become very weak, worse than before. Also I very appreciate the biologist Matthew Forister and his work group, they can spent so many years to do this study. That’s not original people can finish it. About this article, I learned much biology knowledge and becoming very interested in butterflies. I really want to know how they can be a important sign of our environment. Although the tempreture is higher than last year but we still should come up with some ways to solve this serious problem.
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