Twenty Minutes of Silence

For our second blog assignment we were asked to sit quietly in an outside setting such as a park or a  backyard. To be truthful, it was had to get excited about sitting still and quiet for 20 minutes. But I did it, and it wasn't bad. In fact, as my 20 minutes elapsed I was enjoying my silence.

What I saw: one Crow, one Sparrow, two Bumble Bees, Orange Trees, Palm trees, Heavenly Bamboo, Asparagus Ferns, and the list of plants could keep growing. As far as the abiotic (non living) environment I saw: fallen foliage from multiple plants, a little black beetle (turned upside down), soil, and large rocks. But what interested me was the Orange Tree that was to my left.

Can you see the white covering the leaf closest to the camera?

It interested me so extensively that before returning to my house I stuck my head a little closer into the tree. So close in fact I discovered an Orange covered in thick white cotton!

Can you see how the white is present where the Orange was detached from it's stem?

At first I thought it was covered in bird droppings left by the Sparrow I had seen earlier in the tree but, after I picked the Orange I observed that the white crust was almost buried inside the Orange's peel. So I Google searched for possible causes. What I found was an example of Parasitism. Or rather a relationship between the small bug Icerya Purchasi and the Orange. According to UC Davis' Management Guide for Icerya Purchasi these bugs feed from Orange Trees "[extracting their] plant sap" and eventually if the infestation is uncontrolled will "[reduce] the vigor" from the tree's overall production of fruit and quality of health. Two common characteristics of a parasite-host relationship.

Looks Ok on the inside! 

If you are interested in cultivating Oranges or are experiencing an infestation on your Orange Tree UC Davis' Management Guide also had wonderful information on controlling the Icerya Purchasi using it's natural predator(s) (e.g. the vedalia beetle). Thank's for listening!

Websites for Information on Environmental Science

So, this year I have made plans or pledged to reduce the amount of animal products consumed by our family, to purchase energy efficient appliances (if needed), and to start an organic garden, all to help reduce my (our) ecological footprint (s). Below I'm hoping to post links that are or have been helpful to initiate my plans!

• American Water Works Association Is a site that provides the public with vital information on  drinking water and how to conserve it. Although saving water was not listed in my plan, it is something we should all be thinking about! 

My Ecological Foot Print

Website www.footprintenetwork.org/calculator is a website that calculates your ecological footprint, or rather it calculates how many planet Earths it would take if everyone on earth lived the same lifestyle you live right now. Currently, if everyone lived like I do, it would take 4.1 planet Earths to support everyone on Earth! That's over 3 times the about of resources that are available! In my ecological footprint 66% of the planets that I use are consumed by foods and services. That is more then two whole planet Earths! However, the Footprint Network also provides suggestions on simple lifestyle changes the we can make to conserve our planet. Because over 50% of my planet earths are spent on food and services the Footprint Network suggests to pledge to: 1. Eat half the animal products that I eat weekly, 2. Buy products that use recycled packaging, 3. Install solar panels, 4. Use energy star appliances. So, because I have 5 member in my family I have chosen to reduce the amount of animal products that we eat. That way, not only am I  conserving my planet Earths but I'm also helping to conserve my children's planets too! Also, because our family is planning on purchasing a house in this year I have decided that we can make two more contributes to conserving energy. First off, I plan to make sure that any appliances purchased, for our home, are energy efficient to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the appliances functioning and, to reduce our annual cost of electricity. Second, on the Footprint network I was able to make a "green" pledge. I  pledged to choose a house that will allow our family to have an organic garden! This way, my whole family can help reduce the use of gasoline and the production of smog made to transport fresh fruits and veggies. It will also help us by reducing the amount of money spent on food. Lastly, the Footprint Network gives us the option to save our current ecological footprint. I chose to save mine hoping that next year after I have initiated my plans and pledge I can compare and see how my plans have affected my footprint and have an idea which areas I still need to improve. I am hoping that my plans will help reduce the amount of Earths needed to support my lifestyle.

Biography

Hello, my name is Susan and I am an environmental science major! I've lived in beautiful Redlands Ca for the last 31 years but was born in Seoul South Korea! I have been working as a licensed nurse for over 9 years and am ready to pursue a new career goal. I am also a mother, and have three boys ages: 12, 8, and 6. I love having children and pets! Currently our family has 3 dogs, 1 python, 2 fresh water turtles, 1 guinea pig, and five fish! One of my favorite reasons why I love being a mother is that I get to teach my children beliefs that are important to me! Growing up I was fortunate to have a family that impressed on me the importance of environmental sustainability long before there was a concern for keeping Earth "green." Now that I am a mother I would like to impress the same beliefs on my children. My goal from this biology class is to further my knowledge of the environment and its conservation, develop plans to apply it to my life, and to include my children in the evolution of conservation.

Ethan Dissecting a squid at Ocean Institute

Bradley's hand in a Wooly Mammoth print at La Brea Tar Pits

Bradley and Travis Hiking at Zion National Park