Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Bioluminescence, Niches, and Change over Time

We started class with a jump in to review food chains and food webs and then watched a little Blue Planet. We watched the parts of The Deep, focusing on bioluminescing organisms. We watched a segment similar to this one found on YouTube. There were some good questions afterward. This creature to the right is a Firefly Squid; it has amazing lighting capabilities.

For more information check out
The Bioluminescence Web Page
How Stuff Works
Or Sea and Sky's page about Bioluminescence.

Today we also discussed evolution and slow change over time. We discussed that evolution is not debated (the mechanism for evolution is) and that we have even seen change in humans in the last two to three hundred years. Typically humans are getting taller and have bigger feet than their parents and grandparents. We think this is because of better nutrition.

We talked about the fossil record and how evidence shows whales changing from land mammals to sea mammals over millions of years and how you can observe the small changes in skeletal structure changing over time.

We finished class discussing competition, predation, and symbiosis. We had some interesting questions about polar bears (the only known bear to actively hunt humans) and talked about why they are in trouble with global warming (which also explains why they hunt humans). Polar bears are excellent swimmer and can swim about a hundred miles before they need to rest for a while. With less ice in the Arctic, they are more likely to drown, but they are also more likely to be hungry from not being able to hunt seals. Humans make good targets for hungry polar bears. Luckily as I pointed out to Jazzy, not many of us want to live where the polar bears live.
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Computer Lab Etiquette

You are in the computer lab to do work for this class. If you are not doing work, then we will have problems.

Do not pack up early. Work until the bell or until MsJ says.

SAVE OFTEN. And if you save to a key, also save it to your number. If you lose it, you will have to do it again.

If MsJ asks for your attention, stop what you are doing and listen to what she has to say.

You may watch videos about your organism through reliable websites.

You may listen to music through the computer if you have your own headphones. Rule1 MsJ cannot hear it. You get one warning. Rule2 Turn it on and listen – no million clicks and constant changing. Take both ear phones out when MsJ is talking.