Aquatic Biomes and Tropical Rainforest Essay Example for Free

Aquatic Biomes and Tropical Rainforest Essay An aquatic biome is an ecological community dominated by water. This biome can be broken down into two categories: oFreshwater, which includes rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and freshwater wetland. oMarine or saltwater, which includes oceans, seas, estuaries, coral reefs and saltwater wetland. Each of these aquatic ecosystems can be defined by variables such as temperature, the presence or absence of light, and the availability of nutrients. Aquatic biomes cover almost all the world (around 75% of the surface) and only 3% of them are freshwaters. Freshwater ecosystems This ecosystem is defined as having a low salt concentration of less than 1%. It helps to make up all the different animals’ life in this planet. Ponds and lakes range in size from few yards to thousands miles across, and they are divided into the littoral zone, limnetic zone and the profundal zone. The littoral zone is the part of the lake or pond which is shallow and located near the shoreline. In this zone there is abundant light, nutrients and plants. Those plants provide protection and food for animals, insects and crustaceans. The limnetic zone is offshore, where the water is deep and it receives enough sunlight to support life. There are tiny forms of life called as phytoplankton, which are tiny plant forms, and zooplankton, which are tiny animal forms. Those tiny forms of life lead to bigger animals’ life such as fish, which feed from those planktons. The profundal zone is beneath the limnetic zone, where it doesn’t receive light to sustain plants’ life. The organisms that die from above this zone settle down and are being eaten by decomposers. Because ponds and lakes are isolated from other bodies of water, they don’t have new species of animals or plant, or it is limited. Streams and rivers are defined by the flow of water in one direction. The source of these regions can be the snowmelt from the mountains, runoff of rains, or the outflows of a lake. They flow until they empty into another body of water and they usually lead ultimately to oceans. The flow of water of streams and rivers changes as it moves. At high elevations (mountains), the water’s flow moves swiftly and makes them clear and oxygenated. As it moves slower, it allows a more diversity of plants and animals. Because the water’s flow moves slowly, it carries more sediment and there is less oxygen in the water. Wetlands are standing water’s regions that support aquatic life. Wetlands can receive many names such as swamps, marshes and bogs. Marine or saltwater This ecosystem is defined by its high salt concentration. Oceans are the large aquatic ecosystem that dominates the Earth’s surface. It is divided into four zones: the intertidal zone, the pelagic zone, the benthic zone and the abyssal zone. The intertidal zone is the area that is covered and uncovered with the rising and falling of tides. Because of this, the communities are constantly changing and most of the living organisms live only where the high tides reach. The pelagic zone is the area away from the lands, which is the open ocean. This zone receives little sunlight and it has abundant plankton, which feed animals such as whales. In this zone, there are still some plants anchored to the bottom of the shore. The benthic zone is beneath the pelagic zone and it doesn’t receive sunlight, which makes it darker and colder. The abyssal zone is the deepest area beneath the benthic zone. This area is very cold, it has a great pressure, but it has a low nutrient level. Coral reefs are abundant in tropical water and it consists of a barrier of corals, anemones, and algae. The sunlight penetrates this area, which makes the water clearer and allows a diversity of living organisms. Estuaries are those areas in which freshwater merge with the ocean. This supports animals such as oysters, worms, and crabs; and supports plants such as algae and seaweeds. Tropical Rainforest Biome This is the most diverse terrestrial biome on Earth. It has a warm and moist environment and is dominated by broadleaf evergreen trees. The combination of constant warmth and moisture makes the tropical rainforest a great environment for many plants and animals, which made this biome as the only one that contains the greatest biodiversity in the world. Because of the great quantity of trees in this biome, the soil is infertile and acidic. This is because when an organism decomposes in the soil, the plants absorb it quickly for their quick grow and survival. This biome has several layers of vegetation. The tallest trees reach approximately 50 meters; below them there is a continuous canopy of treetop of approximately 40 meters. And the lower level is composed by small plants, mosses, and fungi. Most of the fauna in this biome is arboreal because the food near the ground is scarce.

Process of Photosynthesis Essay -- essays research papers

Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms that contain the pigment chlorophyll convert light energy into chemical energy which can be stored in the molecular bonds of organic molecules. Photosynthesis powers almost all trophic chains and food webs on the Earth. The net process of photosynthesis is described by the following equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2 This equation simply means that carbon dioxide from the air and water combine in the presence of sunlight to form sugars, oxygen is released as a by-product of this reaction. Photosynthesis begins when light strikes Photosystem I pigments and excites their electrons. The energy passes rapidly from molecule to molecule until it reaches a special chlorophyll molecule called P700, so named because it absorbs light in the red region of the spectrum at wavelengths of 700 nanometers. Until this point, only energy has moved from molecule to molecule, now electrons themselves transfer between molecules. P700 uses the energy of the excited electrons to boost its own electrons to an energy level that enables an adjoining electron acceptor molecule to capture them. The electrons are then passed down a chain of carrier molecules, called an electron transport chain. The electrons are passed from one carrier molecule to another in a downhill direction, like individuals in a bucket brigade passing water from the top of a hill to the bottom. Each electron carrier is at a lower energy level than the one before it, and the result is that electrons release energy as they move down the chain. At the end of the electron transport chain lies the molecule nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADP+). Using the energy released by the flow of electrons, two electr... ...he molecular bonds that are broken. Glucose: C6H12O6 Respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis, and is described by the equation: C6H12O6+6O2 ----------> 6CO2+6H2O+36ATP Simply stated, this equation means that oxygen combines with sugars to break molecular bonds, releasing the energy (in the form of ATP) contained in those bonds. In addition to the energy released, the products of the reaction are carbon dioxide and water. In eukaryotic cells, cellular respiration begins with the products of glycolysis being transported into the mitochondria. A series of metabolic pathways (the Krebs cycle and others) in the mitochondria result in the further breaking of chemical bonds and the liberation of ATP. CO2 and H2O are end products of these reactions. The theoretical maximum yield of cellular respiration is 36 ATP per molecule of glucose metabolized.

Relativism in ethics poses serious problems for Christians Essay

With reference to other aspects of human experience, comment on the claim that relativism in ethics poses serious problems for Christians. Justify your answer. [15] Ethical relativism is the theory that states morality is relative to culture and circumstance, meaning the same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another. For example, most societies believe the act of sacrificing either people or animals is wrong, but there are tribal cultures that perceive it as part of normal life. If one takes this approach there are no such things as moral absolutes, and this can pose problems for Christians. For most Christians ethics are dependent on rules recorded in the Bible. Paul instructs, â€Å"Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.† In the Old Testament especially there are many empathic statements such as, â€Å"Do not kill,† which do not leave much room for ethical relativism. They reject the idea that the ends could justify the means, because sin is sin no matter what the intentions behind it were. Slick wrote on this topic, â€Å"I consider moral absolutes to be real because they come from God and not because they are determined by the whims of mankind.† One of the main criticisms of ethical relativism from within Christian circles is how it leads to a subjective view on morality. If there are no fixed moral truths then that leaves the individual as the supreme moral agent. Under this theory it could be argued the Holocaust was moral – after all, it was the view of that culture that Jews should be exterminated. Anti-Semitism was a societal norm. Groothuis put forward this view: â€Å"Surely any morally sane person must ethically condemn Nazi atrocities as evil †¦ but relativism cannot permit such judgments. The morality of everything is relative — even genocide.† Humans are tainted by sin and therefore are predisposed to make poor choices. On the other hand, relativism does not necessarily mean that anything is acceptable. This is too simplistic a way of looking at it. For example, Peter Singer would describe himself as a believer in ethical relativity, but he wrote, â€Å"what has to be shown to put practical ethics on a sound basis is that ethical reasoning is possible.† He rejected the idea of moral absolutes but also rejected the idea that you could not criticise the choices of others. He stated that human reason is a major factor when it comes to decision making, and that it is not simply a case of choosing what pleases you most. Many Christians have no problem reconciling the Bible with a relativistic approach to ethics. After all, even the Bible contains things that modern day believers do not adhere to such as slavery. When the Bible addresses a topic it should not be compared against the sensibilities of the modern world, but rather against the culture of the ones to whom the Bible was addressed. The Bible was written a long time ago by fallible humans and Christian denominations such as the United Methodist Church in the USA hold a position of ethical relativism. This has led them to performing same-sex weddings and other things that set them apart from their conservative counterparts. They see relativism not as a problem for Christians, but something that can free them from legalism and allow them to be more loving. Strict adherence to Sola Scriptura when it comes to ethics can reject the believer’s own conscience and work of the Holy Spirit, which are also a necessary part of moral decisions. This is similar to those that espouse Christian utilitarianism and believe that God wants them to be happy, even if it requires breaking Biblical law. In the words of Zack Hunt, â€Å"Don’t let dogma and doctrine get in the way of practicing Love, who is God.†

Clemson University Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

Clemson University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 47%. Located in Clemson, South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the banks of Lake Hartwell, the campus is midway between Charlotte and Atlanta. Clemsons many strengths in academics and student life earned it a spot among the  best public universities and the  top southeastern colleges and universities. The universitys 80 undergraduate majors are divided among seven colleges. The College of Business and the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences have the highest enrollments. For strength in the liberal arts and sciences, Clemson earned a chapter of the prestigious  Phi Beta Kappa  academic honor society, and on the athletic front, the Clemson Tigers compete in the  ACC, Atlantic Coast Conference. Considering applying to Clemson University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Clemson University had an acceptance rate of 47%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 47 students were admitted, making Clemsons admissions process competitive. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 28,845 Percent Admitted 47% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 28% SAT Scores and Requirements Clemson requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 50% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 610 690 Math 610 710 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that most of Clemsons admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Clemson scored between 610 and 690, while 25% scored below 610 and 25% scored above 690. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 610 and 710, while 25% scored below 610 and 25% scored above 710. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1400 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Clemson University. Requirements Clemson does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that Clemson University participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. ACT Scores and Requirements Clemson requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 50% of Clemson students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 27 34 Math 26 30 Composite 27 32 This admissions data tells us that most of Clemsons admitted students fall within the top 14% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Clemson received a composite ACT score between 27 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 27. Requirements Note that Clemson does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. Clemson does not require the ACT writing section. GPA In 2018, the average high school GPA for incoming Clemson freshman was 4.44, and over 90% of admitted students had average GPAs above 3.75. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Clemson University have primarily A grades. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph Clemson University Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Clemson University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and  calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances Clemson University, which accepts just under half of its applicants, has a selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the schools average range, you have a strong chance of being accepted. While Clemson does not require a personal statement or essay, the university wants to see that you have completed a college preparatory curriculum in high school. At a minimum, you should have four years of English, three years of math, three years of laboratory science, three years of a single foreign language, three years of social science, one year of art, and one year of physical education. Your application will be stronger if you have successfully completed the most  rigorous coursework  available, including AP, IB, Honors, and dual enrollment classes. Another important factor in the admissions process is the choice of major. As some majors fill up quickly, Clemson recommends that applicants select two different majors when they apply. While Clemson has a late application deadline—May 1st for fall admission—it will be to your advantage to apply early. Once all spaces are filled, admission will be closed. Finally, realize that if you are interested in a music or theater concentration, you will need to audition as part of your application. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most successful applicants had B or higher unweighted averages, SAT scores (ERWM)  of about 1050 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 21 or higher. Those numbers are the very bottom of the range, and youll have much better chances if your scores are higher.   While interviews are not required, students can meet with an admissions staff member on campus. This optional interview can have many benefits: Clemson will get to know you individually, youll get to know the school better, and it can demonstrate your interest in the school. All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Clemson University Undergraduate Admissions Office.