Behavioral Adaptations in Turtles to Thermoregulation and Survival Essay Example

Behavioral Adaptations in Turtles to Thermoregulation and Survival Paper Thermoregulation is necessary for ectotherms to survive. One important mechanism for thermoregulation seen in turtles is the ability to migrate between land and water habitats. This mechanism was studied using I-button data loggers placed inside marshmallow peeps to record temperatures In two different microhabitats; one In a stream and the other on the bank adjacent to the stream. Five samples were placed in each microhabitat and temperature was recorded every minute for 20 minutes. It was hypothesized that turtles In moving waters, such as streams, would exhibit lower body temperatures than those residing on banks alongside streams due to convection of the moving water. The results of this experiment Indicated a slgnlflcant dfference between body temperatures of the model turtles in each microhabitat. The temperatures of the samples in the stream were significantly lower than those of the samples on the bank. These results indicate that the convection from the moving stream waters provide effective means for lowering body temperature in ectotherms nd, therefore, can be a critical behavioral adaptation for turtles Inhabltlng areas with warmer climates. Introduction Body temperature is a characteristic that is crucial to an organisms survival. It affects numerous biological processes In organisms Including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and performance (Fitzgerald et al. 2006). In endothermic organisms, body temperature Is regulated by metabolism. We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Adaptations in Turtles to Thermoregulation and Survival specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Adaptations in Turtles to Thermoregulation and Survival specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Adaptations in Turtles to Thermoregulation and Survival specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, In ectothermic organisms, such as turtles, body temperature Is not maintained by metabolism; instead they must rely on the thermal environment surrounding them to regulate their body emperature. The mechanisms most responsible for body temperature changes In ectotherms include radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation. Radiation is the gain or loss of heat energy from the sun. This mechanism Involves ectothermic organisms changing their body temperature by changing their position in relation to the sun. Convection is or the gain or loss of heat to or from an organism in moving fluid such as water or the wind. Convection causes the body temperature of the ectotherm to equilibrate towards the temperature of the surrounding air or water. Conduction Is the gain or loss of heat to or from surfaces, and evaporation, or the loss of heat due to the conversion of liquid water on the body to gas (Thermal environments [date unknown]). These mechanisms of thermoregulation can govern the behavior of ectotherms_ In order to regulate their body temperature, ectotherms must either utilize these mechanisms by finding habitats that expose them to these tors protection from these elements. Semi-aquatic common snapping turtles in South Carolina, Chelydra serpentina, use behavioral adaptations such as basking in the sun to raise body temperature or swimming in streams, rivers, lakes, etc. o lower their body temperature (Bennett et al. 2005). In a body of moving water, such as a stream, convection from the movement of the water causes the turtles body temperature to equilibrate to the temperature of the water at a rapid rate. This is beneficial because it allows turtles to quickly lower their body temperature when necessary. It can be a disadvantage for turtles because they may need to use water to find food or escape predators even when the water temperature is lower than their optimal temperature ranges. The rapid heat loss due to the convection of moving water will cause the urtles body temperature to quickly equilibrate toward the lower water temperature which may hinder the performance level of the turtle. Fortunately, according to laboratory studies, reptiles like the turtle are able to heat faster than they cool off so they can raise their body temperatures fairly rapidly by basking in the sunlight (Fitzgerald et al. 06). These behavioral adaptations of turtles that allow them to migrate between microhabitats with different thermal environments quite easily, allow turtles to survive in more diverse climates, escape from certain predators, and orage for food in more locations. This ability to adapt is especially important today when we are facing issues such as global warming and seeing so many species become endangered or even extinct. This experiment was done in order to observe the temperature differences between ectotherms, specifically the Chelydra serpentina turtles, in different microhabitats in order to see how much of an effect changing habitats has on a turtles body temperature. In order to do this, a stream was chosen for the first microhabitat and the bank along the sides of the stream for the second microhabitat. Both microhabitats were located in the shade in attempt to eliminate the effect of radiation on body temperature. It was hypothesis was that the turtles in the stream would have a much lower body temperature than those on the bank due to convection. To model the turtles, I-buttons placed inside of marshmallow peeps were used. Materials and Methods The samples used to model the Chelydra serpentina were I-button data loggers each placed in the center of a marshmallow peep. The use of peeps made it easier to suspend the I-buttons in various locations. In order to keep the I-buttons inside each f the peeps, scissors were used to cut small circles in the center of each peep. These I-buttons record the temperature every minute. These I-buttons were kept on ice in a thermos prior to beginning the experiment in order to create a thermal rise that facilitated locating the start of the experimental data when extracting it from the l- buttons. The habitat used for the experiment was a shaded area containing a stream and the bank surrounding the stream where turtles may inhabit in order to seek refuge from the hot temperatures of South Carolina at noon during the summer. The reek was shallow, about a foot deep, and contained mostly sand with a few larger rocks on the bottom with a steady current. Both areas were completely shaded to eliminate radiation as a factor. A total of ten peeps were used and five were placed in different areas in a stream, while the other five were placed in various areas along the bank of the stream. Strings were tied to the samples placed in the stream and samples submerged and to keep them from being carried away with the current. The samples were left in their locations for twenty minutes in order to give the I-buttons ample time to equilibrate to the environment. This data was then extracted from the I-buttons and organized by temperature per minute for each sample in separate excel tables for each microhabitat. The average, standard deviation, confidence interval, and upper and lower confidence intervals for the temperature each minute was calculated using excel for each of the microhabitats. The temperatures for the last minute, the 20th minute, for each sample were organized into another table separated by microhabitat.

Do You Make Any Money Writing

Do You Make Any Money Writing If you havent been asked this question, you will. Family, especially, are noted for asking if the time you invest in your work is worth the money derived from it. Its as if you are choosing to make what you do. Its as if you are too stupid to walk away when its the last thing you want to do. So, lets empower you a bit. The next time someone brings this question up, turn it around. Ask what they make in their job. Then ask if its the best they can make. Ask if they feel shortchanged. And when they say they deserve to make more, ask them why they arent hunting for another job. Then ask if the time they spend on their job is worth the money derived from it. Why are they working that job if they arent being compensated properly? Chances are, theyll tell you they have no choice. They need the work. They need the money. They hope to make more. They havent been able to find other work. Theyd leave if they could. Whatever the excuse, they will say the last thing they can do is quit. So, chances are theyll also add that they sure wish they could leave because they hate their situation, hate the boss, hate the grind. How do I know? Because 80 percent of people in the world hate their job. Thats when you say that you dont make what youd like to make either, but heaven forbid you have to quit because you love it so much. As a matter of fact, you are thrilled to be doing something you intensely enjoy, and it helps compensate for not making more money. On those days you feel you havent been paid enough, you still smile because thank goodness you are working in a profession you adore. That alone makes it all worthwhile. And then you add . . . you hope you never have to retire from it. Thatll shut them up.

MARKETING ESSENTIALS MARKETING PLAN FOR PIZZA HUT Essay

MARKETING ESSENTIALS MARKETING PLAN FOR PIZZA HUT - Essay Example 3.1 Market Share 05 3.2 Market Growth Chart 07 4. Market Analysis 08 4.1 Target Market Research 08 4.2 PEST Analysis 09 4.2.1 Political Factors 09 4.2.2 Economic Factors 09 4.2.3 Social and Cultural Factors 09 4.2.4 Technological Factors 10 4.2.5 Legal Factors 10 4.2.6 Environmental Factors 10 5. Market Competitors 10 5.1 Micro Environment 10 5.1.1 Competitors 10 5.1.2 Customers 11 5.1.3 Distribution Channels 12 5.1.4 Suppliers 12 5.2 SWOT Analysis 12 5.2.1 Strengths 12 5.2.2 Weaknesses 12 5.2.3 Opportunities 13 5.2.4 Threats 13 6. New Product 13 6.1 Product 14 6.2 Price 14 6.3 Promotion 15 6.4 Distribution 15 7. Future Marketing Strategies 15 7.1 SMART Analysis 15 7.2 Marketing Opportunities 15 7.3 Market Future: Acquisitions 16 7.4 New Technology and Expertise 17 8. Financial Forecast 17 8.1 First Year Cash Flow Forecast (â‚ ¤) 18 8.2 First Year Months Balance Sheet (Amount in â‚ ¤) 20 8.3 Three Years Projected Profit and Loss Statements 21 Conclusion 22 Bibliography 23 Introduction Pizza Hut is the world’s leading pizza chain presently operating approximately at 13,000 locations in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut offers a variety of pizza items to its customers which include its flagship Pan Pizza, as well as Thin n' Crispy, Stuffed Crust, Hand Tossed, and Sicilian. Beside these items, the chain also offers salads, pasta, and sandwiches. 1. Current Position 1.1 Short History It was 1958, when two brothers Dan and Frank Camey established the Pizza Hut in Kansas. After passing several phases, today the chain is one of the well established pizza chains of the world. 1.2 Growth Overview In 1958, only two brothers started the business but today the chain has links to more than 90 countries across the world with more than 30,000 employees are working day and night (http://finance.yahoo.com/). Today it has the potential to entertain more than 171,000 customers by serving 97,000 pizzas per day in the United Kingdom alone. 1.3 Financial Overview Pizza Hut is one of the largest pizza chains. In 2007, it sold 35.4 million pizzas in the UK. During 2010, among other companies of Yum, Pizza Hut went from worst to first in its value ratings (Yum Annual Report, 2010). 2. Mission Statement We take pride in making a perfect pizza and providing courteous and helpful service on time all the time. Every customer says, "I'll be back!†. Pizza hut is an employer that offers its services to the team members for growth and rewarding career in a friendly and wo rking environment. 2.1 P.E.A.R.L.S Passion for excellence in doing everything Execute with positive energy and urgency Accountable for growth in customer satisfaction and profitability Recognize the achievement of others and have fun doing it Listen and more importantly respond to the voice of customer 3. Market Share Information 3.1 Market Share The pizza huts and restaurants provide several various sectors of the food including different types of pizzas like chicken pizza and beef pizza. Some pizza huts also offer snacks, chips, and burger related items along with beverages. Pizza Hut and Domino are the most dominant companies in UK. It has been observed that generally three types of orders are placed in pizza hut. These orders are placed with respect to nature of group and family. The figure shown as Appendix-I indicates that lunch and dinner items are having a larger share of the market as 29% of the fast food industry consists of it. Snack items and related beverages contribute 22 and 21% respectively while hot coffees, breakfast items, and side dishes have a combine share of 28% (Menu Composition Analysis, 2010). Global financial market share of leading companies is shown on the next page. Pizza Hut, Domino, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars are the leading pizza companies of the world. The chart given as Appendix-I

Homevestors of America franchise profile Research Paper

Homevestors of America franchise profile - Research Paper Example Kenneth D’Angelo created HomeVestors Company, with the main aim being to utilize franchised services as the route towards sustainable real estate business. Indeed, the franchising operations of the company began in 1996, where the company’s initial venture involved the buying of worn out houses, repairing and selling them at a profit. On this note, the company embarks on buying houses of people who are moving due to job transfers, retirements or shifts and renovating the houses to be resold to potential buyers who may want to buy the houses. To date, the company has purchased more than 45000 homes in the United States since it began operations, and its high-ranking services will continue to boost its operations and create better avenues for franchising. One of the most profound benefits of franchising operations is the fact that the capital requirements are much lower when opening new departmental stores or branches. Indeed, a company seeking to expand its operations through franchising incurs fewer costs, as opposed to committing funds and get new stalls (Campbell, and Lafili 93). On this note, the business creates independent owners who assume all the costs associated with operations, only leaving fewer responsibilities to the parent company. Further, the parent company experiences increased rates of expansion, mainly due to the facts that the costs of such a venture are reduced. As opposed to commitment of huge amounts of cash in budgets as capital requirements to open up new businesses or branches, companies under franchise can reopen many times the number of stores or businesses with the same amount of capital, which may facilitate rapid expansion even into the untapped markets in the industry. Looking at the disadvantages of such an idea to the parent company, it is evident that setting up branches in diverse geographical locations may require increased variation of products.

My Antonia and Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

My Antonia and Huckleberry Finn Essay Characters from various books that may or may not have anything to do with one another can be similar and different in many ways. Huckleberry Finn from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, and Antonia Shimerda from My Antonia by Willa Cather are similar in a variety of ways, however they have important differences. Huckleberry Finn is always ready to go on any type of adventure with his best friend Tom Sawyer. Also, the pair are extremely superstitious. Huck is discriminated against for a myriad of reasons. Some being, he is the son of the town drunk, so the adults frown upon him. Because of his father’s lifestyle he is basically an orphan, he has to find his own food, clothes, and a place to sleep. He also does not attend church or school. Opposite to that, the boys of the town envy him for his freedom and lack of discipline. The Widow Douglass who lives in town offers Huck a place to stay. She says he can live in her house, and with the money from the treasure he and Tom found she would be able to support him. Tom encouraged Huck to take advantage of this offer while he could. This was a hard decision for Huck to make because he is not willing to give up his independence that he is accustomed to. He lives with the widow for a short period of time then decides he enjoys being on his own and is willing to face the hardships of life by himself to maintain his freedom. Antonia Shimerda is extremely generous and optimistic. Through the hardships of immigrating to America from Bohemia, her father committing suicide, and her fiance leaving her before they get married, and at this time she is pregnant, she never looses hope. She looks for the best in every situation and tries to find a solution for everything. Everyday she has to face racial and gender discrimination. She is judged brutally by the townspeople because of her love for dance. Her and her family, which now consists of her mother, brothers and sisters, have to face the difficulties of life after the death of their father along with the difficulties of living in a new country. Her and her family are living in poverty, and are trying extremely hard just to survive. Later, Antonia works as a servant. Her boss does not like her habit of attending the dances she enjoys going to. He threatens to fire her if she continues to attend these dances. She loves her independence too much to let someone take it away. So she works for a brutal boss and suffers so she can have her independence and go to her dances. Huckleberry Finn and Antonia Shimerda have many similarities and differences. They have very different characteristics, however they both face many hardships, discrimination on a daily basis, and they both value their independence a lot that they would rather live harder lives so they can be independent.

John Paul Stevens: Biography :: essays research papers

John Paul Stevens: Biography John Paul Stevens, the 101st Justice to serve on the supreme court of the United States, and the first appointed by President Gerald R. Ford. John Paul Stevens became a member of the high court in December of 1975. Stevens, a middle aged man, with a reputation as a sharp-minded, hardworking lawyer, and first rate judge was given the highest evaluation from the American Bar Association committee that examined his record.  ³A superb judicial craftsman ² and a Judge ¹s judge, ² are two of the praises that Stevens has received from the United States Court of Appeals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stevens was voted into the supreme court with a vote of 98-0. In that time, Stevens was considered by the press, to be a moderate or moderate conservative in his legal thinking, and would take sides with other justices Powell, Stewart, and White. John Paul was born on Apr. 20, 1920. Stevens, the youngest out of 4 sons, Stevens was also considered to be the smartest of the 4 . At the age of six, his brother Ernest Stevens noted to a New York Post reporter,  ³I guess we always knew he was going to make something of himself. He was always awfully smart....When John was six, he could play better bridge then most adults today> ²   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stevens attended the University of Chicago High School, and then later went to the University its self. In 1941, he left the University with a Phi Betta Kappa key, and a B.A. degree. He joined the navy, after the U.S entered World War 2. Stevens was stationed in Washington D.C, as a intelligence officer on the staff of admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He worked with a group assigned to break Japanese codes. for doing this, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After he returned to Chicago, (at the end of the war) he enrolled himself into Northwestern University School of Law to earn his J.D. degree, where he graduated first in his class. Not long after that, he was admitted into the Order of the Coif and the Phi Delta Phi law society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From 1947 to 48, Stevens spent the year as a clerk to supreme court justice Wiley Rutledge. After that, he joined his first law firm, Poppenhausen, Johnston, Thompson & Raymond. A Chicago based firm, that he was inducted to as an Associate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This was in 1948. With expert guidance from a Senior in the firm,

Math Lab Evaluation Paper

The Math lab evaluation Have you ever been to a place that is depressing, gloomy, and absolutely apathetic? If not then by all means make a point to go by and visit the math lab. As a student of the University of South Alabama I have been asked to evaluate the math lab by my supervisor. My supervisor had received various complaints by students, for that reason I have been asked to observe the math lab record what I saw and write down any suggestions for change. During this evaluation I will discuss the pros and cons of the environment in the math lab. This evaluation will serve a purpose for both present and future math students.As you enter the fifteen hundred square foot room the first thing you will see is approximately fifty computers on your right against the wall and in the center of the room there are ten round tables with six computers on each one, some of which are designated for testing only as for the others they are used for classes. There are a total of one hundred and f ifty computers. The room has several spaces separated by temporary partition walls that do very little to block sounds and serve very little purpose. There are student workers walking around that tutor the students as needed.There are also many students throughout the room at their individual computer station. At the time of my observation there were no classes in progress and all the professors were in their office, which are located at the far end of the lab. The math labs hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from nine am to nine pm and nine am to five pm on Friday they are closed on Saturday but open again on Sunday from three pm to nine pm. Although there is not a class in session you will still see students working to fulfill their required minutes in the math lab that has been assigned every week by their professor.Tutors and instructors are available during all operating hours to assist students. Students appear to be unable to focus due to various distractions like the constant noise of some of the math tutors joking with one another and the lights flickering throughout the room is also very distracting. The computers are located only a foot or so apart so if anyone were to sit next to you and make any type of movement like simply erase something or write, shakes the whole table.The sound of students that are coming and going throughout my observation because it is a work at your pace type of curriculum. The temperature in the lab was sixty five degrees which for a cold nature person would be uncomfortable making it difficult to study comfortably for a long period of time. Some of the rules that are enforced within the math lab are as follows no cell phones, no eating, no drinking, and no music. I would make the following changes in the math lab to make it a more productive and studious environment.Starting with the noise level of the room I would make the tutors aware of the complaints because of their actions and the effect on students they have caused. Secondly I would space the computers further apart that are against the walls. I would also add individual partition walls between each computer therefor blocking routine noises made by working students. This also provides privacy when trying to concentrate and study making the students more comfortable and able to work quietly. I would raise the temperature in the room to seventy two degrees which is an ideal temperature.Although rules are very necessary It is a fact that music can help students retain and comprehend knowledge for that reason I would change the rule and allow students to listen to music but only with individual ear buds. The suggestions were implemented and students agreed that the privacy of the individual spaces made it a much more enjoyable learning environment; they were able to get more accomplished in a shorter amount of time. The tutors were more respectful and worked hard to be very helpful to the best of their ability. Allowing the students t o listen to music helped them to focus and not to feel so stressed when working.The temperature was set at seventy two degrees. Students and faculty both agree that it was an ideal temperature. The lights were fixed and no longer flicker furthermore they do not cause any more distractions. The room is no longer a gloomy dreadful place nor is it apathetic but now the atmosphere is enjoyable. Students no longer dread going to the math lab and their grade averages have continued to go up. So overall I would have given it a C minus before any changes were implemented but after I would give it an A after seeing the positive results.