Noam



__//**Animals being Kept in Zoos - Advantages, Disadvantages, and Limitations:**//__


 * __Advantages__ ||  __Disadvantages__  ||  __Limitations__  ||
 * Endangered animals have no risk of getting hurt by predators, therefore increasing the chance of endangered species to reproduce || Animals may start getting aggressive towards humans and then have to be put down, Animals may start getting aggressive because they might be lonely or frustrated due to lack of company and space. || Because of lack of things to do animals may get frustrated and sleep all day, such as instead of playing, hunting, running animals may sleep, which makes them unhealthy because they might start consuming fat. ||
 * Animals will have less chance of getting extinct due to human growth in wild places, therefore having a safe habitat in the Zoo || Male animals in a cage, such as lions may start fighting each other due to the lack of territory, this can result in isolation or serious injuries. || Large animals consume a lot of food putting financial stress on the zoo that may then choose cheaper less healthy options, which may contain artificial meat, which may make the animal sick or uncomfortable. ||
 * Zoos often breed animals and carry out research to help endangered species survive in the wild, Therefore increasing the chance of revolving the species || Some Zoos keep animals in a concrete environment with little vegetation, this can make the animal sad or even unhealthy because of the transformation from their own habitat, such as this is a big problem for Giant Pandas. || Because of Lack of space, animals may start going crazy or start being depressed because there is not a lot of space to roam and a lot of competition about territory ||
 * Zoos keep animals protected, when the animal’s environment is under threat, in a lot of cases this saves the animal, a good example of this is the Black Orangutan who was nearly extinct until a group of Zoo workers brought it to the Zoo and the Orangutan reproduced in a safe environment. || Since some species of animals are in a cage or confinement together, this increases the chance of illness, because the animals are so close all the time, that they illness can spread very quickly through the pack or the Zoo || Due to having specific food times animals may start being overly territorial about food thus, increasing the chances of fights and death from hunger ||
 * Zoos also offer animals a constant food source, which they can not usually find and get in the wild due to the unpredictable weather and movement of prey, in a lot of cases this can save the animal from hunger. || Animals may start losing their natural instincts and abilities, because there is no need for them now because the zookeepers take care of everything, this can make a big problem if the zoo decides to release the animal after a period of time in captivity, because the animal will not know how to join a pack or even get food in the wild. || Because of the location being in the city, animals may start getting uneasy because there is almost no interaction between predators and prey. ||
 * From the Human, point of view, the Zoo is a great place for humans to interact and learn more about animals || In some cases the habitat areas are too small for the animal making it difficult for them to live healthily and naturally, this can make the animal sick or unhappy which can lead to depression. ||
 * Because there is so much noise all the time, animals may get frustrated or aggressive due to lack of sleep, this can make the Zoo a dangerous place to work therefore increasing the chance of the animal being abandoned or sent away. ||

__//**My Animal:**//__




 * __//The Red Panda -//// Ailurus fulgens ////://__** The Red Panda, is a raccoon like animal that is found in the Himalayas and China. The Red Panda is 42 inches long including a long bushy tail, and weighs 4 to 6 kilograms. The Red Panda has a cat - like face with long white whiskers. The red Panda is an Omnivore though mainly eats plants and vegetation.

__//**Meaning of Ailurus fulgens:**//__ Ailurus fulgens is the Latin name for The Red Panda. It means Shining Cat because it is slightly larger than a domestic home cat.

__//**Reasons I chose The Red Panda**////**:**//__ I have chosen this animal because it is a well researched animal, that is endangered due to deforestation. This effects the Red Panda because it means that it is losing it's Habitat.

The Picture above shows where in the world the Red Panda lives. (in the Yellow Area)

__//**Research Questions:**//__

- How did the Red Panda adapt to it's environment? - How is Global warming effecting it? - How is the issue of deforestation effecting the Red Panda? - What role does it play in the food web and food chain? - Is the Red Panda in danger due to the fact of species being wiped out? - What is the Red Panda's diet? - How has it's behavior changed through out time? - Where does the Red Panda live? - How is the Red Panda's Ecosystem/Environment change? - What is the likely future for the Red Panda?


 * April 24, Tuesday. 2012 Page. 1 (Objective 4a) **

__//**Decomposer:**//__ A decomposer is an organism that eats dead plants or animals, the decomposer has one of the most important roles in the food web because it recycles the dead animals and plants to make new ones for the Herbivores and Carnivores. Decomposers are found everywhere and are sometimes used to help people with diabetes by eating the dead cells on their toes and feet. Decomposers are bugs and animals such as ants, worms, and dung beetles.

__//**Animals and Organisms in the Red Panda's habitat:**//__
 * [[image:leaf-cutter-ant_604_600x450.jpeg width="180" height="135"]] || [[image:250px-Regenwurm1.jpeg width="89" height="131"]] || [[image:Real_Dung.jpeg width="160" height="115"]] ||
 * Ants || Worms || Dung Beetle ||
 * 1) Red Pandas
 * 2) Giant Pandas
 * 3) Bamboo Rats
 * 4) Bamboo Rat Snake
 * 5) Ants
 * 6) Bugs

__//**Habitat & Environment:**//__ An Environment contains living and non - living organisms that has light, water, even the soil is important to complete the environment, while the habitat is where the animal or organism lives.

__//**My Animal's Habitat:**//__ The Red Panda lives in the cool temperatures in bamboo forests in China, in the Himalayas, and in Myanmar. The Red Panda likes hiding in the trees where it can feed on Flowers, Berries, Tree Bark, Bamboo Leaves, Bird eggs, and more. Through out evolution the red panda has developed a small bony projection that helps them grip to bamboo stalks.



__//**Food Web:**//__ A food web is a system of multiple Food Chains liked together __//**Food Chain:**//__ A food chain shows what animals or plants your animal eats and what eats your animal, Therefore it is a system of surviving.

__//**Draft of Food Web:**//__ The Red panda's food web all starts with the sun which grows the food for the red panda. Then there is the bamboo rat which eats the Red Pandas. This is an example of the Red Panda's food web;

__//**Poster:**//__ This is my poster;




 * April 25, Wednesday. 2012 Page. 2 (Objective 4b)**


 * //__Ecosystems Notes:__//**

- One ecosystem is a Desert which Is made up of living and non - living organisms that interact with each other. - Ecosystems are usually categorized by the amount of Rain fall or sunshine the environment gets and the condition of the soil - Plants and Animals that live in hard weather conditions have to adapt by using special tricks to conserve water like if they live in a desert - An Ecosystem can be divided into conditions of three categories - Water, Land, and Weather - Every organism has it's own home called a habitat

__//**Ecosystem:**//__ Is an animal's place where their habitat is. Also an Ecosystem is a complex interaction of living and non - living things, such as Plants, Trees, and others.







__//**Difference between Environment and Habitat:**//__ A Habitat is a living organism's home, where the organism can find it's needs. While an environment is the organism's surrounding.

__//**Difference between Environment and Ecosystem:**//__ I think that Environment and Ecosystem are similar but not the same. Environment is usually made up of living organisms such as bugs, animals, and some plants. While Ecosystem is a complex system that is made up of living and non - living things such as Weather, Water, ect.


 * //__My Animal's Ecosystem:__//** The Red Panda lives in the Himalayas, therefore it's ecosystem is make up of Bamboo, Water, and a lot of trees. Also Weather plays a big role in the Red Panda's Ecosystem because it almost controls the red panda because if it is rainy or snowing then the red panda can not hunt.

__//**My Animal's Habitat:**//__

The red panda lives in bamboo forests.



The Red Panda above is using it's light body mass to climb the thin branch


 * April 26, Thursday. 2012 Page. 3 (Objective 5)**

__//**Features of Adaptation:**//__ The Red Panda has a thick coat to protect it from the harsh winters in China, the Himalayas, and in Myanm, through this development the red Panda can have a suitable temperature that it needs to find berries, plants, and others for food. Also the Red Panda has a spike in it's elbow to help it attach and hang on to Bamboo Trees, this helps the Red Panda sleep, rest, make a suitable habitat on the trees, and so on. Another adaptation is that the Red Panda has a large bone in it's front paws which is used like a sixth thumb, this helps the Red Panda grasp onto Bamboo Trees tightly. These three were very important external adaptions. An internal adaptation is like the fact that the Red Panda has a very light body mass (they weight from 4 kg to 6 kg) this is a great adaptation since it allows them to climbed on thin branches to find food or to hide from a predators.


 * //__Conditions in the Environment:__//** The red Panda lives in bamboo forests, in China and the Himalayas. This environment has a big problem of deforestation which means that the Red Panda is losing food resources and a habitat. Also there is a problem with finding food when there is harsh falling snow.

Check = (:
 * Adaptation || External || Internal || Behavioral || Why? || Picture ||
 * Thick Fur || (: ||  ||   || The red panda has thick fur to protect it from the harsh weather || [[image:Red_Panda_Fur_by_cuddly_carpy.jpeg width="131" height="68"]] ||
 * Enlarged bone ("sixth thumb") || (: || (: ||  || The red panda has a sixth thumb so it can hold on tightly to a tree || [[image:lesser200710163.jpeg width="85" height="105"]] ||
 * Spike in Elbow ||  || (: ||   || The red pan has a spike so it can hold on to bamboo trunks for long || (Unfortunately I couldn't find a Picture) ||
 * Red and White Fur || (: ||  ||   || The red panda has red and white fur so it can blend with the red and white moss that grow on the trees from where the red panda lives || [[image:tumblr_lcb18eGwLO1qzya49o1_500.jpeg width="130" height="136"]] ||
 * Light Body Mass ||  || (: ||   || The red panda has a light body mass s o it can climb easily on thin branches || [[image:Red-panda-sitting-on-branch-of-tree.jpeg width="123" height="135"]] ||
 * Bushy Tail || (: ||  ||   || The red panda uses its long tail to balance on when it is on trees and also it uses its tale to cover its self || [[image:Red-Panda.jpeg width="93" height="135"]] ||
 * Hind - Foot Mobility ||  || (: ||   || The red panda has very advanced muscles in it's hind leg to allow it to jump from tree to tree || (Unfortunately I couldn't find a Picture) ||
 * Strong Curved Claws || (: ||  ||   || The red panda has strong claws to let it hold on to trees and also protect it self from predators || [[image:RedPanda1c.jpeg width="150" height="104"]] ||
 * Rotation of Ankle || (: ||  ||   || The red panda rotates it's ankle so that it's hind claws can firmly grasp the tree trunk || (Unfortunately I couldn't find a Picture) ||
 * Living & Feeding alone ||  ||   || (: || The red panda lives alone because then there is no competition for food || (Unfortunately I couldn't find a Picture) ||
 * Nocturnal ||  ||   || (: || The red panda is nocturnal so that it can feed easily without many predators around || (Unfortunately I couldn't find a Picture) ||
 * Curling up In Winter ||  ||   || (: || The red panda curls up while sleeping in winter so that it's tail protects it's face and also so that it can contain body heat || [[image:tumblr_lcb18eGwLO1qzya49o1_500.jpeg width="200" height="106"]] ||
 * Stretched out In Summer ||  ||   || (: || The red panda stretches out while sleeping in summer so that it can cool off || [[image:2087972573_3d63c72f6a.jpeg width="150" height="167"]] ||

As you can see above is my Mind Map about the adaptations of the red panda. Please refer to the Table above for explanations.




 * May 7, Monday. 2012 Page. 4 (Objective 6)**

__//**Nocturnal or Diurnal?:**//__ The Red Panda is a nocturnal animal or as many people call then crepuscular which means that they are mainly active after twilight. The red panda is mainly asleep during the day and feeds during the night.

__//**What Adaptation does the Red Panda have to be nocturnal:**//__ The red panda has black fur to help it blend into the dark surrounding at night. It also has sharp teeth to protect it from predators such as weasels. The Red Panda also has eyes to help it see in the Dark.


 * May 15, Tuesday. 2012 Page. 5 (Objective 7)**

__//**Tropical or 4 Seasons:**//__ The Red Panda lives in the Himalayas and North China, These places have a 4 season weather pattern. Though it is mainly cool in summer it is still brighter and warmer then winter.

__//**Adaptations:**//__ Some of the Red Panda's adaptations, mainly include behavior. In Winter the Red Panda spends most of the day sleeping with it's tail covering it's face, legs, arms, and stomach. It also uses it's thick fur to help it warm up against the cold snow and uses its heavily padded paws to dig through the snow to find Berries, Plants, and more food. In Summer the Red Panda stretches out on the branches and lets the warm sun warm it up. It also uses it's strong hind - foot mobility to jump from tree to tree.

This is the Red Panda in Winter, as you can see the red panda is using it's thick tail for protection

This is a picture of a Red Panda in Summer, as you can see it is stretched out on the branch to cool off.


 * May 17, Thursday. 2012 Page. 6 (Objective 8)**

//__**The Red Panda's Relationships With Other Animals & Plants:**__//
 * __**Animal**__ || __**Parasitism**__ || __**Mutualism**__ || __**Commensalism**__ ||
 * Bamboo Rat Snake ||  || @ ||   ||
 * Bamboo Rat || @ ||  ||   ||
 * Fly ||  || @ ||   ||
 * Ants ||  ||   || @ ||
 * Weasels || @ ||  ||   ||
 * Giant Panda || @ ||  ||   ||
 * Human ||  ||   ||
 * Bamboo || @ ||  ||   ||
 * Tree Bark ||  || @ ||   ||

__//**Ants:**//__ The Red Panda has a Commensalistic relationship with the Ant because the Ant it's the Red Panda's left over food and the Red Panda doesn't really care. __//**Weasels:**//__ The Red Panda has a Parasitic relationship with the Weasel because the Weasels eats the Red Panda and the Red Panda gets hurt. __//**Giant Panda:**//__ The Red Panda has a Parasitic relationship with the Giant Panda because the Giant Panda eats the Red Panda's food __//**Bamboo:**//__ The Red Panda has a Parasitic relationship with the Bamboo because the Red Panda eats the Bamboo __//**Tree Bark:**//__ The Red Panda has a Mutualism relationship with Tree Bark because the Red Panda strips off and eats the the Tree Bark therefore giving the Tree Bark a chance to renew.
 * __//Bamboo Rat Snake://__** The Red Panda has a Mutualistic relationship with the Bamboo Rat Snake because the Snake eats the Bamboo Rat which is good because the Bamboo Rat eats the Red Panda's food, Therefore the Red Panda benefits from the bamboo snake eating the Bamboo Rat and the Snake gets food.
 * __//Bamboo Rat://__** The Red Panda has a Parasitic relationship with the Bamboo Rat because the the Rat eats the Red Panda's food, therefore the Red Panda doesn't benefit
 * __//Fly://__** The Red Panda has a Mutualism relationship with the Fly because the Fly benefits because it eats the left over food from the Red Panda and also the Red Panda's poop and the Red Panda also benefits because then it has a cleaner environment.

__//**The Red Panda's Relationship with Humans:**//__ The Red Panda has a Parasitic Relationship with humans because even though there have been no reports of the Red Panda attacking humans, humans keep Red Pandas in cages at the zoo or kept in labs for experiments. Therefore I think that the Red Panda has a parasitic relationship with humans because humans make business by keeping the Red Panda in a cage at the zoo. I think that it is a Parasitic relationship because the Red Panda isn't allowed to mate, eat, and sleep when the animal wants.

__//**This is a video of a young Red Panda in a zoo:**//__ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMHiQCw6N24&feature=related


 * May. 24, 2012 Page. 6 (Objective 9)**

__//**What Identifies the Red Panda:**//__ The Red Panda is most well as the Fire Fox because of it's unmistakable red and black thick fur, that symbolize the species. Also it's sharp cat - like ears and thick long tail make it very well identified. The Red Panda also has a lot of behavioral features that identifies the species. The Red Panda has a very noticeable feature which is that it curls up while sleeping in winter, it is so noticeable because most animals do not change their positions of sleeping depending on the season.




 * May. 29, 2012 Page. 7 (Objective 10)**


 * //__Variations:__//** Unfortunately since Red Pandas are endangered, they have all been migrating to the Himalayas, Therefore there are no variations.


 * //__Variations in Humans:__//** Variations in humans mainly occur from the environment, such as in people in different environments have different values. For example, people in Australia tend value their land and farming because they are one of the biggest contributors to agriculture. While people in America tend value their city and houses because generations before them have built them. But there can also be physical Variations between humans, such as people in Scandinavia tend to be hairier then some of the people who live in Africa because the people in Scandinavia have adapted to their weather and snowy environment by growing body hair. Just like people in Africa are very hairy because they have adapted to the hot conditions in their environment.


 * //__Effects of Variations on Humans:__//** Sadly, ever since the earliest humans have been recorded, they have been fighting against different variations. I think that like a lot of animals, Humans are afraid or even think it is strange when somebody looks a bit different then you, such as the apartheid in Africa. I think it is caused by human ignorance, to think that one race is any better then the other. But fortunately people are working on changing this their nature and are trying to accept everybody.


 * May. 29, 2012 Page. 8 (Objectives 11)**

__//**What is Vertebrate and Invertebrate:**//__ When an animal or organism has a spine such as a mouse it is a Vertebrate and when an organism does not have a spine or in other words it slithers then it is an Invertebrate.

__//**Classification of Organisms:**//__


 * **Organism** || **Living** || **Non-Living** || **Vertebrates** || **Invertebrate** || **Type of Animal** ||
 * Bamboo || @ ||  ||   || @ || Plant ||
 * Fly || @ ||  ||   || @ || Insect ||
 * Ants || @ ||  ||   || @ || Insect ||
 * Giant Panda || @ ||  || @ ||   || Mammal ||
 * Bamboo Rat || @ ||  || @ ||   || Mammal ||
 * Snake || @ ||  ||   || @ || Reptile ||
 * Weasel || @ ||  || @ ||   || Mammal ||
 * Trees || @ ||  ||   || @ || Plant ||
 * Birds || @ ||  || @ ||   || Birds ||
 * Berries ||  || @ ||   || @ || Plant ||
 * Fungi || @ ||  ||   || @ || Organism ||

**//__Micro - Organism:__//**
 * Lactic Acid Bacteria
 * Enterobacteria
 * Diazotrophic Bacteria


 * //__Fungi:__//**
 * Waxcap
 * The Blusher
 * Ballerina Waxcap


 * //__Types of Vertebrates:__//**
 * Mammals
 * Birds
 * Reptiles
 * Amphibians


 * //__ Types of Invertebrate: __//**
 * Fish
 * Jellyfish
 * Snakes
 * Roundworms


 * May. 31, 2012 Page. 9 (Objective 12)**


 * //__What Adaptations Humans Have:__//**
 * No. || Non -Living || Adaptation ||
 * 1 || Internet || Helps us research and learn easily ||
 * 2 || Computers || Makes life easier. A form on entertainment ||
 * 3 || Paper || Easy to draw and deliver messages ||
 * 4 || Pencil || Makes it easier to do things such as grocery list ||
 * 5 || Clothes || Protects you from weather ||
 * 6 || Tables || Helps you eat and have good posture ||
 * 7 || Food || Helps us grow and live ||


 * __//What Adaptations I Have://__**
 * No. || Internal || External || Adaptation || Why? ||
 * 1 ||  || @ || Light Hair || Because Israel is a very sunny country and light hair helps us blend into our surroundings ||
 * 2 ||  || @ || Clothes || To cover myself and protect myself from the sun ||
 * 3 ||  || @ || Short Nails || Because in Israel we farm a lot so we cut our nails short so dirt doesn't get stuck ||
 * 4 ||  || @ || Light Skin || I don't know why but this was an adaptation my ancestors have picked up in Brazil and Poland ||

References

Kuczmarski, K. (n.d.). Adaptations [Describes Adaptations]. Retrieved from http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kuczmars_kayl/Adaptations.htm Red Panda. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Geographic website: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/red-panda/

=__//**Glossary:**//__=


 * __//**Word **//__ || __//**Definition **//__ ||
 * Accuracy || Data is accurate when you use sensitive equipment ||
 * Reliable || When an experiment is Reliable then you have more trials ||
 * Food Web || Many interconnected food chains that are linked together. A food web is combined by 3 major consumers Producers, Consumers, Decomposers. ||
 * Carnivores || Animals that eat Primary Consumers ||
 * Primary Consumers || Primary consumers are consumers that it the producers. Animals that eat plants are also primary consumers. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Producers || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are plants that produce their own food by using photosynthesis ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consumers || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are the largest part of a food web and you can find them at the bottom of the food chain. Organisms that eat other living organisms are called consumers. E.g. Humans, Birds, and Cows. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decomposers || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are mostly bacteria and fungi. Decomposers cause mold on food. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Photosynthesis || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A way that plants use to harness energy from the sun ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Herbivores || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Animals that eat plants ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Omnivores || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Omnivores are humans because they eat Plants and Meat ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">External Adaptation || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An external adaptation is when you can see the animals adaptation. (e.g. "the artic fox's fur is thick" - MN) ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Internal Adaptation || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An internal adaptation is when you can't see the animal's adaptation. (e.g. "the cow has 4 parts in it's stomach" - MN) ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nocturnal Animals || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is an animal that is mainly active during the night time (e.g. Leopard, Frog, Mouse, Mole) ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diurnal Animals || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is an animal that is mainly active during the day time (e.g. Dogs, Cat, Birds, Cows) ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crepuscular Animals || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is an animal that is mainly active after twilight ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Scavengers || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are animals that feed on the dead bodies of other animals ||
 * Parasitism || When one benefits and the other one gets hurt ||
 * Mutualism || When both benefit ||
 * Commensalism || When one benefits and the other doesn't get hurt ||

If you have any questions please contact me on - nsztyglic@tokyois.com