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It Has Long Been Known

1. One type of ecosystem that is often neglected due to its richness in biodiversity is coral reefs. Research has shown that air pollutants from fossil fuel use cause clouds to reflect more sunlight back into space. 2. A rare hybrid between a polar bear and grizzly bear was shot in 2006 in Canada. DNA testing confirmed the hybrid nature of the animal. 3. The article discusses debates around polar bear conservation status and population trends in relation to climate change.

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Paula Aprijanto
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
30 views

It Has Long Been Known

1. One type of ecosystem that is often neglected due to its richness in biodiversity is coral reefs. Research has shown that air pollutants from fossil fuel use cause clouds to reflect more sunlight back into space. 2. A rare hybrid between a polar bear and grizzly bear was shot in 2006 in Canada. DNA testing confirmed the hybrid nature of the animal. 3. The article discusses debates around polar bear conservation status and population trends in relation to climate change.

Uploaded by

Paula Aprijanto
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WORDS 1. biodiversity 2. conservations 3. Reboisation 4. greenhouse 5. emissions 6. pollutant 7. contaminating 8. chemicals 9. carbon dioxide 10.

landscape

Sentence One type of ecosystem that perhaps is neglected more than any other is perhaps also the richest in biodiversitythe coral reefs Research has shown that air pollutants from fossil fuel use make clouds reflect more of the suns rays back into space

Paragraph

A recent issue of Nature celebrated Linnaeus 300th birthday with a series of editorials, essays and features on the continuing work of taxonomists. One of the more provocative articles discusses the definition of species, including the status of the beloved polar bear, Ursus maritimus. Polar bears are more closely related to some brown bears (Ursus arctos) then some brown bears are to each other. While the interrelationships of these species (and subspecies) is a surprise, it has long been known that the animals are closely related and has been evidenced (rarely) by the hybridization of the polar bear and the grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis. This hybrid, though extremely rare, has occurred in captivity and has long been storied in arctic legends. In 1864 biologist, Clinton Hart Merriam, described an animal killed at Rendezvous Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada as "buffy whitish with a golden brown muzzle". A century later, Clara Helgason remembers a bear shot by hunters on Kodiak Island during her childhood in 1943 as "a large, off-white bear with hair all over his paws".

The most recent sighting of the rare hybrid was made, unfortunately, after its death. On April 16, 2006, Jim Martell, a sport hunter from the United States, shot a grizzlypolar bear hybrid near on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Martell had paid $50,000, for an official license and a guide to hunt polar bears in Canadas arctic. Martell shot what appeared, at a distance, to be a polar bear but officials noticed that beyond the thick, creamy white fur, typical of polar bears, the animal also had long claws; a humped shoulder, scoop-shaped snout and brown patches around its eyes. The hybrid was confirmed by a DNA test. The government returned the carcass to Martell. Though the hybrid species has no conservational value (like white tigers ), it is an amazing phenomenon and I am sad the hunter kept his prize. I think he should have been compensated and asked to donate the pelt to a museum where others could learn about the phenomenon. Lastly, I will note that the US government is considering giving polar bears a threatened status. The Canadian government has a different perspective as anecdotal evidence from aboriginals and official wildlife surveys indicate the polar bear population in Canada actually appears to be growing. This of course is a notion that doesnt appeal to Prime Minister Steven Harper, as he is a proponent of climate change and the growing polar bear population does not fit well into his campaign. But that is a debate for another posting. Regardless of controversy surrounding these amazing animals I hate that the government advocates rich people throwing out $50,000 for the opportunity to shoot one of these creatures. It is one more example of how Canada continues to sell its natural resources and decimate its environment for a few greenbacks.

WORDS 1. biodiversity: d-i-b-o-e-v-y-s-t-i-r-i 2. conservations: n-s-o-a-c-v-e-s-t-o-n-r-i 3. Reboisation:o-t- b-i-r-a-s-o-e-i-n 4. greenhouse: o-e-g-n-e-o-h-r-e-u 5. emissions: s-m-i-s-o-n-s-e-i 6. pollutant: l-t-o-p-u-n-t-l-a 7. contaminating : n-m-a-i-g-c-n-t-a-n-t-o-n 8. chemicals: a-i-s-c-m-e-a-h-c-l 9. carbondioxide: o-d-c-i-e-b-a-o-x-a-r-n-i 10.landscape: e-a-c-l-n-s-e-d-p

Sentence richest ecosystem that of is neglected biodiversity more than any other is perhaps perhaps also the in type One air has that suns clouds research from back shown fuel use make more of the rays into space pollutants reflect fossil

Paragraph

The most recent sighting of the rare hybrid was made, unfortunately, after its death. On April 16, 2006, Jim Martell, a sport hunter from the United States, shot a grizzlypolar bear hybrid near on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Martell had paid $50,000, for an official license and a guide to hunt polar bears in Canadas arctic. This hybrid, though extremely rare, has occurred in captivity and has long been storied in arctic legends. In 1864 biologist, Clinton Hart Merriam, described an animal killed at Rendezvous Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada as "buffy whitish with a golden brown muzzle". A century later, Clara Helgason remembers a bear shot by hunters on Kodiak Island during her childhood in 1943 as "a large, off-white bear with hair all over his paws". The government returned the carcass to Martell. Though the hybrid species has no conservational

value (like white tigers ), it is an amazing phenomenon and I am sad the hunter kept his prize. I think he should have been compensated and asked to donate the pelt to a museum where others could learn about the phenomenon. A recent issue of Nature celebrated Linnaeus 300th birthday with a series of editorials, essays and features on the continuing work of taxonomists. One of the more provocative articles discusses the definition of species, including the status of the beloved polar bear, Ursus maritimus. Lastly, I will note that the US government is considering giving polar bears a threatened status. The Canadian government has a different perspective as anecdotal evidence from aboriginals and official wildlife surveys indicate the polar bear population in Canada actually appears to be growing. This of course is a notion that doesnt appeal to Prime Minister Steven Harper, as he is a proponent of climate change and the growing polar bear population does not fit well into his campaign. But that is a debate for another posting. Regardless of controversy surrounding these amazing animals I hate that the government advocates rich people throwing out $50,000 for the opportunity to shoot one of these creatures. It is one more example of how Canada continues to sell its natural resources and decimate its environment for a few greenbacks. Martell shot what appeared, at a distance, to be a polar bear but officials noticed that beyond the thick, creamy white fur, typical of polar bears, the animal also had long claws; a humped shoulder, scoop-shaped snout and brown patches around its eyes. The hybrid was confirmed by a DNA test. Polar bears are more closely related to some brown bears (Ursus arctos) then some brown bears are to each other. While the interrelationships of these species (and subspecies) is a surprise, it has long been known that the animals are closely related and has been evidenced (rarely) by the hybridization of the polar bear and the grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis.

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