Comic

The shark was hungry so his body needed energy.  In order to get the energy he needed he had to eat something.  Instead of eating the fish, he ate the plants that were growing from the light of the sun.  This shows energy transfer because the sun allows the plants to produce energy that is then passed on to its consumer the shark.

Natural Selection in Sharks

My model shows the evolutionary process of natural selection in a shark population.  I drew pictures of the shark population before and after natural selection occurred.  I chose to represent natural selection in this way because it shows how the colors of the sharks changed due to natural selection.  The change in color of the sharks was due to predators.  The gray color of the starting population was visible to the predators in the dark blue oceans.  As time passed, their color patterns changed.  The topside of the sharks turned into a dark blue or gray color that allows them to blend in with the sea.  Their bellies turned into a white color that protects them from predators below them.  When the predators look up, the sharks' bellies blend in with the bright colored surface water due to the sunlight.  This mode of evolution is selective, rather than random.  Only the sharks with the new color pattern would be able to camouflage and survive from the predators.  Other species of animals have also adapted to be able to camouflage in their environments.  Escaping from predators is the main source of this evolution.  Sharks that are better blended in the sea will be able to have a  higher successful hunting rate.

"Platypus" Natural Selection

The evolutionary process shown is natural selection. I used colored pencils and paper to draw the changes after natural selection. I chose to represent natural selection in this way because it shows a clear picture of how the population of “platypus” changed. What led to this change is a lack of food source. All of the food that was originally being consumed by the “platypus” was nearly gone and another food source was needed for survival. The only other food source was a crustacean that lived in small niches in rocks. The “platypus” with the sharper beaks were able to access this new food source, while the others were not. This is a selective mode of evolution; only the “platypus” with sharper beaks survived to reproduce. This is not random evolution. Ducks and other birds have had pointed beaks to help them access food. This characteristic is the source of variation in the “platypus” beak.

"Are We Suicidal?"

Disclaimer: I am well aware that everything in my poster is backwards on the picture, I wanted to say it was by accident, but I'll say I did it for comic relief instead.

Is Humanity Suicidal?

The human race is being "drowned" by the problems that it presents to the Earth.

Ecology Poster

After reading the article "The Rape of Appalachia" I decided to make a campaign poster.  This poster is telling people to vote no to mountaintop mining.  They should vote no because mountaintop mining is hurting everything around it.  It is forcing people and animals to move from their normal habitats because the ground is not sturdy for them to live there.  Also this mining is affecting the miners that work there.  It is an extremely unsafe process and should be ended immediately.  There are other things we can substitute using instead of coal, like solar panels that are environmentally friendly.

Ecology Poster

I made this poster after reading the article "Our ocreans are turning into plastic...are we? written by Susan Casey.  The main thing on this poster is the earth in someone's hands.  The only way earth's problems can be solved is if YOU help.  The bottom of the poster is the ocean filled with garbage,but mostly plastic items.  The four animals are trapped in the plastic that us humans use.  We need to learn to be more considerate and think about the environment before making such bad decisions.  If everyone is aware of the harmful effects that humans are causing, hopefully they will help make a change.

I Am Plastic (Ecology Project)

I Am Plastic

By Kevin Tresselt

I am plastic.

I pollute the sea,

With bags, bath toys, traffic cones, jugs, and other debris.

Along with my friends, I create a huge plastic gyre,

Covering up large portions of the ocean, so it no longer looks sapphire.

I am plastic.

Created to withstand fire and bending,

The chemicals that help me are scarier than uncontrolled government spending.

The toxins within me can cause cancer within you and your brethren,

And create countless future problems for all of your children.

I am plastic.

I can barely be seen,

Because I am the nurdles that act so mean.

I absorb pollution, like a supersaturated poison pill,

Waiting to be eaten by a big fish with no will.

I am plastic.

Can you guess how I move?

Not by boats, ships, or the usual groove.

I get dumped on land, where the wind picks me up,

Then travel down streams to the ocean with my fellow cups.

I am plastic.

Believe it or not,

I used to be as valued and admired as a beautiful yacht.

I’ve given people credit cards, spandex pants, and medicine breakthroughs,

But today people hate me, and I rarely receive a simple thank you.

I am plastic.

Everyone uses me,

And while people are learning how to fix my problems, there are no guarantees.

Yes, scientists are trying to identify and remove me through major endeavors,

Unfortunately I will never breakdown; I’ll be here forever.

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Description of Poem

This poem acts as a reflection of the giant plastic gyres that have been created in many of Earth's oceans.  The poem portrays the damaging effects of these pools of plastic, including negative effects on humans as well as other animals.  While the poem does defend plastic at one point, noting its usefulness when it was first created, it quickly refutes this.  In effect, the poem warns people of the dangers that plastic items impose, and that something must be done to address this large problem.