Htrae by Alice An

HTRAE What is the healthy Ecosystem of Htrae How Many Biomes?

The Planet

HTRAE’s Everything

By Dominic Sharman

How To Reduce “FOOTPRINT” BY ROOP PANESAR

BREAKING News

Monster Bees BY TYLER B.

Publisher

Roop P. Alice A. Tyler B. Christian M. Dominic S. PICTURE: Htrae

HTRAE

VOL. 187, NO. 01 2012

Conference Review

3/ Editors’ Desk 5/ Inbox Htrae’s 5 Biomes

21/New Cycles on the Htrae

Briefing 9/ Planet Composition

Short Article

10/ Climate 11/ Food Chain & Tropic Level 14/ Human Impact 15/ “How To” Notice 17/ Celebration Interview Time 18/ Interview with the Htrae’s Ecologists / First Colonists

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The first law of ecology is that everything is related to everything else. ~Barry Commoner There should be more attention paid to scientific research in the ecology area, and I think that such attention to proper environmental concerns would make the public feel much better about it. ~Thomas R. Cech “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

23/ How Organisms Adapt to changes surrounding Environment? Questions 24/ 6 Questions with Roop Breaking News 25/Monster Bees

Editors’ Desk Introducing Htrae’s Ecologists Name: Roop Panesar Age: 15 School: Coppell High School Class of 2015

Name: Alice An Age: 15 School: Coppell High School Class of 2015

Name: Tyler Brasseaux Age: 15 School: Coppell High School Class of 2015

Name: Dominic Sharman Age: 15 School: Coppell High School Class of 2015

Name: Christian Meyer Age: 15 School: Coppell High School Class of 2015

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From Mrs. Richardson’s 2011-2012 Biology Class 3

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Htrae’s Biomes

HTRAE.COM

Welcome to Htrae’s FIVE biomes

1. Tundra

2. Grassland

The Tundra is distinguished from other plains by it distinct characteristics such as low temperatures, low average precipitation, lack of nutrients and/or infertile soil. The Tundra is covered in snow mostly throughout the year. During its short summers, the snow melts forming muddy pools of water, leaving it murky and grimy. Organisms: Musk, Wolf, Sheep

The grasslands are a biome where the hot dry climates are perfect for growing food. This biome is usually an inland area with vast areas of grassy Cields that receive so little rain that the trees cannot grow.

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3. Forest

Organisms: elephants, zebras, deer

Please ignore the con>nents’ name on the map

The major attribute of the Organisms: forest biome is its trees. rabbits, black bears, trees Since trees need to be grown, they receive almost 70 inches of rain per year. There are more species of plant animal and insect life in these biomes than any other biomes. 5

Htrae’s Biomes 4. Desert The hot and dry deserts are very hot and can range from 20 to 49 degrees C. There are very few plants and animals in the hot and dry desert because it is so hot. In the cold deserts the temperatures are very cold and it snows in the winter. The temperatures in the cold desert range from -‐2 to 26 degrees C. Organisms: Antelope, cacti, lizards

5. Aquatic It is the largest biome in the Htrae. The temperature of the aquatic biome differs depending on where in the world it is located, however the average temperature is around 4 degrees Celsius. The Aquatic biome itself has great effects on the other biomes. Most of the planet’s rainfall is from the evaporation of the Htrae’s oceans, and the temperatures of the oceans strongly affect the climate and wind patterns. Organisms: Cish, octopus, seaweed etc..

Please ignore the con>nents’ name on the map

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Htrae Briefing ‘ I want to know what Hrae is made up of.’ 1. Christian Meyer, Freshman, is showing the composition graphs.

‘ Could you tell me the climate of Htrae?’ 2. Roop Panesar, Freshman, researched about climate on Htrae.

Human Impact Colonists’ Footprint on Htrae. Let’s talk about it Right Now!

“How To” Recommen ded suggestions from Ecologists to reduce “Footprint”

‘Relationships (Food Chain).’ 3. Alice An, Freshman, predicted the food relationship between the organisms. .

New Celebration Days! What days do we celebrate on Htrae?

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Briefing

Composition & Climate

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Briefing

Planet Composition Group of Scientists have discussed about the planet composition section ever since it was founded several years ago. They announced that Htrae has atmosphere and biosphere as same as the earth however, the percentages of each gas is little different than the earth. Nitrogen 53.09% Oxygen 30.11% Carbon dioxide .98% Other Trace Elements

Also, its composition ratio is 15% of Nutrient Rich Soil, 10% of Sand, 45% of Rocky and 30% of Water.

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Briefing

Climate Average temperature and rainfall of Htrae

This graph shows the average rate of climate. Since Htrae has 5 different biomes, the relationships between temperature and rainfalls can be variety.

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10 Â

Briefing

Food Chain & Tropic Level Pyramid Examples of Food Chain and Tropic Level pyramid for each biome. By. Alice An

Producer: Lichens Primary Consumer: Lemmings Small Predator: Arctic Fox Large Predators: Polar Bear

Producer: Algae Primary Consumer: Zooplankton Small Predator: Fish Large Predators: Shark

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Briefing

Food Chain example of Forest.

Food Chain example of Desert.

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Briefing Grassland Food Web

Food chains and webs ensure that one particular species cannot become too large and therefore destroy the species it feeds on, creating a massive unbalance. This means that every creature has a predator and/or environmental threats so their population cannot increase to an amount that is unhealthy for the surrounding ecosystem. 5/6/12

Article

Human Impact “Footprint” on Htrae A little while after humans colonized Htrae, the planet experienced a loss of animal habitats. The colonists were unknowingly destroying animals’ homes because of the deforestation as they built their own homes. Because there is now such a big population of people on Htrae, the water, fossil fuel, and tree supply has decreased. Also, the numerous factories and businesses that have opened have caused there to be air, water, and land pollution. For example, the buildings released harmful gases into the atmosphere. These buildings have wasted energy as well, as it is used abundantly. Htrae’s ozone layer has been getting thicker every year and has caused the nights to be longer and the days to be shorter. There is noticeably less sunlight and higher temperatures, and some people do not get much vitamin D because the sun is more blocked out by the atmosphere. Plants are starting to die because they don’t get enough sunlight. Soon, there won’t be enough plants and trees to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, so people will begin to die.

hFp://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_IPqiJOS0G4&feature=youtu.be

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Article

“How To” How Humans can reduce their “footprint” on the Htrae In order to reduce their “footprint” on the planet Htrae, more energy has to be conserved. This can be done by learning to use energy wisely. Instead of using cars, people can ride their bikes or take the bus. Houses that are insulated well do not use up much energy and turning off the lights, the TV, and the stereo every time you leave a room. Another way is to use fans during the summer when it isn't too hot yet instead of just using energy with the air conditioner. Humans should also reduce the amount of pollution. They can start by recycling paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and other materials, just like on planet Earth. All of these things will reduce the amount of fossil fuels used and help keep the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air at a minimum. Carbon dioxide can be reduced, as well, by planting many of new trees all over the world because trees decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the air and add oxygen. Something else that can be done is Cind new energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal power, and nuclear power. The way humans can decrease the amount of habitats being destroyed because of deforestation as they build their own homes is that they can try to build houses in areas that do not have many trees and are empty.

How to Reduce Carbon Footprint? hFp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJwt9nwCElA How to conserve water at home? hFp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MDLpVHY8LE&feature=relmfu

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Notice

Celebration Days We are introducing New Celebration Days in the Htrae! Please come and enjoy our party on these following days.

June 24- Alice Day November 27- Roop Day November 1- Tyler Day November 5- Dominic Day December 11- Christian Day January 1st – Day We Arrive April 23rd - Bee Conquering Day May 5th – Htrae Day Freedom of Religion “All Religious Holidays are remaining”

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Interview Time! Organisms on the Htrae The colonists on Htrae realized that they needed to know about symbiotic relationships in order to make a healthy ecosystem on Htrae. Therefore, they researched different kinds of relationships in the ecosystem. Eventually, after the research was completed, they chose organisms to bring to Htrae that are suitable for each category: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. We keep requesting for and interview regarding this topic. Upon mature consideration the colonists introduced some examples of organisms that they are going to take into the planet, Htrae. Interviewer: Good morning! I am Alice from Bio Daily Report. I am so glad to have you in here today. So today, we would like to hear about the symbiotic relationships and organisms that you guys chosen. Could you tell me what exactly symbiotic relationship is and why it is so important? Tyler: Sure! Symbiotic relationship is also called “symbiosis” which means any relationship in which two species live closely together. It basically means “living together”. These interactions are so essential because they help shape the ecosystem in which we live and Htrae in the future. Community interactions can powerfully affect an ecosystem. Interviewer: Thank you, Tyler! I read an article about 3 different relationships before this interview. I want to know about specific details of each one. Christian, would you mind explaining mutualism? Christian: I sure can tell you what it is. In mutualism, both species benefit from the relationship. One species that we are bringing to Htrae is the ant. Ants have multi mutualism to many other organisms. For example, there is ant-fungus mutualism where ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. Sometimes, they are dependent on each other for survival as well. Surprisingly, many animals and fungi form a mutualistic relationship. Fungi grow by using animals as a source of food and Animals cultivating fungi as food. Dominic: Therefore, we would like to take some fungi to Htrae with animals. Fungi are responsible for most of the recycling and are vitally important for the good growth of most plants and can be used as food for humans. 5/6/12 18

Interview Interviewer: Oh, ok. That is a good idea! Roop, I heard that you have researched about commensalism. How does it work? Roop: Well…commensalism means only one-member benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. An organism that we want to bring is algae regarding this relationship. Interviewer: So why do you want to bring algae? Why is it so significant in ecosystem? Roop: In the aquatic biome, many organisms such as turtles, sea slugs and snails use algae as their food source. As you can see, organisms get their food and algae doesn’t benefit. This shows commensalism. We will bring algae for our aquatic biome. Algae are aquatic producers. Most fish eat algae as at least part of their diet. It is also considered as oxygen producer and it is so critical to all life as well. Interviewer: Fantastic! I really appreciate your answer. I think we have one more relationship left. It is parasitism. I shuddered at just name, parasitism. It seems like it is related to a parasite. Tyler, could you tell me the definition of parasitism? Tyler: As you already said, it is the most dangerous and must take precautions. The term parasitism is defined as a two-species association in which one species, the parasite, lives on or in a second species, the host, for a significant period of its life and obtains nourishment from it. It is harmful to the second species. Interviewer: Ok. What are some examples that we can see on the Earth? Christian: On the earth, tick and dog would be one example because the tick takes blood getting energy and food from the dog but it would be able to kill the dog. Also, human can be infected by hookworms, which live in a small intestine in humans’ body. Interviewer: Oops. That is too bad. I am pretty sure that you guys have decided not taking parasitism’s animals, right? 5/6/12

Interview Dominic: Well… Even though we haven’t decided the parasitic organisms to bring, we should bring all organisms that fall into each category. Especially, parasitic relationship has played an important role in the evolution. Species that have evolved longer are able to increase their immune systems. That means there could be overpopulations of one certain organism. Parasitic relationship helps to balance and control not only population but also the ecosystem in larger picture in order to make healthy ecosystem. Interviewer: I never thought of it like that. I now understand why you guys are picked as Htrae’s first colonists. Thank you for participating in this interview. Do you have anything to say to people regards relationships in an ecosystem? Roop: I just want to tell you that a healthy ecosystem arises if and only if all different kinds of relationship such as competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism and parasitism coexist together and live together following law of nature. Interviewer: Thank you so much Roop! That is such as impressive quote! Okay, it is time to finish up. Again, I was so glad to have you in here and I will visit you on Htrae!

After the interview, everyone in my Bio Daily Report team was expected to see the healthy ecosystem on Htrae. “Coexistence” is the word for new habitat, Htrae. Here we go, Htrae!

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Conference Review Group of scientists found out that Htrae is including cycle called biogeochemical cycles. Unlike the earth, the Htrae has one cycle containing all different kinds of cycles surprisingly. Biogeochemical cycles in earth have elements, chemicals compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another. As the long word suggests, biogeochemical cycles connect biological, geological, and chemical aspects of the biosphere. Before they start press conference about new biogeochemical cycle on Htrae, they provided facts regarding biogeochemical cycles that exist separately on the Earth. The following paragraph is what they offered on a piece of paper for better understanding.

To: All interviewers There are many kinds of cycles such as the water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, the phosphorus cycle and oxygen cycle. Water moves between ocean, atmosphere, and the land. Sun heats the water, as the warm, moist air arise, it cools. Eventually, the water vapor condenses into >ny droplets that form clouds. When the clouds become large enough, the water returns to the surface of the planet in the form of precipita>on. The carbon cycle shows that where carbon can be found. For example, carbon is found as carbon dioxide gas, oceans as dissolve carbon dioxide, on land in organisms, rocks, and soil; and underground as coal, petroleum, and calcium carbonate rock. Nitrogen also cycles through the soil and through the >ssues of living organism. Last example is the phosphorus cycle. Phosphorus in the biosphere cycles among the land, ocean sediments, and living organisms. Some phosphate stays on the land and also when plants absorb phosphate from the soil or from water, the plants bind the phosphate into organic compounds. Organic phosphate moves through the ecosystem. 5/6/12 21

Eventually they started introducing new cycle on Htrae. The new cycle is including the water, carbon and nitrogen cycle. As the sunlight heats up the surface and the water of Htrae, photosynthesis is occurred. As plant expel the oxygen, animals’ respiration start. Carbon dioxide is brought up with evaporation and transpiration. When the precipitation begins, atmospheric nitrogen Cixation is also occurred. Plants feed the animals and after animals die, decomposition begins and deposition on the carbonate rocks also begins, which could lead up to volcanic activity having a lot of carbon dioxide. It is same cycle under the sea. Between that, decomposition creates ammonia (NH3) as well. Decomposition leads having fossil fuel under the ground, which creates human activity making tons of Carbon dioxide. Nitrate ions and nitrite ions are also absorbed by plants with water. Since all cycles are contained one cycle, there would be complication between different kinds of relationships. However, Htrae created one cycle naturally, which helps balancing out the ecosystem more efCiciently than the earth. The disrupt in bio-‐geochemical cycle effects the ecosystem and the surrounding environment as well. It causes various diseases to the living organisms, the agricultural products also gets reduced, number of plants and animals can't grow in a proper manner, the fertility of the soil decreases and many more. It also has many indirect and long run negative impacts as well. So the disrupt in natural bio-‐ geochemical cycle reduce economic well being in various ways. 5/6/12

They also mentioned about “Nutrient Limitation”. Because it is serious problem on the earth, scientists are Cinding the solutions for future Htrae. When an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles slowly, this substance is called a limiting nutrient. As time goes by and as population grows, the number of limiting nutrient is increasing. Also open oceans of the world can be considered nutrient-‐poor environments compared to the land. When an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of a limiting nutrient, the result is often an increase in the number of producers. Therefore, it is really important balancing the ecosystem. 22

How Organisms Adapt to changes surrounding Environment?

All living things are able to respond to stimuli in the external environment. For example, living things respond to changes in light, heat, sound, and chemical and mechanical contact. To respond effectively to changes in the environment, an organism must coordinate its responses. A system of nerves and a number of chemical regulators called hormones coordinate activities within an organism. The organism responds to the stimuli by means of a number of effectors, such as muscles and glands. Energy is generally used in the process. Organisms change their behavior in response to changes in the surrounding environment as well. Sometimes, organisms fail responding changed surrounding environment leading to extinction however, as I already mentioned, all organisms have ability to respond their environment. Adaptation is the one way showing response system. Polar bears are one example of an organism that has adapted to their environment, their white coat has provided them with camouClage from predators and environmentally their thick layers of fat and fur provide insulation from the cold and Because they have a small surface area to volume ratio heat loss is minimized.Also their large furry feet provide grip on the ice. Camels are another organism that has adapted their fur which means it is thick on the top of their body to provide shade and thin on other parts to allow heat loss. They have the ability to go for long periods without water and are able to tolerate the high temperatures of the desert. They also have the unique feature of 2 rows of eyelashes and slit like nostrils to keep sand out. In the aquatic biome, dolphins are the good example because they hold their breath extended period of time being underwater. Dolphins also save oxygen via their muscles, which have a protein called myoglobin, which in turn stores oxygen. Their Cin shape helps it dive up to get air. The shape of their Cins also helps to propel them through the water. 5/6/12

6 Questions

Htrae Researcher, Roop Panesar What is the role of microorganisms? Microorganisms are adapted to speciﬁc niches in the environment. They play an important role in the natural recycling of other organisms. Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms and release nutrients back into the soil for plants to use. They can also be harmful. For example, bacteria can cause disease. Why Succession is important in Ecology? Ecological succession is th e changing sequence of c ommuni>es that live in an ecosystem during a given >me period. Some of the organisms in an area are gradually replaced over >me by ne w species. The organisms get bigger and more com plex, and the biodiversity also rises.

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Importance of Adapta:on & Varia:on Adapta>on is the change in the physical appearance and/or the physiological characteris>cs of an organism upon exposure to different condi>ons of environment generally the harsher ones (such as temperature, radia>ons, and the nutrient sources). Gradually, the immune system of an organism gets acquainted to the new environment. Varia>on is the transmiFance of the adapta>on to offsprings, resul>ng in a new species known as the variants. Adapta>on is considered the source of varia>on. For example, the various breeds of dogs in the world vary, even though they belong to the same species. This is because they adapt to the different clima>c condi>ons.

Significance of Symbiosis Symbiosis is the close associa>on between individuals of different species, occurring within a whole community. It is the interac>ons of different species and it is important to maintain a healthy ecosystem. What is the importance of the different biogeochemical cycle? The cycles are the key to the movement of nutrients through an ecosystem. Living things need these nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) to survive and grow, and when they die, the materials are recycled through the system. Phosphorus is used in nucleic acids and is a nutrient to living organisms. Carbon is the core element for almost all living things. Nitrogen is needed to form proteins.

BREAKING NEWS!

Monster Bees are HERE on the Htrae! Check this Video and Know what to Do! hFp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-‐ tw6u8jMw4&feature=g-‐upl

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