Ecoprints - April 2014

Sharks!

By Celine Tat

Sharks are the hunters of the ocean, often depicted as terrifying beasts by the media. They are wrong. Sharks are gentle creatures which play a key role in our ocean ecosystems. The loss of sharks in our waters could throw the whole ecosystem out of balance and affect the health of other fish populations.

These majestic animals have been part of our world for over 450 million years, and in just a

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few short decades, humans have managed to put this animal in grave danger.

One of the greatest threats of the shark is shark fin soup: a Chinese delicacy. Currently, the way these sharks are hunted are by throwing long-hooked lines into the ocean and waiting for the sharks to bite. Then the lines are pulled in and the sharks are hauled onboard the fishing

boat. Next, the fins are cut off and the sharks are thrown back into the ocean, left to bleed and drown. However, these long lines do not only catch sharks; they catch other fish as well and these fish are tossed back into the ocean to die as well. Other times, the lines will detach and be left floating in the ocean, and whatever unfortunate creature that is caught into it will often be strangled to death. This prac-

tice is not only cruel, but unnecessary. Shark fin soup doesn't even taste like shark fin--it is often flavoured with a chicken stock--the shark fin is for texture. This soup, symbolizes wealth and status, meaning that it is revered and sought after. Shark fin soup is often served at important events such as weddings and banquets, but this soup is far more expensive than the standard one-hundreddollar-per-bowl price tag.

In nature, only the strong survive. Sharks help enforce this rule by hunting the old, sick, and slow fishes. Sharks are very efficient hunters and by eating the ones that are weak, they strengthen the gene pool of these fish and keep the population of their prey healthy. But with the loss of sharks, the fish populations is no longer as healthy. In fact, studies have shown that the decline of sharks has linked to a decline of commercial fish species, such as tuna. It is not just the sharks that are at risk in this situation; sharks are an important part of its ecosystem and if they are lost, the whole structure will come toppling down.

vores, fragile habitats of the ocean will be destroyed. Also, by intimidating their prey, sharks also prevent overgrazing of an area in the ocean.

Scientists have found links between the absence of sharks and overgrazing in certain sea beds.

Without a predator in the area, the prey will constantly revisit the same place for food. However, with the presence of sharks, the area of grazing is spread out much more, meaning a healthier habitat. In fact, a recorded study noticed that in the presence of tiger sharks, sea turtles--their prey--would not overgraze on grass beds, while when there were no tiger sharks, the grass beds depleted very quickly.

“In nature, only the strong survive. Sharks help enforce this rule by hunting the old, sick, and slow fishes.”

The lack of sharks lead to a spike in mid-level predators and a decline in herbivores. Those herbivores eat algae that would otherwise overwhelm young coral reefs. Without these herbi-

In short, we need sharks.

They are vital for the survival of our marine ecosystems. We as humans have already done so much damage to these ecosystems and are continuing to do so by killing off key components of these systems. We have groups of dedicated people who strive to protect these creatures, but without the active participation of the rest of the population, we will continue to see such animals die off and ecosystems collapse.

There are simple ways to help, starting off with not consuming nor buying shark fun, By discouraging this industry, a lot of sharks will be saved.

And the future of our fragile marine ecosystems might just have a chance to survive.

Sources: “Shark Fin Soup – what’s the scoop?.”Stop Shark Finning. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <http://www. stopsharkfinning.net/shark-fin-soup-whats-the-scoop/>.

“Sharks’ Role in the Oceans.” Shark Savers. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <https://www.sharksavers.org/ en/education/the-value-of-sharks/sharks-role-in-the-ocean/>.

Ruppert, Jonathan, and Kim Luke. “Overfishing of sharks is harming coral reefs.” University of Toronto Media Room. University of Toronto, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <http://media.utoronto.ca/media-releases/environment-natural-resources/overfishing-of-sharks-is-harming-coral-reefs/>.

Sharkwater. Dir. Rob Stewart. Perf. Rob Stewart. Alliance Films Inc., 2008. DVD.

Celine Tat. Toronto, ON Bloor Collegiate Institute, Grade 11

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By Abby Mitchell

Complex System Simulators, Climate Change, and Plasmodium falciparum

Headaches. Fever. Joint pain. Nausea. Seizures.

Renal failure. Death. (Travel Canada, 2013) Does this sound like a description of the symptoms of climate change? You might be surprised. Rising global temperatures are already having unexpected effects on humanity, and more are certainly on their way. If there was a way to foresee those effects, it would be possible to make the necessary changes now to prevent further damage. If it were possible to be sure, to run concrete experiments that prove what effects climate change will have, climate change could be stopped. In the past, this was not possible; now, with a click of a button, you can create reliable and accurate experiments.

It used to be that it took years for data on climate change to make itself available, and the specific effects that it would have on the environment required careful study. With the use of a complex system simulator created by Dr. Brad Bass, an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, I was able to collect data it would have taken years to collect in the physical world. In virtual reality, it took about 30 minutes to determine the effect that climate change would have on the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, most commonly referred to as malaria.

Complexity and organized behaviour within environmental bounds, otherwise known as COBWEB. This is the name of the computer program that Dr. Bass created to perform research and experiments on the nature of complex systems. I wanted to see what effect climate change would have on the prevalence of malaria within a society, and COBWEB allowed that to be studied without a) travelling to areas of the world where there is a high risk of contracting malaria, or b) plotting climate change for decades to apply it to my research.

Using an application of the program made specifically for the study of vector borne diseases, it was simple to recreate a virtual version of a society infected with malaria. Humans, mosquitoes and doctors populated it, each with unique and realistic characteristics. Once I had created an accurate environment in which I could run the experiment, I was able to add the climate change aspect. The results were as follows:

In an environment without any temperatures in which malaria can survive, there is a 0% infection rate amongst humans. The infection rate in an environment where 60% of the land is ideal for malaria development is 47%. With 100% ideal conditions? A frightening 77% infection rate.

More than 3 in 4 people affected by this disease.

Is this the kind of a world we have to look forward to? One in which the frontiers of infection expand with every minute rise in global temperatures?

Currently, it is. Yes, new vaccines are being created. Better medications are being synthesized. But is this enough to counter the effect climate change will have on malaria? It would be best if we were not forced to find out. If for no other reason that to slow the expansion of malaria into currently unaffected regions of the world, we must do all that is in our power to stop global warming.

Sources: Travel Canada (2013, September 5). Malaria. Retrieved December 12th, 2013 from http://travel. gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/diseases/malaria.

Abby Mitchell. Mississauga, ON Streetsville Secondary School, Grade 12

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By Caroline Lou

Musings from a

Friend Forest of the

My secret garden is the forest.

My moor, the carpeted floor

Of dampened leaves in slow decay,

Weathered, imprinted into the ground By my quiet footsteps.

My well worn path is the one that diverged Far from where the rest walk.

My sweater frays from the soft caresses Of branches, saying hello as I brush by.

My forest is my world, Our world,

Untouched by demolition.

But I wonder if its destruction Is its dawning, inevitable fate,

Brought about by eager people Itching to create â&#x20AC;&#x153;Progressâ&#x20AC;?.

Caroline Lou. Richmond Hill, ON Bayview Secondary School, Grade 10

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Sankavi Nagularajah. Toronto, ON Bloor Collegiate Institute, Grade 11

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Moriam Ahmed. Toronto, ON Bloor Collegiate Institute, Grade 11

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Jessie Pi. North York, ON Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, Grade 11

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Daphne Yang. North York, ON Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Grade 11

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Farhana Ahmed (Jarvis CI)

Farhana Ahmed (Jarvis CI)

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Farhana Ahmed (Jarvis CI)

Isabella Janusonis (Bloor CI)

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Isabella Janusonis (Bloor CI)

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Jane Hahm (White Oaks SS)

Ben Simons (Bloor CI)

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Ben Simons (Bloor CI)

Ben Simons (Bloor CI)

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Rezwana Rahman (Bloor CI)

Rezwana Rahman (Bloor CI)

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Chen Chen (Bayview SS)

Angela Gu (Lawrence Park CI)

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Sabrina Bertsch (Marc Garneau CI)

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Chen Chen (Bayview SS)

Daniel Wesser (Alpha II Alternative)

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Daniel Wesser (Alpha II Alternative)

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We are here only to provide the medium, resources and words of encouragement for greater action to be done by active youth, such as yourself. We believe that knowledge, integrity and enthusiasm are the cornerstones of change. Ultimately, we believe in you; the passionate active leaders of today. Join the movement.

Submit to Ecoprints.

CITATIONS Daniel Wesser Photography https://www.facebook.com/DanielWesserPhotography Carbon Smoke Stacks Picture: "IITB-Monash Research Academy." IITBMonash Research Academy.

N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. <http://www.iitbmonash.org/>.

Melting Icy Water Picture: "Help Fight Climate Change & Global Warming | The Nature Conservancy." Help Fight Climate Change & Global Warming | The Nature Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Sharks Picture: "Help Fight Climate Change & Global Warming | The Nature Conservancy." Help Fight Climate Change & Global Warming | The Nature Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Dry Earth Picture: "Pestilence, Famine and Climate Change: Horseman of the Apocalypse." News for the Rest of Us. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Forest Picture: "Dream Wedding." - by Alex. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. <http:// www.fyf.com/Alex/dream-wedding>.

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