# data[].attributes.body
Me and my Lorax visited my compost bin behind my house. In the bin is a collection of decomposing produce meant to be used for our garden. The dead plants decompose and end up being rich in nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer. Composting is a type of recycling that's good for the environment as it results in no pollution and helps other plants grow.

# data[].attributes.body
Most public transportation can be found in major cities such as Houston, but what about Katy? Most “cities” surrounding the Houston area is considered suburbs, an area with a mixture of rural and urban, but with the most personal transportation out of the two. Most people here at Tompkins drives their own car, as you can see in the photo. Some bike, and car pool, and walk, but the big majority here at Tompkins, owns and drives a car. Unlike in Houston, people mostly take the metro bus, where we transport more people with less emmesions

# data[].attributes.headline
The Role of Plants in Environmental Sustainability

# data[].attributes.subject
The Role of Plants in Environmental Sustainability

# data[].attributes.body
This is my Lorax in front of a few plants that we keep in the house. It's a little difficult to see, but the top plant is decaying a little bit, most likely because it isn't receiving the sunlight and water it needs. I thought that it was interesting that the plants are a microcosm of the outside world, and that they reflect principles that the textbook itself expounded on. One such principle is that of biodiversity, which my mom's plants exhibit solely in the multitude of types of plants there are around my house. Further, my mom uses an organizer fertilizer when she grows her plants to maintain long-term growth and sustainability, which the textbook advocates for as well.

# data[].attributes.body
My Lorax is right infront of a dead plant. The plant had been decaying for a while even though it was getting plenty of water and sunlight. I suspect the plant died of a disease because it leaves had white and black spots while it was still living. Since no treatment was given, the plant had no option but to die in my front yard.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ahren kubiak - Rip holiday traditions due to human consumption 

# data[].attributes.subject
Ahren kubiak - Rip holiday traditions due to human consumption 

# data[].attributes.body
In the photo my Lorax has positioned himself onto one of my family’s fake Christmas trees. As the human population has grown exponentially over the past several centuries traditions such as chopping down a Christmas tree once a year for the family has become a luxury due to the high demand for said trees becoming much greater than the actual supply of them. In class we have talked about the destruction of environments, and chopping down forests of pine trees every once a year and supplying the quantity of trees that are demanded would lead to the decimation of thousands of animals and their habitats. Since people are no longer given the option to have a natural pine tree for Christmas many of them decide on a manufactured tree that is produced in a factory which emits greenhouse gasses and is then transported using vehicles of oil or gas which also result in the emission of greenhouse gasses. Because of the tradition to have a Christmas tree for the family every year; the conservation originally intended by limiting the amount of trees consumed has had the opposite effect.

# data[].attributes.headline
Declining Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Species

# data[].attributes.subject
Declining Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Species

# data[].attributes.body
My Lorax is seen next to an Apple that is similar to any other one seen at a local market. As stated in Chapter 18, farmers used to produce 8,000 varieties of apples but have reduced to about 100 breeds which seemed to be the highest yielding varieties. Due to this concentration, genetic variation is being lost and is a great example in the global decline in genetic diversity.

# data[].attributes.headline
Why did the mushroom get invited to the party? because he was a FUNGI! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Why did the mushroom get invited to the party? because he was a FUNGI! 

# data[].attributes.body
Mushrooms are a type of decomposer. Decomposers help break down dead animals to naturally carry out decomposition. Examples of decomposers in the environment are mushrooms, worms, and fungi. On a food chain, decomposers are at the very end to gather the nutrients from dead organisms and replenish the soil with the nutrients found within these dead organisms. Thanks to decomposers, producers are able to get the nutrients they need to grow. This helps the entire food chain or food web thrive.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tu(na) be or not Tu(na) be - Emily Burzinski

# data[].attributes.subject
Tu(na) be or not Tu(na) be - Emily Burzinski

# data[].attributes.body
Tuna is a popular fish commercially, as it is sold in cans as well as fresh, for cooking or for sushi. Unfortunately, it’s high commercial demand means that may types of tuna are either fished at capacity, or overfished. This overharvesting of tuna both declines their populations and increases inbreeding (thereby decreasing genetic diversity). Everything, including tuna, must be harvested responsibly to prevent a decline in biodiversity. Additionally, the nets used to catch tuna are frequent culprits of bycatch, in which marine life other than tuna is caught, and therefore killed. Tuna fishers must adjusts the methods by which they catch tuna in order to prevent a negative effect on other species, especially already vulnerable ones like dolphins and sea turtles.

# data[].attributes.body
My beautiful lorax Is next to my car. Unfortunately, emissions from cars greatly harm the environment. Cars emit large amounts of carbon into our atmosphere. The carbon gets trapped and increases the atmospheric temperature. This leads to global warming and other climate changes which are destroying habitats and survivability for many organisms. A solution to this problem would Be a regulation that's highly encourages public transportation. This would greatly reduce the number of cars and amount of. air pollution.

# data[].attributes.body
This Lorax is in front of my car that releases a lot of pollution in the air. In the US almost 75% of pollution or carbon monoxide pollution is emitted from cars. Car pollutants cause immediate and long-term effects on the environment. Car exhausts emit a wide range of gases and solid matter, causing global warming, acid rain, and harming the environment and human health. Car pollution is one of the major causes of global warming. Cars and trucks emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute one-fifth of the United States' total global warming pollution. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which causes worldwide temperatures to rise effects of car pollution are widespread, affecting air, soil and water quality. Nitrous oxide contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide mix with rainwater to create acid rain, which damages crops, forests and other vegetation and buildings. The overall effects of car pollution have a direct impact on HIPPCO. The pollution into the environment impacts living organisms eventually leaving species either endangered or extinct, along with leading to other climate changes which may be harmful to human and animal health.

# data[].attributes.body
Commerical buildings, produce vast amount of pollution and any emissions from the buildings enter into the atmosphere. This picture shows Baylors effort to not use elevators to not produce any emissions by using elevators. This was in the main campus building, which is a great way for Baylor to promote renewable energy use, like taking the stairs in stead of not using as much energy by taking the elevator.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of a leaf in my backyard. The hole and decaying of the plant represents herbivory. An insect probably consumed the plant for food. Herbivory is an interaction in which an animal consumes a producer- and typically does not kill the producer. The insect needed food to carry out its metabolic processes and continue its growth. The plant is still alive and well, however that one leaf is not in a good position.

# data[].attributes.body
In this picture, I am depicting a conservation effort that was enacted in an airport to prevent pollution in the environment, by people throwing away their trash in specifically designed sectors. This allows for conservation efforts to ensue as humans can throw away their trash in specific divisions to recycle and citizens can diminish their act of degrading the environment. Pollution reduces biodiversity as some pollutants can have direct lethal effects on species. Other pollutants, can have subtle lethal effects that can alter ecosystems in negative ways and inhibit reproduction. Pollution is having dire effects on the environment as it is hurting ecosystems and preventing different animal and plant species from prospering. These conservation efforts can aid in the prevention of pollution and the conservation of the environment and it’s distinct species.

# data[].attributes.body
There are many different factors that go into a stable environment . Some that will help , and others that can harm it . Pollution is one thing that plays a huge role in the harming of the environment and half the time most people don’t even think twice about doing it . When acidic air pollutants combine with water droplets in clouds , the water will beocome acidic . Whenever those droplets fall into the ground , the acid rain can then damage the environment and any plants/ animals that live there . This picture I took if of my fireplace; because it causes smoke to rise into the sky and that air get polluted and then the whole cycle of acidic rain becomes a problem for plants and animals all around.

# data[].attributes.body
What we have here is a picture of a fake autotroph/producer. Plants are supposed to be able to take photons, water, and CO2 to produce their own food and energy for themselves. This is plastic. It is straight up useless and serves no purpose for the environment. If I were to throw it out it would end up in a land fill and take years to degrade because its plastic, so I have no choice but to keep it.

# data[].attributes.body
This was a picture taken showing how Starbucks is trying to preserve the environment and prevent any further damage to it. They are taking away the straws used in their drinks, and have replaced them with a sippy cup lid that doesn't require a straw. This was there effort to save the Marine ecosystems that were being effected by the disposed plastic straws. This is just one small step to making a difference in degradation of ecosystems, especially the Marine habitats.

# data[].attributes.body
Primary producers are the most important and basic part of the ecosystem and it is the most important part of the food chain. As shown in my picture grass is a good primary producer for most animals. They contain the most energy and as the pyramid goes upward the energy level is lost by 10%. Later the animal die off and are consumed by decomposers, which maintain the nitrogen levels and provide organic material necessary for later generations of primary producers. They are the root of survival of other species in an ecosystem. They can the fastest in reproducing and are used to sustain  the lives of other species. Other species population gets smaller and smaller in comparison to the primary producers as they go further up to food chain.

# data[].attributes.body
In her attempt to make the household a little more green, my mother is trying to bring more plants inside the house to make the air cleaner, but also by giving them the care they need. Autotrophs like these are paramount, because not only do they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, they are also at the first step of the food chain, allowing for the transferring of energy through trophic levels. Apart from this, my mom also has a garden, which contains vegetables and fruits. Inadvertently, some - including our fig tree - have been subject to being preyed upon by birds and other animals, and as annoying as it may be, it's all still part of a larger food chain.

# data[].attributes.body
In this picture, I am depicting an autotroph, which is the producer in a food chain. These plant species provide oxygen for humans, as they go through photosynthesis and help communities around the world continue to prosper. Producers take part of the carbon cycle and take up carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and transfer the carbon to consumers and decomposers. They also take part in the trophic levels, where they convert solar energy into producer biomass through photosynthesis and allow for primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Producers are autotrophs ( like the one below) that allow for the continuation of life between animals, plants, and humans. Autographs are vital in order to survive.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture shows my dog next to a bag of his food which contains turkey, chicken, and peas. His food has forms of producers, the vegetables, and forms of primary consumers, the meats. Since this is a regular meal plan for him, my dog can be referred to as a secondary consumer based on the chain of consumption.

# data[].attributes.body
Flat Lorax is taking care of the bamboo. Bamboo is a grass that requires a least a little water. Bamboo stores water and although it isn’t in an environment it is not usually found in it is surviving bc it is not in extreme conditions. However it is morbid reproducing because it is not in its fundamental niche.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture shows my two dogs that come from different breeds . This process doesn’t just come about it happened because of something called Evolution by artificial selection. Artificial selection is the process by which us humans determine which types of individuals that we breed . We typically do this with the type of outcome that we want in our mind . Like my brown lab cane from two other dogs that we’re chosen to make the brown lab . It’s more typically well known of course these days in farming with sheep’s and pigs and cattle . It also is used by farmers to make certain types of crops such as Cabbage , kale , and broccoli . It’s not as thought out of as used in dogs , but there is a breeder who thought of the idea of coming up with a brown lab (hinted that there’s also a yellow and black lab) . It can have negative affects on a ecosystem if something goes wrong or on another population , but typically it’s done with the outcome already thought out predetermined.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of my Christmas tree, which happens to be fake and pre-lit. However, many people use real trees to decorate for the holidays. Evergreen trees are producers, or autotrophs, who use water, sunlight, and CO2 to create glucose and oxygen, which are used by all organisms in cellular respiration. Often, trees like this one are grown commercially in forest plantations. Though thousands of trees will be planted, these areas will have essentially no diversity, because there will only be one plant species allowed to grow in this area. Additionally, trees that are grown to be sold as Christmas trees are evolved through artificial selection; tree growers only replant seeds from the most ideal tree, in an attempt to create the most perfect harvest of trees possible. The longer this goes on for, the more change will occur in the tree species as a whole.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of my backyard. My backyard is comprised of many producers and autotrophs ranging from grass to vegetable plants. We preserve our producers as they are vital to the ecosystem. Producers and autotrophs provide the majority of energy I consume and also the rest of the organisms on earth. Producers release oxygen into our atmosphere which allows the billions of organisms on earth to live. Plants also absorb carbon dioxide which I see currently having negative effects our atmosphere. Producers and autotrophs are essential to support and ecosystem and life on this planet. We should do our best to conserve them.

# data[].attributes.body
While visiting Fayetteville, Arkansas, I noticed the abundance of Tyson offices and even a poultry science building named after the Tyson family on the University of Arkansas's campus. Tyson is one of the largest chicken meat producers in the country holding a monopoly within the meat industry. All the money being made comes at a cost of the health of the chickens and the environment in which they are raised in. Tyson uses CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) farming. This means they raise all the animals in tight, contained spaces. This doesn't allow the animals to have much movement. The animals also receive medications to enlarge their bodies in order to have more meat on them. Tyson frequently refuses to answer any questions or accusations against their inhumane way of raising animals.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture of my fridge. I was going to get a snack after school and when I opened the fridge I found it ironic that the lettuce was right next to the eggs. I decided that it would be better to eat a salad than have an egg sandwich because I will get the most energy from the lettuce. This is because it is at the lowest point in the trophic pyramid. Since it has not gone up the pyramid (it is a producer) and lost energy by heat along the way, it contains more energy that will help me stay full. The eggs are not producers so when the chicken that laid the eggs consumed other food that had already lost energy, it went up the pyramid and as a result does not contain as much energy as the lettuce. It is more sustainable for humans to eat producers rather than meat because they contain the most energy and require less resources to produce.