BIOL 1012 by

Padlet Assignment 1: Evolution of the Peppered Moths

sdensmo1 — 2025-01-15 01:41:38 UTC

One of the best modern examples of evolution in my opinion is the natural adaptation of the peppered moth in Industrial England. The constant smoking of the factories polluted the trees that grew in England, turning their bark dark and plain. Before the Industrial Revolution, the tree trunks had been white from the growth of lichen. The smoke and smog caused the lichen to die off, and as a result, the white-flecked moths that had rested on the trees became too easily spotted by birds. Eventually, the mutation that caused higher melanin in the peppered moths became the moths' greatest strength against the birds - darker moths were not as easily hunted by their predators. Thus, the species was able to survive.

Image and information taken from https://www.earth.com/news/moths-darwins-theory-evolution/

Padlet Assignment 2

sdensmo1 — 2025-01-21 20:03:23 UTC

The zombie-ant fungus, otherwise known as ophiocordyceps unilateralis, is a fungus that can infect and control ants. It is described by the article as an "uncanny manipulator" of its host body. The article highlights the fungus's mechanism of action and explains how it may suppress the genes of the ant it has infected. The article goes on to suggest that the ants who live in areas where this fungus frequently infects them have evolved to be less susceptible to its influence.

Padlet Assignment 3: Daily Plants

sdensmo1 — 2025-01-30 21:06:23 UTC

My mother keeps a garden outside, and during every season except winter, I get to see her beautiful plants. Some of my favorites are rosemary, azaleas, and honeysuckle.

The rosemary plant is a dicot plant because it has seeds with two cotyledons.

The azalea plant is also a dicot due to its flower pattern and seeds.

The honeysuckle is similarly categorized as a dicot, due to its leaves with net-like veins and its seeds.

Padlet Assignment 4: Diversity of Plants and Animals Video

sdensmo1 — 2025-02-04 00:48:57 UTC

The video begins by describing what exactly a mollusk is. It explains how their bodies are structured and provides insight on where the different types of mollusks live. The video explains the three main groups that mollusks are divided into and highlights their differences. Mollusk anatomy is described in detail. It also tells the viewer what mollusks have in common.

Padlet Assignment 5: Homeostasis

sdensmo1 — 2025-02-11 20:11:06 UTC

This site describes the process of homeostasis a lot like adjusting a thermostat to get a comfortable temperature. It defines each body system's role in homeostasis as well as the systems' mechanism of action.

Padlet Assignment 6: Influenza

sdensmo1 — 2025-02-14 18:27:41 UTC

Influenza is a disease that primarily affects the respiratory system and can prove to be fatal if an individual is unvaccinated and isn't treated promptly. This article describes a newer strand of the virus that is possibly spread through cow's milk. It goes into depth describing ways in which this new strand of the virus may not be able to replicate and mutate when combined with medicinal factors. Unfortunately, the researchers found that the virus may soon be able to outpace current measures and become a threat.

Padlet Assignment 7: Biomes

sdensmo1 — 2025-02-25 18:10:19 UTC

The biome I chose for this assignment is the savannah biome. I chose it because my name is Savannah and I love zebras. This biome is characterized by warm and humid seasons of heat and rain respectively. The savannah can be found in Africa and Australia. It typically has rolling flat grasslands and scattered tough trees. It can sustain larger herbivores and typically has larger predators as well. Species typically migrate from place to place depending on the season in order to eat the greens.

Padlet Assignment 8: Biodiversity

sdensmo1 — 2025-02-25 18:17:46 UTC

This video illustrates the definition of biodiversity. It states that there are millions of different species and people on this earth, each with their own characteristics. It states that biodiversity is needed to keep our planet in equilibrium. It highlights how every individual species is vital for the planet to function as needed.