https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2 Theme 2 en-us 2019-01-24 15:20:44 UTC 2026-01-06 14:36:21 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Xmastree.png angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323960614 Owl - Mouse
Great White Shark - Seal]]> 2019-01-24 15:26:43 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323960614 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961167 Sea lice on fish
Fleas on dog]]> 2019-01-24 15:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961167 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961458 A niche describe the role of a species in the ecosystem, its limiting factors, its tolerance levels, its requirements for living. Two characteristic organisms that both inhabit the tropical rainforest, but have different ecological niches are:
- Jaguar (Panthera onca);
Habitat: P. onca is the largest cat in the Americas and the third largest in the world (after the tiger (Panthera tigris) and the lion (Panthera leo)). They prefer dense, tropical forests, but they can also be found in scrubland and coastal forests. Not only are they excellent swimmers and can be found in habitats near water, but they are also able to climb trees. To support healthy populations, the jaguar require three habitat characteristics : a water supply, dense cover, and sufficient prey.
Role in ecosystem: As a tertiary consumer P. onca is an apex predator meaning that they are at the top of the foodchain and that they have no natural predators. The only enemy of the jaguar is therefore the human. Considered a keystone species, the jaguar has a great impact on the populations of other animals in the ecosystem. They are carnivores and depend on food sources such as deer, sloths, monkeys, capybaras, but also smaller species like fish and rodents.
- Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus);
Habitat: D. azureus is found in the southernmost part of Suriname. They inhabit small isolated forest areas surrounded by dry savanna land. The forest habitat is rather humid and warm and the frog prefers a dark, moist environment, living near small streams among moss covered rocks. Typically they remain on the ground, but they have also been found in trees.
Role in ecosystem: They are classified as secondary consumers becuse they are mostly insectivorous. D. azureus plays an important role as a predator of spiders, flies, ants, termites, caterpillars. They can be preyed upon by snakes and large spiders. ]]> 2019-01-24 15:28:04 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961458 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961824 An example of two organisms practicing (spatial) niche partitioning are bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). According to a study carried out in Florida Coastal Everglades, spatial overlap occurred among the species, however seasonal variability in habitat use and movement patterns  may promote coexistence within this area. The results are published in the article "Ecological niche partitioning within a large predator guild in a nutrient-limited estuary".
- The Tursiops truncatus is predominantly spotted in downstream waters during  the dry season, while the Alligator mississippiensis is using the downstream waters more frequently in the wet season.]]> 2019-01-24 15:28:40 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323961824 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323962324 Producer: Plants
Primary consumer: Insects
Secondary consumer: Capuchin monkey
Tertiary consumer: Jaguar]]> 2019-01-24 15:29:23 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/323962324 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339919974 Habitat degradation and habitat loss are results of illegal gold mining activities in Brownsberg Nature Park. Sedimentation, use of mercury, noise pollution and polluted water sources poses serious threats to the wildlife and biodiversity in the Nature Park.

Habitat loss and destruction of nesting places of leatherback seaturtles, is caused by illegal and sometimes legal sand extractions of the sandy beaches where these marine species usually have their nesting places.]]> 2019-03-11 12:54:58 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339919974 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339920891 Some species prone to wildlife overexploitation are:
- Jaguar (Panthera onca); the jaguar is very popular among the Chinese community, where it is believed that eating jaguar meat has a medicinal effect and promotes health. They use everything from the animal, the flesh, bones, skin, teeth. Therefore the jaguar is unnecessarily (illegally) killed and exported to countries like China for traditional medicine.
- Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber); Poaching on the already decreasing population of the scarlet ibis for their delicate flesh as food source, forms a serious threat.
- Leatherback seaturtle (Dermochelys coriacea); The coast of Suriname is very popular for the leatherback seaturtles to lay eggs. During nesting season, a female may lay 4-5 times per season, each time depositing 60-120 eggs. The biggest threat to these eggs are poachers, who collect the eggs for consumption and to sell on the black market, therefore contributing to further decline of the species' existence. 

]]> 2019-03-11 12:56:41 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339920891 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339921821 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species consists of different categories which describes the extinction risk of species. The examples mentioned below belong in the categories: ENDANGERED (EN), VULNERABLE (VU) and NEAR THREATENED (NT):
- Giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) (EN);
Main threats: hunting, destruction of habitat, due to deforestation, mining activities, mercury pollution and decrease of available foodsources for this species
- Manatee (Trichechus manatus)  (VU);
Main threats: various human activities, such as hunting, seismic surveys, boating (boat propellers can seriously damage the manatee), pollution of habitat
- Jaguar (Panthera onca) (NT); 
Main threats: hunting, disturbance and destruction of habitat due to logging and wood harvesting, mining activities, road development.]]> 2019-03-11 12:58:20 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339921821 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339922290 Some alien invasion species are:
- Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti); A. aegypti is a vector for transmitting several tropic diseases, such as dengue, yellow fever. zika, chikungunya. Only the female bites for blood. They have a wide variety of hosts, such as humans, livestock, amphibians and birds.
The route of spreading is during transportation of goods or products which contain some sort of water body, such as moist vegetation, wet tires or water containers that can hold eggs or larvae.
- Mollusc (Achatina fulica); A. fulica feeds on a wide range of crop plants and therefore present a threat to local flora. It is considered one of the worst snail pests of tropic and subtropic regions. Eventhough they are small in size, the aggregated nature of the infestations can lead to severe damage in infested plants. This species also causes ecosystem change, disease transmission and impacts on economic/livelihood, human nuisance.
The most common route by which this species is introduced into new locations is via trade routes (it is moved with cargo, agricultural products, plant and soil matter).
- Pigeon (Columba livia); C. livia is known to transmit several diseases, such as salmonella food poisoning. Their nests are also infested with parasites such as ticks, mites, which can cause health problems for humans. They also cause considerable damage to buildings and monuments because of their corrosive droppings and therefore increase costs of maintenance. Large amount of these droppings can kill vegetation and cause an unpleasant smell.
Initially pigeons have been introduced as a food source or for game.]]> 2019-03-11 12:59:11 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339922290 angelique_mnh https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339923147 The most noticeable effects of possible climate change are heavier rains, which cause flooding and extreme dry periods. Another effect is that the seasonal variability shifted, such as longer or shorter dry or rainy seasons.
On the longer term, a serious impact will be sea level rise. According to predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) till 2100,  Suriname will experience a annual global decrease of precipitation of 40%. The temperature will increase by 4.5 degree Celsius and for the sea level rise a 70-100 cm is predicted. Suriname is very vulnerable to sea level rise, and the effects on livelihood and economy will be massive, especially because approximately 90% of the population lives in the coastal areas and most of the economic activities take place in that same area.]]> 2019-03-11 13:00:40 UTC https://padlet.com/angelique_mnh/a5n0feunp6r2/wish/339923147