Sunfish

Sunfish probably look the way they do based on the environment they are in and some part of maybe the evolution of the fish since it was stated that it was closely related to the pufferfish. Sunfish may have evolved they way that they did is because when you get deeper down in the ocean, fish start to adapt different things that can help them survive. Since the sunfish like to take in sun rays and dive deep, they have the bodies that help them dive, yet the skin to help them soak in the sun. New species appear from the adaptation of a new environment or habits from already existing animals. New habits or change in environment causes animals to have to change in a way thats beneficial, either losing old habits or gaining new ones. Why new species appear is to help them survive better in the new "situation." I believe that sunfish have a 50/50 percent chance of living. From the way they were able to adapt to catching sun rays, the change of the way they swim and one species of the sunfish changing its body shape shows that they can evolve but at the same time they are prey.

Sunfish and Evolution

I must say the Sunfish is one interesting looking fish and its Evolution has made it look more and more evolutionarily impressive. The reason why I think this fish looks this way is because of where it lives in the ocean as the article said it can range from 2000 ft below sea level all the way up to 15 ft below sea level. If we look at a lot of other marine animals that live in this range such as dolphins whales and sharks they have a very similar body shape however they tend to be significantly bigger in size and have more of an Aero aquatic shape. I also feel it has this look because of Simply what it does. The name says it all Sunfish just like the article stated it likes to sunbathe by catching sun rays. Overtime I feel that Evolution has adapted to capture sun rays and swim more efficiently in the range which it lives.

I feel the new species appear due to changing environment and habits. As article stated the new Sunfish is not as big however it is found a lot more frequently at the surface level. Also the newer species armoire streamline. This would allow it to be able to swim a slightly faster than the older species. This feature allows the Sunfish to swim at higher service. Garunteeing a higher possibility of escaping from predators than the older species.

Unfortunately I feel this fish will have a very short future and may not survive due to the change in climate and rising sea levels. One major part of climate change is rising sea levels if sea levels rise to the point where this fish cannot find a perfect spot to sunbathe without having to compete with predators, it may become endangered or extinct. Furthermore its body shape makes it very easy for predators to take advantage.

Sunfish

Sunfish

Sandy Flores

I think the sunfish looks the way it does because of it's surroundings and how it lives in the environment. Their physical features highly depend on how they are living and the amount of sunlight they receive. Since they like to sunbathe, this can highly affect how their physical features are evolving. New species have appeared because of abnormal climate changes and different environmental factors. These may include how much they swim or sunbathe (In the case of the Sunfish). These new species have to adapt to the environment, creating new traits and losing old ones. They must figure out a way to survive in the environment so they don't die off quickly. I believe these sunfishes will have a long lifespan if they keep adapting to the environment and getting the survival they need.

Wildebeest

Surprisingly wilderbeast sacrifices actually have a very significant effect on the surrounding ecosystem in which they belong to. The article stated, "Even though only 0.7% of the entire population of wildebeest in this region drown, their caucuses feed many carnivores in the rivers in which they drown." Even though this is a sad way for them contribution to the ecosystem, this method is actually one of the best contributors for surrounding animals in the environment. Not only do the carnivores get the main advantage of the drowning wilderbeast carcasses also fish and other herbivores will eat the algae that forms bones of the wildebeest skeleton.

I feel that one of the more significant implications of this research is to actually show how helpful decomposition is to the environment. In elementary school I learned about the decomposition process and how every animal or organism goes back to the Earth organically. Furthermore This research is just solid proof of how an unfortunate situation of a wildebeest drowning can be very substantial to another animal who may need food. I also feel This research proves that even though once something is no longer living it can still have a very solid purpose in life.

Sunfishes

I think the sunfish looks the way it looks because of the environment that it lives in. A lot of features that living organisms have depend on the temperature, pressure and amount of sunlight that they receive. While I'm not expert on fish, I have a feeling that the deep waters that the sunfish live in contribute to its appearance. Also, after looking how large the fish is, I can't help but assume that it is an older species since fish and generally all animals used to be much larger than they are today. Generally, I assume that new species are derivatives of older ones, and so on and so forth. We've all evolved from something to get to the present physical appearance that we have. In terms of survival, I don't think the sunfish are going to withstand much because of it's rarity. In the world we live in, creatures like the sunfish don't have to just worry about the natural occurrences that change their environment, but also man made ones. Not the mention, the amount of seals that are killing the sunfish without an apparent reason. I think that that occurrence might have to do with the fact that these seals are loosing their regular sources of nutrition, and instinctively know that they have to find news ones, however these new sources may not exactly look or taste the same as their original ones.

Blog Question 7/31

Hi all,

I hope you enjoy this last week of lab, and I hope you have learned a lot!

For this week, please read this article: http://www.popsci.com/sunfish-species-bizarre

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the sunfish looks the way it does? Why did it evolve to look the way it does? How does it's appearance and features help it live and survive? Take a guess.

2. Why and how do you think new species appear?

3. What do you think the sunfish's future looks like in terms of survival?

Wildebeest Questions Ethan Weed

How do the drowned wildebeest contribute to the ecosystem?

It is estimated that roughly 0.7% of the wildebeest population dies due to drowning when attempting to cross rivers and other bodies of water. Once their bodies collect alongside rivers, organisms such a vultures consume the meat off of the bodies bones. Vultures are scavengers, and often eat other organisms that have already died. Not only that, but it has been found that fish also consume the decaying wildebeest, making up about 50% of their diet. Decaying wildebeest are vital to providing their ecosystem both food and nutrients.

What conclusions could be made and what are the greater implications of these findings?

Through examining and collecting data on how dead wildebeest effect their ecosystem, researchers now have a better understanding of the impact that they actually have. The research collected goes to show that every organism within an ecosystem plays a role in providing things such as food. These organisms are capable of both providing to the ecosystem when they are alive and also dead.