Unit 7 Reflection

        This unit was a tour in the essential "study of house," a branch of biology that grows in importance every day due to the numerous causes of damage to the environment. Ecology can be studied on many levels, from the smallest niches, full of factors and adaptations species need to survive; to complex food webs, structures linking hundreds or even thousands of producers and consumers of every trophic level, transferring less and less energy until apex predators get close to none; to entire ecosystems, rich with different organisms and the abiotic factors that affect their lives, as well as cycles of the nutrients they need; to the biosphere itself, extending worldwide and encompassing all life on earth.

Human population growth diagram

        Likely the most directly linked topic to humans is human population, which, like populations of any animal, is affected by factors such as immigration, disease, density, and dispersion. Like any population in its initial stages, the human population is also growing exponentially, though the carrying capacity of the earth can only support about 10-15 billion in total.

        One of the largest concerns currently is humans' effect on the planet. Through climate change, overexploitation, and introduced species, and habitat loss, we have created the sixth mass extinction, and have endangered a large percentage of all species. Unless we work as individuals and a society to conserve and restore resources and save biodiversity, the world as we know it will surcease.

Ball-and-stick model for polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

        This unit has indeed left me with some unanswered questions, such has how exactly our harmful, as well as restorative, processes work. (e.g. power plant and engine emission chemistry, properties of plastics and recycling for different plastics) A further exploration into basic economics and manufacturing could also help me broaden my knowledge, as would knowing more about the largest threats to the environment. What are the main causes of introduced species in the modern world? What industries and specific techniques should be targeted to reduce habitat loss and overexploitation?

        Much of the time we spent in this unit was working on a Conservation Biologist Project. In my group, we worked to create an effective presentation (see above) covering the environment and threats of the Ecuador cloud forests, as well as attempting to formulate solutions directed at these threats. Most of the time, we worked together well as a group, fulfilling group goals and individual tasks on schedule, and we were equally successful with our research. It was a bit difficult to coordinate large tasks as a group, such as putting together the works cited and getting the individual recordings done for editing, but in the end we were able to keep everyone, for the most part, on schedule, and wrapped up the work on time. If I were to do a similar project in the future, I would probably be more specific and break down goals. Furthermore, I would try to enforce goal deadlines better so that group members finished tasks on time without fail.
        A concept we learned was the different conflict management types: assertive, passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive. After taking a self-assessment on the topic, I determined that my leading types were assertive (35%) and passive (27%); my goal is to be more assertive, which would entail being more clear and straightforward with my ideas, as well as keeping my priorities in mind as I communicate.
        In general, I look forward to learning more in the realm in biology, whatever it may be. On a side note, I will also work toward improving my writing, whether it be in biology reflections, or in any number of other applications.