Amphioxus

This organism is supposed to be the staring point for all vertebrates. It's believed that you can trace the evolutions of vertebrates from over 250 million years ago. These creatures are only about 5 centimeters long, and lack any sort of limbs. One body part they have in common with modern day vertebrates is a nerve cord similar to a spine, that runs through their bodies. They can also be found in different places around the world. 

Information link!!!

Dog Park

I think that the importance of having dog parks in communities is similar to having green space. It provides a place for people to go and get away from the city. The dog parks give dogs a place to run around and interact with other dogs. The owners also benefit because they get to the know fellow dog owners within the community. When I'm home from school over the breaks, I take my dog Charlie to a dog park near our home. When we go he gets to run around with other dogs, and I am able to meet new families, and become familiar with others who frequent the park. The park we go to have fenced in sections, for small dogs and big dogs. Each section has a little course that the dogs can play on. It also has a section for all dogs that you can throw frisbees and such in. 

This picture is of my dog, Charlie, hanging out by the obstacle course thing. 

And this is a picture of Charlie and me at the park!

Plant Update

At the beginning of the semester everyone got plant seeds to take care of and grow throughout the year. You could get sunflower seeds or tomato seeds. I chose to get tomato seeds. My plant was put in a small dixie cup to grow in. I kept it on the end table in my apartment near the windows in the living room. I gave it water every night and morning, and when it got super tall I attempted to prop it up. However, I failed at my attempts of keeping the plant from breaking in half, and it died. I did not take any pictures during my plants sort life, but I did find pictures that mirrored what it looked like.

The picture above is what my plant looked like within the first 2-3 days of having it. 

The chart above mimics what my plant slowly turned into within a two - three week time frame. However, my plant in the last stage displayed here, was much taller. Too tall to hold it self up, which is why it died.

This picture above it what I would like to believe my plant would have turned into. However, I more than likely would have had to move the plant into a much bigger pot for it to grow this big. I also would have had to figure out a way to keep it growing upwards. 

Bakersfield Park

Bakersfield Park, or Jackson Springs park, is the park we visited to take rock samples from the river and other areas of the park. The min part of the park is very pretty, with a stone bridge, a bunch of green space, and giant trees. Dr. Rood explained many years before the park was used as a zoo. Now it is used as mainly green space for the city of Macon. The trails that led away for the main section towards the Ocmulgee River River walk, are paved to allow better access for people in wheelchairs or strollers (Information Link). 

While at the park Dr. Rood discussed the importance of green space within a city. Other than the environmental aspects, such as providing a place for animals and plants to live, it also benefits humans.It gives people a place to use for recreation, and relaxation. By having a safe place everyone can go, it allows for better community living spaces. Many major cities across the nation have parks in them. Atlanta has Piedmont park.

Green Space Importance

Hitchiti Trail

During the lab this Wednesday we walked the trail at the Hitchiti Experimental Forest. I looked up the trail online and found a map of the trial that random people posted their own photos on. The trail is about 3.7 miles long.

Website!!

I enjoyed the lab because it reminded me a lot of the trails behind my house growing up. A good bit of the trail went along side the Falling Creek, which leads into the Ocmulgee River. Along the route we stopped and looked at the different types of jutting rocks. We also observed plants and animals, like the snake, that grow along the path. One plant we all observed was the wild ginger plant. This type of plant grows in dense forests through out North America. It has heart shaped leaves and grows about 10 inches tall, and blooms in the spring. This plant is a type of herb and can be used for many different medical remedies, such as coughs, colds, cuts, head aches and sore throat. 

Above is a picture of a wild ginger plant. 


Ginger Webpage

 

The picture below and above are from the website. As you can tell, the water level is a lot higher in these pictures.

Mid-way through the hike, we all stopped and hugged a tree.