Respond to fellow students
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Discussion Question:
As you have learned in the readings, extinction is a natural selection process and humans are often
responsible for accelerating this process. In your initial post this week, address whether or not we as
humans should be concerned with the extinction rate, and justify your decision. Additionally, discuss
whether or not humans should strive to preserve representative samples of all biomes on the planet, and
if so, how that might be accomplished.
What I need: Respond back adding on to the students post. Add more to the
subject and share your knowledge. At least 75 words.
Student #1: Robert McGarr
Global food webs are fragile things. We are just beginning to understand how the vast
amount of species on earth interact. It is for this reason, that I believe we should be concerned
with human involvement in species extinctions. In our quest for greater and more efficient
technologies, we have impacted the “natural” part of natural selection. It is no longer natural
selection when our technologies have resulted in the loss of a species. As stewards of our
planet, it is our responsibility to mitigate the damage we created. The loss of one small species
can have dramatic ramifications to our food chains as well as our nutrient cycles. Per Jose
Montoya in Current Biology, “when in an ecosystem one species goes extinct many others may
follow even if they are not directly affected by the initial disturbance.” (Montoya, p.R1129)
Montoya goes on to explain that extinctions brought about by human activity has a cascading
effect on other species within an ecosystem.
Due to our lack of a full understanding of species interaction, it is important to preserve
samples of earths various biomes. Projects like NordGen and various seed and gene
repositories are good solutions to attempt to preserve our biodiversity. They maintain vast
numbers of seeds and genetic material from across the globe for use in the event of a global
crisis (NordGen, 2017). These stocks can also be used to restore or rejuvenate a damaged
ecosystem or an extinct species. While mainly focused on plant biodiversity, as technology
advances other species may be included.
References
Montoya, J. (2015). Ecology: Dynamics of Indirect Extinction. Current Biology, Volume 25,
Issue 23, 7. Pages R1129-R1131. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxylibrary.ashford.edu/science/article/pii/S0960982215013482
NordGen. (2017). Genetic resources in the Nordic region. Retrieved from:
http://www.nordgen.org/en/about-us/genetic-resources-nordic-region
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2014).Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.) [Electronic
version]. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Student #2: Tolanda Carroll
Human feeds off the natural process cycle, which gives us survival technique. We feed off plants, and
animals. However, I do believe there should be concern because the rate the extinction going is not
applicable to the environment cycle today. According to (The Center for Biological Diversity, 2017),
“humans. In fact, 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily
those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and global warming [3].” This quote alludes that
the number of extinction in species, will increase in size next in particular ten years. Furthermore,
extinction started with dinosaurs, Woolly Mammoths, etc.
Human should not preserve representative samples of all biomes on the planet because with increase
in human activity; “Over the past several decades, increasing human activity has rapidly destroyed or
polluted many ecological habitats throughout the world.” Pullen, S. & Ballard, K. (2017). If humans do
preserve represented samples of all biomes, they must consider that our text states “Since biomes
represent consistent sets of conditions for life, they will support similar kinds of organisms wherever
they exist.” Turk, J.& Bensel, T. (2014). Therefore, it would overcrowd the ecosystem in human do
preserve mostly every sample. There are different types of biomes: “terrestrial- (land based), aquatic(water based) communities.” Turk, J. & Bensel, T. (2014). Let’s consider the number of species being
preserved; exactly can only imagine a huge number.
There is a mere importance on earth for humans and non-human’s habitats. However, humans should
consider cleaning up the environment more; putting trash in the recycle bins or trash bins. Stop dumping
oil in the waters, this give the animals a cleaner, and healthy space. Furthermore, having a clean, fresh,
and healthy ecosystem might help out our species, which will help out us.
Reference
Center for Biological Diversity. (2017). The Extinction Crisis. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisi
s/
Pullen, S. & Ballard, K. (2004. The Importance of Conservation and Biomes. Retrieved April 12,
2017, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/importan.html
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.) [Electronic version].
San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Discussion #2
Write: For this discussion, address the following prompts:
•
Provide at least three reasons why every student should be required to take
general education courses. Explain your rationale. Support your rationale with
evidence from at least one scholarly source.
Describe what you have learned from at least three specific courses (e.g., philosophy,
history, English, math, psychology, etc.) that has proved its usefulness in your
daily life. For instance, what did you learn in history classes beyond just names,
dates, and places? In literature courses, what did you learn about life, the
university, and everything beyond the literary work itself?
What I need: Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts, and respond to at least two
of your peers by Day 7. Compare and contrast your reasons why general education courses are
important with that of your peers’ reasons and rationale. Each participation post should be a
minimum of 75 words.
Student #1: Jaroleen Smith
First reason can be to refresh your memories on the subject you may have not really pay close attention
to before college. Second, it can be nice to have that basic knowledge about what is math, what is
history, and what is reading. Third, you can dig more deeper into a subject you might come across, such
as English being Literature, I know many people have a compassion on literature and they end up going
to school for similar subject to that to become literature, poetic teacher/professor. Another is Anatomy,
people end up going to school for Nursing and having basic knowledge such as medical terminology,
math (due to calculating medication and the prescriptions base on the dosage and body weight etc.),
History, people like to dig more into history on Neanderthals and Amy, the Primates, and etc. that
resolves to Anthropology, Science, many get a compassion on finding their career in the environment,
space, trees, and etc., I think this is where it leads to the third reason why I believe it is good to take
general education courses, Finding your Career. Lastly, it is good to know everything that has
happened—our history (from 1800s, the 1900s, the Cold War, The Depression, World War II, Navajo
Talkers, 9-11, our Presidents, Our government, Health Care Systems, and Etc.), its good to know
Reading (literature, poems, writing, spelling), and biology (environment, us, other, animals, trees,
atmosphere and etc.).
I have learned from the courses I explained are proving how much I know… even though it is broken
down in little pieces, I can say I know more than I use to know. I have taken into more consideration in
my English (always watching how I speak, talk, and write), I do a lot of math in my field of work, if it was
not for ever taking my math courses, I know I would have pretty much only would have known 2+2. I
have taken biology into more consideration of a high interest of learning more about photosynthesis,
environment, global warming, rain, thunder, snow, mother nature, and those beautiful sunsets. I have
considered history as a compassion because I don’t want to admit but taking history this time around
was like a hit in the head, I learned so much about what we do and have is because of an individual
who had made a difference (Roosevelt’s healthcare insurance, Medicare; World War II, the Navajo
Code Talkers language that the Japs could not break; The Long Walk; Racism; Black History; and
Native American wars over territories, Killing because of Land). I do think that all of this has been a
usefulness to my daily life, I learned to see that Native American’s and African Americans fought and
struggle to survive and get this far with life, not just us, but many of other tribes, cultures, etc. The
university and literacy work itself is to always know and have the knowledge of being equal, fair, and
kind and look beyond yourself to see how far your imagination can get you.
References:
Ferren, A. S., & Anderson, C. B. (2016). Integrative Learning: Making Liberal Education Purposeful,
Personal, and Practical. New Directions For Teaching & Learning, (145), 33-40. doi:10.1002/tl.20172
Nelson Laird, ,. F., Niskodé-Dossett, A. S., & Kuh, G. D. (2009). What General Education Courses
Contribute to Essential Learning Outcomes. JGE: The Journal Of General Education, 58(2), 65-84.
Student #2: Leandra Otero
Three reasons why I believe every student should be required to take general education courses are as
follows: Learning a little more about a particular topic you enjoy, opening your thought process to
different options career options, lastly to ensure you are in expert in the field of study your interested in.
“These programs, often referred to as “gen eds” or core curriculum classes, are a collection of credits
required by all majors for a degree. No matter what your degree (BS, BFA, etc.) and how many credits
are required for it, these classes are added on top of your mandatory major courses with the intent to
broaden knowledge beyond what’s required in your field” (Seraphin, 2017).When you further your
education into a particular topic you enjoy your more likely to continue to want to continue to learn about
the topic and persu a career in that area. While your in college you learn and experiment to determine
things you like or don’t like. Lastly, I feel after majoring in accounting I feel more comfortable doing
someone’s taxes then I day the day graduated high school which makes me believe I’m an expert in
accounting.
When I think about all the courses I have taken in the past couple of years I have to say three courses
really stood out Business Law, Public Speaking, and Accounting. When it comes to business law it
helped me learn the differences between a Corporation, a sole proprietor, and what laws protect a
business. Public Speaking really brought me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to discuss topics
to persuade people or grab the class room attention which is something I do when presenting for work.
Accounting was very beneficial because it has allowed me to learn about deduction or ways to properly
set up my finances in my everyday life.
Overall, I really had the chance to learn and brush up on things like math and history, but more
importantly I knew I wanted to be a business woman right after high school. College in general has
showed me to be confident in the information I give, feel like I have a good grasp on basic conversation
with anyone about any topic and be successful. More importantly it’s helped me become a well rounded
person.
Seraphin, C. (n.d.). General Education Requirements: What’s the Point? Retrieved April 13, 2017, from
http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/majors-and-academics/articles/collegeacademics/general-education-requirements-whats-point/
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