Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Great Stretch of Sand :
This ecoregion is the largest on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Arabian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. At 200,000 square miles (500,000 square kilometers), itâs one of the biggest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand.
Includes most of Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Jordan, and Syria Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
714,800 square miles (1,851,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Alaska and Montana combined Critical/Endangered
You might think that the world's largest body of sand would be a hum-drum landscape. But this ecoregion holds more than a few surprises. Stretching across one part of the region is a 480 mile (800 km) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaus, and canyons called the Tuwayq escarpment, which has been sculpted by the wind and sand. The Rub' al-Khali desert features a variety of dunes, including colossal dune mountains colored an incredible orange-red by iron oxide. Elsewhere in the ecoregion are the famous quicksands of Umm al Samim, and an isolated sea of sand on the coast of Oman. Needless to say, most of this region is extremely dry. Temperatures oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal nighttime freezes.
Although vegetation is extremely sparse in this ecoregion, and trees are limited to just a few areas, many animals make it their home. Hoofed animals of the region include Arabian tahrs, Nubian ibex, sand gazelles, mountain gazelles, Arabian oryx, and Arabian gazelles. Striped hyenas, red foxes, Arabian wolves, and sand cats are among the region's carnivores. Small rodent-like mammals called jerboas jump across the sand. Houbara bustards fly overhead and greater flamingos recently began breeding in Abu Dhabi for the first time since 1922. After a rain, you may see a sudden explosion of wildflowers carpeting the ground. And you might even spy a crustacean that lies dormant for years until a rainstorm causes it to hatch, molt, and grow to full size in the space of several days!
Poaching of wildlife, overgrazing by livestock, and damage to vegetation caused by off-road driving are the greatest threats to this region's biodiversity. Agricultural projects, oil and gas surveys, and roads are also potential threats.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
This ecoregion is the largest on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Arabian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. At 200,000 square miles (500,000 square kilometers), itâs one of the biggest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand.
Includes most of Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Jordan, and Syria Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
714,800 square miles (1,851,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Alaska and Montana combined Critical/Endangered
You might think that the world's largest body of sand would be a hum-drum landscape. But this ecoregion holds more than a few surprises. Stretching across one part of the region is a 480 mile (800 km) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaus, and canyons called the Tuwayq escarpment, which has been sculpted by the wind and sand. The Rub' al-Khali desert features a variety of dunes, including colossal dune mountains colored an incredible orange-red by iron oxide. Elsewhere in the ecoregion are the famous quicksands of Umm al Samim, and an isolated sea of sand on the coast of Oman. Needless to say, most of this region is extremely dry. Temperatures oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal nighttime freezes.
Although vegetation is extremely sparse in this ecoregion, and trees are limited to just a few areas, many animals make it their home. Hoofed animals of the region include Arabian tahrs, Nubian ibex, sand gazelles, mountain gazelles, Arabian oryx, and Arabian gazelles. Striped hyenas, red foxes, Arabian wolves, and sand cats are among the region's carnivores. Small rodent-like mammals called jerboas jump across the sand. Houbara bustards fly overhead and greater flamingos recently began breeding in Abu Dhabi for the first time since 1922. After a rain, you may see a sudden explosion of wildflowers carpeting the ground. And you might even spy a crustacean that lies dormant for years until a rainstorm causes it to hatch, molt, and grow to full size in the space of several days!
Poaching of wildlife, overgrazing by livestock, and damage to vegetation caused by off-road driving are the greatest threats to this region's biodiversity. Agricultural projects, oil and gas surveys, and roads are also potential threats.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
17 rebekahd
Near Oceanside, California, USAPhotograph by David Olson
Western North America: Southwestern United States into northwestern Mexico Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
About 14,000 square miles (36,288 square kilometers) -- about twice as big as New Jersey Critical/Endangered
· Rosy Boas and Copper Butterflies · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for ConcernMore Photos
Rosy Boas and Copper Butterflies
The California Coastal Sage and Chaparral ecoregion extends from northeastern Baja California, Mexico, northward along the Pacific into southern California in the United States. The ecoregion is bounded in the east by the Colorado-Sonora Desert and continues south as far as Punta Baja, Mexico and includes the Channel Islands (U.S.) and Cedros and Guadalupe Islands (Mexico). The landscape is one of coastal terraces, plains, and rangelands and is one of only five Mediterranean-climate ecoregions in the world. The winters are cold and humid, and the summers dry and hot. Annual average rainfall is low, between 6 and 20 inches (150 and 500 mm). Dominant plant species of the sage scrub are California sagebrushand bush sunflower. Other associated species include California buckwheat and Munz's sage. The most common succulent genera are Opuntia, Yucca,and Dudleya. In the drier southern region, one finds more cacti and succulents, including Agave shawii, Opuntia prolifera, and Bergerocactus emoryi. Chaparral dominates the higher elevations with chamise, Ceanothus, and Arctostaphylos species. Several other habitats also occur such as cypress woodlands, oak woodlands, and some conifer forests. Some notable animals in this ecoregion are the Hermes copper butterfly, Quino checkerspot butterfly, and the rosy boa.
Special Features
The California Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral is specially adapted to survive fires. Many plants sprout from their base after fires, and some species have seeds that only germinate after burns. Natural fires used to occur about every 20 years. Between 150 and 200 butterfly species call the sage scrub home and it is one of the riches zones of endemic bees in North America. Twenty-one species of scorpion have also been described, along with a large number of spiders. The offshore islands in this ecoregion are home to a number of rare and endemic species, including the Santa Catalina shrew, island fox, island scrub jay, and island night lizard.
Only five regions in the world have Mediterranean climates. Together, these small areas contain 20 percent of the Earth's plant species.
Wild Side
The red-diamond rattlesnake and San Diego horned lizard are two uncommon residents. The San Diego banded gecko and San Diego pocket mouse also live here, as does the San Diego horned lizard and Merriam kangaroo rat. Birds of the chaparral include the endangered California gnatcatcher, California thrasher, western scrub jay, and cactus wren. Many plant species are found only in this unusual ecoregion, including the San Diego thorn mint, San Diego ambrosia, and San Diego barrel cactus.
Cause for Concern
Livestock grazing damages fragile plant communities and important riparian vegetation. Fire suppression also causes fuels to build up and can trigger very hot, devastating fires. The biggest problem for this habitat is agricultural and urban expansion, which destroys and fragments remaining patches of chaparral. Smaller patches also experience higher impacts from introduced plants and animals. Cats, raccoons, and dogs all take a terrible toll on native animals such as reptiles and birds found in chaparral fragments. Small patches also lose species that require larger areas of habitat for survival. Existing protected areas in the states are generally too small to conserve intact natural communities, and the chaparral in Mexico needs protected areas as this area is quickly being developed.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.
All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
Western North America: Southwestern United States into northwestern Mexico Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
About 14,000 square miles (36,288 square kilometers) -- about twice as big as New Jersey Critical/Endangered
· Rosy Boas and Copper Butterflies · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for ConcernMore Photos
Rosy Boas and Copper Butterflies
The California Coastal Sage and Chaparral ecoregion extends from northeastern Baja California, Mexico, northward along the Pacific into southern California in the United States. The ecoregion is bounded in the east by the Colorado-Sonora Desert and continues south as far as Punta Baja, Mexico and includes the Channel Islands (U.S.) and Cedros and Guadalupe Islands (Mexico). The landscape is one of coastal terraces, plains, and rangelands and is one of only five Mediterranean-climate ecoregions in the world. The winters are cold and humid, and the summers dry and hot. Annual average rainfall is low, between 6 and 20 inches (150 and 500 mm). Dominant plant species of the sage scrub are California sagebrushand bush sunflower. Other associated species include California buckwheat and Munz's sage. The most common succulent genera are Opuntia, Yucca,and Dudleya. In the drier southern region, one finds more cacti and succulents, including Agave shawii, Opuntia prolifera, and Bergerocactus emoryi. Chaparral dominates the higher elevations with chamise, Ceanothus, and Arctostaphylos species. Several other habitats also occur such as cypress woodlands, oak woodlands, and some conifer forests. Some notable animals in this ecoregion are the Hermes copper butterfly, Quino checkerspot butterfly, and the rosy boa.
Special Features
The California Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral is specially adapted to survive fires. Many plants sprout from their base after fires, and some species have seeds that only germinate after burns. Natural fires used to occur about every 20 years. Between 150 and 200 butterfly species call the sage scrub home and it is one of the riches zones of endemic bees in North America. Twenty-one species of scorpion have also been described, along with a large number of spiders. The offshore islands in this ecoregion are home to a number of rare and endemic species, including the Santa Catalina shrew, island fox, island scrub jay, and island night lizard.
Only five regions in the world have Mediterranean climates. Together, these small areas contain 20 percent of the Earth's plant species.
Wild Side
The red-diamond rattlesnake and San Diego horned lizard are two uncommon residents. The San Diego banded gecko and San Diego pocket mouse also live here, as does the San Diego horned lizard and Merriam kangaroo rat. Birds of the chaparral include the endangered California gnatcatcher, California thrasher, western scrub jay, and cactus wren. Many plant species are found only in this unusual ecoregion, including the San Diego thorn mint, San Diego ambrosia, and San Diego barrel cactus.
Cause for Concern
Livestock grazing damages fragile plant communities and important riparian vegetation. Fire suppression also causes fuels to build up and can trigger very hot, devastating fires. The biggest problem for this habitat is agricultural and urban expansion, which destroys and fragments remaining patches of chaparral. Smaller patches also experience higher impacts from introduced plants and animals. Cats, raccoons, and dogs all take a terrible toll on native animals such as reptiles and birds found in chaparral fragments. Small patches also lose species that require larger areas of habitat for survival. Existing protected areas in the states are generally too small to conserve intact natural communities, and the chaparral in Mexico needs protected areas as this area is quickly being developed.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.
All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands (PA1303)
Includes most of Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Jordan, and Syria Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
714,800 square miles (1,851,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Alaska and Montana combined Critical/Endangered
· The Great Stretch of Sand · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for Concern
The Great Stretch of Sand
This ecoregion is the largest on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Arabian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. At 200,000 square miles (500,000 square kilometers), itâs one of the biggest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand.
Special Features
You might think that the world's largest body of sand would be a hum-drum landscape. But this ecoregion holds more than a few surprises. Stretching across one part of the region is a 480 mile (800 km) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaus, and canyons called the Tuwayq escarpment, which has been sculpted by the wind and sand. The Rub' al-Khali desert features a variety of dunes, including colossal dune mountains colored an incredible orange-red by iron oxide. Elsewhere in the ecoregion are the famous quicksands of Umm al Samim, and an isolated sea of sand on the coast of Oman. Needless to say, most of this region is extremely dry. Temperatures oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal nighttime freezes.
The quicksands of Umm al Samim have reportedly swallowed groups of human travelers and whole flocks of goats!
Wild Side
Although vegetation is extremely sparse in this ecoregion, and trees are limited to just a few areas, many animals make it their home. Hoofed animals of the region include Arabian tahrs, Nubian ibex, sand gazelles, mountain gazelles, Arabian oryx, and Arabian gazelles. Striped hyenas, red foxes, Arabian wolves, and sand cats are among the region's carnivores. Small rodent-like mammals called jerboas jump across the sand. Houbara bustards fly overhead and greater flamingos recently began breeding in Abu Dhabi for the first time since 1922. After a rain, you may see a sudden explosion of wildflowers carpeting the ground. And you might even spy a crustacean that lies dormant for years until a rainstorm causes it to hatch, molt, and grow to full size in the space of several days!
Cause for Concern
Poaching of wildlife, overgrazing by livestock, and damage to vegetation caused by off-road driving are the greatest threats to this region's biodiversity. Agricultural projects, oil and gas surveys, and roads are also potential threats.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
Includes most of Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Jordan, and Syria Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
714,800 square miles (1,851,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Alaska and Montana combined Critical/Endangered
· The Great Stretch of Sand · Special Features· Did You Know?· Wild Side· Cause for Concern
The Great Stretch of Sand
This ecoregion is the largest on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Arabian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. At 200,000 square miles (500,000 square kilometers), itâs one of the biggest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand.
Special Features
You might think that the world's largest body of sand would be a hum-drum landscape. But this ecoregion holds more than a few surprises. Stretching across one part of the region is a 480 mile (800 km) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaus, and canyons called the Tuwayq escarpment, which has been sculpted by the wind and sand. The Rub' al-Khali desert features a variety of dunes, including colossal dune mountains colored an incredible orange-red by iron oxide. Elsewhere in the ecoregion are the famous quicksands of Umm al Samim, and an isolated sea of sand on the coast of Oman. Needless to say, most of this region is extremely dry. Temperatures oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal nighttime freezes.
The quicksands of Umm al Samim have reportedly swallowed groups of human travelers and whole flocks of goats!
Wild Side
Although vegetation is extremely sparse in this ecoregion, and trees are limited to just a few areas, many animals make it their home. Hoofed animals of the region include Arabian tahrs, Nubian ibex, sand gazelles, mountain gazelles, Arabian oryx, and Arabian gazelles. Striped hyenas, red foxes, Arabian wolves, and sand cats are among the region's carnivores. Small rodent-like mammals called jerboas jump across the sand. Houbara bustards fly overhead and greater flamingos recently began breeding in Abu Dhabi for the first time since 1922. After a rain, you may see a sudden explosion of wildflowers carpeting the ground. And you might even spy a crustacean that lies dormant for years until a rainstorm causes it to hatch, molt, and grow to full size in the space of several days!
Cause for Concern
Poaching of wildlife, overgrazing by livestock, and damage to vegetation caused by off-road driving are the greatest threats to this region's biodiversity. Agricultural projects, oil and gas surveys, and roads are also potential threats.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
RUSSIA
where:
Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia Boreal Forests/Taiga
size:
832,800 square miles (2,156,900 square kilometers) -- about thrice the size of Texas Critical/Endangered
This ecoregion covers nearly one-third of Europe. Tundra lies to the north and temperate mixed forests to the south. Only a few coniferous tree species, including pine and juniper, and a few broadleaf trees, including birches and willows, grow in the taiga forest, with diversity increasing in the south with maple, linden, ash, and oak trees. Characteristic herbaceous plants include sedge, stiff club moss, May lily, twin flower, heart-leafed tway blade, shinleaf, lesser rattlesnake plantain, and ground pine.
Hawk owls aren’t your average looking owls. They have hawk-like features, with pointed wings, a long tail, and swift flight. They even sound more like hawks than other owls. These raptors mostly hunt during the day and store surplus food, such as mice, near their nests.
Wild Side
In the mountains and on the treeless tundra, wolves follow huge herds of reindeer (caribou), looking for vulnerable individuals to prey upon. Wolverines are also predators of this ecoregion but prefer to use their bad temper to steal another animal’s meal or scavenge off carcasses with jaws strong enough to chew through the bone to obtain nutrients. Waterbirds that breed in the taiga environment include common goldeneyes, red-throated loons, smews, and Eurasian cranes. Birds of prey such as the ospreys, gyrfalcons, hawk owls, and great gray owls also breed here. The arctic warbler lives here, as does the Siberian jay. Willow ptarmigans turn a snowy white in winter as camouflage against the snow, and their feet are feathered for warmth. Arctic foxes hunt by sensing the vibrations and sounds created as small mammals hidden beneath the snow move about. Some of this ecoregion’s animals are critically endangered, including the moor frog, Siberian crane, and European mink.
Cause for Concern
Logging, mining, fossil fuel exploration, and unsustainable hunting are threatening this ecoregion. Old-growth forest is rapidly being depleted, and little of it is preserved in protected areas. Because the forests of this ecoregion absorb so much carbon dioxide, their loss would have worldwide significance in an era of global warming. Delicate ground-layer plants are threatened by increasing recreation and tourism.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the
where:
Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia Boreal Forests/Taiga
size:
832,800 square miles (2,156,900 square kilometers) -- about thrice the size of Texas Critical/Endangered
This ecoregion covers nearly one-third of Europe. Tundra lies to the north and temperate mixed forests to the south. Only a few coniferous tree species, including pine and juniper, and a few broadleaf trees, including birches and willows, grow in the taiga forest, with diversity increasing in the south with maple, linden, ash, and oak trees. Characteristic herbaceous plants include sedge, stiff club moss, May lily, twin flower, heart-leafed tway blade, shinleaf, lesser rattlesnake plantain, and ground pine.
Hawk owls aren’t your average looking owls. They have hawk-like features, with pointed wings, a long tail, and swift flight. They even sound more like hawks than other owls. These raptors mostly hunt during the day and store surplus food, such as mice, near their nests.
Wild Side
In the mountains and on the treeless tundra, wolves follow huge herds of reindeer (caribou), looking for vulnerable individuals to prey upon. Wolverines are also predators of this ecoregion but prefer to use their bad temper to steal another animal’s meal or scavenge off carcasses with jaws strong enough to chew through the bone to obtain nutrients. Waterbirds that breed in the taiga environment include common goldeneyes, red-throated loons, smews, and Eurasian cranes. Birds of prey such as the ospreys, gyrfalcons, hawk owls, and great gray owls also breed here. The arctic warbler lives here, as does the Siberian jay. Willow ptarmigans turn a snowy white in winter as camouflage against the snow, and their feet are feathered for warmth. Arctic foxes hunt by sensing the vibrations and sounds created as small mammals hidden beneath the snow move about. Some of this ecoregion’s animals are critically endangered, including the moor frog, Siberian crane, and European mink.
Cause for Concern
Logging, mining, fossil fuel exploration, and unsustainable hunting are threatening this ecoregion. Old-growth forest is rapidly being depleted, and little of it is preserved in protected areas. Because the forests of this ecoregion absorb so much carbon dioxide, their loss would have worldwide significance in an era of global warming. Delicate ground-layer plants are threatened by increasing recreation and tourism.
For more information on this ecoregion, go to the
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Math and Music - Hz's & BPM
In SI units, the unit of frequency is hertz (Hz), named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. For example, 1 Hz means that an event repeats once per second, 2 Hz is twice per second, and so on. This unit was originally called a cycle per second (cps), which is still sometimes used. Heart rate and musical tempo are measured in beats per minute (BPM). Frequency of rotation is often expressed as a number of revolutions per minute (rpm). BPM and rpm values must be divided by 60 to obtain the corresponding value in Hz: thus, 60 BPM translates into 1 Hz.
The period is usually denoted as T, and is the reciprocal of the frequency f:
T = 1\f
The SI (as well as English) unit for period is the second (s).
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