Our Future

Weather change refers to increases in temperature at the earth’s surface and creates different scenario, such as frequent hot days and fewer cool days.  “Storms, floods, and droughts will generally be more severe as precipitation patterns change. Hurricanes may increase in intensity due to warmer ocean surface temperatures” (Riebeek pg.1).

“Climate change refers to the broader set of changes that go along with global warming, including changes in weather patterns, the oceans, ice and snow, and ecosystems”( Frequently Asked Questions pg. 1). Meaning when oceans get hotter, and ice caps are melting together they describe the word climate change.

http://www.elementshealthspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/WHO-climate-change-chart.jpg

The term global warming means when the greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere; the gas intakes some of the sun’s heat and does not release it into the atmosphere. This causes the earth to be much warmer due to the extra heat at the earth’s surface. This extra heat affects plants, animals, and humans.

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/global-warming-4.gif

I believe we are currently moving extremely fast towards another ice age. I think this because everything on our planet follows the rule of equilibrium. Due to that fact, I think humans’ helping global warming is just making the ice age come faster.  

http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/6cX77zv88I7acchSvbO9Qx4dqxc.jpg

Milutin Milankovics theory states that every 100,000 years an ice age occurs, and it always follows that pattern (Milankovitch Cycles pg. 1). Since the last ice age was about 10,000 years ago, means we will have another ice age in 90,000 years ago, but I personally think that will happen before that time.

The article states that we are not going through global warming but supports the idea of going through global cooling. The article supports the idea of global cooling by giving us a few facts about increasing population of polar bears, water vapor in the air has declined and less vapor means lower temperatures. (Schaefer pg.1 ).

http://images.skymetweather.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/global-warming-global-cooling.jpg

Work Cited

            "Frequently Asked Questions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/climatestudents/faq.html>.

            "Milankovitch Cycles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycle>.

Riebeek, Holli. "Global Warming : Feature Articles." Global Warming : Feature Articles. N.p., 03 June 2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/>.

Scaefer, Keith. "-So-Hot Facts About Global Warming Research–Global Cooling Part III." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. <http://news.yahoo.com/not-hot-facts-global-warming-150900216.html>.

Threat to Life

Threat to Life

Water Contamination is a chemical, physical, and biological change to a waterway due to humans activity. Water Contamination is a serious threat to the Great Lakes.The great lakes have been affected by sewage disposal, toxic contamination through heavy metals and pesticides, runoff from agriculture and urbanization, and air pollution (Teach pg. 1).  Old contaminates are being replaced with new ones. The three ways the water gets contaminated is point source pollution, nonpoint source pollution, and atmospheric pollution (Teach pg.1).

• Point source pollution is when pollutants enters a waterway and comes into a river (Teach pg.1).
• Nonpoint source pollution is when pollution comes from different sources (Teach pg.1).
• Atmospheric pollution is when the water is going through the hydrologic cycle (Teach pg.1).

Water contamination affect the organisms living inside and outside the lakes, and health of human. Fish start having deformities, and humans can becoming sick and even get diseases.

Invasive Species

Since 1800 there are about 25 non-native species of fish that are in the great lakes. The invasive species effects people’s food, water and the fish’s ecosystem. Some of the invasive animal species include round goby, sea lamprey, Eurasian ruffe, and alewife (Invasive Species pg.1).



http://gallery.nanfa.org/d/23723-3/Neogobius+melanostomus++Round+Goby.jpg



http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/280000-52524-38.jpg

http://www.clr.pdx.edu/images/EurasianRuffe1.jpg

http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfish/Clupeidae/alewife.jpg

Some of the Invasive plants are common reed, reed canary grass, purple loosestrife, curly pondweed, Eurasian milfoil, and frogbit (Invasive Species pg.1).

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/img/phau1-growing.jpg

http://hort.uwex.edu/sites/default/files/P1000729_0.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/LythrumSalicariaBig.jpg/220px-LythrumSalicariaBig.jpg

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/images/potcri/potcri_frank6a.gif

http://saveblacklake.org/system/assets/general/milfoil-06.jpeg

http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/fish-pictures/amazon-frogbit-1267315428-800.jpg

Preservation of the Dunes

The preservation of the dunes started in 1916. The association was built in order t o establish a national park along the Lake Michigan shoreline ( Schoon pg.214).  The plan was to preserve an 8-mile strethch of the beach ( Schoon pg. 214). Later U.S. Steel donated $250,000. In the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established in 1966 and is approximately 15,000 sq.ft. ( Schoon pg. 216). Later in the park was found 1,445 different plants, and without the association these plants would never be preserved. 

Work Cited

"Invasive Species." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 13 May 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/invasive/>.

 Schoon, Kenneth J. Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements at the South End of Lake Michigan. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2003. Print.

TEACH: Water Pollution in the Great Lakes." TEACH: Water Pollution in the Great Lakes. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.great-lakes.net/teach/pollution/water/water1.html>.

  

History of the Settlers

The first settlers in the Calumet area were the Miami Indians. Later the land was discovered by Father Jacques Marquette and founded the first European Settlement. Lastly in 1763 the British took control of the land (Schoon pg. 55).

Two of the first groups were the William Ross and Solon Robinson families (Schoon pg. 61). The settlers would move into the Calumet Area thanks to the pre-developed Indian trails. The old Sauk trail is now 77th Ave. in Merrillville, and Lincoln Highway the country’s first highway was developed through the Indian trails (Schoon pg. 61).

After 1833, the Calumet area was known for its transportation routes. Because of the position of the area Taverns started getting established in the area. The Taverns were used to dine in, as Hotels, and as exchange of horses.  In 1832 the 1st saw mill was built, and by 1838 there were 5 mills in the area (Schoon pg. 74). 

Later sawmills had to change into gristmills due to farming, which caused the forests to be cut.

Later, canals, dams, ditches, and leeves were built. “Three canals were built in the calumet area: the first was built to give Chicago primacy on Lake Michigan, second and the largest was built to keep the sewage away from Lake Michigan, and third is the Calumet Sag Channel, which sends water from Little Calumet River to the Illinois River” (Schoon pg. 103).  “To increase the speed of the current, many of the early millwrights built dams across streams and rivers” (Schoon pg. 103). Also in 1892 a lot of land was expanded for ports and railroad tracks.

Work Cited

Schoon, Kenneth J. Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements at the South End of Lake Michigan. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2003.

Natural and Geological Resources

Some of the natural and geological resources found in the calumet area are stone, sand, clay, timber, and rivers. “The first major sand mining of the dunes near Lake Michigan was to provide material for railroad embankments”(Schoon pg. 83). The sand was later used to help build U.S. Steel because it was cheap fill. The sand was also used for backfill for railroads. “Powell Moore noted that an estimated 50,000 railroad cars full were shipped out from Tolleston in 1897 alone”(Schoon pg. 99).

The bottom of the lakes and moraines were rich with clay. Soon small clay pits were discovered all over the Calumet Area, and many brickyards were built as well. Large brickyards were located along railroads for easy transportation. “By 1920 many of the brick factories had closed” ( Schoon pg. 101).

Timber was a large industry in the Calumet area; the logs were used for cabins, bridges, and railroads. “The trees had to be cleared to provide more farmland, and the trees served as a source of fuel”(Schoon pg. 88).

Rivers were mostly used for transportation. People also had fish houses where they would fish and trade for flour, buckwheat, pork, and butter (Schoon pg. 89). The water was also used for drinking.

Work Cited

Schoon, Kenneth J. Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements at the South End of Lake Michigan. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2003. 
 

 

Bogs and Fens

Bogs

Bogs are an area where 50% of the vegetation are herbaceous, and water is present. “The water in a bog is largely rainwater; it is stagnant, acidic, and exceedingly poor in nutrients” (Pielou p.146). Bogs have much more color then fens. “Bogs are found almost exclusively in glaciated depressions in northeastern Illinois” (Aquatic Illinois p.1). The Volo bog is found in Illinois, and that is a bog that is opened at the center of it. It was formed 15,000 years ago during the last Winsonsinian glacier. Some plants that are part of bogs are: cattails, arrowhead, duck weed, and tamarack tree. The most interesting plant is the pitcher plant, this plant is a carnivorous plant that eats insects, mites, spiders, and small frogs (Aquatic Illinois p.1).These plants feed a variety of different animals. Some animals are dragonflies, leopard frogs, bullfrog, and snail (Aquatic Illinois p.1). If you are interested where to find a Volo bog, the best place to see one is in Volo Bog State Natural Area in Lake County (Aquatic Illinois p.1).

Cattails

http://www.cattails.info/images/cattails_8yyb.jpg

Arrowhead

http://www.ccwaterscapes.com/Bog%20Plants/arrowarum.JPG

Duck weed

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Wood+Duck+in+Duckweed.jpg

Pitcher Plant

http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Green%20Spotted%20Pitcher%20Plant.JPG

Fens

Fens are a type of a wet meadow that feeds on calcareous. More than 50 percent of the vegetation in a fen is herbaceous (Aquatic Illinois p.3).”The water in a fen is groundwater seepage or slowly flowing surface water, and has therefore picked up some mineral nutrients to nourish the vegetation; thus fen water moves, albeit very slowly”(Pielou p.146). Fens are also called perched bogs or hanging bogs. The plants that are usually included in fens are: pitcher plant, turtlehead, skunk cabbage, beaked spikerush, wild marsh timothy, hoary willow, rushes, dwarf bitch and cotton grass (Aquatic Illinois p.3). If interested in seeing fens you can visit Turner Lake in Lake County.

Turtlehead

http://www.michigangardener.com/wp-content/uploads/CheloneLyonni.HotLips.jpg

 Skunk Cabbage

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/Plants/Skunk%20Cabbage/skunkcab4.jpg

 Wild Marsh Timothy

http://www.kgnaturephotography.com/photos-wetland-plants/grasses/slides/Muhlenbergia-glomerata-~-marsh-wild-timothy-2.JPG

 Beaked Spikerush

http://www.pid6.org/nature/Spike%20Rush%20(Eleocharis%20spp.).JPG

Work Cited

"More Aquatic Habitats Teacher's Guide." Aquatic Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. https://mycourses.purduecal.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2980340-dt-content-rid-9845040_1/courses/cal_66429.213142/aquaticillinoismoreaqtchabteachguide%281%29.pdf.

Pielou, E. C. Fresh Water. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1998. Print.

Pleistocene Megafauna

Pleistocene Megafauna

During the Pleistocene Epoch large animals lived that are called Pleistocene megafaunas. Most of these animals were extinct during the last glacial retreat around 10,000 years ago. Here are a few animals that lived during that time period, and some even lived in Indiana!

Dire Wolf

The Dire wolf is the largest canid to have ever existed (Canis Dirus P.1). It was about 5 feet long, and it weighted 125 or more pounds. The Dire wolf is somewhat bigger than the modern day Gray wolf, but the Dire wolf has larger and more massive teeth. Another difference is the Dire wolf had much shorter legs than the modern day wolves. The wolf was extinct around 16,000 years ago because of the extinction of its prey.

http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/wolf.jpg

Woolly Mammoth

 

Woolly Mammoth is a specious of mammoth that has a common name “Mammothus”. The closest relative to this huge monster is the Asian Mammoth. The mammoth is the same size as the modern day elephant. The mammoth could live during the ice age, because its whole body was covered with thick fur. It lived in the Mammoth Steppe in Eurasia and North America. The animal was extinct about 4,000 years ago due to climate change, and human hunting. (Woolly Mammoth P.1)

http://a-z-animals.com/media/animals/images/original/woolly_mammoth.jpg

Wild Horses
 

The wild horse is not the modern day wild horse. This ancient animal originated around 1 to 2 million years ago in North America. The wild horse lived in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The animal died off around 13,000 years ago, and I believe it was due to the climate change. (Kirkpatrick P.1)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Equus_occidentalis.jpg

http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/kincaid/images/horse-sm.gif

Bison Antiquus

The Bison Antiquus is sometimes called the “ancient bison”. It was a large herbivore. It’s the direct ancestor of the American Bison. The animal is 15 to 25 percent larger than the modern day bison. The bison was about 7.5 feet tall, 15 feet long, and weighed at 3,500 pounds. The animal died off around 10,000 years ago. I don’t believe these animals became extinct; I believe they went to evolution to become the modern day American Bison. (Bison Antiquus P.1)

http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/kincaid/images/bison-lg.gif

Giant Beaver

The giant beaver was the largest rodent in North America. It lived in Illinois and Indiana. The rodent was as big as a small bear. The front teeth were about 6 inches long. As you might think these beavers might have built huge dams, but believe it or not they had nothing to do with dams. These creatures lived around 12,000 years ago, and it is said that the climatic change made the animal go extinct. (Hauser P.1)

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Stag-Moose

The Stag-Moose was a weird looking animal; it looked like it was a cross between an elk and moose. The animal was larger than the modern day moose. Their antlers were more complex than the modern day moose. It was extinct around 11,500 years ago, due to the climate change and human hunting. Also if you wish to see how this animal really looked you can visit the Illinois State Museum. (Stag-moose P.1)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Life_restoration_cervalces_scotti.jpg

Work Cited

"Bison Antiquus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Mar. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison_antiquus>.

F, Jay. "The Surprising History of America's Wild Horses." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 24 July 2008. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.livescience.com/9589-surprising-history-america-wild-horses.html>.

Hauser, Alisa. "Giant Prehistoric Beaver's Discovery in Wicker Park Gets New Look - Wicker Park - DNAinfo.com Chicago." DNAinfo Chicago. N.p., 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20131210/wicker-park/giant-prehistoric-beavers-discovery-wicker-park-gets-new-look>.

"Stag-moose." Stag-moose. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://exhibits.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/cervalces.html>.

"Woolly Mammoth." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_mammoth>.

"World of the Wolf - Canis Dirus." World of the Wolf - Canis Dirus. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. http://www.naturalworlds.org/wolf/history/Canis_dirus.htm.

Extinction Theories

The Pleistocene Extinction Theories all discuss the extinction of the large mammals know as Mega faunas. These theories take place about 9,000 years ago during the last Wisconsinian advance. There are four main theories that scientist predict happened: Climate change, Humanity presence, Human disease, Comet. The climate change theory states that during the increase and decrease in the climate temperature the faunas that could not adapt to the intense change started dying off. The humanity presence theory talks about when humans started moving and spreading across the planet, they started hunting certain animals. The human disease theory states as humans moved around and settled, they brought with them a horrible disease that the faunas could not fight off. The comet theory states that a large comet hit the Earth’s surface and exploded killing off majority of the animals.

In my opinion I believe that a few of these events occurred at the same time and caused the extinction of the mega faunas. Humans hunting and the climate change played a major role of why these animals are extinct. I believe as humans saw the climate change affecting the animals and making them week, they took their chances against large animals like mammoths and killed them off. After one species was gone, they would move on to the next and so on. 

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/files/2013/05/climate-change.jpg







http://basictrainingacademy.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/mammoth-hunting.gif



http://abcofbiology.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/human-disease.gif





http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/imagenes_ciencia/asteroids_comets17_04.jpg

Work Cited

"Holocene Extinction." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Mar. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction>.

"The Pleistocene Epoch." N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <https://mycourses.purduecal.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2980340-dt-content-rid-9844464_1/courses/cal_66429.213142/Pleist%20extinction%20causes%20L8.jpg>.

"Quaternary Extinction Event." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Mar. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_extinction_event>.