Environmental Blog #3

            Exotic species are those organisms introduced into habitats where they are not native. In their natural habitats, these organisms developed stable populations and complex relationships with other species. When removed from the predators, parasites, diseases and competitors that have kept their numbers in check, species introduced into new habitats often overrun their new home and crowd out native species. Once they have been established, exotic species can rarely be eliminated.

            The wildlife of the Philippines includes a significant number of endemic plants and exotic animal species. The country’s surrounding waters have the highest level of biodiversity. The Philippines is considered as one of the seventeen megadiverse countries as well as global biodiversity hotspot. According to the 2000 Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 418 of the country’s 52, 177 species were listed as threatened.

            The exotic species in the Philippines include the Tamaraw and the Philippine Tarsier, which is one of the smallest species of primates in the world. They also have 3 exotic species of deer named, Philippine Deer, Calamian Deer and the Philippine Spotted Deer.

Philippine Spotted Deer

Calamian Deer

Philippine Deer

            The tarsier is a small species of primate that is found inhabiting the well-vegetated forest in the Philippines. It is a unique and distinctive looking animal that has evolved a number of specific features to help its nocturnal lifestyle. They have long legs, which enable them to leap distances up to 5 meters between branches. The most distinctive feature is on their heads. Because of their specially adapted vertebrae are able to turn 180 degrees in both directions so that they can see behind it without moving it’s body. Their enormous eyes can be up to 16mm across and enable them to hunt for prey and predators. They also have large bat-like ears to detect the slightest sounds.

The tarsier is an incredibly elusive animal that is known to be shy around humans. With the increasing human activity in areas of their habitats, they are being pushed into smaller and more isolated areas.

Today, many of the different tarsiers are either listed as being endangered or vulnerable by the IUCN. Although conservation work is striving to protect these animals and their remaining pockets of primary forest, they remain threatened by the loss of habitat throughout much of their natural range.

Typhoon Haiyan

A couple of weeks ago, we had a speaker come in and talk about hurricanes and tornados. I thought this topic was really interesting; therefore, this blog is going to be about hurricanes.

According to the textbook, Hurricanes are what we generally refer to as tropical cyclones. It consists of prominent low-pressure centers that are essentially circular, with a steep pressure gradient outward from the center. As a result, strong winds spiral inward. But in order for a storm to be classified as a hurricane, the wind must reach a speed of 119 kilometers per hour. The wind pattern of a hurricane pulls in warm water, which the causes or fuels that storm. As the warm water spirals into the storm, air rises and cools which then brings air to saturation. Condensation then releases water that builds up clouds and feeds the heavy rain.

In general, both typhoons and hurricanes are tropical cyclones but differ in their locations. The difference between hurricane and typhoon is that tropical cyclones in the west Pacific are called Typhoons and those in the Atlantic and east Pacific Ocean are called Hurricanes.

Typhoon Haiyan, which is also known as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, which was in fact my hometown. It is supposedly the deadliest Philippines typhoon on record killing at least 6,000 people. According to CNN, more than 27,000 people have been reported injured and 1,800 people are still missing. According to Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at Weather Underground, Haiyan had sustained winds of 230 km/h to 315 km/h when It struck the Philippines making it the strongest cyclone ever at the time of landfall.

Despite the destructive winds, a storm surge, which is the height of the sea above the tide, can conflict the heaviest damage and kill the most people. Storm surges vary a lot even among the most powerful storms, because the rise in ocean water is driven not just by the wind speed but how long high winds are sustained, how fast the storm moves forward, whether a storm makes landfall during high or low tide, and especially the shape of the sea floor leading up to the coast. The estimates for Haiyan’s surge are between 15 and 20 feet where it first made landfall.

            

After this catastrophic typhoon hit the Philippines, the after math is truly heart breaking. The pictures I have found are devastating. And to this day, I still pray for the families that were affected by the typhoon and  am very thankful to god that my family are okay.

Sources:

Fischetti, Mark. "Was Typhoon Haiyan a Record Storm?" Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

Staff, CNN. "Typhoon Haiyan Death Toll Tops 6,000 in the Philippines." CNN. Cable News Network, 13 Dec. 2013. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.

"Super Typhoon Haiyan: Satellite Images." BBC News. N.p., 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

"Typhoon Haiyan Storm Surge Destroys House in Seconds - Video." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.