Category: Environment 1339

Introduction

Background to the study

The data given in this paper is raw data that has been summarized and organized following research that was most likely intended to study the individual components of solid waste. What is therefore represented by this data are figures of certain variables that the research intended to focus on during the research study which was the composition of solid waste is in the areas studied. The summarized data of this study is named Sampling Segregation at Source; Composition of Recyclables Delivered (Green Bin). Going by this title of the data we can be able to infer most of the background information of the study; for instance, we can tell based on this information that the data obtained was from a sampling study of a larger population. What this means is that the characteristics of solid wastes that were eventually analyzed in this study were randomly picked from a population of many green bins which have been identified for this particular study.

This basically involved use of random sampling techniques; random sampling is a sampling technique that relies on a simple probability method of choosing desired sample size by random selection method (Mugo, 2010). Ideally, simple random sampling involves assigning all cases of the population with numbers; once this is done the required study cases are then determined (Gilgun, Daly and Handel, 1997). The study population will be the sample size which is randomly picked by selecting cases from a list of numbers that were assigned to the population and then matching these selected numbers to specific cases that would make up the sample population that is actually studied (Newman, 1994).

This also tells us that the data obtained for this study which has been summarized is a true representation of the general population characteristics that are being studied in this case. For the purposes of this study, the data obtained were analyzed based on two major variables; its weight and the nature of the waste itself. The weight variable is especially necessary as this study entailed the determination of the proportion of waste that is recyclable in the context of all the other waste that is aggregated and collected in the green bin from the source. In fact, the main objective of this research study appears to have been to identify the percentage of recyclable wastes that are contained in the solid waste that is collected from the source. By determining the percentage proportion of recyclable waste that is present in the green bin used to collect the solid wastes, the researchers can infer the proportion of recyclable waste that is present in the solid wastes collected from a specific region.

Secondly, the objective of the study was to determine the actual and various types of solid waste composition that is present in the solid waste collected from the identified source. The importance of this analysis is that determination of the actual proportion of each element in the solid waste collected is necessary to give an insight into the nature and percentage of the recyclable waste that is present in the total waste collected for various possible reasons that we shall be discussing later in this paper. Finally, the data collected for this study were collected across two localities which are indicated as MA and FH over a period of one week (7 days), between 22^nd February this year and 28^th February.

Methodology

Study variables

We have already determined the two major factors that were used in analyzing the components of the solid waste collected in the two areas in the green bin; in this section, we shall briefly discuss the various variables that the study used in summarizing the data obtained. There are six variables used in summarizing the data for this research study; that is the source area from where the waste is collected from indicated as MA and FH, the total aggregate weight of the sample, date of collection, the proportional composition of the waste in the particular green bin disaggregated into five types, percentage proportion of recyclable waste and percentage of contaminants present in the bin samples. It is based on these variables that the data obtained from the study have been summarized, organized, and analyzed.

Study design

Foremost, we can determine that the nature of this research study was qualitative in nature because of the characteristic of the data that was collected which we can see to be mainly numerical in nature. It also appears that a questionnaire was used in this data collection since it is the most appropriate method of data collection considering the nature of the study. A questionnaire is the most commonly used instrument in the collection of quantitative and qualitative data from a sample population (Marshal and Rossman, 2002). It is the most suitable method of data collection of numerical nature and limited subjective data since the forms can be designed in such a manner that will ease the data entry and its organization.

In this case, the questionnaires were used in recording the variables of interest of sampled green bins that were being studied by the research, the results of which were later entered and summarized in the excel file.

The data analysis for this research study was done by use of quantitative techniques; quantitative because it involved the Operationalization of numerical data. It is also qualitative because the resulting numerical data organized and refined would further be discussed and inferences made on them in the next step. Because there was no qualitative data collected, the only data analysis required was quantitative, which was analyzed using Minitab statistical program (Silver, 1993). Once the data has been organized and analyzed it became easy to perform various statistical tests on it to determine the validity of research questions that the research was investigating; in this case, there was null hypothesis (H_o) and alternative hypothesis (H_A); the null hypothesis, was (Ho) % of contaminants in green bin = 60% vs. > 60.

An example of a relevant statistical test done on this research dataset was the Anderson-Darling Normality Test; this is a test that is used in determining the variability of a dataset from the normality. In other words what the test does is determine if a given dataset is normally distributed or otherwise, this can be determined by interpretation of the P-value and other functions that are generated by the test. Based on statistical rules P-value, in this case, will determine the normality of the data distribution; when the P-value for instance is (less than or equal to) > 0.05 then the data is not normally distributed while a P-value of more than 0.05 indicates that the normality test had been certified (Nye and Null, 2001). Skewness is another function that is provided by the Anderson-Darling Normality Test, in this case, it is used to determine the proportion of data that is below average (Nye and Null, 2001).

Variance and Standard Deviation were also been used to measure the variability of the given dataset i.e. how widely the data is dispersed (Kelle, 1980); the variance and standard deviation are related in that the standard deviation is the square root of the variance (Kelle, 1980). Finally, the kurtosis function is used in statistics to indicate the nature of tails in normally distributed data, this is necessary for approximation of how the data distribution has been patterned.

Besides this, the data has been analyzed using boxplot graphical analysis of contamination levels of the sampled green bins where the null hypothesis is pegged at 95% confidence. The boxplot is especially relevant as it graphically and neatly highlights three variables of a given dataset; that is the median, locations of extreme quartiles, and minimum and maximum figures in the dataset (Kelle, 1980). In this case, the use of boxplot is especially necessary as it is also used in highlighting the variability of the data, its distribution and normality which is important in the determination of the skewness in the dataset as well as identification of outliers. The actual analysis of the statistical and their interpretations will be done in the following section of the data analysis discussion.

The following graphs represent the summarized data of the solid waste composition of the two localities that were studied by this research study and depict the trends of the three major variables that the study was most interested in analyzing, namely; a total weight of the waste, percentage of recyclable waste present and finally the proportion of contaminants.

Results

In this section of the paper the data analysis that we shall be undertaking shall be mostly qualitative in nature since the interpretation of the data is going to be mainly subjective in nature. Throughout this section of the paper the data that will mostly be analyzed is the proportion of the contaminant present in the waste since this is the main variable of the study that has been analyzed by the Minitab statistical programme. Foremost, a general overview of the data indicates that the research study was undertaken over a period of 7 days in two localities that have been coded as MA and FH; during this time there are interesting results that can be inferred from the data set. One, the total weight of solid waste that was being collected during the indicated period is seen to have gradually been decreasing from a high of 146.5 kgs to 88 kgs in in Al-Masoodi locality while the Falaj Hazza locality indicates the results of three days only that also gradually reduced from a high of 232 kgs to 145 kgs. It is impossible to infer what might have exactly led to consistently less solid waste being collected each day of the study which represents a difference of as much as 80kg. One probable reason could be that as the study kicked off the total number of solid waste that was collected in day one could have been an accumulation of several days earlier but which gradually reduced as each day went by and waste was collected from the households, but there could also be other reasons

In addition to this observation, the data indicates varying proportion of recyclable materials and contaminants in the solid waste sampled that are seen to vary according to the total weight of waste sampled. What this indicates is that the percentage of the two variables of interest being studied, that is contaminants and recyclable materials are dependent on the final weight of dustbin sampled. Another observable characteristics of the data results is that the proportion of contaminants in the sampled green bin were consistently high throughout the study and was as much as 80% and rarely reduced below 60%.

This characteristic of the solid waste is understandable when you consider that the solid waste that was being sampled for this research study was mainly obtained from household which we expect to generate more organic waste and less recyclable materials. It is for the same reason that we have consistently less proportion of recyclable materials in the sampled waste throughout the duration of the study. Another noticeable feature of the dataset is the trend of composition of the recyclables obtained from the waste; among the nine different types of recyclables that were being sorted during this study, it is clear that highest proportion of recyclables was made up of mixed carton followed by carton, PET and then the rest, the least of which is aluminum.

In fact, the results of the data indicate that there were not any paper recyclable materials that were sorted from the sampled waste throughout the duration of the study. This possibly means that the packaging materials that are commonly used in the areas sampled do not include paper, perhaps because of government regulations or other similar policies that might have been enacted to regulate use of paper in the two areas. It could also mean that the paper recyclable materials that were obtained from the sampled solid waste could not be recycled, probably because they had already been contaminated by the moisture of the organic contaminants rendering their recyclability useless.

Now that we have analyzed the data in general, let us now undertake a detailed interpretation of the figures obtained from the statistical test that was done on the dataset which were specifically aimed at determining the contaminants percentage present in the sampled green bins. As mentioned previously, the Anderson-Darling Normality Test is used in determining the variability of dataset from the normality, a critical evaluation of its various functions indicates the following. One, that the P-value which is one of the most relevant functions generated by this function is given as 0.230; this would mean that the dataset analyzed is up to a point normally distributed because statistically a P-value of above 0.05 implies that the given data conforms to normal distribution.

What this implies is that the sample dataset is to an extent evenly distributed throughout the study duration; this characteristic of the data enables important inference to be done on the data especially as relates to the general characteristic of the population from which the samples have been obtained. The other important function generated by the data analysis is the skewness which is indicated as, 0.52; what this means is that the dataset is positively skewed and a significant proportion of it is below the mean figure of the data. This is because for a dataset that is not skewed and which is normally distributed, then the skewness is always zero. Besides this, there is the kurtosis which is indicated as -0.71; since the kurtosis in this case is negative the implication is that the tails of the graphical represented data is much lighter than what would be expected in a normally distributed dataset.

The boxplot portrays similar characteristics of the dataset but in a different way; for one it depicts the position of the median and highlights the range that the upper and lower quartiles of data falls. Based on this boxplot, we can tell that the median of the dataset is largely aligned towards the lower quartile of the data as opposed to the upper quartile and has a minimum of 60% and a maximum of 80%. We can also tell that the lower and upper quartiles of the contaminant data represented are not in proportion to each other because they are not of the same size; the data in the lower quartile are more than the data in the higher quartile.

Conclusion

Therefore having discussed the various characteristics of the dataset indicated as summarized above we can infer the following. Foremost, that the major component of solid waste obtained from the two localities was mostly composed of contaminants with only few composition of recyclable waste that was not above 40%. Because, the solid waste analysis done on the sample green bins was a representation of the general waste collected from the two areas then we can postulate that the nature of solid waste collected from the two areas will more than often be comprised of a huge proportion of contaminant waste rather than recyclable waste. Secondly we can expect the actual composition of the recyclable waste being recovered from the sampled green bins not to change which would mean that mixed carton shall probably continue to be the major recyclable material that is obtained from the solid waste collected from the two localities. Finally, since the null hypothesis has been certified to be true within a 95% confidence interval, we now know that the probability of percentage contaminants being 60% or more to be more likely and probable 95% of the time. This fact is consistent with the data which indicates that for all the sampled green bins the contaminants proportion were highest all the time and each time comprised of not less than 60% of the total weight of the waste.

References

Gilgun, K., Daly, S. & Handel, G. (1997). Qualitative Methods in Family Research. London; Sage Publications.

Kelle, U. (1980). Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis: Theory Methods and Practice. London; Sage Publications.

Marshal, C. & Rossman, G. (2002). Designing Qualitative Research. Carlifornia; Newbury Park.

Mugo, F. (2010). Sampling in Research.

Newman, L. (1994). Social Research Methods. Boston; Allys & Bacons.

Nye, H. & Null, H. (2001). SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Boston; Brown & Company.

Silver, D. (1993). Interpreting Qualitative Data. London; Sage Publications.

There are several environmental effects associated with non-renewable mineral resources, and all of them are of a harmful nature. These are water, air, and soil pollution, radioactive and solid wastes (Miller and Spoolman 309). Moreover, the use of non-renewable minerals generates noise and heat (Miller and Spoolman 309). All this leads to safety and health hazards for people. These issues raise the question of how to utilize this type of recourses more efficiently.

More Sustainable Usage

Humanity has developed several methods of using non-renewable mineral resources with greater efficiency. It includes industrial measures such as recycling and reuse of mineral resources in the same processes or as raw materials for others and production optimization to make it cleaner (Miller and Spoolman 312). Socioeconomic methods are mining subsidies minimization and additional taxation of those goods associated with environmentally harmful production practices (Miller and Spoolman 312). It is worth noting the state financial support for the recycling of non-renewable mineral resources.

The Earths Major Geological Hazards

It is no secret that the Earth is a place full of dangers. One of the earths major geological hazards is an earthquake (Miller and Spoolman 303). Interestingly, it gives rise to two hazardous phenomena, which are tsunami and landslides (Miller and Spoolman 303). It is necessary to mention the volcanic eruption that is another large-scale dangerous happening. Despite all its technologies, humanity still cannot fully defend itself against these natural disasters.

Total U.S. Energy Consumption and the Nominal U.S. Gross Domestic Product

The numbers show how strongly people, mostly from countries with advanced economies, depend on fossil resources. It has to be noted that the numbers are given in the British thermal unit (BTU). U.S. Energy Information Administration claims that in 2000 the total U.S. energy consumption was 98702.224 BTU while in 1979, it was 80811.788 BTU. Therefore, it means that consumption increased by 17890.436 BTU over 21 years. In the abovementioned 2000 and 1979, the nominal U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 10252.3 and 2627.3, respectively (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The countrys GDP increased by 7625 billion dollars. The ratio between the second variable and the first is 1:2.34628668852; rounding up the result gives 1:2.3. One can conclude that fossil fuels are badly needed for the growth of the U.S. economy and that American society is overconsuming.

New Englands Liquid Natural Gas Ports

All four Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ports are concentrated in New England. They are located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (U.S. Energy Information Administration). Such a density of LNG ports is conditioned by frequent and cold winters in the region (U.S. Energy Information Administration). U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that LNG imports help to meet natural gas demand in New England because the region currently has limited pipeline interconnections with the Northeast and U.S. natural gas producing regions. Even though the U.S. is known as producer and exporter of natural gas, some of its territories lack this necessary resource.

Electricity Pricing in Different Countries and Renewable Energy

The taxation system varies from country to country, and electricity pricing is no exception. As of 1995, the nominal average retail price of electricity in the U.S. was 6.89 cents per kilowatt-hour (U.S. Energy Information Administration). It is significantly lower than in Germany and Japan, but higher than in India and China. For renewable energy to become not only a trend but also a standard in the energy industry, it needs cheap technologies that would make the consumption of renewable energy economically feasible for most of the worlds population.

Works Cited

Miller, Tyler G., and Scott Spoolman. Environmental Science. Cengage Learning, 2018.

U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The water resource is one of the basic necessities of life as it is included in the same league with food, shelter, and clothing. As such, its use and sustainability must be safeguarded at all costs. But in recent times, the opposite seems to be the case as the vital resource continues to be depleted from the face of the earth. These days, it is not uncommon to hear of communities fighting for the precious resource especially in Africa where poor farming methods and deforestation has taken root.

We have also witnessed cases of human-wildlife conflict due to the vital resource. Governments all over the world have been grappling with the idea of conserving their water catchments areas to avoid a situation of severe shortage of water. But what might have gone wrong? All the available data seems to point an accusing finger at aquifer depletion as the most probable cause of the problem. According to Brown (2007), numerous countries, including the USA, China, and India are over pumping aquifers in a desperate attempt to satisfy their ever-rising water needs. This essay will therefore attempt to describe the problem of Aquifer depletion, trace its origins, and also try to locate an effective management and sustainability plan that can be used to fix the problem.

According to Robins (1998), an aquifer is an underground layer of unconsolidated materials such as clay, sand, silt, or gravel, or a layer of water-bearing porous rock from which the collected ground water can be easily and usefully collected or extracted using the water well. It therefore follows that aquifer depletion takes root when the ground water that has been trapped by the permeable rock is withdrawn at a rate greater than its replenishment. In other words, ground water is pumped out in excess of the supply that flows into the basin thereby resulting to depletion or mining of the water resource.

The origin, nature, and composition of aquifers are varied. In Canada for example, aquifers are composed of chunky deposits of gravel and sand brought about by glacial rivers, old deltas, sandstones, and fractured rocks (Water, 2008). According to Meyer (1996) increased human activities especially in the urban areas is the root cause of aquifer depletion. Other known causes includes increased farming activities like it is the case in China and India (Brown, 2007), deforestation and poor soil handling. Increased human population is also mentioned as a likely cause. According to Ponce (2006), human intervention had led to a situation by which groundwater is subjected to artificial discharge due to increased socio-economic activities thereby depleting the aquifers.

The problem of Aquifer depletion is a serious one by all standards. As already mentioned, the water resource is a basic resource that people cannot be able to do without There have been reported cases of sea-level rise (Eloise, 2004) and low farm yields in the worlds grain baskets of China, USA, and India (Brown, 2007) due to this problem of Aquifer depletion. As such, it is only imperative that governments and all the stake holders concerned comes up with management and sustainability plans to save aquifers from complete depletion.

Consequently, successful management of the situation will only be achieved through quantifying the aquifer depletion problem in major aquifers throughout the world (Eloise). Governments around the world must work hard to improve on their telemetry and collection of available water-level data, manage their databases effectively, and invest on information system networking to facilitate future efforts necessary to comprehensively map out water-level changes in major aquifers around the world.

In line with this, governments and other stake holders concerned must make concerted efforts to conduct sequential gravity surveys from satellites so as to directly measure and track changes in ground water that has been stored in these aquifers. This must be done in the most accurate and efficient manner possible to ensure that data of water table over large regions is attained in the most comprehensive manner possible. This management technique has the obvious advantage of offering very comprehensive assessments of sub-surface hydrologic changes through which water managers can respond accordingly (Eloise, 2004).

They will be able to track changes in water-levels and take precautionary measures to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. Through this management technique, water managers will also be able to forecast looming changes in the volume of groundwater stored in the aquifers and take necessary measures aimed at avoiding a spillage.

Governments and other stake holders concerned must also embark on environmental conservation measures such as replenishment of trees, proper and efficient land use, and proper management of loose soil cover to ensure that more and more water is trapped into the aquifers. According to Ponce (2006), groundwater may also be recharged or replenished artificially like it is happening in some progressive communities around the world.

In conclusion, it is clear that the excessive and sometimes indiscriminate use of the water resource has led to questions about its sustainability. Water is a vital resource that we cannot afford to cope without and hence governments all over the world must come up with strategies and policies that would ensure that its exploitation will not unduly compromise the principle of sustainable development (Ponce, 2006). It is therefore important that its usage and sustainability be assessed from an interdisciplinary perspective where ecology, climatology, hydrology and geomorphology all play a critical role. In all the activities that the human race engages in, it should be clear that excessive pumping of groundwater can lead to aquifer depletion, a process that can spell doom and tragedy for the human race.

References

Brown, L. (2007). Aquifer Depletion. The Encyclopedia of Earth. Web.

Eloise, K. (2004). Groundwater depletion: Approaches and considerations for the future. Web.

Long, B.R. (2003). Middle East water conflict: the battle over Al-Disi Aquifer. Web.

Meyer, W.B. (1996). Human impact on the earth. Cambridge University Press. Web.

Ponce, V.M. (2006). Groundwater utilization and sustainability. Web.

Robins, N.S. (1998). Groundwater pollution, Aquifer Recharge and Vulnerability. Geological Society of London. Web.

Water  Underground. (2008) Environment Canada. Web.

Introduction

The article analyzed in this discussion is from the PBS NEWS HOUR website (Mingle, 2021). The author evaluates the use of energy for heating in most United States home and the fact that change is necessary for environmental preservation. The article examines the historical perspective of home and business heating in various US states and identifies this as an avenue for the release of greenhouse gases that, in turn, make the earth less hospitable. The author analyzes plans in place by various states to implement renewable and sustainable energy sources that are both affordable and environmentally friendly.

Article Overview and Types of Thermal Energy

The majority source of heating for the last century in most US states has been gas. This energy source is responsible for over 50% of carbon emissions that endanger the environment and make the earth less hospitable for human beings (Mingle, 2021). The heat is for warming homes and heating activities in industries. Philadelphia, for example, has a gas supply system for various buildings that ensure the availability of gas to every dwelling. The state recently decided that it is unsuitable to continue using gas on account of the environment. The state came up with alternatives that include district heating systems. The state plans to use the already existing gas supply infrastructure that is already in place to provide other alternative fuels that will ensure environmental protection. The suggested forms of energy include geothermal power, electricity, renewable natural gas, and biogas. The new alternatives will be connected to buildings within the state just like gas was. Other states have embraced a similar initiative to Philadelphias. These include New York which has plans underway to exploit geothermal power sources and ensure efficient energy supply.

Energy Savings by Coupling Multiple Buildings Together

Mingle (2021) analyzes the possible cost of installing a district heating system. The cost of installing various district heating systems varies depending on the source of energy. Various energy sources require different infrastructural adjustments to the preexisting building. Running a heat pump would cost between $34 to $53 while running a renewable natural gas would cost $160 to $263. The variations in the prices indicate that some district heating systems are more sustainable than others for the state. Generally, the cost of setting up the district power system is the largest expense likely to be incurred during the entire endeavor. The cost of maintaining the system once they have been established is likely to be negligible due to the minimal demands and regular uninterrupted flow of power. The cost of these systems will also be low due to the minimal wastage of the power sources.

Relationship of the Article to Class Work

Content gained from this article about district power systems intricately relates to various concepts already covered in class. Mingle (2021) addresses the impact non-renewable energy sources use has on the environment and adds to the knowledge already gained on this concept in class. The article also addresses the costs of energy when the source is linked to various buildings and this connection is a crucial step in ensuring power is available for all people despite their socioeconomic status. The article also offers a brief background to the energy use in the US in the past and helps shape decision-making and an understanding of the necessary future endeavors that aim at providing both affordable and safe energy to the people of the United States.

References

Mingle, J. (2021). Cities confront climate challenge: How to move from gas to electricity? PBS NewsHour. Web.

The objective of this lab assignment is to identify the role of sharks in an ecosystem and the impact of their extinction on the marine. Secondly, the research seeks to evaluate how fishing and protecting sharks can coexist. Sharks are dangerous animals but play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem within the ocean. Sharks feed on other small fishes, which reduce the number of prey population overbreeding in certain areas in oceans. However, the endangered species have dramatically been affected by human activities such as overfishing and shark finning. Such activities may lead to their extinction and disrupt the marine ecosystem.

Overfishing and illegal fish finning may cause coastal destruction where a surge in algae would destroy coral reefs, which are habitats for different fish species. However, the complete banning of fishing and fish finning would eventually affect other sectors. Fishing provides livelihood and healthy food to many people worldwide, not to forget it reduces the number of shark attacks on the coastline (Lawson, 16). A shark conversation program is essential to protect the sharks from extinction, but it is also necessary to consider other sectors that benefit from fishing.

Marine-protected areas, for instance, are a measure to protect the sharks and encourage fishing in the sea for commercial use. The importance of protecting marine areas is to allow endangered fish species to breed and recover. This will ensure increased fish stock for future generations to continue fishing, selling shark meat, and shark fin. It is essential to limit and control the number of endangered species catch. The shark population would recover and replenish if the government and other support groups limited the number of sharks caught by fisheries (Finkbeiner, 1187). A shark conservation program is a way to cease overfishing, and is also concerned about peoples livelihood and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

References

Finkbeiner, Elena M., et al. Reconstructing overfishing: moving beyond Malthus for effective and equitable solutions. Fish and Fisheries 18.6 (2017): 1180-1191.

Lawson, Julia M., et al. Extinction risk and conservation of critically endangered angel sharks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. ICES Journal of Marine Science 77.1 (2020): 12-29.

Mass wasting refers to the downhill movement of soil and rock due to gravity. Most of the time, mass wasting is commonly associated with a landslide (Shi et al., 2016). However, a landslide is a general term under mass wasting characterized by a quick movement of geological elements. During a mass-wasting event, the loose elements attached to the overlying soils move, resulting in the downhill change of the matter.

Mass wasting is different from other erosional processes such as glaciers and streams. The other processes involve physical elimination and transference of weather-beaten material by water, gravity, wind, or ice. In mass wasting, only soil and rock move due to gravity. Mass wasting can be classified as a form of erosion that works with the other erosional agents mentioned above, such as wind, water, and ice (Shi et al., 2016).

The other significant difference is that mass wasting results in extensive variations to the land compared to other erosional processes that do not have a significant alteration to the landscape. Mass wasting is triggered by several factors, as listed and described below: i. Arrangement of slope material: mass wasting is highly susceptible to slopes characterized by shale and clay compositions. The reason is clay holds water for a long time hence averting water from defalcating through the ground. ii. Regional climate conditions: mass wasting cases are highly evident in the springtime because water saturation, melting of snow, and runoff of water are at the climax (Zyabrev, 2017).

Additionally, moist climates are likely to have slides that can activate mass wasting. iii. Gravity: this is the driving force for mass wasting responsible for pulling things on earth. Regions in the world where the topography is likely to impact mass wasting cases include Russia and Italy. For example, in Italy, there are heavy rains that collapse bridges in places such as Genoa, which is in the northeastern part of the country (Zyabrev, 2017). Mass wasting can be controlled by engineering solutions such as retaining walls and terracing slopes, among other remedies. Rock falls can be controlled by trimming back slopes to a moderate gradient.

References

Shi, X., Oberst, J., & Willner, K. (2016). Mass wasting on Phobos triggered by an evolving tidal environment. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(24), 371-379. Web.

Zyabrev, S. (2017). Seamount subduction likely provoked prolific mass wasting on the slope in the central part of the East Sakhalin accretionary wedge, eastern Russia. Island Arc, 24(3), 282-287. Web.

Gambian rat

Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse, 1840

Originally belonging to African territories, the Gambian rat quickly became an invasive species to Florida. In general, the natural habitat of this mammal is not densely populated residential areas, but for several decades the Gambian rat has been causing damage to Floridas urban ecosystem, namely Grassy Key. Specifically, eight rodents were accidentally released by a local breeder (Perry et al., 2006). Over time, with an abundance of basement living space and garbage for subsistence, the rats quickly multiplied, and their population increased in numbers.

This rat species is justifiably considered invasive because its introduction has shown to be detrimental to both the agricultural industry and wildlife in general. Gambian rats create burrows in arable land, causing them to dry out and kill crops. In addition, the relatively large size of the rodent should be taken into account, which is a critical advantage in the struggle for survival: the Gambian rat is able to compete effectively for resources. In addition, this species has been shown to be a vector of some serious animal diseases.

The local Wildlife Service initiated several programs to capture and eradicate the rodents. These have included the use of video cameras with tracking sensors, the use of peanut butter baits. However, these are not the most effective strategies: alternatives include the use of rodenticides: Ramik minibars, 2% zinc phosphide bait (Cricetomys gambianus, 2020). Still, chemical baiting also requires an attractive trap and selectivity so as not to harm native species. Finally, one recent development is using a mixture of urine and feces from congeners that is most attractive to invasive rodents.

At the core of the ethical debate in invasive species extermination programs is the dilemma between destroying animals and trying to preserve the local ecosystem. However, it should be understood that invasive plants are not endowed with intelligence like animals, and therefore exterminating them does not seem unethical. Thus, destroying invasive plants is much less of an ethical concern due to their irrationality as compared to animals.

Regardless of the animal species, the most ethical control method is collection and deportation to the natural environment. For rodents, this could mean initial trapping and subsequent transport to Africa. It should be recognized, nevertheless, that for different animal species, collection and deportation methods can be complicated both technically and economically while maintaining ethical well-being.

References

Cricetomys gambianus (2020). GISD. Web.

Perry, N. D., Hanson, B., Hobgood, W., Lopez, R. L., Okraska, C. R., Karem, K.,& & Carroll, D. S.

(2006). New invasive species in southern Florida: Gambian rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Journal of Mammalogy, 87(2), 262-264.