Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Wildlife of the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a chain of five large, freshwater lakes that are located in central North America, astride the border of Canada and the United States. The Great Lakes include Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior and together form  the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. They are contained within the Great Lakes watershed, a region whose waters discharge into the Saint Lawrence River and, ultimately, the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Lakes cover a total surface area of 95,000 square miles and hold about 5,500 cubic miles of water (approximately 20% of all the worlds fresh water and more than 80% of the fresh water of North America). There are more than 10,000 miles of shoreline that frame the Great Lakes and from west to east, the lakes span more than 750 miles. The Great Lakes formed during the Pleistocene Epoch as the result of the repeated glaciation of the region during the Ice Ages. Glaciers advanced and retreated time and again, gradually carving deep depressions in the Great Lakes River Basin. When the glaciers receded at the end of the last glacial period about 15,000 years ago, the Great Lakes filled with water left behind by the melting ice. The Great Lakes and their surrounding lands encompass  a wide variety of freshwater and terrestrial habitats including coniferous and hardwood forests, freshwater marshes, freshwater wetlands, dunes, grasslands, and prairies.  The Great Lakes region supports a diverse fauna  that includes numerous species of mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and fishes. There are more than 250 species of fishes found in the Great Lakes including Atlantic salmon, bluegill, brook trout, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, freshwater drum, lake sturgeon, lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white perch, yellow perch, and many others. Native mammals include the black bear, fox, elk, white-tailed deer, moose, beaver, river otter, coyote, gray wolf, Canada lynx, and many others. Bird species native to the Great Lakes include herring gulls, whooping cranes, snowy owls, wood ducks, great blue herons, bald eagles, piping plovers, and much more. The Great Lakes have suffered greatly the effects of introduced (non-native) species during the past two hundred years. Non-native animal species such as zebra mussels, quagga mussels, sea lampreys, alewives, Asian carps, and many others have greatly altered the Great Lakes ecosystem. The most recent non-native animal to have been recorded in the Great Lakes is the spiny water flea, a crustacean native to the seas of the Middle East that are now quickly populating Lake Ontario. Introduced species compete with native species for food and habitat and can also More than 180 non-native species have entered the Great Lakes since the latter part of the 19th century. Many of the introduced species have been transported into the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships, but other species such as the Asian carp, have invaded the lakes by swimming through the man-made channels and locks that now connect the Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. Key Characteristics The following are the key characteristics of the Great Lakes: the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earthaccount for 20% of all the worlds fresh wateraccount for more than 80% of the fresh water of North Americaintroduced species have greatly altered the Great Lakes ecosystemsupports more than 3,500 species of plants and animals Animals of the Great Lakes Some of the animals that inhabit the Great Lakes include: Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) - The lake whitefish is a species of freshwater fish that belongs to the salmon family. Lake whitefish are found in all of the Great Lakes and are a valuable commercial species. Lake whitefish feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as snails, clams, and the aquatic larvae of insects.Walleye (Sander vitreous) - The walleye is  a large freshwater fish native to the Great Lakes as well as most parts of Canada and the northern United States. Walleye are much recognized as icons of the places they inhabit—they are the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota and they are the official fish of Saskatchewan.Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) - The yellow perch is a species of perch whose range includes the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River. Adult yellow perch feed on aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, mysid shrimp, fish eggs, and small fish.Great blue heron (Ardea Herodias) - The great blue heron is a large wading bird common to fresh water wetland habitats throughout North American, including the Great Lakes. Great blue herons have a long, sharp bill that they use to capture a variety of small prey animals such as fish, crustaceans, insects, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) - The Canada lynx is a medium-sized cat that inhabits the forests throughout Canada and Alaska. In the Great Lakes region, Canada lynx occurs around Lake Superior and on the northern shores of Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, a large bay of Lake Huron that lies in Ontario, Canada. Canada lynxes are secretive, nocturnal mammals that feed on snowshoe hares, rodents, and birds.Moose (Alces alces) - The moose is the largest living member of the deer family. Moose inhabit the forests that border the northern shores of the Great Lakes. Moose are herbivores that feed on a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses.Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) - The common snapping turtle is a widespread turtle that i nhabits freshwater wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains, including the Great Lakes region. Snapping turtles have a reputation for being quite aggressive.American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana) - The American bullfrog is a large frog that occurs in wetlands in the Great Lakes region. American bullfrogs are predators that feed on small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Sources Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. About Our Great Lakes. Published online at https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//pr/ourlakes/intro.htmlHarding JH. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press; 1997. 400 p.Kurta, A. Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. Revised Edition. University of Michigan Press; 1995. 392 p.US Environmental Protection Agency. The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book. 2012. Published online at https://www.epa.gov/greatlakesUS Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes Invasive Species. Accessed November 22, 2013. Published online at https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Poem Alone By Edgar Allan Poe - 852 Words

The poem â€Å"Alone† by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) is an autobiography that describe his life from a different perspective. Poe was orphan at the early age of three, his step parents send him overseas to study, and according to his own words he lived a very lonely life. The poem â€Å"Alone† summarizes, using figurative language, how Edgar A. Poe felt different than everybody else as a child, and how he was destined to be alone. He was condemned to be alone in life not just physically but also sentimentally. Since he was a child he knew that he was different than everybody else, and he could not experience true happiness. In order to express his feeling, he used symbolism and metaphor to give a deeper meaning to his words. The poem was wrote in couplets, and used alliteration to make it rhyme and to give the sad melody that accompanied the feelings behind the frustration expressed in the poem. The tone is very emotional, sad, sober, melancholically, and dark. It is evident when he used words like sorrow, stormy, ill, torrent, lighting, storm, and demon. E. A. Poe felt different than the other children because he was an orphan at the early age of 3. He was adopted by a wealthy family, but he never received the affection that a child needs. In the poem the symbolism displays his feelings in respect to this part of his life, he said in the first lines â€Å"From childhood’s hour I have not been/ As others were – I have not seen/ As others saw – Brea 2 I could not bring/ My passions fromShow MoreRelatedThe Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe Essay1487 Words   |  6 Pages Throughout the life of Edgar Allan Poe, he suffered many unfortunate events and endured several difficult situations. Some speculate that it was these experiences that helped to formulate the famous writing style of Edgar Allan Poe. His dark tales such as The Masque of the Red Death and The Tell-Tale Heart are horrific, and his poems such as Alone and The Raven show evidence that his life experiences influenced their dreariness. Poes story plots and his own life are undeniably related andRead MoreWhy Should We Care?1748 Words   |  7 PagesWhy Should We Care?: Edgar Allan Poe â€Å"Few creatures of the night have captured [reader’s] imagination[s] like [Edgar Allan Poe]† (â€Å"Vampires†). Poe has fascinated the literary world since he first became known for writing in 1829, when he was just twenty years old (Chronology†). While he is widely known for exploring the macabre, his work is controversial because of its psychologically disturbing nature. Edgar Allan Poe is worth examining as an author because his many contributions to the literaryRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe; Fame Inspired by a Tragic Life865 Words   |  4 Pagespoet, Edgar Allan Poe, had been plagued by grief from an early age. He was an amazing poet and author who just happened to have a darker story. Many who have studied this prestigious man feel that his works, though magnificent, were extremely dark. Some believe it was nothing more then a fancy for him to spin such gruesome tales. Others feel his work was manipulated by the misfortune of his past. These people ha ve actually found evidence that agrees with this statement. The works of Edgar Allan PoeRead MorePersonal Life and Challenges of Edgar Allen Poe in the Poem Alone727 Words   |  3 Pages The poem â€Å"Alone† by Edgar Allan Poe depicts the personal life and challenges Poe faced as a child. For example, the poem begins with Poe explaining how he knew he was different from other children, this is apparent when Poe writes, â€Å"From childhoods hour I have not been/ As others were-- I have not seen† (Poe ll. 1-2). Poe further goes on to explain how he felt abandoned and apart from his peers, stating â€Å"And all I lovd-- I lovd alone† (Poe 8). I believe this explains how Poe felt alone afterRead MoreThe Childhood of Edgar Allan Poe Essay605 Words   |  3 PagesEdgar Allan Poe’s life was one of many sorrows and difficulties, filled with deaths of close family and many broken loves. Men disappointed him throughout the entirety of his life, and he saw wome n as angels that had come to redeem him from the depths of his depression and alcoholism. These occurrences, along with many others, especially those of his childhood, led Poe to become one of the greatest authors of his time. He is called â€Å"the father of horror and mystery†, as well as the father of scienceRead MoreThe Dark Romanticism Of Edgar Allan Poe1497 Words   |  6 PagesEdgar Allan Poe was a prominent writer during the era of Romanticism, but Poe’s poems focused primarily on the Dark Romanticism, developed under Romanticism. The era of Romanticism was commonly described as showing raw emotion, but there was still a conflict in the story. The purpose of Romanticism was for the writer to feel free; there were no rules when it came to this form of writing. Dark Romanticism was looking at the gothic side of stories rather than the heroism stories, which focused moreRead MoreThe Writings of Edgar Allan Poe803 Words   |  3 PagesEdgar Allan Poe The amazing, the people who inspire, who make people feel something with words on paper, authors. Authors have a special ability to create a separate world, but a great author lets us into their world and makes us feel something when we read their work. From all of the research Colton Coverston has done, he has come to the conclusion that Edgar Allan Poe should be in the top fifth American Authors on a top twenty greatest American author list. Edgar Allan Poe has written many piecesRead MoreSome Too Fagile For Winter Wind Analysis1679 Words   |  7 PagesDickinson the poem discusses nature that has alternative meanings. This is also shown throughout The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. Both texts use nature to discuss how we face the harsh times in our life. Each of the texts shows a way that a person copes with the harsh times in their life while using nature. Throughout Some, too Fragile for Winter Winds by Emily Dickinson a mother is shown coping with the harsh times in her life after her children have died. While in The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe we see someoneRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven And The Fall Of The House Of Usher 896 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is an extremely well known American writer and is famous for his horrific and mysterious works such as, â€Å"The Raven† and â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher.† Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts in an era that seems to have many dark and ominous writers and pieces of literature originating from that time period. Poe is said to have launched the interest in many of the detective type stories that we read from modern day writers. â€Å"In the early 1800s, romanticism was the dominantRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s Poetry915 Words   |  4 Pages Edgar Allan Poe was one of the greatest writers of the 19th century. He is is well known for his gothic themes and disturbing characters. Unfortunately, Poe lived a life full of sorrow and pain, having n early everyone he loved die. His poem Alone is said to have been a confessional poem, recalling how Poe felt growing up. Poe’s use of repetition, metaphors, and imagery all aid in bringing the reader closer to understanding what was going on in Poe’s mind. The poem Alone was not published until

Our man lemuel Essay Example For Students

Our man lemuel Essay Our Man LemuelBy the end of Book II in Gullivers Travels, it is very clear that the character of Gulliver is not the same man who wrote the letter in the beginning of the story. In fact, he is not the same man he was in Book I. From the onset of Gullivers Travels, Swift creates for us a seemingly competent character and narrator in Gulliver. In his account we learn how his adventures have changed him and his perception of people, for the central theme of this story is how human nature and reason reflect society. On the whole, Gulliver is a very frustrating character to deal with for a number of reasons. For example, hes not steady; this unsteadiness as a narrator leads us to question the validity of what Gulliver tells us. This means that we have to be on our guard against what he says, and even though hes our guide, we cant follow him everywhere, which is just what Swift wanted. Gulliver makes many apologies for himself and his actions and puts us the reader emotionally involved in the story. Gulliver seems to direct a good deal of hostility toward us, creating a tinge of hostility back at him. Ultimately, Gulliver works as a narrator because we can relate to him and as a result find him engaging. We too can jump from emotion to emotion, but in the long run, Swift is not attempting to create an Everyman. This Gulliver is not, by any means a wholly allegorical character, but as much an individual as the next person. In certain ways, Gulliver proves to be more resilient than the average man b y managing to survive the disaster shipwrecks and people so foreign they might as well be aliens. Still in other ways Gulliver is a nave person, bereft of decency and consideration. Gulliver is an entirely credible and probable person at the same time that he is precisely the person to be the instrument for Swifts satire. In his incredible circumstances, Gulliver shows himself to be very resourceful and observant of his surroundings. With that he changes in relation to the places he visits and the events that befall him as he voyages. As a traveler in Lilliput, hes careful in his observations and complete in his descriptions. Occupied as he is with the surface of things, we see Gullivers problem of not seeing with eyes wide open. Gulliver wanes in his judgment of character as he becomes more and more narrow-minded as the story progresses. So do we still see him as a good, all-around type of guy?Lest we forget that he does get knocked around while hes traveling, a primary reason for his shift in attitude. In Lilliput he seems to be eminently fair-minded compared to the cunning, vindictive, petty Lilliputians. Literally a giant in their land, Gulliver never takes unfair advantage of his size in his dealing with them. Though theyre violent with him, he never retaliates. However in Brobdingnag, Gulliver appears Lilliputian in more ways than one. Still, his size is a dire problem. He is frequently injured, as the kings dwarf takes out his frustrations on Gulliver, but the latter is an improvement from his job as a freak at village fairs. Ultimately, Gulliver has a hard time keeping it together under the strain of repeated attacks on his ego, and in his dealings with the Brobdingnagian king, Gulliver appears as nasty and cruel as the Lilliputians themselves. This is his tone when he returns to England, an angry man who thinks himself more a Brobdingnagian than anything else.