The Asiatic Clam

The Asiatic Clam is officially called the Corbicula fluminea and is a species of freshwater clam. It is an aquatic bivalve mollusk . This species originated in Asia, but it has been introduced in many parts of the world like Europe and North America.

These clams feed primarily on phytoplankton (algae), which they filter from the muddy bottom of streams, lakes, and canals. They prefer to live in sand or gravel substances, in areas with running water.

Asiatic clams a hermaphroditic, which means that one clam produces both eggs and sperm. Thus, they are capable of self-fertilization. Yet they can also release sperm into the water that can be captured by other clams for the fertilization of eggs. One clam can produce as many as 70,000 larvae per year.

These clams, due to their invasiveness, can cause biofouling. Biofouling is the impairment of something as a result of the growth of a living organism or living organisms. Too many clams in one area can result in the clogging of pipes and canals, which damages power plants of water treatment centers.

This species is known as an invasive species. This means they multiply in numbers very quickly, and can grow to dominant a habitat.

Spanish Flu 1918

The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, spread around the world was an severe influenza pandemic that spread around the world. Unlike in most flu outbreaks, most of the victims of the Spanish flu were healthy young adults (like me!?). In normal flu pandemics, victims are usually the young, the weak, or the elderly. This pandemic resulted in the deaths of 50-100 million people and remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. 10 to 20 percent of the people infected died from the disease.

World War 1 is credited with helping the flu spread. Close quarters and troop movements quickened in speed and increased in number its transmission.

The Tree Hugger

We went to the Hitchiti Experimental Forest two weeks ago. We hiked through the woods learning about different trees and various plants. At one point a group of us even stopped and took a dip in a river. We discussed the Southern Pine Beetle, which is is the most destructive insect to pines in the Southern US. It was a great experience and I had a fun time!

Ocmulgee National Monument - Earth Lodge

One of the first things you see when you visit the Ocmulgee National Monument is the Earth Mound. The Earth Lodge is a reconstructed council chamber of the Mississippian people that incorporates and protects the original 1,000-year old floor. A circle of seats and the symbolic bird effigy bring to life this building that had both political and spiritual significance. This is the largest of eight earth lodges discovered on the Macon Plateau.

Other sites at the Ocmulee National Monument include the Lesser Temple Mound and the Greater Temple Mound. These mounds were constructed around 900 to 950 AD. The purpose of these mounds is not certain, but their existence indicates that priests were greatly honored at their death.

I enjoyed my visit to this site, especially since I had never been there before.

Freddie - The Tomato on the Windowsill

Freddie is a tomato plant. He has been alive for almost two months. The following pictures are of Freddie when he was just a young sprout, barely above the dirt. I guess you could call them his baby pictures.

Hopefully, if he keeps growing he will be big and strong like this.

Around Campus (25 things)

Soil Erosion on the Mercer University Campus: (Pictures Coming Soon!)

Rocks on Mercer University Campus: (Pictures Coming Soon!)

Plants Galore:

(Note:) This picture also contains another species of tree that isn't covered in the below section. Plants in this picture include the grass and those very thick bushes.

Look at the different species of bushes all lounging in the same plant bed.

Very beautiful!

Animals Around Campus:

Stray cats, stray dogs, squirrels, mice, and birds are all animals you might catch a glimpse of as you take a stroll through campus.

How many species of trees do you see?

There were a variety of trees to be found all around campus. I do not know how to identify the trees. One tree, the one that is used for the tree lighting around winter break, is clearly a young tree. Both the pine tree and several other species were clearly planted, instead of natural growing in a certain spot.

Cambrian Explosion

The fossil record shows that 600 million years ago in the Precambian period life began to evolve rapidly. Then, about 570 to 530 million years ago there was another burst of diversification that is responsible for the appearance of many lineages of species that are still present today. This burst of life is known as "the Cambrian Explosion." Some of the species that appeared during this period are:

Marella

Waptia

Opabinia

Hallucigenia

Wiwaxia

Anomalocaris

Do you want to see these long gone critters in action? Check out the link below for an animation video of these species. See what scientists theorize they look like and what their environment may have looked like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTYjLFIhQDM&feature=related