Brittle Star Fascinating Sea Life

Brittle stars (Ophiurida) are echinoderms, the same family that includes sea stars (commonly called starfish), sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. Compared to sea stars, brittle stars arms and central disk are much more distinctly separated, and their arms allow them to move gracefully and purposefully in a rowing movement. They reside in all of the oceans of the world and are found in all marine environments, from polar to tropical. Fast Facts: Brittle Stars Scientific Name: OphiuridaCommon Name: Brittle starsBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: Discs range from 0.1–3 inches in diameter; arms lengths range between 0.3–7 inches  Weight: 0.01–0.2 ouncesLifespan: 5 yearsDiet: Carnivore, OmnivoreHabitat: All oceans  Population: UnknownConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description A brittle star is made up of an obvious central disk and five or six arms. The central disk is small and clearly offset from its arms, which are long and slender. They have tube feet on their underside, like sea stars, but the feet do not have suction cups at the end and are not used for locomotion—they are used for feeding and to help the brittle star sense its environment.  Like sea stars, brittle stars have a vascular system that uses water to control locomotion, respiration, and food and waste transportation, and their tube feet are filled with water. A madreporite, a trap door on the brittle stars ventral surface (underside), controls the movement of water in and out of the stars body. Within the central disk lie the brittle stars organs. Although brittle stars dont have brains or eyes, they do have a large stomach, genitals, muscles, and a mouth surrounded by five jaws. A brittle stars arms are supported by vertebral ossicles, plates made from  calcium carbonate.  These plates work together like ball and socket joints (like our shoulders) to give the brittle stars arms flexibility.  The plates are moved by a type of connective tissue called  mutable collagenous tissue (MCT), which is controlled by the vascular system.  So, unlike a sea star, whose arms are relatively inflexible, the brittle stars arms have a graceful, snakelike quality which allow the creature to move relatively quickly and squeeze into tight spaces, such as within corals. Brittle stars are measured by the diameter of the central disc, and the length of their arms. Brittle star discs range in size from 0.1 to 3 inches; their arm length is a function of their disc size, typically between two to three times the diameter although some have lengths up to 20 or more times. The largest known brittle star is Ophiopsammus maculata, with a disk measuring 2–3 inches across, and arm length between 6–7 inches.  They weigh between 0.01–0.2 ounces and come in a wide variety of colors. Some are even capable of bio-luminescence, generating their own light. Species The World Ophiuroidea Database  lists over 2,000 species of brittle stars accepted in the  Class Ophiuridea, the taxonomic class which  contains brittle stars, as well as basket stars and snake stars (Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Echinodermata, Class: Ophiuroidea, Order: Ophiurida). Ophiuroidea is the largest class among extant Echinodermata. Traditionally, brittle stars are in a separate order from basket stars, but the division is under scrutiny as DNA results are being reported and that may change. Habitat and Range Brittle stars occur in all the worlds oceans from the deep sea to intertidal zones, and including salt and brackish polar areas, temperate, and tropical waters. The region with the highest species richness of brittle stars is the Indo-Pacific region with 825 species at all depths. The Arctic has the lowest number of species: 73.   In some areas, they are found residing in large numbers in deep water areas such as Brittle Star City discovered off Antarctica several years ago, where tens of millions of brittle stars were found crammed together.   Diet Brittle stars feed on  detritus and small oceanic organisms such as plankton,  small mollusks, and even fish. Some brittle stars will raise themselves on their arms, and when fish get close enough, they wrap them in a spiral and eat them. Brittle stars  may also  feed by lifting up their arms to trap tiny particles and algae (marine snow) using the mucous strands on their tube feet. Then, the tube feet sweep the food to the brittle stars mouth, located on their underside.  The mouth has five jaws around it, and crunched up food particles are transported from the mouth to the esophagus and then to the stomach, which takes up much of the brittle stars central disk.  There are 10 pouches in the stomach where the prey is digested.  Brittle stars dont have an anus, so any wastes must come out through the mouth. Behavior Brittle stars can drop an arm when being attacked by a predator. This process is known as autotomy or self-amputation, and  when the star is threatened, the nerve system tells the mutable collagenous tissue near the base of the arm to disintegrate.  The wound heals, and then the  arm regrows, a process which can take weeks to months, depending upon the species. Brittle stars dont move using tube feet like sea stars and urchins do, they move by wriggling their arms. Even though their bodies are radially symmetrical, they can move like a bilaterally symmetrical animal (like a human or other mammal). They are the first radially symmetrical animal documented to move this way.   When brittle stars move, one lead arm points the way forward, and the arms on the left and right of the pointer arm coordinate the rest of the brittle stars  movements in a rowing motion so that the star moves forward. This rowing motion looks similar to the way a sea turtle moves its flippers.  When the brittle star turns, instead of turning its whole body, it efficiently just picks a new pointer arm to lead the way. Reproduction There are male and female brittle stars, although it is not obvious which sex a brittle star is without looking at its genitals, which are located inside its central disk. Some brittle stars  reproduce sexually, by releasing eggs and sperm into the water. This results in a free-swimming larva called an  ophiopluteus, which eventually settles to the bottom and forms a brittle star shape. Some species (for example, the small brittle star, Amphipholis squamata)  brood their young. In this case, eggs are held near the base of each arm in sacs called bursae, and then fertilized by sperm that has been released into the water.  The embryos develop inside these pockets and eventually crawl out. Some brittle star species may also reproduce asexually through a process called fission. Fission occurs when the star splits its central disk in half, which then grows into two brittle stars. Brittle stars  reach sexual maturity at about 2 years of age and become full grown by 3 or 4 years of age; their lifespans are about 5 years. Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not list any brittle star. The WoRMS Catalog of Life includes a total of over 2,000 species but does not identify any endangered species. Perceived threats include pollution and habitat loss. Sources Clark, M. S., and T. Souster. Slow Arm Regeneration in the Antarctic Brittle Star Ophiura Crassa (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea). Aquatic Biology 16.2 (2012): 105-13. Print.Coulombe, Deborah. The Seaside Naturalist: A Guide to Study at the Seashore. New York: Simon Schuster, 1990.Denny, Mark W. and Steven D. Gaines (eds). Encyclopedia of Tidepools and Rocky Shores. University of California Press, 2007.Mah, Chris. Brittle Star Domination! When Ophiuroids Carpet the Murky Deep! The Echinoblog, September 24, 2013.Morris, Michelle and Daphne G. Fautin. Ophiuroidea. Animal Diversity Web, 2001.Orenstein, David. Five-limbed brittle stars move bilaterally, like people. News Release, Brown University, May 10, 2012.Parry, Wynne. Brittle Stars Move Like Humans. Live Science, May 10, 2012.  Stà ¶hr, Sabine, Timothy D. OHara, and Ben Thuy. Global Diversity of Brittle Stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). PLOS ONE 7.3 (2012): e31940. Print.Stà ¶hr, Sabine, Timothy D. OHara, and Ben Thuy. (eds). Wo RMS Ophiuroidea. World Register of Marine Species, 2019.

The Kkk In America Essay - 1984 Words

The Ku Klux Klans long history of violence grew out of the anger and hatred many white Southerners felt after the Civil War. Blacks, having won the struggle for freedom from slavery, were now faced with a new struggle against widespread racism and the terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite what many might like to think, the KKK is still active today. The bare facts about the birth of the Ku Klux Klan and its revival half a century later are baffling to most people today. Little more than a year after it was founded, the secret society moved across the South, bringing a reign of violence that lasted three or four years. Then, as rapidly as it had spread, the Klan faded away. After World War I a new version of the Klan surfaced. Then,†¦show more content†¦The origin of the Ku Klux Klan was a secret for years, although there were many thoughts and theories to explain its beginnings. One idea was that the Ku Klux Klan was originally a secret order of Chinese drug smugglers. Anot her claimed it was begun by Confederate prisoners during the war. The most ridiculous theory was about an ancient Jewish document referring to the Hebrews enslaved by Egyptian pharaohs. In fact, the beginning of the KKK wasn’t as complex as many made it seem. It was just six young Confederate veterans in a small town with nothing better to do than to gather around a fireplace one December evening in 1865 and form a social club. The place was Pulaski, Tennessee, near Alabama’s northern border. When they got together a week later, the six young men were full of ideas for their new club. It would be secret, to make it more amusing, and the titles for the officers were to have names as crazy-sounding as possible, partly for the fun of it and partly to avoid any military or political involvement. The head of the group was called the Grand Cyclops. His assistant was the Grand Magi, there was a Grand Turk to greet all candidates, a Grand Scribe to act as secretary, Night Hawk s for messengers and a Lictor to be the guard. The members, when the six young men found people to join, would be called Ghouls. The founders were determined to come up with something mysterious. The GreekShow MoreRelatedRed Scare, KKK, Civil War Brought Fear to America1717 Words   |  7 Pagesof the unknown.†- H. P. Lovecraft. In the 1900’s, fear drove America. The Red Scare was a time when Americans were afraid of the threat of Communism. In the Sacco and Vanzetti case, two Italian anarchists were convicted of crimes which they were clearly innocent of. The Ku Klux Klan attempted to keep African-Americans out of positions of power and for brief time was successful. The Red Scare, Sacco Vanzetti case and the rise of the KKK all are example of how American’s fear the unknown and what weRead MoreThe Klux Klan And Kkk Klan1122 Words   |  5 PagesStates. 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Throughout this time, the ranking of freedman was significantly increased, and by 1868; many state legislatures had African American delegates. All of America, as well as the South, had to be rebuilt, and, despite the Souths hostile resistance, African-Americans were slowly and gradually becoming part of this nation. The long-awaited citizenship for Blacks was confirmed in 1868, by the 14th AmendmentRead MoreThe Ku Klux Klan Of The 1920s A Mainstream Organization?934 Words   |  4 PagesBrionna Palmer Professor Rodabaugk History 1051-001 October 4, 2017 Was the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s a Mainstream Organization? YES: Shawn Lay rejects the view of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as a radical fringe group comprised of marginal men and instead characterizes the KKK of the 1920s as a mainstream, grassroots organization that promotes traditional values of law, order, and social morality that appealed to Americans across the nation. 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Business Ethics Case Study Harvard University Endowment Plan

Question 1: What are the moral/ethics issues? Identify them. Answer 1: Indeed, morals issues comes from outside source while ethical issues related to inside activity. Morals are values which we attribute to a system of belief such as political, philosophical and religious while ethics are how organization owners apply which belief in their short and long term organization decision. In short, morals affect your stand on specific issues while ethics indicate how you deal with them. However, some people considered moral or ethics are same. Moral/Ethical issues about the endowment fund distribution in the Harvard Company. Harvard University managers got a total 107.5 million endowment fund, but main issues was that Harvard management team such as manager, faculty, administration and including president are expanding these fund on their folks. So, few alumni student in the 1969 wrote a letter to the university president that they are inappropriate, contrary and unwarranted to the values of the university. President should adopted appropriate distribution policy in the regard of endowment fund. From the above discussion, it can be concluded that student have rights to get maximum benefit from endowment fund rather than university management team. A few former student, reported to president about the endowment. Question 2: Was Harvard right to cap compensation? Answer 2: Indeed, cap compensation term used to explain the level of compensation payable by specific or authorize agency. Jack Meyer and its team of manager left to invest in the own companies which was earning ten times as compare to Harvard salary. Harvard Company was already getting large amount of endowment assets as compare to other organization. In the last few years, Harvard endowment funds increase from $4.7 billion to $22.6 billion. Former student wanted to spend more endowment amount on the student growth and development. University doesnt charge any fees from student those families earning less than $60000. From the above discussion, it can be concluded that Harvard university management team have duty to spend endowment amount on student growth and development. Harvard wasnt right to cap compensation because Harvard university already getting high level of endowment amount. So, they should spend more amounts on infrastructure of the university. Question 3: Does the result matter? That is, if the endowment fund performed better or worse before/after the cap, would that alter your answer to question 2? Explain. Answer 3: Indeed, Harvard University endowment fund was under pressure so the funds top management teams have to change the compensation plan. In the 2004, the funds was 20 billion less as compare to other years because two successful managers earned around $34 billion each while Meyer check was $6.9 million. Meyer and his team member have produced good return for the Harvard endowment. From last 10 years, the Harvard fund average return of around 16.1 percent. Its return increasing constantly so they are paying good salary and bonus to their employees and facilities, including principle. Harvard became largest university endowment. However, Yale think that most of university does not manage its investment fund as compare to Harvard University. From the above discussion, it can be concluded that if Harvard endowment fund will worse in future then we will not adopt the cap compensation because student growth and development is necessary to everyone and if University does not have sufficient balance then they should talk about the government for release fund.

Media Bias And The Media Essay Example For Students

Media Bias And The Media Essay In a recent September 2015 Gallup Poll, Rebecca Riffkin points out that four in ten Americans have an above â€Å"great deal or fair amount† of trust and confidence in the mass media. In a span of 16 years (1999 to 2015), the American trust in the media has dropped 15 points to 40 percent. Based on that specific poll, there will be an examination of regular working individuals ranging from different ages, backgrounds, and ethics to understand their approach and awareness of media bias. There will be three stories chosen that dominated and have no correlation to each other in the recent year that have been randomly selected before each person is interviewed. The three stories are the New England Patriots and their cheating allegations, the recent assaults on and by the police, and Hilary Clinton’s emails scandal. Media bias is an important issue to question and research in society. It has always been present, but in the CNBC 2015 GOP Presidential Debate the distrust and bias Americans and politicians have with national and local media was at center stage. This was the latest example of the questioning into media bias. Many political commenters, artists, athletes, and television and movie stars will often state that media bias is hidden in the fabric of society and is negative. Every once in a while, these individuals or associations will make the central focus of bringing it to the forefront; just like the CNBC Presidential Debate. This is nothing new in the world of journalism and media, but in 2015, the American trust in the media remains a historical low and there is no argument about that (all described in the Gallup Poll). Although four in ten trusts the media, it does raise an interesting issue about how the society views media. . its about the solution aspect of attempting to fix media bias. Americans want life easy and simple and by making someone do some work, it is not worth it. In 2010, New York Post columnist Clemente Lisi explains that Americans are the laziest in the world. That is why there is a large amount of the public who doesn’t care about media bias anymore. Media bias is an area where society has given up on. Only 4 in 10 Americans have a trust in society and just through basic interviews, no one seems to care about the information that is reported is slanted, regardless of the direction. There are reasons and understanding of this topic that extend into new areas that should and need to be explored. This is an entire network of issues, problems, and influences that affect the landscape of media bias. Yet, without a doubt, trusting and not caring are the forefront.