University of the Pacific 2

No Class on Monday: There is a 3-day weekend, so no classes will take place on Monday.
Labs Start Next Week: Lab sessions begin next week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).
Attendance: Make sure to attend your scheduled lab at 9 AM on Tuesday or the designated time on other days.
Safety Equipment: While a lab coat isn't required right away, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential. This includes:
- Long sleeves
- Closed-toe shoes (no holes or rocks)
- Protective gear is crucial due to potential spills of dyes and chemicals.
Quiz: A short quiz will be administered in the first five minutes of the lab; be on time to avoid missing it.

Expect an email introduction from your Teaching Assistant (TA) soon to help familiarize you with lab procedures and expectations.

SymBio Homework: First assignment is due by midnight on Friday. Register and start as soon as possible; it should take about an hour to complete.
Support: If you experience any technical problems, reach out for assistance or possible extensions. Excuses regarding awareness of deadlines are not acceptable as reminders have been issued.

Next week’s focus is on population ecology, coinciding with the due date of next Friday’s assignment on the same topic.
Further resources, including end-of-topic puzzles and lecture slides, will be available.

Introductions: Diah and Ayesha will be available as Learning Assistants. Feel free to reach out to them for guidance.
Support: They can assist with study tips, time management, and resources for troubleshooting course challenges.

Yosemite National Park: Discussed as significant for setting aside natural areas for conservation.
- Initially granted to California but later transferred to federal oversight amidst early conservation efforts.
Yellowstone National Park: Established in 1872, recognized as the first national park. Noteworthy features include:
- Contains the greatest concentration of thermal features in the world, located in a caldera of an active volcano.
- Geologically dynamic environment, featuring diverse habitats, including a high elevation of over 5,000 feet.
- Importance of historical conservation efforts as well as current challenges in managing wildlife, such as bison and wolves.

Environmental Characteristics: Several key thermal features, including:
- Grand Prismatic Springs: Noted for high temperatures and unique bacteria creating brilliant colors.
- Old Faithful Geyser: Though less consistent due to geological changes, still famous for its eruptions.
- Wildlife: Huge populations of bison, elk, bears; opportunities for wildlife observation exist in less crowded areas.

Thermal Springs: Habitats for extremophiles—organisms adapted to high temperatures.
- Examples of local ecology that defy classic biological norms regarding temperature and protein structure stability.

Challenges faced in early national park management related to lack of regulations.
Legislative process involved in establishing national parks, focusing on preservation versus development concerns.
Cultural Significance: Recognition of Native American ties to natural landscapes and ongoing conservation efforts.

Overview: Understanding how convective currents shape global climates—particularly in relation to deserts vs. rainforests.
- Hot, rising air creates rainforests; cool, descending air leads to deserts,
- Typically occurs at 30 degrees latitude north and south where air is dry and absorbs moisture, forming arid environments.

Definition: Describes the deflection of air and ocean currents due to Earth's rotation, influencing weather patterns and ocean currents.
Impact on Winds: In the Northern Hemisphere, winds are deflected clockwise; in the Southern Hemisphere, counterclockwise.
Relevance: Essential for understanding climatic systems, prevailing winds, and the distribution of ecosystems across the globe.

Nutrient Cycling: Offshore winds create a vacuum, pulling nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface, vital for marine ecosystems.
Biodiversity: Regions with significant upwelling support diverse biological communities by providing necessary nutrients for phytoplankton, fish, and marine life.
El Niño Effect: Discussion of natural variations disrupting typical patterns, affecting marine productivity and ecosystems.

Review of convective currents and the Coriolis effect will lead us into discussions about seasons and population ecology in connection with climate.