#eco-systems

Proverbs 8:22 – Authorised Version The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. He created the depths and the fountains. Proverbs 8:24 – Authorised Version When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. These fountains played a huge role in creating the flood waters of the great deluge, along with the rain…

Earth Notes #2 by Rani Iyer: The Chorus

  Preparing for monsoon is an intense period in the forest. On the one hand the forest is parched for moisture, on the other, the intense rain will test the recovery of everyone. Every tree is swaying to the strong winds. After I calm my fears about the swaying trees and strange noises, I recognize a chorus. It is unique. Giant trees scattered across the mountains undoubtedly talk to each other….…

Using our last museum day pass, we spent the day at the Biodôme. Located in Olympic Park in Montreal, it highlights four different eco-systems of North America. Built originally for the 1976 Olympics, in 1992, the nature exhibits opened. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $12 for seniors.

We spent the entire day here walking through the eco-systems, watching beavers, otters, crocodiles, and penguins…

Batam – South East Asia’s missed Island Getaway ?

Montigo Resorts Nongsa sky terrace and plunge pool view

Because a major feature of Montigo Resorts Nongsa is that it is just 30 minutes from Singapore by ferry it is all too easy to overlook the attractions of Batam itself – the important other reasons why guests so enjoy their stay at this lovely, contemporary, deluxe resort – and you only have to search the resort on Twitterto see just how much…

Lots of different kinds of creatures must work in sync for ecosystems to survive. Consider the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen is a basic element in all living things. Yet the chemical bonds of nitrogen gas are so strong that it is not usable until it is “fixed” into a form plants can use. Researchers have identified five major stages, each requiring different organisms with specialized proteins.

Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Nitrogen gas (N2) must first be changed into ammonia (NH3). A diversity of bacteria have the proteins necessary to do this. If one bacterial species is not present, another one can pick up the slack. This redundancy, or backup system, is marvelously designed.

Since oxygen hinders this chemical process, fixation needs to take place in an oxygen-less chamber. Plants provide bacteria with little chambers (nodules) in their roots.

A special protein (leghaemoglobin) then carries oxygen away so it will not interfere. Amazingly, the plant and bacteria cooperatively manufacture different parts of this protein. After the plant has fixed enough nitrogen, it communicates to the bacteria and they both stop production.

Nitrification. Ammonia needs to be changed into nitrite (NO2–) and then nitrate (NO3–). This requires a different suite of bacteria and some fungi. In some cases, bacteria can only change ammonia into nitrite, so they “hand it off” to other bacteria to finish the job. This form of nitrogen readily dissolves in water to be transported and used by organisms far away.

Denitrification. A different group of microbes change nitrate back into nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O). Without this process, nitrates could accumulate in water or soil, seriously harming the health of the ecosystem.

Assimilation. Nitrates were made in step 2 because plants can easily absorb that chemical. Later it must be changed back to ammonia to make other compounds needed for life, such as amino acids.

Excretion and Decay. A huge clean-up crew of diverse organisms breaks down waste products and recycles the nitrogen.

Just like a factory assembly line, all the workers must be in the right places, at the right time, with the right tools to make the product.1 Systems like the nitrogen cycle appear to be irreducibly complex. For them to work, all the components had to be in place at the same time—amazing evidence of a loving, all-wise Creator who made the components in just six days.

H. A. Zuill and T. G. Standish, “Irreducible Interdependence: An IC-like Ecological Property Potentially Illustrated by the Nitrogen Cycle,” Origins 60 (2007): 6–40.