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Draft 1: Are Coyotes, Wolves and Dogs Separate Species?

Submitted by crmckenzie on Mon, 02/05/2018 - 15:57

Canis latransCanis lupus, and Canis familiaris are separate species. Ernst Mayr defined species as "groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups". The article describes how Canis latrans have been known to interbreed with Canis lupus and Canis familiaris, which, by Mayr's definition, would mean that all three are the same species. However, the article states that the notion that an inability to breed defines what a species is has been abandoned by many scientists. Hybridization is the process of interbreeding from genetically distinct populations to produce a hybrid, and therefore it occurs across different species. This is what is happening when Canis latrans interbreeds with Canis lupus and Canis familiaris. Homo sapeins are hybrids themselves because it has been proven that there was interbreeding among around four species of early humans.  

Bus Transportation 1/30

Submitted by crmckenzie on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 15:27

On the day of Tuesday January 30th, I used the bus to travel to my destinations several times. At about 2:25 PM I went to the Totman bus stop outside of the North Apartments and waited for about fifteen minutes for the Route 35 bus to arrive. I got on the bus at approximately 2:45 PM. The bus arrived my bus stop in front of the Fine Arts Center at about 2:52 PM. After going to UHS and class, I walked back to the Fine Arts Center bus stop at approximately 5:15 PM and waited for the Route 31 bus to take me into South Amherst. The bus arrived about two minutes later. After attending to my activities in town, I waited at the bus stop next to the gas station and took the Route 31 bus to the Arnold House bus stop at approximately 5:50 PM. After returning home and dropping off my things, my roommate and I went back to the Totman bus stop at 5:35 PM and waited for ten minutes for the Route 35 bus to take us to the Mullins Center. After watching the basketball game, we attempted to take the Route 34 bus home. However, after finding out that the bus driver was going to the parking garage, we got off of the bus and walked home.

Observation of Mystery Larvae

Submitted by crmckenzie on Fri, 01/26/2018 - 15:08

The creature that we were given to observe is partially transparent and long in shape. Its tail is slightly longer than its body, at about 2 cm, and the body is about 1.5 cm. The creature moves slowly in a slinking motion similar to the way that an inchworm moves. The creature is covered in a fuzzy white film aside from the very end of its tail. There is a thin dark line dividing the creature’s body into two sides. Dark spots, what may be eyes, are centered at the front of the creature’s head. The creature may not be able to see but can sense its surroundings in some way. It appears to be eating the wooden flakes and these flakes are visible in its torso in what are most likely its intestines. The specimen keeps arching its anterior and continues to move in a slinking motion. Whenever the container is moved or the creature can sense a change in environment, the creature freezes and for about thirty seconds. The creature prefers the edge of the container, moving in a ciorcular motion. It occasionally pokes its anterior upwards and touches the wall of the container, attempting to escape. I would like to know how this creature reacts in warmer and cooler temperatures and how it would interact with others of its kind. Other questions I have include: Can it move faster when provoked? Why does it play dead when it senses change? Does this creature bite? Has it finished growing? How does it reproduce? Where are its pain receptors?

Observation of Mystery Larvae

Submitted by crmckenzie on Fri, 01/26/2018 - 14:57

This specimen is partially transparent and is long in shape, with a tail that is slightly longer than its body. The creature moves slowly in a slinking motion as if it is about to shed its skin but isn’t. Dark spots, what may be eyes, are centered at the front of the creature’s head. The tail is darker and there is a slight dark line throughout the creature’s body. The creature may not be able to see but can sense its surroundings in same way. It appears to be eating the wooden flakes and they are visible in its torso. The specimen keeps arching its anterior and continues to move in a slinking motion. Whenever the container is moved or the creature can sent a change in environment, the creature freezes and ceases to move for around thirty seconds. The creature prefers the edge of the container and mostly goes around and around and occasionally pokes its anterior upwards and touches the wall, perhaps attempting to escape. The creature moves like an inchworm. The specimen appears to be about 3.5 cm, with the torso being about 1.5 cm and the tail being 2 cm. I would like to know how this creature reacts in warmer and cooler temperatures, and I would also like to know how it would interact with others of its kind. Can it move faster when provoked? Why does it play dead when it senses change? Does this creature bite? Has it finished growing? How does it reproduce? Where are its pain receptors?

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