Monde

M O N D E

Big City, Little Landfil

by Abigail Goff Through the Trees

by Zoe Taulli A Blooming Issue

by Mandala Pham A Beatle World

by Adison Lampert Human Effects on Weather

by Edgar Medina

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Through the Trees

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A Beatle World

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A Blooming Issue

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An unknown species is becoming increasing endangered - beatles.

The life of primates in Amazonian Ecuador.

Letter from the Editors

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Into the Unknown

10 endangered animals you’ve never heard of.

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Our Dying Forests

Deforestation is a major issue, and it’s effects are slowly creeping towards us.

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Energy Usage

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Human Effects on Weather

Human effects on our weather and economy.

A visual look at energy consumption by country.

Recycle Austin Big City, Little Lanfill America Map

Human effects on weather and climate.

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What local businesses in Austin, TX and the government are doing to combat waste production.

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How to reduce your everyday waste and a description of the amount of waste that an average human produces.

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Letters from

the Editors DISON

I’m a freshman at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin. In a friendly debate, I always take least represented side because I get a thrill off of defending less popular ideas and playing devil’s advocate. Sometimes this gets me in trouble, but my arguments are never dull; a statement I take pride in. I love expanding my ideas about a topic by turning the usual perspective on its head. That’s what drew me to my article topic: american burying beetles. Before this year, I had no idea that american burying beetles even existed, let alone were endangered. When I found out, I knew I had to base my article around the species that humans were taking out and yet most didn’t know their name. In my research process, I became disgusted with humans. My sciences class became a series of hypocritical statements instead of biology lessons. I felt like I was screaming inside because no one understood just how much their existence was harming other species. No one understood how important those species were. I hope that even the few people that read my article take away a very important lesson from it: all species matter. When one falls, there’s a possibility others will follow. I hope you enjoy our magazine and hopefully learn something new about your impact on our irreplaceable Earth.

ANDALA

Hello, I’m one of the editors and writers of Monde! I enjoy spending my free time crying over books and wallowing in the depths of Barnes and Noble with a cup of matcha tea. I dislike poorly written romances and twin pop-like paragraphs; they don’t know how to break up. I’d never taken interest in magazines before this project besides an occasional issue of Bon Appetit. However, now that I’ve finished, I’m surprised to have learned so many things from just designing one magazine. Prior to this, I’d never done much with graphic design or article writing, but now I’ve discovered an interest in both. I decided to write my article because I wanted to call attention to a large environmental issue in our world that many people tend to overlook. Many aim to understand space and frontiers far out of our reach, but few try to understand the planet we already live on. After all, if we can figure out a way to understand our own world and fix it, then we won’t have to worry about packing our bags to Mars.

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BBY

I have really enjoyed creating this magazine. Before starting the Electronic Magazine Course, I knew little to nothing about graphic design. I struggled to acquire new skills but I have gained a lot through trial and error. For my feature article idea, I decided to focus on the zero movement that I have noticed gaining popularity in Austin Texas. I wanted to see what our local government and local businesses were doing about the trash problem that we face today. I am really drawn to the topic of sustainability and it is very important to me to reduce my environmental footprint. I wanted my feature article to represent what I am passionate about.

I really enjoyed researching my topic and interviewing many interesting people. This project made learning fun and I hope my writing emulates the good times spent on my article. I hope after reading, readers are inspired to reduce their own environmental footprint and spread awareness just as I was. I really had a good time working with a group of like minded people.

I to me In my free time, I love playing soccer, practicing the piano, running, reading, walking my dogs and eating at restaurants with my friends.

DGAR

I’m one of the designers of this magazine. I’m fifteen years old and my main hobby is playing video games whenever I get the chance. I don’t do much other than homework and eat. I am not a person who gets angry easily, but I can get annoyed quickly. I can be a nice goofball who likes to help people, or I could be a know it all jerk who doesn’t take anything seriously.

I have more knowledge than most on the topic of Star Wars. I dare anyone to know more. In this class I learned how to make new photoshop designs and make a full magazine layout. We used the skills we learn everyday to perfect our magazines and make them look cool. I wrote this to article prove my current worries in the world and how to avoid it. I knew that the world was in bad shape a long time ago with our lack of knowledge about how humans have affected the atmosphere.Hopefully this article I made and wrote will help anyone else understand what is happening in the world around them.

OE

I am one of the editors and writers of this here magazine. I’m a bit older than my co-authors, 16, and a junior. Although this gave me a little advantage in terms of experience, my schedule tends to get filled up a little faster, making this course harder to balance. I feel comfortable saying I know what I want in life, I strive to work towards conservation through studying animal behavior, most likely primates but it’s still up in the air. I spend my weekends volunteering at the Capital of Texas Zoo, where my curiosity and affinity for animals only grows. It was exciting to get to write about and in extension explore the field of physical anthropology, the study of human evolution through primates, and has convinced me that it’s worth spending my life doing. Through interviewing professors for this story I scored a University of Texas (UT) internship, something I am immensely grateful for. With these articles I hope I can do at least a little bit towards furthering the conservation effort through education.

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Through the Trees

The Disapearence of Primates and What It Means For The World’s Forests

By Zoe Taulli

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T

ogy of woolly monkeys, just one Bellow:Anthony Di Fiore photoof the 10 primate species in this graphs a troop of monkeys to record region alone. While Ecuador is behavioral data. (Anthony Di Fiore) one of South America’s smallest countries, it is world renowned for its levels of biodiversity spanning the country, making it a “hotspot for mammals, for birds, for insects, for plants,” explains Di Fiore.The Amazon reaches into Ecuador’s eastern half, and holds up its own reputation for the numerous species it encompasses. It is an incomparable landscape of towering trees surrounded by the thick air brought Thus begins the daily routine of about by the midday heat. researchers at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, situated in the Ya- “You’ll never be able to suni Biosphere Reserve, deep in understand just how Amazonian Ecuador. Here, Ph.D. many colors of green candidate Kelsey Ellis and her there are until you colleagues lead by anthropology visit an Amazonian professor and chair of anthropolrainforest,” ogy at University of Texas (UT) at Austin, Anthony Di Fiore, are Ellis describes it. This lowland studying the behavior and ecol- rainforest not only presents cal relationships. This is where an appealwoolly monkeys come in. ing front, but These dark brown, stout, creaholds behind tures with furrowed brows are it a complex well known seed dispersers, web of organingesting the seeds of various isms built on fruits at one site and depositclose ecologiing them away from the parent To Left: A femail tree, while also helping the seeds to germinate more effectively. woolly monkey hey awoke at five a.m. and set out into the endless ocean of green that surrounds their research station.

They scanned the airwaves using radio telemetry to guide their way. By six they have found their group and settled around the base of the large fruit tree, ducking and bobbing their head through the understory to get a clear view of the tiny figures sleeping 30 meters above. Their subjects rise with the sun and soon chirps and trills echo between trees.

soars from tree to tree displaying their impresive jumping capabilities. (Tim La-

man/2015)

Title Page:Three of the many seed dispersing primates Anthony Di Fiore studies in the forests of Ecuador (top to bottom: saki, woolly monkey, lucifer titi) (Anthony Di Fiore)

When one end of that web becomes unraveled, it can have a cascading effect. Without the help of woolly monkeys, many angiosperms that rely on them for seed dispersal would no longer have their primary dis Monde 7

persers. This could “potentially changing how tree species are distributed in the environment and the overall composition of the forest, which in turn affects other animals and plants that rely on those specific tree species for food and shelter,” explains Ellis.

Many of the Amazon’s primates are already under threat as humans continue to encroach, pollute, and hunt. Woolly monkeys are currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. The research station provides 1500 acres of protection, but it’s not quite paradise, the reminder of human impact never far off. Di Fiore describes a new processing plant for petroleum extract built in the last six or seven years just on the outskirts of the protected area, “you can hear the machinery at that site, five or six km away from it in the forest and

sometimes it’s quite, quite, loud.” has disappeared due to illegal logging and forest fires.” This is Though it may take years to a dire situation not only for the see the full effects of our ac- lemurs but also for the locals. tions, a change throughout the Madagascar happens to be the forest is already becoming ap- one of the poorest countries in parent. Di Fiore remembers the world, and Ankoatsifaka Reother people working at the search Station falls right in one same site having mentioned, of the poorest areas on the island.

“over the last 15 or 20 Neither the lemurs nor the locals years we see fewer frogs, could survive without the forest. fewer birds. Fewer of a In a community without running lot of different kinds of water or electricity, people need wood for cooking, for boiling insects as well.”

This problem is in no way unique to Ecuador. Half a world away in the dry forests of Madagascar, Rebecca Lewis Ph.D., and anthropology professor at UT, studies sifaka lemurs. She recounts the devastation she has witnessed there, “In the last 10 years, half of the national park where I work (Kirindy Mitea National Park)

The Journy There

water to make it safe to drink, for building homes, and especially for their dugout canoes used to go fishing, most people’s livelihood. These canoes require large trees to make them, the same large trees the lemurs depend on for sanctuary at night where predators can’t reach.

This is a knot usually thrown into conservation efforts; balanc-

Tiputini Biodiversity Station is rooted deep in the Yasuni National Park, far removed from any substantial cililization. To get there, researchers like Kelsey Ellis have to take a long journey over dirt roads and down rivers.

From there they take an 8 hour bus First they fly into Quito, ride over the Andes Mountains to After getting checked out, Ecuador’s capital.

Coca, a small town on the banks of they catch a bus down the Napo River.

“Maxus” oil road for another 2 hours, officially in the protected park now.

From Coca, they travel down stream about two hours to a small village and oil control point called Pompeya 8

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pening, and they understand the consequences of their disappearing forest. Lewis translates a popular proverb said among them, “Where there is no forest, there is no water. Where there is no water, there is no rice.”

Above: The Sifaka lemur is just one of over 80 species of lemur under threate in Madigasscar; the only place they are endemic to. (Mark Thomas)

Circumstances just don’t afford them the choice. Here is where conservation can be so critical. With a constantly operating research station comes people from all over the world to work there, which brings business. The locals can see that their forest is more valuable left intact, and have a new source of income making them less dependent on the forest’s resources; two birds, one stone.

ing helping the animals without Back in Ecuador, their research hurting the people around them. has gotten attention on a bigger scale. Ecuador’s grand uniqueThe Malagasy see what is hap- ness is unavoidable, from their

wide range of habitats to their numerous endemic species. It has sparked “a genuine interest on the part of people from the government, people in the Ministry of the Environment, to have researchers learning more about the natural history of what is an amazingly biodiverse country,” Di Fiore reports. Although economic interests will always be lurking in the background, people aren’t ready to lose something we’ve hardly begun understanding. The government has been very forthcoming with research access and permission for Di Fiore and his colleagues, and have so far been successful keeping the area’s natural habitat pristine. With high hopes and boots strapped, these scientists are ready for whatever the forest brings them.

In Background: A view of the rainforest from a canopy walkway.

(Anthony Di Fiore)

To Right: The boat taken from Coca to Pompeya along the Rio Napo River (Anthony Di Fiore)

When they reach the Catolica field station they get back in canoes for another 2 hour ride, this time down the Tiputini River, until they finally reach their destination!

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10 Endangered Animals You’ve Never Heard Of

By Zoe Taulli

Olm

Solenodon It’s one of the few venimous rodents, and a ball-andsocket joint in its nose lets it move it in all directions. They’ve been around since the dinisours, but now their habitat is shrinking.

Deep down in aquifers lives Europe’s only cave adapted vertebrate. These blind creatures are well suited for total darkness, using electrosensitivity to hunt.

Pollution in streams running into their aquifers can be extremely detremental.

Dugong A seafaring cousin of the manity, this 10ft mammal has only one stable population left; in the warm coastal waters off Australia.

Saga Antelope These antelope have a distinctive bulbous nose that is inflatable and flexable.

During migration season they gather in the tens of thousands.

Once at over a million, there are now estimated at 50,000 today.

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Proboscis Monkey Living high in the trees of Borneo, this unusual primate’s nose is an echo chamber that amplifies calls to attract mates and ward off rivals. Their forests are being replaced with palm oil plantations.

Galapagose Giant Tortoise

Coming in at 5ft and a whopping 500lbs, this is the oldest living vertebrate, setting the record at 183 years.

Over 100,000 were killed between the 17th and 19th c. and today only 10 of the original 15 subspecies exist.

Kakapo These flightless parrots have the body of a chicken and the face of an owl, with unique akwardness. Whiped off New Zealand, they now only exist on three small neighboring islands. In 2014 there were only 123 individuals left.

Pangolin

Bearded Volture

Also know as the scaly ant eater, this is one of the highest trafficted animal in the world. An estimated 233,980 were killed between 2011-2013, representing only the tip of the illegal animal trade.

70% of this scavanger’s diet is made up of bones., filling a unique niche.

They have declined in population 25-29% just in the past three generations due to indirect/ direct poisoning and disruption of nests.

Tree Kangaroo

This arborial marsupial lives in the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and north Australia, but have been pushed out of 99% of their historical range.

Key Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Threatened Concerned

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Picture of american burying beetle

A Beetle World

By Adison Lampert

Photo credit

American burying beetles are disappearing from American grasslands at a rapid rate and are considered to be endangered, yet very few know of their existence and their important role.

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American burying beetles use their antennae to “sniff” out carcasses and feces for feasting (Roger Williams Park Zoo/Brett Cortesi)

E

very day, more and more species become endangered, some even wiped off the planet entirely. Bugs are no exception. As humans continue modify more land for themselves, our planet will suffer. Unless humans want to clean up all the waste that’s produced, they’ll need to start protecting their planet, and fast.

“trash clean-up for the dead,” a job that very few organisms take up. They consume or otherwise use the carcasses of animals. In result, nutrients are released back into the soil to be used by plants.

American burying beetles are undertakers in their communities. They lay eggs in the carcasses of birds and small mammals and those eggs eat the flesh

When american burying beetles lay eggs, both the mother and father stay with and take care of the larvae until they mature. (Jay Pruett)

The American burying beetle is an endangered species of beetle in the grasslands of the U.S. Once, they lived in 35 states, but now they are only found in four. In 1989, the species was added to the Endangered Species list, but the American burying beetle is still relatively unknown to many Americans.

Insects are often ignored when it comes to the animal kingdom. They are the most abundant macro organism on Earth, yet ecologists know very little about them. They are so important that, Todd Jackson, a biologist for the city of Austin, stated that, “all life as we know it would cease within six months if insects weren’t on the planet.”

Among insects are a very special type of organism called scavengers. According to Jackson, they are considered to be

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when they hatch. It may sound gross, but without insects like the American burying beetle, feces and carcasses would litter the land. The American burying beetle, and other scavengers, play a vital role in their ecosystems to keep their surroundings clean, not

Sadly, the American burying beetle may not be around much longer to raise their young. Their environment, tallgrass prairies, are quickly becoming a rarity in the U.S. Brett Ratcliffe, a professor at the University of Nebraska, states that, “a whole host of other animals that

“When does a species become endangered?

It becomes endangered when we say it is.” to mention all the nutrients they release back in the soil that allow for trees and other plants to flourish.

Being a scavenger is not the only thing the American burying beetle has to offer.

They are actually very attentive parents.

Jackson considered them to be, “one of the few insects that does a pretty significant amount of maternal/paternal care.”

lived on the tallgrass prairie are gone or their habitat is fragmented.” The tallgrass prairies have been disappearing because, “it’s been built over or it’s become wooded as people have moved in there and planted trees,” explained Jackson. As our grasslands disappear, so will unique animals in that environment.

It’s not only the grasslands that are suf-

An american burying beetle scavenges in the soil (Bryan E. Reynolds)

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fering, but the whole world as well. According to ecologists, “We’re in the sixth mass extinction epic, which is caused by humans,” Jackson informed. Humans are modifying land beyond repair, killing off thousands of species in the process. For each species that is lost, our “safety net of diversity” weakens according to Ratcliffe. He said that we need to be, “maintaining as many gene pools as possible, particularly within those wild species that are economically significant or are likely to be,” or we risk causing our own demise. He said, “humanity would be impoverished by the disappearance of one more species representing millions of years of unique evolutionary history that can never be repeated.”

Each environment has its own complexities; the grasslands of the U.S. being no exception. When one species dies out, the others are affected because, “If you tug on anything on the web of life everything will move,” Jackson explained.

If the American burying beetle were to become extinct, the loss would cause a ripple effect. When humans mess with ecosystems, it’s like playing a high

American burying beetles are black with distinctive red markings; the most prominent ones located on their back and head. (Wayne National Forest/Albert Herring/2011) stakes game of Jenga where every species is a wooden block. If humans pull out enough blocks or the wrong piece, they risk the entire structure falling over.

In order to combat species loss, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) was put into place. It protects individual species by saying that others cannot modify areas where the endangered species are present. Jackson explained that, “the ESA is a legal framework that has teeth and says you

dangered mammals that are always in the spotlight. Insects can reproduce at a rapid rate and their life cycle is much shorter. For the American burying beetle, the typical lifespan is twelve months.

After 28 years of special attention, they should be back to a healthy population size, but that isn’t the case. Not only is their environment sparse and isolated, but their food source is also now limited. One of their favorite foods, the passenger pigeon, is even extinct.

Although systems preservation is still far off from being in use, it’s an idea to try out since our current system falls short of its intended outcome.

In the eyes of Ratcliffe, “all species have an inherent right to exist.” More and more people would agree. Insects like the American burying beetle play such a vital role to the world we live in today that it’s unfathomable what the world would be like without them and hopefully we’ll never have to learn.

“If you tug on anything on the web of life everything will move.”

can’t build ovethis endangered species habitat.” At the present, it is the only plan in place to preserve endangered species, even though it’s inefficient.

The ESA has taken notice to the dwindling numbers of American Burying Beetles. 28 years ago, the American burying beetle was added to the Endangered Species List and has remained on there ever since.

Insects are different than the typical en-

Protecting one insect isn’t going to save them. That’s why Jackson disclosed that, “ecologists are starting to say move towards systems preservations.” The concept of systems preservation is simple: save the system, save the species. Protecting one system means that an umbrella has been thrown, “that covers maybe dozens or maybe even one hundred endangered species,” explained Jackson. Even the species that we have yet to discover are endangered.

The more we destroy the Earth, the more we harm ourselves. Although one species may not be of concern, the loss of a species has a domino effect and one might lead to many over a short or long period of time.

Are humans ready to pay the price of their greediness and ignorance? ■

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Forest Loss (20012015)

Our Dying Forests By: Mandala Pham

Human expansion, though it may be good for us, plays a large role in killing our planet. Whether it’s to make room for industries or agriculture, deforestation is a large factor that contributes to our planet dying.

The Threat

More than 80 % of Earth’s natural forests have been destroyed already. In fact, 90% of West Africa’s coastal rain forests have disappeared since 1900! And still, the rate of deforestation has yet to slow.

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ENDANGERED!

• The Giant Otter • South American Tapir • Red Faced Uakari • Kapop Trees • Mangrove Trees

And thousands more!

Help Stop Deforestation

Effects of Deforestation Dry Soil and Soil Erosion

Habitat Loss

Increase in Greenhouse Gases

Climate Change

Sources: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0153357 http://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment7 http://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/3/38.62/8.94/ALL/grayscale/loss?tab=analysis-tab&begin=2001-01-01&end=2016-01-01&threshold=50&dont_analyze=true pone.0153357

• Companies can introduce “zero deforestation” policies for their products • Stand with an support Indigenous people • Eat sustainable food and use certified sustainable or recycled wood • Educate others about the effects of deforestation!

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A Blooming Issue By: Mandala Pham

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child rushes out toward the crashing ocean waves, exhilaration filling her as she anticipates the fresh waft of air. As she inhales deeply, she doubles over with wracking coughs. Her parents rush over, panic and confusion evident on their faces as they ponder over what had happened.

Once her coughing subsides, the family finally notice the border of dead fishes ringing around the coastline.

There have been records dating far back into history talking about algal blooms. What once happened only as a natural occurrence has slowly increased in severity and quantity, the blooms affecting habitats as well as humans. Under normal circumstances, these algal blooms play an important role in maintaining aquatic Red tide off the coast of La Jolla, CA (commons.wikimedia.org/Alejandro Diaz/2005) ecosystems. However, due to changgenerally form in the photic, specifi- algae, causing them to take over to the web ing weather conditions and human influcally the euphotic, zone. When they die, due to an increase in competition. With all ences, large blooms of algae are harmthey sink to the aphotic zone where they these blooms of species competing for difing our planet’s waters and creatures. are decomposed by bacteria. Another ferent resources in the system, it eventuway algae can get nutrients, other than ally leads to a shortening in the food web.

What’s Affecting the Algal through runoff, is through upwelling. An excess in algal blooms also leads to Blooms? dead zones, areas in the ocean that lack Algae have many natural components Upwelling is when the richly-fertilized oxygen. This is because the bacteria that that help them during formation. Juli waters in the aphotic zone from the de- decompose algae take up oxygen to give Berwald, Ph.D., and author of Spineless, composed algae get brought up to the off carbon dioxide. Dr. Berwald says that says that one of the largest driving fac- surface. Due to climate change in the re- when these excessive algal blooms die, tors is nutrient input. After all, algae are cent years, the delineation between the the oxygen required to decompose them plants and therefore need fertilizer. The surface layer and the deep layer becomes would end up using up a lot of the area’s two major nutrients that algae depend on more apparent, making it difficult for supply, leaving huge areas that are anoxic. are nitrogen and p h o s p h o r u s . “It’s very crucial we understand about what’s What’s the Bad Normally, these News for Us? happening on our own planet.” would end up in There are many peowater sources ple who depend on because of runoff from land, but due to natural upwellings. This is due to the fact fish or ocean creatures for food, espeexcess fertilization on our part, the nu- that the two layers are also separated by cially people in places like Africa where trients carried into their water sources temperatures; the top being warmer than fish is a major income source. Even for end up being far over what is commonly the lower regions. Warming layers cause people like us, it would be a significant needed for a natural algae bloom. This fish to get pushed up closer to the surface, change since fish is such a major source leads to a sustained algal bloom instead. giving them less space to hide and easier of consumption in today’s world. An access for fishers to reel them in. This incline in fish population would lead Another issue contributing to algal leads to a depletion of fish in our oceans. to economic issues and a rise in health blooms is based around our ocean’s issues for less developed countries. structural system. Berwald explains that Ecosystem Effects the ocean is split into two zones: the phoAlgae plays a large role in the ocean’s Aside from normal algal blooms, there are tic and aphotic zone. The photic zone is food web, being a large source of energy also harmful ones. There are many types where light is able to penetrate, while for many organisms and microorganisms. of harmful algal blooms, but the most the aphotic is where light can no longer An excess bloom of algae could lead to a common ones contain a chemical called reach. Algae need light to bloom, so they large bloom of organisms that depend on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). DMSO is

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a neurotoxin which messes with our nervous system as well as other mammals’.

It’s also able to make humans sick, sometimes to the extent of being paralytic.

man actions other than global warming.

There are several types of poisoning that could result from these blooms, like paraOne of the most common types of harm- lytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), or ciguaful algal blooms that we get here along tera fish poisoning (CFP). PSP is when the gulf coast is called, red tide (kar- you have to be concerned when consumenia brevis). Red tide has very delicate ing shellfish, Berwald says. Erdner exHarmful Algal Blooms cells, Deana Erdner, Ph.D., says, which, plains that symptoms include vomiting, Harmful blooms tend diarrhea, nausea, and to form some time after large storms, Dr. Ber- “We have not spent enough time studying the usual symptoms wald explains, and they the ocean, and we can’t answer these ques- that come along with any sort of algae poialso get influenced by tions that we really should be able to an- soning. CFP is when warm waters, which is caution should be unfortunate since today’s raised around fish world has a lot of warm water conditions. when crashed against the waves, break that swim, not shellfish. The symptoms Harmful blooms tend to form around fall, Jonathan Jackson of National Oce- open and release toxins which can be- are also quite similar to that of PSP. anic and Atmospheric Administration’s come aerosolized. When these toxins National Centers for Environmental In- are breathed in, they can cause a series A Use for the Blooms? formation says, but that’s not always the of respiratory irritations. The effects are There are scientists who propose the idea case either. However, these harmful algae particularly harmful to people who have that these blooms could help solve our do not have any other relations to hu- asthma or preexisting respiratory issues. climate change issue, Berwald says. They A man runs his hand through algae in Reflecting Pool, Washington DC(www.flickr.com/Eric Vance/2007)

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An algal bloom on the souteast shore of Peelee Island, Ontario (landsat.gsfc.nasa. gov/Tom Archer/2009)

intentionally put nutrients into the water to cause the blooms, hoping that the phytoplankton will be able to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. After all, phytoplankton are well known for consuming large quantities of carbon dioxide.

Other scientists argue that causing a bloom would disrupt the ecosystem.

They say that our carbon dioxide problem is already a large concern, and that we should consider all the possible consequences when dealing with our environment. A sudden bloom would mean a shift in the system, which could lead to the area’s food web falling apart.

However, these concerns are unable to be answered. Causing this bloom could potentially fix our climate change problem if all goes well. It could enhance our fishing industry, or it could completely ruin them. “We can’t answer these questions that we really should be able to answer,” Berwald says.

What Can We Do?

The most obvious course of action to prevent these harmful and excessive algal blooms would be to reduce the amount of fertilizer we use. Less fertilizer runoff would mean less excess nutrients entering our water systems. Another way would be to deal with our climate change problems.

Helping decrease the amount of CO2 that goes into our atmosphere would be a viable way of preventing our oceans from warming more than they already have.

Aside from trying to prevent excessive algal blooms, it’s important for us to understand them. Being able to understand when they form or why they form is necessary when attempting to lessen the negative effects of these blooms.

“Helping people prepare for [algal blooms] since, even though we can’t stop them happening, we can stop people from getting sick from them, which is really really important,” Erdner states.

A turtle swims in an algae filled pond at UT campus.

An Approaching Problem

What once was a natural phenomenon has slowly escalated over the recent century to become a major concern of both public and environmental health. Our actions that influence global warming and excessive runoff have caused this spread-

ing hazard. We need to take measures to further worsen the effects of these algal blooms. If we don’t, then it could lead to an environmental collapse in our aquatic ecosystems as well as various safety concerns for us. Our next disaster could end up being the very ocean and lakes we love. ■

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Climate Pollution By: Edgar Medina

This map shows the current conditions of the climate in different areas in America-

Belvidere As- Danora Pa sembly Plant

Low Medium High Bad

Tesla Gigafactory

Back in the 1940’s , ait pollutionwasn’t thought of as a real threat. That changed when the world was struck by it’s first dangerouse event cause by pollution. In October 1948, Donora, Pa., was enveloped in a lethal haze of smog. After this, the world started focusing it’s recources to helping the environment.

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Pollution Statistics America has been in moments of severe pollution, but it has been decreasing. The most overall thing that adds to the air pollution is the cars we drive all day and night. Fossile Fuels come in second with the amount of pollution it creates. It would be in first if there were more, but the cars would be highest only for there mere amount there is in the world.

Fossile Fuels

Boats Cars Fossil Fuels

Planes

Trains

Other Trains Boats

Cars

Planes

The diagram shows even more of how cars are what is the most influence in the daily pollution we see.

There are other forms of pollution, but they are too small to be recorded down.

Monde 23

World Energy Usage

Energy Usage (0-35 mtoe)

5854 kgeo per person every year

1990-2016

Energy Usage (0-2,500 mtoe)

By: Adison Lampert

Low

Norway

United States Very High

BRazil High

1990-2016

Very High 24 Monde

High

Medium

Energy Usage (0-350 mtoe)

6917.4 kgeo per person every year

Low

1990-2016

1437.8 kgeo per person every year

The world is using up its resources. Countries like China are seeing a dramatic increase in the amount of energy they consume and the Earth cannot keep up. As we are now, we will run out of oil in forty six years. Natural gas and coal will follow after that; but, there is hope. The usage of renewable energy such as hydroelectricity, solar, and wind is rising. If this trend continues, we may be able to halt the downward spiral of our energy resources.

Japan

Energy Usage (0-600 mtoe)

High

1990-2016

3470.2 kgeo per person every year

Energy Usage (0-3,500 mtoe)

China

Very High

1990-2016

2226.3 kgeo per person every year

Monde 25

Big City, Little Landfil

By: Abigail Goff

Change is just around the curbside

To the untrained eye, a lime green cottage would seem out of place on a busy road in East Austin, Texas, but don’t be fooled by appearances. When it first opened, In.Gredients was the first zeropackaging grocery store in the United States. It has since attracted foodies and environmentalists alike by offering a community space with delicious, environmentally-friendly food. In.Gredients fits right in with the quirky atmosphere of east Austin’s many local bars, taco shops, hipster cafes and mom and pop gyms. In.Gredients is one of a kind in its business model, but its ideas about reducing trash go hand in hand with a growing Austin culture of environmental conservation.

local area, a plan was quickly set into motion. The Austin Resource Recovery was established with the goal of reducing the amount of trash sent to Austin landfills by 90 percent by 2040. Ever since this turning point, Austin has extended curbside recycling to every

cal store, In.Gredients. This is greater than the national average of 4 pounds of trash daily, which is significantly greater than the global average of 2 pounds. These astonishing numbers are being combated by local businesses like In.Gredients.

In.Gredients embraces the idea of bulk shopping by providing products that range from shampoo to empanadas. Their open front yard is filled with picnic tables that attract families, pets and the live musicians of the thriving east side community in Austin Texas. Ingredients has opened the eyes of residents and city officials alike and lives up to Austin’s motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” or in this case, environmentally friendly.

“As a store, we produce less than 10 pounds of waste that is headed to the landfill every month, which is about how much the average American would send to the landfill in about two days,” -Vreeland

In 2010, the city commissioned a study that found 46 percent of the local Austin landfill was composed of organic, compostable matter. With the help of City Council and many activists in the

26 Monde

single residential home in Austin and curbside composting isn’t far along.

Successes like the Bag Ban, an ordinance that prohibits single use bags, contribute to Austin’s unique community and continue to bring awareness to the environmental cost of our trash.

Austinites, on average, produce 6 pounds of trash daily, according to Grayson Vreeland, manager at the lo-

“As a store, we produce less than 10 pounds of waste that is headed to the landfill every month, which is about how much the average American would send to the landfill in about two days,” says Vreeland. The corner store works

hard every day to reduce their trash footprint; they expect no less from customers and suppliers.

Upon its opening, In.Gredients remained entirely package free, but as time passed, they found it increasingly difficult to remain in business while requiring the same amount of commitment from their customers.

“After two years it was like, we can offer some more packaged products or we can close,” describes Vreeland quite frankly.

A phrase that employees frequently use is “don’t let perfect (package free) be the enemy of good (low waste).”

believe that we’ve had some success it changing those habits have at least been a place for people who already have good habits or who are trying to do the right thing can come,” explains Vreeland. In.Gredients was up to the package free challenge, but customers fell short. Vreeland noted that “customers are becoming even more environ-

away from package free shopping a failure, but raising awareness about sustainability is far from the only thing they have accomplished. Patrizi’s, a local Italian food truck down the road, was so inspired by In.Gredients mission that they began composting on site. In the fight for the environment, size doesn’t matter. Small stores like In.Gredients can make the biggest differences by making conservation a fun, edible and communal event that branches into the lives of many.

“We have an environmental community that is very strong in Austin and has a lot of impact on local policy.” -Tovo

Reducing trash while grocery shopping isn’t as hard as it might seem, but it definitely requires some planning.

“We have to deal with consumer habit reality as it is. We do hope and I do

mentally conscious all the time, but it is slow going and people do love convenience, and that’s very challenging.”

Some may consider In.Gredients’ move

In.Gredients functions on a smaller neighborhood scale, but the City of Austin in the past few years has extended conservation programs into all corners of the municipality. Austin is a growing city.

It has doubled in size every 25 years

The green sign reads; “In.Gredients: neighborhood grocer: sustainable, local, seasonal “ looms over the front yard of local store In.Gredients in Austin Texas. Beneath, picnic tables and gardens sprawl across the grass bringing a homey feel to this oasis on a busy road.

Monde 27

and continues to grow exponentially, according to Kathie Tovo, Austin city councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem.

opportunity of curbside recycling.”

Austin composting programs aren’t far behind. “We started a pilot basis Tovo describes the city’s efforts to composting program, and that is an provide a solution to Austin’s trash important part of diverting the materiproblem. “We definitely encouraged als away from the landfill. The compost and expanded our own recycling capac- can be collected and then converted to ity, so as Austin has increased in popu- a nutrient rich compound,” says Selene lation we have consistently expanded Castillo, Waste Diversion Planner with the Austin Resource Recovery’s Busiour recycling so that now everyone in Austin can live in a house and have the ness Outreach team, explains proudly.

The ARR, is in charge of recycling and composting collection services.

Tovo expressed that environmental policy “should exist both on the local level and should be supported on a state level and definitely the federal level as well...we have one of those levels that isn’t taking strong action so it becomes even more important that we do what we can with the local community.” Tovo is talking about the federal level, which has taken limited action, or even countermeasures, towards sustainability, but Austin cannot be said the same of.

“We have an environmental community that is very strong in Austin and has a lot of impact on local policy. Austin has been a real leader in environmental policy,” boasts Tovo. Austin wasn’t born with bragging rights; it has slowly cultivated a culture of environmental conservation where the city and residents work hand in hand to improve this city.

Hard work must be continued for our city to be successful in achieving its zero-waste goal by 2040. “It’s an important role of the community to hold their leaders accountable and to make sure that we are making progress towards them so that we don’t wake up in 2040 saying, ‘oh my gosh, we missed this by a long shot,’” urges Castillo. Local businesses like In.Gredients are taking responsibility but there is still much to be done and it is up to Austin citizens to make the difference.

There is no question as to why Austin is named the Jewel of Texas.

Bulk section for oils and honey at local store In.Gredients in Austin Texas.

In.Gredients encourages customers to buy their food in bulk to reduce the waste.

28 Monde Folio

Cooler filled with fresh, green veggies at local In.Gredients in Austin Texas. In.Gredients offers local, sustainable produce for its customers to munch on.

Texans produce

6.76 2,500

pounds of

trash daily! That’s pounds every year!

The average American produces

4.3

pounds of trash every year! That is much higher that the nationalw

Recycle Austin By: Abagail Goff

Americans lead the world in trash production!

Texans produce more pounds of trash per person than the national average meaning we are worse than the worst!

It is crutial that we change our harmful ways and begin to look at our wasteful habits. Only then can 30 Monde

Sources: EPA Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and the EPA’s municipal Solid Waste Report

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Reduce- There are easy ways that you

can reduce your trash daily. For instance, you can start buy a reusable water bottle so you don’t have to buy the plastic ones. By buying your clothing second hand or buying your groceries in bulk, you can stop trash from coming into your life.

Reducing is on of the most important changes you can make.

Reuse- Do you really need to throw

away that box? Many things that seem like trash can actually be reused for better purposes. The internet is a great tool to look up DIY projects for any item you may have. You can avoid the trash can all together by taking the extra bet of time to think about other uses for trash you already have.

Cut up old T-shirts to use as rags or donate to your local thrift shop.

Recycle- Take advantage of your city’s

local recycling programs! They are there for your convenience and you are making the world a better place by using them. Paper, some plastics, and metals (including foil) can be recycled. Make the city’s job easier by making sure that your recyclables don’t have food scraps or any organic material on them.

Human Effects on the World :Weather By: Edgar Medina

Humans have been polluting the air

thing contributing to the change in the

battles themself had many effects to the

with carbon emissions ever since the

air. The habits people had with smoking

environment with the digging of the

creation of the first machine. It has only

and burning foods or trash increased the

trenches and the constant explosions.

been in recent decades that we have

pollution rate greatly back then. One

Now, at this time and age, people have

taken into account the detrimental envi-

event that contributed a lot of pollution

learned to help the atmosphere and limit

ronmental impacts that our destructive

was the first World War. Countries used

their uses in their daily activities. Now

habits have wreaked havoc upon.

machines to build tanks, planes and

they realize the meaning of their world.

weapons for the war. When the factories

The only problem is, people don’t know

Ever since the 1800s, Earth has been

were building the machines and weap-

when the next major event could hap-

exposed to the effects of gas and air

ons, the factories were releasing toxins

pen. How are they supposed to know

pollution. Machines weren’t the only

and smog in to the atmosphere. The

if it will hurt the world even more. The

32 Monde

world should know that these things

past 10 years, they have been improv-

filters and cleaner fuel. There is still the

are happening around them.how to take

ing our atmosphere greatly. Companies

problem of how the factories are mak-

precaution if another spike in pollution comes up.

Because people themselves can’t do much to stop the spread of pollution, organizations like “EarthJustice” and “Environmental Protection Agency”

“I think,personally, that they are some type of problem since we are continually having them. Uh, I don’t know what the cause is,uh, but I feel like with some type of research is warranted into seeing what it is. Mabe climate change or something like that.”

Doctor Christopher Lizak

came together to help prevent more

have reduced the amount of gas they let

incidents involving pollution. Over the

out in their factories and now cars use

ing the cars and parts.

Monde 33

so they can keep the world clean while getting a reliable energy source. Even with these new advancements, they are far from not using fossil fuels. At this time, the world is still using 81 percent of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas Scientist are also developing new ways to work around the problem of pollution by improving the way cars consume fuels. Starting in the 2014 model year, locomotives are 90 percent cleaner than pre-regulation locomotives. In March 2008, the “Environmental Protection Agency” finalized a three part program that dramatically reduces emissions from diesel locomotives of all types -- line-haul, switch, and passenger rail.

The rule cuts particulate emissions from these engines by as much as 90 percent a role in everything. We have been having an effect, but it is not one hundred One of the mistakes people have made

percent..” People’s effect on the atmo-

when they started manufacturing was

sphere came from all the smoke and

the limit of materials they used. In order

toxins that are produced.

for most of their machines to work, they needed to be run on fossil fuels, oil, or

Recently, scientists have been develop-

a burned source that produces energy.

ing new ways to gain energy without

As Troy Kimmel, University of Texas

using non reusable resources. Solar en-

meteorologist said, “Well of course we

ergy, hydraulic energy, and wind energy

have had a role in it. Humans have had

are being used to help the environment

34 Monde

and nitrogen oxides emissions by as much as 80 percent when fully implemented.

The new energies Scientist have been discovering are efficient, but they don’t work as well as the fuels and minerals machines companies take from the earth. Another reason most companies gather fossil fuels is so they can get money from it. They use them to heat our homes, run our vehicles, power in-

“Yes, I do believe that we have something to do with what is going on. I remember there being a bit more problems when I was younger. However, there is a difference from then and now” Doctor Christopher Lizak dustry and manufacturing, and provide us with electricity. It is how they support themselves.

Humanity may be non efficient with how they are treating and using Earth’s resources, but at least they are trying to make it better. Some areas may be

able foods or go out ot eat. You could also drive less whenever you need to go somewhere. If you don’t need to go there, then don’t go at all. These suggestions could go a long way if everyone contributed.

The is proof that the world has gotten There are many types of

ways to help the cause to prevent the air becoming worse. Whenever you are barbecuing outside, don’t keep the lid open the whole time and try not to cook anything that requires a lot of fire to cook. Try sticking to microwav-

better from the work of common people and a real scientist. It may have gotten better, but that doesn’t mean it is perfect. The only way it could be better is if people learn to change their actions on how to throw away their own trash.

If they learn that there are other ways to live their life without causing harm to the earth. Only then will the world be truly

damaged in the process of how things are, but it is better that they save as much as possible before the whole world is plunged into a sky of smog and decay. Humanity’s main objective, is to do their part in helping this world survive.

Monde 35

36 Monde