Allen Shen Block: A3

Little Wonders
Science has changed society through the advancements and developments of
technology. Overarching all of lifes needs and curiosity for knowledge, science allows
us to ponder the study of diseases, develop new technology to mine Helium 3 on the
moon, reduce the rates of global warming into the atmosphere, and helps the
community that we live in by protecting the environment. Science is spread throughout
the world encompassing politics and the agreements to reduce nuclear weapons on the
planet, economics and energy consumption, and the cultural aspect of life due to
changes in advancements and uniformity causing cultural groups to migrate to new
locations (Indians and Westward expansion). Biology a subsection of science is used to
study life and human interactions with the environment, which relates to the area of
interaction of health and social education aiming for the well-being of the community
and general society. A watershed is an area of land where all the water that is under it
drains and goes into the same place (river, lake, bay, or other body of water).
Watersheds provide the home to millions of organisms, some of which visible and
others microscopic. Providing a healthy and stationary watershed aids in biodiversity
and a wide variety of plants and animals in environment. A variety of life on earth is
related to biodiversity and the number of species of plants, animals, and
microorganisms, and the enormous diversity of genes in these species. Each species
plays an important role in the development of an environment and a watershed. The
Chesapeake Bay is home to one of the largest watersheds of over 64,000 square miles
and has recently been polluted through bacteria stemming from human sewage and
typical disposal of harmful materials. A case study created by TMDL and the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality helps aid in the cleanup plan to turn around
unhealthy conditions. The Chesapeake Bay program created a case study where water
quality deteriorated starting in 1960 and lasting to early 1990s mostly due to agricultural
practices and enhanced economic development causing a great deal of runoff.
Furthermore the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality identified that excessive
bacteria and scant oxygen afflicts these waters. Because of poor environments and high
acidity from carbon emissions, animals like oysters are affected because of poor spawn
rates and cant filter the ocean of dirt and pollution. Studies show that current pH values
in the salinity of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay were discovered to decrease rates
of shell formation leading to thinner shells of native oysters. By harming the
environment and the watersheds cause dozens of problems in the biodiversity and
environment. To protect the environment, the community must come together to ensure
the safety of our watersheds.