Long Distance Movements of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and other species of Bottlenose Dolphins

Summary:
      This study was performed in order to find out the paterns of migration of Bottlenose dolphins in the Oita region, where they came from, and their range. This study took place in Kyushu, Japan, in     Western Japan.
     First, the crew interviewed locals to find where there were sitings of dolphins so they had areas where they could begin to look for pods. Then they set off and looked for dolphins themselves. Some used just their eyes and others used binoculars to look for the dolphins. The crew could tell the difference between  common Bottlenose dolphins and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins by their dorsal fins. The crew followed and tracked these different pods and species of dolphins.
     They found Indo-Pacific dolphins in Tsukumi Bay which was 2 kilometers west from where they were first sited. Then the group was observed going southwest along the coast. Two groups of Common Bottlenosed dolphins were sighted. One group was traveling east from Tsukumi Bay.The second group was found in Usuki Bay. The Common Bottlenosed dolphins were found in deep sea water whereas the Indo-Pacific Bottlenosed were found in shallow waters.
    The Indo-Pacific Bottlenosed dolphins were first sighted in the Oita area. The crew also found two groups of Common Bottlenosed dolphins and tracked them for two years in areas that Indo-Pacific dolphins inhabited as well. However, the Common Bottlenosed inhabited deeper depths than the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific dolphins could be found within a small area and very easily. They had a distinct migratory pattern. Common dolphins are found in a wider range of areas in temperate, tropical marine areas.

Evaluate:
    The purpose of this report on the migration and range of dolphins, was to explain what the study was, how they cinducted the study and what they found as results. This report was written to inform the audience of what occured during the experiment and what was found.
     The audience for this  report for a low-tech audience. The vocabulary was not complicated but there were no definitions. Some of the terminology could have been unclear to a lay audience. The report discusses locations, anatomy, and bodies of water that might be unclear to a lay audience. This report was not written at a fourth grade level.
     The organization was formated well. The report had headings for the introduction, methods and tools, results, and discussion. It also had subheadings further describing the data and observations the crew made. The report also had graphics and tables that neatly organized the data that was found.
     This report was easy to read, clear, and accurate. The report was also ethical. Overall, the report clearly told the audience what the study was, what they did, and what the results were.

Work Cited

Shirakihara, M., Shirakihara, K., Nishiyama, M., Iida, T., & Amano, M. (2012). Long-Distance Movements of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and Habitat Preference of Two Species of Bottlenose Dolphins in Eastern Kyushu, Japan. Aquatic Mammals, 38(2), 145-152. doi:10.1578/AM.38.2.2012.145

Effects of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish on Coral Reefs

Summary:
     This scientific article is about a study conducted off the island of Moorea, where there were outbreaks of a "Crown-of-Thorns" starfish, also called by its scientific name, Ancanthaster. This specific study tracked where the starfish where distributed around the island and how they effected the coral reef communities.
     This study used two specific methods for collecting the data. One method was a survey taken periodically at three different sites. These sites were small and varied throughout the shores of the island. The second approach to collecting data was on a larger scale. The data was collected from all the coral reefs around the entire island of Moorea. To survey the reefs a SCUBA diver was towed around by a boat slowly around Moorea.
     In the study, there was evidence of high densities of Ancasnthasters and proof their numbers were growing. There was also evidence that they were spreading all over the shores and reefs around Moorea.  The impacts the seastars had on the communities were distructive. Coral had a high mass mortality which resulted in a decline in reef life in general.There was an increase in turf algea in the coral reefs. Overall, Anacanythasters were growing in number in the reefs off of Moorea and they were destroying the coral and ruining the reef communities.

Evaluation:
      The purpose of the article was to inform the reader of the study that was performed. The report's intention was to explain that the experiment was about the effects of seastars on coral reef communities specifically off the coast of Moorea. The report also described how the experiment was conducted and what the results were.
     This report was for a high-tech audience. There were no definitions of words, so it was assumed the reader new what everything meant. Scientific names of animals were used instead of their common names. It was not written on a fourth grade reading level so everyone could understand it. The sentence structure was complex as well. A low-tech audience might be able to follow the report but might still struggle.
     The organization of the document was easy to follow. There were headings for the introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. There were also subheadings breaking down the larger sections. The graphics were also labeled and had easy to read captions.
     The article was accurate in describing the study. This article was also ethical. However, it was not conise or easy to read. Some sections were difficult to understand, and there was a lot of extra details that were not necessary to the report.

Work Cited

Kayal, M., Vercelloni, J., de Loma, T., Bosserelle, P., Chancerelle, Y., Geoffroy, S., & ... Adjeroud,  M. (n.d). Predator Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) Outbreak, Mass Mortality    of Corals, and Cascading Effects on Reef Fish and Benthic Communities. Plos One, 7(10),