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A FEW WORDS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

I would like to begin by saying that this is in my opinion blown bubble. I think that it is natural process connected with human industry. But the situation isn’t too serious and we have still time to do something with it. People should remember that we have no other place to live. We should keep our Earth clean and fresh and the ways how to reach it aren’t complicated. Just only buy ecological food, bio fuels or recyclable wraps. We should sponsor scientists more and behave thrifty.
Try to think of the future generations. The world's climate scientists reported that the Earth's climate system is increasingly heating up and has not been this warm for at least 1300 years. The fourth report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that evidence for this includes more than increases in global average air and ocean temperatures.
Vojta Rygl

Heating effects are strong in melting of snow and ice, rising global sea level, ocean salinity, wind patterns and aspects of extreme weather including droughts, heavy precipitation, heat waves and the intensity of tropical cyclones. The IPCC members said there was less than 10 percent chance that this global warming was natural. The amount of CO spewed out per year from fossil fuel burning is 12 percent greater now than in the 1990s and the amount of the greenhouse effect is the greatest in 10,000 years. The forecast of possible temperatures by the end of the century reaches higher in this report than did the previous one in 2001 --11.5 degrees F -- but the more probable range is between 3.2 and 7 degrees F.

The rate of rise depends on if and how fast emissions are reduced and on possible advers feedbacks in the climate system. Even now, the scientists reported, the last time the Arctic was warmer about 125,000 years ago, before the last ice age. At that time, sea level rose 4 to 6 meters as polar ice melted. For this coming century the IPCC is forecasting sea level to rise from 7 inches to about half a meter, depending on emissions and warming. The scientists expressed uncertainty about melting of the Greenland ice cap, citing a lack of enough research so far; this is sure to be one of the more controversial parts of the report since some glaciologists think Greenland will add considerably more to sea level. Scientists said "it is very likely that hot extreme and heat waves will continue to become more frequent,". If CO2 emissions can be reduced the atmosphere could be stabilized at a much lower level of greenhouse effect than is forecast now. Still, the effects of global warming will be with us for many centuries.

Intergovernmental panel on global change

OUR VISIT IN THE SEA WORLD

On 20 February, we went to Prague to visit some interesting places. One of them – as our teachers planned - was The Sea World in Výstavištì 7 in Prague. It is long lasting exposition, which you can visit through the whole year and we are speaking about the biggest sea aquarium in the Czech Republic. It has been already opened for four years and it is visited by 80 thousands of visitors per one year. There are 4.500 fish and other water animals! Including sharks. We spent there about one hour by watching turtles, see starfish and of course small and even bigger fishes. This area has got two floors; lights are just dark and blue. You are suddenly in the middle of the sea – all that glasses of aquariums with movements of beautiful colored fishes behind. The interior paintings are the biggest hand wall paintings in the Czech Republic – 2700m2 – and it was made only by two men.

Imax

In the afternoon we visited 3D movie SHARKS in Imax cinema in Palace Troja. It was great experience to be dragged directly into the sea and become part of the sea life like one of the animals. We swam with sharks, dolphins and whales. It was really sad to see and hear how many beautiful sea animals are (thanks to people) in danger of extinction.

SHARKS

SENSES
Sense of hearing
If we looked for shark’s ears we wouldn’t find them. They have inner ears, which are connected with both sides of head with the channels filled with water. The water flows through the channels to inner ears and brings impulses to the brain which creates the sound. The ears inform shark about its position in the sea. Sharks have great sense of hearing. They are able to hear within many kilometers. They are able to hear clearly up to 300 meters. They perceive sounds with low frequency – for example sounds of death – slop of hurt fish or a person in the water. On the contrary they aren’t able to hear sounds of high frequency.
Sense of smell
Shark’s sense of smell is hidden in nostril and it is really perfect. They can smell few drops of blood 500 meters away. When they are hungry, their smell abilities get even better.
Sense of taste
Cells of taste are on the back and in the mouth. This fact explains why shark can only touch the victim to know if it tastes good.
Sense of touch
Some sharks have lashes at the end of fin which are useful for perception of smells, touch and looking for food. For example Wobegongs have these lashes. They have sensitive nervous endings under the skin, too.
Sight
Sharks have eyes seated on both parts of the head. Those who live in deep water have eyes on the upper part of the head. They can see up to the distance of 20 meters and some of them can recognize colors. They can see also in dark and it gives them ability to hunt during night.

ŽRALOCI

SMYSLY
Sluch
Kdybychom hledali u žraloka uši jako máme my, tak je nenajdeme. Mají totiž vnitøní ucho, které je pomocí kanálkù s vodou spojeno s obìma stranami hlavy. Tìmito kanálky proudí voda k vnitønímu uchu. Pomocí impulsu vyslaného do mozku získá žralok zvuk. Uši ho informují o poloze ve v vodì. Žraloci mají výborný sluch. Jsou schopni slyšet na mnoho kilometrù. Jasnì slyší až na vzdálenost 300 metrù. Slyší tóny o nízké frekvenci, napø. zvuky smrti – šplouchání zranìné ryby nebo èlovìka ve vodì. Naopak neslyší tóny o vysoké frekvenci.
Èich
Smyslové èichové orgány se skrývají v nosních dírkách a jsou opravu dokonalé. Žraloci dokáží ucítit nìkolik kapek krve na vzdálenost 500 metrù. Když jsou hladoví, jejich èich se ještì zlepšuje.
Chu
Chuové buòky má žralok na høbetì a v ústech. To vysvìtluje, proè žralokovi staèí se o koøist jen otøít aby hned vìdìl, jestli mu bude chutnat.
Hmat
Nìkteøí žraloci mají na konci ploutve brvy, které slouží k vnímání pachù a tím k vyhledávání koøisti. Mají je napø. Wobegongové. Také mají citlivá nervová zakonèení, která se ukrývají pod kùží.
Zrak
Žraloci mají oèi umístìny po stranách hlavy. Ti, kteøí žijí v hluboké vodì, mají oèi na horní èásti hlavy. Vidí ve vodì až na vzdálenost 20 metrù a nìkteøí z nich mohou rozeznávat barvy. Také jsou schopni noèního vidìní a tudíž mohou lovit i v noci.

JAWS
The first thing which we can notice at sharks is of course jaws. Sharks like people have two jaws – maxilla and mandible. The jaws are connected with gristle and ligament and they are surrounded with gums in which hundreds of teeth in five lines are seated. Sharks loose teeth very easily – most often in fights. In a few hours teeth grow up again. A squeeze of jaw is owing to strong muscles very intense and powerful. In comparison with people sharks have 17times stronger squeeze.
They have 5 types of teeth:

1. long and thin (for catching small fish)
2. triangle and thin (for biting off a big piece of meat up to 20 kg)
3. blunt (for crushing shells)
4. small (for sharpening)
5. for more purposes

ÈELISTI
První vìc, které si u žralokù všimnete budou jistì èelisti. Žraloci mají stejnì jako lidé èelist horní a dolní. Tyto èelisti jsou spojeny chrupavkou a vazivem a jsou obklopeny dásnìmi, v nichž jsou usazeny stovky zubù v pìti øadách. Žraloci ztrácejí své zuby velmi snadno, nejèastìji v boji. Do nìkolika hodin zuby znovu dorostou. Díky silným svalùm je stisk èelistí velmi intenzivní a silný. V porovnání s lidmi mají žraloci 17krát silnìjší stisk.
Mají 5 druhù zubù
1. dlouhé a tenké – (k chytání malých ryb)
2. trojúhelníkové a tenké (k ukousnutí velkého kusu masa až do 20 kg)
3. tupé (k rozdrcení skoøápek)
4. malé (na broušení)
5. víceúèelové

White shark

This shark belongs to the most dangerous animals in the sea. It prefers tropical and mild water of the world oceans. It is a loner and it can’t stop moving because its blood would stop circulation and oxygen wouldn’t be brought to muscles. It can grow up to 7 meters and its weight can be 3400 kg. It has well-developed sense of smell because it can smell one drop of blood in 4,6 million liters of water. Some sharks bear lively cubs but some put their egg cells among stones in the sea. Sharks have very interesting teeth in their mouth. Teeth are seven centimeters long and they have shape of a triangle. A fossil of strong shark’s teeth was found which probably belonged to 30 meters long animal.
Some interesting facts:
1. Research also showed that white shark can’t alive without salt and it dies after several days.
2. It is possible, that as soon as it gets necessary weight and size, it changes its sex from male to female.
3. Scientists found out that the shark is able to cross Indian Ocean during 9 months there and back.
4. As the only one it pokes its head from the water to see what is going on in its surrounding.

Žralok bílý
Tento žralok je nejnebezpeènìjším zvíøetem žijícím v moøi. Dává pøednost tropickým a mírným vodám svìtového oceánu. Je samotáø a musí se stále pohybovat, aby jeho krev mohla cirkulovat a pøivádìt kyslík ke svalùm. Dorùstá až 7 metrù a mùže vážit až 3400 kg. Má velmi dobøe vyvinutý èich, protože mùže ucítit kapku krve ve 4,6 milionech litrù vody. Nìkteøí žraloci rodí živá mláïata, ale jiní kladou vajíèka mezi kameny na dnì moøe. Žraloci mají velmi zajímavé zuby. Jsou 7 centimetrù dlouhé a mají trojúhelníkovitý tvar. Byly nalezeny fosílie silných žraloèích zubù, které náležely žralokovy mìøícímu asi 30 metrù.
Zajímavá fakta:
1. Výzkumy ukázaly, že bílý žralok nemùže žít bez soli a po nìkolika dnech umírá.
2. Je možné, že jakmile dosáhne urèité váhy a velikosti, zmìní pohlaví ze samèího na samièí.
3. Vìdci zjistili, že je schopen pøeplout Indický oceán tam a zpìt za 9 mìsícù.
4. Jako jediný ze žralokù vystrkuje hlavu z vody aby zjistil, co se v jeho okolí dìje.

Mako shark

Constitution of its body is similar to the white shark. It is about 3 meters long and it is the fastest shark. Maximal speed of the mako sharks is 90 km per hour. Ideal conditions for its life: temperature over 16 oC, lots of fish, sea mammals and tortoises. It behaves like cannibal; he consumes also other types of sharks.

Mako žralok
Stavba jeho tìla je podobná žraloku bílému. Je asi 3 metry dlouhý a je to nejrychlejší žralok. Maximální rychlost mako žralokù je 90 km za hodinu. Ideální podmínky pro jeho život jsou: teplota pøes 16 oC, hodnì ryb, moøských savcù a želv. Je to kanibal, který konzumuje i ostatní druhy žralokù.

CETACEANS

Blue whale

Length: male 25m female 30m
Weight: 80000 – 130000 kg
Reproduction: 1 cube (copulation has never been observed yet)
Life expectancy: 80 years
These animals communicate by ultrasound waves. They haven’t any teeth but instead of them they have line of baleens. They create big sifter and about 5 tunes of water and plankton can go through it to stomach. Baleens are 100 cm long.

Dolphins

Length: about 3,6 m
Weight: 150 – 200 kg
Reproduction: 1 cube
Life expectancy: 50 years
They live in groups. They are stronger than sharks. They communicate by ultrasound waves.

Killer whale

It is the biggest one of the tribe of dolphin. It is the second most extended mammal in the world. We can find them in every ocean. They are endangered. The most famous killer whale in the world was Keiko, which stared in film “Free Willy”. Keiko died of pneumonia at the age of 27 in 2003.

Keiko

KYTOVCI
Plejtvák obrovský
Délka: samec 25 m samice 30 m Váha: 80 000 – 130 000 kg Rozmnožování: 1 mládì (Páøení nebylo ještì nikdy pozorováno) Délka života: 80 let Tato zvíøata komunikují pomocí ultrazvuku. Nemají zuby ale øadu kostic. Ta vytváøí jakési síto, skrz které prochází do žaludku až 5 tun vody a planktonu. Kostice jsou dlouhé 1 metr.
Delfíni
Délka: 3,6 m Váha: 150 – 200 kg Rozmnožování: 1 mládì Délka života: 50 let Žijí ve skupinách. Jsou silnìjší než žralok. Dorozumívají se ultrazvukem.
Kosatka dravá
Je nejvìtším zástupcem èeledi delfinovitých a druhým nejrozšíøenìjším savcem na Zemi. Mùžeme ji najít ve všech svìtových oceánech. Jsou ohroženi vyhynutím. Nejznámìjší kosatka na svìtì byl samec Keiko, který hrál ve filmu Zachraòte Williho. Zemøel v roce 2003 na zápal plic ve vìku 27 let. Pro tuto zprávu byly použity informace získané z filmu Žraloci a z materiálù vypracovaných studenty sekund v hodinách biologie.