I took this photo at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming in August. As it can be seen, it is a picture of a grassland typical in the North of the US. Although it may be difficult to see, there are some bison grazing down in the pasture. It can also be seen a river that runs through the grassland and some mountains in the distance. This type of ecosystem is where I was able to see the most wildlife because it provides resources such as food and clean water for the species. I was able to see moose, elk, pronghorn and many different types of birds. This picture relates to the UN SDG 15: Life on Land. In this case, Yellowstone is an example of the conservation of habitats so that biodiversity can still live here. Nowadays one of the major threats to biodiversity is the removal of their habitat. As we have studied in class, ecosystems are complex and they have many levels of organization. When a habitat is disturbed by humans and one of that level of organization is disturbed, it can cause the destruction of that ecosystem and habitat. In conclusion, each part of an ecosystem is crucial for it to thrive and maintain itself.

This photo was taken along Cash Lake in Patuxent Research Refuge. Patuxent Research Refuge is a natural space only about 10 miles from UMD’s campus. It was established through an executive order by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, and contains 13,000 acres of protected forests, wetlands, and fields. The existence of the refuge helps in achieving the UN’s SDG #15: Life on Land. This goal aims to restore and maintain the world’s natural landscapes, recognizing the ecosystem services that they provide to us as humans. Located just along the I-95 corridor between Baltimore and D.C., this protected area provides essential habitats for all kinds of species. Without protection of this land, it would certainly be urbanized and developed, considering its prime location within the DMV. Instead, it contributes many services to the surrounding and downstream communities. Home to a portion of the Patuxent River, the natural riparian zones in Patuxent Research Refuge serve to filter water before it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. Connected floodplains, wetlands, and areas adjacent to the river have saturated, anaerobic soil conditions, which increase denitrification, removing soluble nitrate and decreasing rates of eutrophication. The wetland areas throughout the refuge decrease the velocity of incoming water and increase residence time, promoting the uptake/immobilization of pollutants from surrounding urban areas that runoff into the watershed. This lessens future wildlife and human interaction with harmful pollutants, interactions which disproportionately impact socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. The refuge also has 30 miles of trails for public use and 2 lakes for fishing, making it an important center for recreation and reconnection with nature for people. Overall, Patuxent Research Refuge is a prime example of why SDG #15: Life on Land is important, providing a wide array of ecosystem services for people, and

You can find more information about the refuge at:

www.fws.gov/refuge/patuxent-research

New members were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa's Eta Psi chapter at Lewis and Clark Community College, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in the Hatheway Cultural Center's Ann Whitney Olin Theatre. Photos by Laura Inlow, L&C Marketing & PR

SCLA Alumni Tea

October 18, 2023

This is a short video of the famous New York City rats. They are gathered in a group, hiding underneath storage lockers on the streets of New York. These rats are famous for their boldness around people, their size, and their incredible ability to find food. They also show interesting adaptations for their big city environment. Scientists from Fordham published research finding that NYC rats have longer noses because of the cold temperatues, and shorter upper teeth from high quality, soft food diets. These rats were influenced by their habitat, and adapted over time through natural selection. However, the rats pose a health risk to humans and present a challenge to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being. Rats carry many diseases such as E. coli, Salmonella, and even COVID-19. They are a major public health issue in New York, causing harm to humans, especially those without access to proper sanitation or healthcare. Although these rats are just trying to survive, they emphasize the need for better healthcare and equitatable access to sanitation.

This photo was taken on November 25th, 2023 at the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail in Baltimore County, Maryland. It is a 40 mile ADA accessible trail that stretches from Hunt Valley, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania. The trail used to be a railroad but the area was repurposed to be a hiking trail. This is a photo I took while running with my friends on the trail.

This photo represents SDG9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The trail serves as a pedestrian and micro mobility infrastructure for the community. Many of the neighborhoods that are near this trail are in cul de sac type neighborhoods, which have extremely limited density. They often do not have good sidewalk infrastructures to make them accessible or safe for pedestrians. This trail provides a place for running, walking, biking, and other recreational activities for the local community. This connects to the habitat corridor concept from lecture. The trail serves as a corridor that connects our communities to other communities further north. While not exactly like a habitat corridor explained in class, it serves a non vehicle dependent infrastructure to travel.