Taking Gigapan photos for our botany class

Second Blog Post - 1st Gigapan

A common occurrence around this time of the year is the changing color of the leaves. It is a beautiful thing, but most people do not know why this phenomenon occurs. Essentially, this is the process of leaf senescence. The leaves are actively killed by the tree itself. This is because the tree is breaking down the compounds in the leaves and absorbing their nutrients. The side effect of this process is that the leaves change colors.

The scientific names for the two different color schemes we see in the leaves are carotenoids and anthocyanins.  Carotenoids are the yellow and orange colors. These appear when the chlorophyl in the leaves breaks down. Anthocyanins are the red and purple hues, which are newly generated in the leaves during senescence.

In our Economic Botany class, we used the gigapan cameras to take photos of trees on our campus. We had a lot of fun taking these pictures, and it was very cool to learn how to use the cameras. Sweet Briar has many great locations on campus for taking pictures of multiple species of trees. In the photo I chose to use, there are Sugar Maples, Willow Oaks, and a Tulip Poplar. This photo was taken on the path leading down to the soccer fields, facing Guion and the side of Babcock. We will be observing the trees throughout the fall as they start to change colors.

Blog Post Assignment #1

 

Over time, many different societies have used various mediums for currency. Some have been man-made products, while others can simply be found in nature. Through my research I found that cocoa beans would be a good option. Not necessarily for the American society, but in areas that are not as technologically advanced. I’d like to briefly describe the history of this plant and then explain why it would be able to function as money.

            Cocoa beans have been around for quite a long time. The earliest known were found in the Amazon over 4,000 years ago. The cocoa bean was very valuable to ancient Central and South American cultures, including the Aztecs and Mayans. When the beans were first introduces, they were consumed only by wealthy people because they held so much value. They believed that wisdom and power came from eating this special plant, and that it had qualities that were beneficial for one’s health.

            My reasoning for choosing the cocoa bean as a substitute for typical currency is because at one point in history it did have significant value to the groups of people who used it. The Aztecs were one of the first cultures to use the beans as money. They prized these beans because of their wonderful taste and believed health benefits. There are different records available that show the varying amounts of beans used to purchase goods. For example, ten cocoa beans would be enough to purchase a rabbit, while 100 would get you a slave.

            Although cocoa beans had value to historical societies, they can still be applied to currency in the present time. The beans would work especially well for underdeveloped countries because the substance is readily available in nature and it doesn’t have to go through a manufacturing process before being put into circulation. Countries without advanced technology would benefit from using a material that comes straight from their environment. They most likely do not have the ability to print paper money or manufacture metal coins. In addition, chocolate is always desirable and enjoyed by many. Even in today’s time people still value it because of its taste, even if they wouldn’t consider using it as currency. In conclusion, that is why I believe cocoa beans would be the perfect solution.

Monument Hill

My learning on the land group toured the campus and learned about the history and many of the traditions. We took a walk up to monument hill and got some great pictures.

My home for the year