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Degree of a Polynomial
Quiz by Ian Gabriel
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â3x4 + 2xyz + 5x² â 4
ââ6s2tu3 + st + tu2 + st3u + t3
3x4 + 2xyz + 5x² â 4
â6s2tu3 + st + tu2 + st3u + t3
âd2 â d â 9d3
uv + 4u
6u2 + u2vw â 2u3vw + 4u3
3m5n2
p2q3r3 â p4qr2 + 7 + qr + p6q
â8a2 + abc + b2c2 + ab
x â x6 + x2 + x3 â x5
4r4 + r3s4t3 â r2s3t + t6 + 3
âq3rs2 + 3 â q7r2 + r2s4
w4xy5 â w6xy3 + 9w4x5y2
The Degree of a Polynomial
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE The world is filled with familiar objects, such as tables, rocks, plants, pets, and automobiles. Which of these objects are living or were once living? What are the criteria for assigning something to the living world or the nonliving world? Biologists have established that living things share seven characteristics of life. These characteristics are organization and the presence of one or more cells, response to a stimulus (plural, stimuli), homeostasis, metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, and change through time. Organization and Cells Organization is the high degree of order within an organismâs internal and external parts and in its interactions with the living world. For example, compare an owl to a rock. The rock has a spe- cific shape, but that shape is usually irregular. Furthermore, differ- ent rocks, even rocks of the same type, are likely to have different shapes and sizes. In contrast, the owl is an amazingly organized individual, as shown in Figure 1-2. Owls of the same species have the same body parts arranged in nearly the same way and interact with the environment in the same way. Copyright Š by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. ORGANISM (Barn Owl) ORGAN (Owlâs Ear) TISSUE (Nervous Tissue Within the Ear) CELL (Nerve Cell) Every living organism has a level of organization. The different levels of organization for a complex multicellular organism, such as an owl, are shown in the figure below. FIGURE 1-2 THE SCIENCE OF LIFE 7 All living organisms, whether made up of one cell or many cells, have some degree of organization. A cell is the smallest unit that can perform all lifeâs processes. Some organisms, such as bacteria, are made up of one cell and are called unicellular (YOON-uh-SEL-yoo-luhr) organisms. Other organisms, such as humans or trees, are made up of multiple cells and are called multicellular (MUHL-ti-SEL-yoo-luhr) organisms. Complex multicellular organisms have the level of orga- nization shown in Figure 1-2. In the highest level, the organism is made up of organ systems, or groups of specialized parts that carry out a certain function in the organism. For example, an owlâs ner- vous system is made up of a brain, sense organs, nerve cells, and other parts that sense and respond to the owlâs surroundings. Organ systems are made up of organs. Organs are structures that carry out specialized jobs within an organ system. An owlâs ear is an organ that allows the owl to hear. All organs are made up of tissues. Tissues are groups of cells that have similar abilities and that allow the organ to function. For example, nervous tissue in the ear allows the ear to detect sound. Tissues are made up of cells. A cell must be covered by a membrane, contain all genetic information necessary for replication, and be able to carry out all cell functions. Within each cell are organelles. Organelles are tiny structures that carry out functions necessary for the cell to stay alive. Organelles contain biological molecules, the chemical compounds that provide physical structure and that bring about movement, energy use, and other cellular functions. All biological molecules are made up of atoms. Atoms are the simplest particle of an ele- ment that retains all the properties of a certain element. Response to Stimuli Another characteristic of life is that an organism can respond to a stimulusâa physical or chemical change in the internal or external environment. For example, an owl dilates its pupils to keep the level of light entering the eye constant. Organisms must be able to respond and react to changes in their environment to stay alive. ORGANELLE (Mitochondrion) BIOLOGICAL MOLECULE (Phospholipid) ATOM (Oxygen) cell from the Latin, cella meaning âsmall room,â or âhutâ Word Roots and Origins www.scilinks.org Topic: Characteristics of Life Keyword: HM60257 mb06se_bios01.qxd 5/18/07 10:37 AM Page 7 8 CHAPTER 1 Homeostasis All living things, from single cells to entire organisms, have mecha- nisms that allow them to maintain stable internal conditions. Without these mechanisms, organisms can die. For example, a cellâs water content is closely controlled by the taking in or releas- ing of water. A cell that takes in too much water will rupture and die. A cell that doesnât get enough water will also shrivel and die. Homeostasis (HOH-mee-OH-STAY-sis) is the maintenance of a stable level of internal conditions even though environmental conditions are constantly changing. Organisms have regulatory systems that maintain internal conditions, such as temperature, water content, and uptake of nutrients by the cell. In fact, multi- cellular organisms usually have more than one way of maintain- ing important aspects of their internal environment. For example, an owlâs temperature is maintained at about 40°C (104°F). To keep a constant temperature, an owlâs cells burn fuel to produce body heat. In addition, an owlâs feathers can fluff up in cold weather. In this way, they trap an insulating layer of air next to the birdâs body to maintain its body temperature. Metabolism Living organisms use energy to power all the life processes, such as repair, movement, and growth. This energy use depends on metabolism (muh-TAB-uh-LIZ-uhm). Metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reactions that take in and transform energy and materials from the environment. For example, plants, algae, and some bacteria use the sunâs energy to generate sugar molecules during a process called photosynthesis. Some organisms depend on obtaining food energy from other organisms. For instance, an owlâs metabolism allows the owl to extract and modify the chemi- cals trapped in its nightly prey and use them as energy to fuel activities and growth. Growth and Development All living things grow and increase in size. Some nonliving things, such as crystals or icicles, grow by accumulating more of the same material of which they are made. In contrast, the growth of living things results from the division and enlargement of cells. Cell division is the formation of two new cells from an existing cell, as shown in Figure 1-3. In unicellular organisms, the primary change that occurs following cell division is cell enlargement. In multi- cellular life, however, organisms mature through cell division, cell enlargement, and development. Development is the process by which an organism becomes a mature adult. Development involves cell division and cell differen- tiation, or specialization. As a result of development, an adult organism is composed of many cells specialized for different func- tions, such as carrying oxygen in the blood or hearing. In fact, the human body is composed of trillions of specialized cells, all of which originated from a single cell, the fertilized egg. This unicellular organism, Escherichia coli, inhabits the human intestines. E. coli reproduces by means of cell division, during which the original cell splits into two identical offspring cells. FIGURE 1-3 Observing Homeostasis Materials 500 mL beakers (3), wax pen, tap water, thermometer, ice, hot water, goldfish, small dip net, watch or clock with a second hand Procedure 1. Use a wax pen to label three 500 mL beakers as follows: 27°C (80°F), 20°C (68°F), 10°C (50°F). Put 250 mL of tap water in each beaker. Use hot water or ice to adjust the tem- perature of the water in each beaker to match the temperature on the label. 2. Put the goldfish in the beaker of 27°C water. Record the number of times the gills move in 1 minute. 3. Move the goldfish to the beaker of 20°C water. Repeat observations. Move the goldfish to the beaker of 10°C. Repeat observations. Analysis What happens to the rate at which gills move when the temp- erature changes? Why? How do gills help fish maintain homeostasis? Quick Lab mb06se_bios01.qxd 5/18/07 10:37 AM Page 8 THE SCIENCE OF LIFE 9 Reproduction All organisms produce new organisms like themselves in a process called reproduction. Reproduction, unlike other characteristics, is not essential to the survival of an individual organism. However, because no organism lives forever, reproduction is essential for the continuation of a species. Glass frogs, as shown in Figure 1-4, lay many eggs in their lifetime. However, only a few of the frogsâ off- spring reach adulthood and successfully reproduce. During reproduction, organisms transmit hereditary informa- tion to their offspring. Hereditary information is encoded in a large molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. A short segment of DNA that contains the instructions for a single trait of an organism is called a gene. DNA is like a large library. It contains all the booksâgenesâthat the cell will ever need for making all the struc- tures and chemicals necessary for life. Hereditary information is transferred to offspring during two kinds of reproduction. In sexual reproduction, hereditary information recombines from two organisms of the same species. The resulting offspring are similar but not identical to their parents. For example, a male frogâs sperm can fertilize a femaleâs egg and form a single fer- tilized egg cell. The fertilized egg then develops into a new frog. In asexual reproduction, hereditary information from different organisms is not combined; thus the original organism and the new organism are genetically the same. A bacterium, for example, reproduces asexually when it splits into two identical cells. Change Through Time Although individual organisms experience many changes during their lifetime, their basic genetic characteristics do not change. However, populations of living organisms evolve or change through time. The ability of populations of organisms to change over time is important for survival in a changing world. This factor is also impor- tant in explaining the diversity of life-forms we see on Earth today.
Early society and accomplishments Origins Knowledge of the early prehistory of Southeast Asia has undergone exceptionally rapid change as a result of archaeological discoveries made since the 1960s, although the interpretation of these findings has remained the subject of extensive debate. Nevertheless, it seems clear that the region has been inhabited from the earliest times. Hominid fossil remains date from approximately 1,500,000 years ago and those of Homo sapiens from approximately 40,000 years ago. Furthermore, until about 7000 bce the seas were some 150 feet (50 metres) lower than they are now, and the area west of Makassar Strait consisted of a web of watered plains that sometimes is called Sundaland. These land connections perhaps account for the coherence of early human development observed in the Hoabinhian culture, which lasted from about 13,000 to 5000 or 4000 bce. The stone tools used by hunting and gathering societies across Southeast Asia during this period show a remarkable degree of similarity in design and development. When the sea level rose to approximately its present level about 6000 bce, conditions were created for a more variegated environment and, therefore, for more extensive differentiation in human development. While migration from outside the region may have taken place, it did not do so in a massive or clearly punctuated fashion; local evolutionary processes and the circulation of peoples were far more powerful forces in shaping the regionâs cultural landscape. Technological developments and population expansion Perhaps because of a particular combination of geophysical and climatic factors, early Southeast Asia did not develop uniformly in the direction of increasingly complex societies. Not only have significant hunting and gathering populations continued to exist into the 21st century, but the familiar cultural sequences triggered by such events as the discovery of agriculture or metallurgy do not seem to apply. This is not to say that the technological capabilities of early Southeast Asian peoples were negligible, for sophisticated metalworking (bronze) and agriculture (rice) were being practiced by the end of the 3rd millennium bce in northeastern Thailand and northern Vietnam, and sailing vessels of advanced design and sophisticated navigational skills were spread over a wider area by the same time or earlier. Significantly, these technologies do not appear to have been borrowed from elsewhere but were indigenous and distinctive in character. Austronesian languages Austronesian languagesMajor divisions of the Austronesian languages. These technological changes may partially account for two crucial developments in Southeast Asiaâs later prehistory. The first is the extraordinary seaborne expansion of speakers of Proto-Austronesian languages and their descendants, speakers of Austronesian (or Malayo-Polynesian) languages, which occurred over a period of 5,000 years or more and came to encompass a vast area and to stretch nearly half the circumference of Earth at the Equator. This outward movement of people and culture was evolutionary rather than revolutionary, the result of societal preference for small groups and a tendency of groups to hive off once a certain population size had been reached. It began as early as 4000 bce, when Taiwan was populated from the Asian mainland, and subsequently it continued southward through the northern Philippines (3rd millennium bce), central Indonesia (2nd millennium bce), and western and eastern Indonesia (2nd and 1st millennia bce). From approximately 1000 bce on the expansion continued both eastward into the Pacific, where that immense region was populated in a process continuing to about 1000 ce as voyagers reached the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand, and westward, where Malay peoples reached and settled the island of Madagascar sometime between 500 and 700 ce, bringing with them (among other things) bananas, which are native to Southeast Asia. Thus, for a considerable period of time, the Southeast Asian region contributed to world cultural history, rather than merely accepting outside influences, as frequently has been suggested. The second development, which began possibly as early as 1000 bce, centred on the production of fine bronze and the fashioning of bronze-and-iron objects, particularly as they have been found at the site in northern Vietnam known as Dong Son. The earliest objects consisted of socketed plowshares and axes, shaft-hole sickles, spearheads, and such small items as fishhooks and personal ornaments. By about 500 bce the Dong Son culture had begun producing the bronze drums for which it is known. The drums are large objects (some weigh more than 150 pounds [70 kg]), and they were produced by the difficult lost-wax casting process and decorated with fine geometric shapes and depictions of animals and humans. This metal industry was not derived from similar industries in China or India. Rather, the Dong Son period offers one of the most powerfulâthough not necessarily the only or earliestâexamples of Southeast Asian societies transforming themselves into more densely populated, hierarchical, and centralized communities. Since typical drums, either originals or local renditions, have been found throughout Southeast Asia and since they are associated with a rich trade in exotics and other goods, the Dong Son culture also suggests that the region as a whole consisted not of isolated, primitive niches of human settlement but of a variety of societies and cultures tied together by broad and long-extant trading patterns. Although none of these societies possessed writing, some displayed considerable sophistication and technological skill, and, although none appears to have constituted a territorial centralized state, new and more complex polities were forming.
A solution is a mixture in which one or more substances are uniformly distributed in another substance. Solutions can be mixtures of liquids, solids, or gases. For example, plasma, the liquid part of blood, is a very complex solution. It is composed of many types of ions and large molecules, as well as gases, that are dissolved in water. A solute (SAHL-YOOT) is a substance dissolved in the solvent. The particles that compose a solute may be ions, atoms, or molecules. The solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved. For example, when sugar, a solute, and water, a solvent, are mixed, a solution of sugar water results. Though the sugar dissolves in the water, neither the sugar molecules nor the water molecules are altered chemically. If the water is boiled away, the sugar molecules remain and are unchanged. Solutions can be composed of various proportions of a given solute in a given solvent. Thus, solutions can vary in concentra- tion. The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute dis- solved in a fixed amount of the solution. For example, a 2 percent saltwater solution contains 2 g of salt dissolved in enough water to make 100 mL of solution. The more solute dissolved, the greater is the concentration of the solution. A saturated solution is one in which no more solute can dissolve. Aqueous (AY-kwee-uhs) solutionsâsolutions in which water is the solventâare universally important to living things. Marine microorganisms spend their lives immersed in the sea, an aqueous solution. Most nutrients that plants need are in aqueous solutions in moist soil. Body cells exist in an aqueous solution of intercellu- lar fluid and are themselves filled with fluid; in fact, most chemical reactions that occur in the body occur in aqueous solutions. Copyright Š by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Liquid water Solid water Ice (solid water) is less dense than liquid water because of the structure of ice crystals. The water molecules in ice are bonded to each other in a way that creates large amounts of open space between the molecules, relative to liquid water. FIGURE 2-12 solvent from the Latin solvere, meaning âto loosenâ Word Roots and Origins CHEMISTRY OF LIFE 43 ACIDS AND BASES One of the most important aspects of a living system is the degree of its acidity or alkalinity. What do we mean when we use the terms acid and base? Ionization of Water As water molecules move about, they bump into one another. Some of these collisions are strong enough to result in a chemical change: one water molecule loses a proton (a hydrogen nucleus), and the other gains this proton. This reaction really occurs in two steps. First, one molecule of water pulls apart another water molecule, or dissociates, into two ions of opposite charge: H2O â H OH The OH ion is known as the hydroxide ion. The free H ion can react with another water molecule, as shown in the equation below. H H2O â H3O The H3O ion is known as the hydronium ion. Acidity or alkalin- ity is a measure of the relative amounts of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions dissolved in a solution. If the number of hydronium ions in a solution equals the number of hydroxide ions, the solution is said to be neutral. Pure water contains equal numbers of hydro- nium ions and hydroxide ions and is therefore a neutral solution. Acids If the number of hydronium ions in a solution is greater than the number of hydroxide ions, the solution is an acid. For example, when hydrogen chloride gas, HCl, is dissolved in water, its mol- ecules dissociate to form hydrogen ions, H, and chloride ions, Cl, as is shown in the equation below. HCl â H Cl These free hydrogen ions combine with water molecules to form hydronium ions, H3O. This aqueous solution contains many more hydronium ions than it does hydroxide ions, making it an acidic solution. Acids tend to have a sour taste; how- ever, never taste a substance to test it for acidity. In concentrated forms, they are highly corrosive to some materials, as you can see in Figure 2-13. Bases If sodium hydroxide, NaOH, a solid, is dissolved in water, it dissociates to form sodium ions, Na, and hydroxide ions, OH, as shown in the equation below. NaOH â Na OH Copyright Š by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Eco Connection onnection Acid Precipitation Acid precipitation, more commonly called acid rain, describes rain, snow, sleet, or fog that contains high levels of sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids form when sulfur dioxide gas, SO2, and nitrogen oxide gas, NO, react with water in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid, H2SO4, and nitric acid, HNO3. Acid precipitation makes soil and bodies of water, such as lakes, more acidic than normal. These high acid levels can harm plant and animal life directly. A high level of acid in a lake may kill mollusks, fish, and amphibians. Even in a lake that does not have a very elevated level of acid, acid precipitation may leach aluminum and magnesium from soils, poisoning water- dwelling species. Reducing fossil-fuel consump- tion, such as occurs in gasoline engines and coal-burning power plants, should reduce high acid levels in precipitation. Sulfur dioxide, SO2, which is produced when fossil fuels are burned, reacts with water in the atmosphere to produce acid precipitation. Acid precipitation, or acid rain, can make lakes and rivers too acidic to support life and can even corrode stone, such as the face of this statue. FIGURE 2-13 44 CHAPTER 2 This solution then contains more hydroxide ions than hydronium ions and is therefore defined as a base. The adjective alkaline refers to bases. Bases have a bitter taste; however, never taste a substance to test for alkalinity. They tend to feel slippery because the OH ions react with the oil on our skin to form a soap. In fact, commercial soap is the product of a reaction between a base and a fat. pH Scientists have developed a scale for comparing the relative con- centrations of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions in a solution. This scale is called the pH scale, and it ranges from 0 to 14, as shown in Figure 2-14. A solution with a pH of 0 is very acidic, a solution with a pH of 7 is neutral, and a solution with a pH of 14 is very basic. A solutionâs pH is measured on a logarithmic scale. That is, the change of one pH unit reflects a 10-fold change in the acidity or alkalinity. For example, urine has 10 times the H3O ions at a pH of 6 than water does at a pH of 7. Vinegar, has 1,000 times more H3O ions at a pH of 3 than urine at a pH of 6, and 10,000 times more H3O ions than water at a pH of 7. The pH of a solution can be measured with litmus paper or with some other chemical indicator that changes color at various pH levels. Buffers The control of pH is important for living systems. Enzymes can function only within a very narrow pH range. The control of pH in organisms is often accomplished with buffers. Buffers are chemi- cal substances that neutralize small amounts of either an acid or a base added to a solution. As Figure 2-14 shows, the composition of your internal environmentâin terms of acidity and alkalinityâ varies greatly. Some of your body fluids, such as stomach acid and urine, are acidic. Others, such as intestinal fluid and blood, are
Democratic Constitution in South Africa Struggle against Apartheid ⢠Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa. ⢠This system was particularly oppressive for the blacks. â They were forbidden from living in white areas. ⢠Since 1950, the blacks, coloured and Indians fought against the apartheid system. ⢠The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led the struggle against the policies of segregation. ⢠In 1964, Nelson Mandela and seven other leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his country. Towards a New Constitution ⢠As protests and struggles against apartheid had increased, the white regime changed its policies. ⢠After 28 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela released from jail. ⢠At the midnight of 26 April 1994, democracy was adopted as a form of government in South Africa. ⢠After two years, a constitution came out which gave to its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country. Why do we need a Constitution? ⢠A constitution is necessary because: â It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together. â It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which decisions. â It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are. â It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society. Making of the Indian Constitution ⢠In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India. ⢠In 1931, the resolution at the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress dwelt on how independent Indiaâs constitution should look like. ⢠Factors contributed to the making of our Constitution. â Ideals of French Revolution â The practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain â The Bill of Rights in the US â The socialist revolution in Russia The Constituent Assembly ⢠In July 1946, Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held. â The drafting of the document called the constitution was done Constituent Assembly. â Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. â In December 1946, the first meeting was held. ⢠After the country was divided into India and Pakistan, the Constituent Assembly also got divided. ⢠The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came into effect on 26 January 1950. ⢠To mark this day we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year. ⢠The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. â First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. â Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion. â More than two thousand amendments were considered. Philosophy of the Constitution ⢠The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values which is called the Preamble to the constitution. The preamble focuses on: â Justice, social, economic and political. â Liberty of thoughts, expression, belief, faith and worship. â Equality of status and of opportunity. â Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.
Make a test, with answers best on the following: Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells. Supporting Content LS1.A: Structure and Function ⢠All living things are made up of cells, which is the smallest unit that can be said to be alive. An organism may consist of one single cell (unicellular) or many different numbers and types of cells (multicellular). (MS-LS-1.1) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on developing evidence that living things are made of cells, distinguishing between living and non-living things, and understanding that living things may be made of one cell or many and varied cells. In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions. (MS-LS-1.3) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on the conceptual understanding that cells form tissues and tissues form organs specialized for particular body functions. Examples could include the interaction of subsystems within a system and the normal functioning of those systems. Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring. (MS-LS-1.4) ⢠Living things share certain characteristics. (These include response to environment, reproduction, energy use, growth and development, life cycles, made of cells, etc.) (MS-LS1.4) Further Explanation: Examples should include both biotic and abiotic items, and should be defended using accepted characteristics of life. Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use the energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored for growth or later use. (MS-LS-1.5) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on tracing movement of matter and flow of energy. Supporting Content LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms ⢠Within individual organisms, food moves through a series of chemical reactions (cellular respiration) in which it is broken down and rearranged to form new molecules, to support growth, or to release energy. (MS-LS-1.6) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on describing that molecules are broken apart and put back together and that in this process, energy is released and on understanding that the elements in the products are the same as the elements in the reactants. Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors. (MS-LS-2.1) ⢠In any ecosystem, organisms and populations with similar requirements for food, water, oxygen, or other resources may compete with each other for limited resources, access to which consequently constrains their growth and reproduction. (MS-LS-2.1) ⢠Growth of organisms and population increases are limited by access to resources. (MS-LS-2.1) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on cause and effect relationships between resources and growth of individual organisms and the numbers of organisms in ecosystems during periods of abundant and scarce resources. Similarly, predatory interactions may reduce the number of organisms or eliminate whole populations of organisms. Mutually beneficial interactions, in contrast, may become so interdependent that each organism requires the other for survival. Although the species involved in these competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial interactions vary across ecosystems, the patterns of interactions of organisms with their environments, both living and nonliving, are shared. (MS-LS-2.2) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on predicting consistent patterns of interactions in different ecosystems in terms of the relationships among and between organisms and abiotic components of ecosystems. Examples of types of interactions could include competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial. Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers as the three groups interact within an ecosystem. Transfers of matter into and out of the physical environment occur at every level. Decomposers recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal matter back to the soil in terrestrial environments or to the water in aquatic environments. The atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem. (MS-LS-2.3) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on describing the conservation of matter and flow of energy into and out of various ecosystems, and on defining the boundaries of the system. Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations. (MSLS-2.5) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on recognizing patterns in data and making warranted inferences about changes in populations, and on evaluating empirical evidence supporting arguments about changes to ecosystems. Biodiversity describes the variety of species found in Earthâs terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. The completeness or integrity of an ecosystemâs biodiversity is often used as a measure of its health. (MS-LS-2.6) Supporting Content LS4.D: Biodiversity ⢠Changes in biodiversity can influence humansâ resources, such as food, energy, and medicines, as well as ecosystem services that humans rely onâfor example, water purification and recycling. (MS-LS-2.6) Supporting Content ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions ⢠There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet the criteria and constraints of a problem. (MS-LS-2.6) Further Explanation: Examples of ecosystem services could include water purification, nutrient recycling, and prevention of soil erosion. Examples of design solution constraints could include scientific, economic, and social considerations. Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Structural changes to genes (mutations) can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits. (MS-LS-3.1) Supporting Content LS3.B: Variation of Traits ⢠In addition to variations that arise from sexual reproduction, genetic information can be altered because of mutations. Though rare, mutations may result in significant changes to the structure and function of proteins. Changes can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral to the organism. (MS-LS-3.1) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on conceptual understanding that changes in genetic material may result in making different proteins. Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring. (MS-LS-3.2) Supporting Content LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits ⢠Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited. (MS-LS-3.2) Supporting Content LS3.B: Variation of Traits ⢠In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may be identical or may differ from each other. (MS-LS-3.2) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on using models such as simple Punnett squares and pedigrees, diagrams, and simulations to describe the cause and effect relationship of gene transmission from parent(s) to offspring and resulting genetic variation. The collection of fossils and their placement in chronological order is known as the fossil record and documents the change of many life forms throughout the history of the Earth. Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between living and once living organisms in the fossil record enable the classification of living things. (MS-LS-4.1, MS-LS-4.2) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on finding patterns of changes in the level of complexity of anatomical structures in organisms and the chronological order of fossil appearance in the rock layers. The collection of fossils and their placement in chronological order is known as the fossil record and documents the change of many life forms throughout the history of the Earth. Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between living and once living organisms in the fossil record enable the classification of living things. (MS-LS-4.1, MS-LS-4.2) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on explanations of the relationships among organisms in terms of similarity or differences of the gross appearance of anatomical structures. Scientific genus and species level names indicate a degree of relationship. (MS-LS-4.3) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on inferring general patterns of relatedness among structures of different organisms by comparing diagrams, pictures, specimens, or fossils. Natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in a population, and the suppression of others. (MS-LS-4.4) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on using concepts of natural selection, including overproduction of offspring, passage of time, variation in a population, selection of favorable traits, and heritability of traits. In artificial selection, humans have the capacity to influence certain characteristics of organisms by selective breeding. One can choose desired parental traits determined by genes, which are then passed to offspring. (MS-LS-4.5) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on identifying and communicating information from reliable sources about the influence of humans on genetic outcomes in artificial selection (such as genetic modification, animal husbandry, gene therapy), and on the influence these technologies have on society as well as the technologies leading to these scientific discoveries. Adaptation by natural selection acting over generations is one important process by which species change over time in response to changes in environmental conditions. Traits that support successful survival and reproduction in the new environment become more common; those that do not become less common. Thus, the distribution of traits in a population changes. (MS-LS-4.6) Further Explanation: Emphasis is on using mathematical models, probability statements, and proportional reasoning to support explanations of trends in changes to populations over time. Examples could include Peppered Moth population changes before and after the industrial revolution.
Abstract The main focus of this research is to discuss the perspective of the teamwork and its impaction organizational performance and success. Also highlight the Meanings of Team and its work sprit towards batter organizational performance and specific to its impact on the success of organization that provided the basis for this research study. In this research study a thoroughly focus was on organization and teamwork. The aim of this research is to deliver a participative view of teamwork in the organization, and also discourses the major issues and emphases on the recent work that opens the basis to move research onward. There is much worth in taking a more focus on the essential areas of teamwork. The team signifies the spirit and working capacity of the employees as team to bring organization to the success. The various explanations, definitions, processes, dimensions, team size and benefits etc. regarding the above topic teamwork and organizational success is highlighted. Keywords: Teamwork, Success, Organization, Performance, Work Groups, Employees Introduction It is indeed human beings have learned in their beginning of life to work together as (Team) that have made such a remarkable developments as unique specie. Human beings have experience throughout their social history, lived, loved, grow younger to older and worked together in groups said West M.A. (2012).The mutual social knowledge of living and functioning together creates connection among people, society and families. When work is done cooperatively as a team it can achieve extremely extra work than individually. Team can be defined as in the human society to live, to work and to play and to cooperate with others for particular task. According to John W. Newstrom et al (1993) âteam is the process of assessing performance of workers, passing information and exploring methods to increase performanceâ. If observe closely, one can discover the instances of The Government: Research Journal of Political Science Supplementary Edition Vol. III 88 The Government social (teams) they are functioning either effectively or ineffectively everywhere; organizations, schools, work place, home etc. âCoordinating the events of people is like sand house, making by using a sole particles of sandâ expressed Belbin, R. M.(2010). Moreover it is one of the general myths that the skill of team member is more important than their vigor, attention and determination for the tasks. Another widespread myth is that the team members are not alone accountable for the achievements or failures of their tasks the truth is that the members are the small parts in the teams and their individual abilities effect on the various results in team. The working relationships exist among team that might sight these relationships at different levels of involvement or relationships among the members as they move towards the degree of communication, integration and commitment increases. Terry L.G. et al (1980) expressed that âThe skills are essential if members have to work together efficiently in complex situations, only development of skills and relationships, involvement on the task regarding the particular task might be selected for reaching at target that is considered as a definition of a teamâ. Team often perform higher when they work together with sprit that enable them to achieve a collective goal at the workplace, it is not only benefits to the organization also affects the workers confidence and success. Cooperating on various tasks reduces workloads for all team members and enables them to share duties or ideas. Work as a team is the part of everyone's life, as one is a member of a family team, staff team, school team, and community teams etc., so as to understand how to work effectively as a team member. Especially there is a need when task is threatened with increasingly many problems for example; the energy problem has effects on organization, family life, and social development and the multi-dimensional nature of many problems require a scientific skill based problem solving approach. Terry L.G, et al (1980) expressed that âThe skills, competencies and efforts of team by setting priorities the team can have better impact on the problems solving such efforts can reduce work load, work duplication, and produce a result better than separate effortsâ. There are some processes of teamwork by adopting those the objectives can be achieved easily. Le Pine, et al, (2008) identified10 teamwork processes that fall in three categories following are those. TEAMWORK PROCESSES TRANSITION PROCESSES â˘Mission analysis â˘Goal specification â˘Strategy formulation ACTION PROCESSES â˘Monitoring progress toward goals â˘Systems monitoring â˘Team monitoring and backup behavior â˘Coordination INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES â˘Conflict management â˘Motivation and confidence building â˘Affect management Team Work 89 Teamwork process reduces the work stress on every member which permits members to complete given important task of organization; teamwork offers members an opening to pledge with each other. Also it develops relations between the members who start a teamwork they usually sense appreciated on productive accomplishment of task. It may be cited one of the best instances of surgical team; where surgeon is assisted by his team; nurses, anesthetist and experts etc., everyone knows that their success depends upon the teamwork. In addition they are devoted to the aim that is human life it is easy to succeed with best teamwork. The important role of manager is the team building, trust building, confidence building, in the team to achieve the task. In the Situation where all team members contribute the task, it develops the positive relationship in the team that improves the trust of team members.âFunctions effectively members of team must be flexible, committed, trusting each other and help to each otherâs in the progress and the achievement of goalsâ Expressed PlamĂnek (2008). The accountability of every member in the team must be increased so that they do not let each other down therefore they do their best for the achievements of their teams. In contrast, working alone on a task the pressure is generally high in team in those cases of small confidence impacts fewer on members. Team consists on members who always vary from each otherâs in skills, knowledge and abilities but working together that is an opportunity for them to gain skills and knowledge from each otherâs that they had never before. Working alone on a task is a challenge and using the ideas of each other brings them to come up with a mutual resolution and the achievement of the task. Nowadays theoretical development and research has rested largely a new trend that is emerging within the organizations as an essential process of teamwork. Teamwork has brought a new move in the research and development to the inputs and outputs that bound, constrain and impact on the team processes within organizations said Ilgen, D.R. (1999). The world is changes fast, any one set of instructions canât be sufficient, changes needs flexible members, teams and organizations so as to be effective on task. This paper suggests that in teams members must use the exclusive human abilities. Cannon B.et al (1995) has prĂŠcised dimensions of teams into three categories: Team dimensions 1-Cognitions: include associations, task team-mate characteristics, team mission, objectives, norms, and resources, team role interaction patterns, skills, roles, and team orientation. 2-Skills: consist on adaptability, shared situational awareness and mutual concept to conflict resolution. 90 The Government 3-Attitudes: symbolize motivation, collective potency, shared vision, team cohesion, mutual trust, collective orientation and importance of. Teamsize Researchers have given different approvals about the best size of team as Katzenbachetet al (1993) suggested that the teams should comprise on a dozen or so members which are enough to achieve a task. Although seven is the best size of the team in the organizational practices said Scharf, A. (1989). Several views of researchers are expressed in the literatures and it is difficult to decide which better is because their opinions are based on their own observations. The team size matters in the proper output and performance however from an empirical research it is also difficult to decide the suitable team size and what to accept. This study suggests that team size has a practical link with efficacy such as few or many member shave impact on the performance but size matters. Proper size of team improves the performance maximum stated Campion M. A et al (1996).These different results are expected due to the fact that appropriate team size is required for task, environment and situation where team works. However, larger teams can also experience coordination problems that delay performance. Sheppard, J. A. (1993) expressed that the question of best teamâs size is a complex one; more research is required on this topic to explain the impact of team size on given definite task. Literature Review Across many different organizations and industries teamwork is focused to increase the performance of employeesâ their unity and also create work culture. Organizations those regularly develop new ideas or products using a project-based approach and assemble teams in order to focus responsibilities to achieve the object. Researchers have given dissimilar meanings of âteamsâ. Dyer W.G. (2007) said that âteams are groups of people who trust in cooperation, if members are expert the success of goal is more possibleâ. It is essential due to the problemsolving cooperation added from many minds of team members working on a resolution of problems. Team members contribute their thoughts together to make exclusive plans for dealing with problems and this unity enhance the result due to interaction, trust and teamwork. Teamwork means a "work done by several companions with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole" Merriam, (2012). In addition combined employees are expected less hostile to each other and accepting more of each otherâs decisions. Unity of employees can increase the flow of work in organization. When employeeâs working together as a team, they learn from each other that awareness is based on their personal experiences and from coworkers; Team Work 91 employees from different departments may acquire knowledge from each other. The main object for organizations is to hold the team effort to achieve output and quality; team is a key to achieve quality productivity. According to Maddux et al (2003) âsome of the organizations have major benefits from the use of teamwork which are showed in the following chart: Benefits of Teamwork 1 Improving quality of work life for employees 2 Reducing absenteeism and increasing turnover 3 Increasing innovation and change 4 Improving organizational adaptability and flexibility A real team is mostly one where members are allowed to take decisions that how to complete task. That authority enables them to control the work process, decreases the outside control and increases the sense of duty for work. Team always feels superiority on workplace and they rely on each otherâs being there. PlamĂnek (2008) said that âaffiliation with teamwork gives member a sense of belonging, interaction and recognition of successâ. These actions support to remove the sense of loneliness of team member in organization. Effective teams can also improve efficacy through communication and trust between the team members, quality of work and decrease in absenteeism contribute to positive impact on team. Involving employees in teamwork helps the organization remain open to new ideas.âThe world of organizations is shifting individualism is out and collectivism is in, power is out, empowerment is in.â stated G. M. Parker (1998). This study discovers the experiences and difficulties of teamwork that employees and organizations are facing nowadays due to big transformation and enlarged globalization. In recent years a remarkable amendment has been emerged in the belief of team working organizations. The modern study has explored that the scope of teamwork have been appeared in system rooted in belief, and employees accept changes that denoting a modern organizational system. The organizations which are responsive to the changes appear to achieve greater satisfaction. Although it may be suggested that, the managers should assess the values and beliefs of their employees to play more dedicated role in the development of organization by making sprit to face the modern challenges. Organizational cultural is much significant and it has the excessive impact on the performance of organization and employeesâ but it is quiet arguable topic that the culture of teamwork can be developed according to the requirement. It is difficult to specify the relationships and to assess the reliable set of values to use as they believed symbol across the entire organizations. This review study focus that 92 The Government there is a great influence of organizational culture on the assumptions, values, and beliefs on the individualsâ considerations, actions and performances and so is vice versa, through learning, and training process. However the researchers believe that the organizational setup aids to unite employees of diverse cultures and dissimilar social backgrounds, traditions and have their own beliefs to work. Creating a positive teamwork culture it has several diverse aspects are goal setting, conflict resolution, empowerment, ability to accomplish tasks, measuring output and consideration for other teamwork cultures stated Pack L, et al April 27, (2012). Team work in the organization delivers employees the wisdom of unity; understand to each otherâs, and reducing conflict. In addition teamwork in organization inspires employee for impartiality by affirming that no one is ignored in the organization and all treated equally. It is known that a team in organization is bound and sincere to work with dedication to bring the success. If the employees are committed and recognize the teamwork values and its benefits, as a part of the organization they can contribute a lot to the achievement of organization. One can finds the informal instances of team at these level, family, society, community, tribe and work groups etc., and formally team appears at the level of departments, functional groups, and other organizational units. The employees feel a greater sense of achievement for being a part of an organization, if they attain team work, having freedom to work not forced. The system gives best performance to achieve recognition and credit from their managers and it will increase their effort that helps them to contribute the organizational performance. Each team batter knows about their role and how to achieve tasks. The true spirit of teamwork gives benefit to organization in maintaining its standard by which it becomes identified. The team defines its specialty, and the way it is doing task that is perceived by the organization as well as its managers and it is secured by appreciation. Employees identify what they believe; that exist in their belief system and those understandings call them to change their views to develop and raise attention towards batter performance. The literature contains sufficient definitions of teamwork and the word team is used to denote a set of generally developed as to learn collective values, attitudes and cooperation to work. The study praises that the teamwork is mostly related with the team success for instance, Wagner (1995) described that âin the team individual is less valued and group is more valued, withâ. It is found in the study that individualismcollectivism both regulates the relationships between team size, standing, and cooperation that have better effects on the cooperation of individualists rather than the cooperation of collectivists. Team Work 93 Conclusion The main concentration of this research paper is to examine more in-depth the fundamental of teamwork and its effectiveness to achieve the organizational goals. Teamwork provides vast amounts of knowledge and information, cultural differences each of these building a culture of teamwork and the skill to make the valuable solutions of the problems. To work efficiently, team members need a good understanding of how to do their job, to achieve goal and for that a basic way to ensure understanding is training, then they have to be motivated to do a job. Team is a vital activity of organization, when organization desires to perform sound it has to be confident that team functions effectively. Consequently it is compulsory to know how team performs, what manners within a team happen, and how they make decisions. If there is knowhow of teamwork events, it can be effective for the tasks that they have to accomplish. Organizations build up their own culture through tradition, history and structure these values can be accepted by team workers of an organization. The values and assumptions are the vital tools of organizations and are used as guidance for team. These have to do mostly with the basic dignity and worth of all members of team and the ability, necessity for them to solve the problems and work for the positive change. Through this review study is concluded that there is a good impact of teamwork on the organizations doings and success. Subsequently in recently developed literature there is a great focus amongst the social scientists and scholarsâ in their discussion on the above topic teamwork. The above study is also an evidence of little effort to assess the significance of teamwork in organizations success. teams in organiz
Soils Southeast Asia, on balance, has a higher proportion of relatively fertile soils than most tropical regions, and soil erosion is less severe than elsewhere. Much of the region, however, is covered by tropical soils that generally are quite poor in nutrients. Often the profusion of plant life is more related to heat and moisture than to soil quality, even though these climatic conditions intensify both chemical weathering and the rate of bacterial action that usually improve soil fertility. Once the vegetation cover is removed, the supply of humus quickly disappears. In addition, the often heavy rainfall leaches the soils of their soluble nutrients, hastens erosion, and damages the soil texture. The leaching process in part results in laterites of reddish clay that contain hydroxides of iron and alumina. Laterite soils are common in parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam and also occur in the islands of the Sunda Shelf, notably Borneo. The most fertile soils occur in regions of volcanic activity, where the ejecta is chemically alkaline or neutral. Such soils are found in parts of Sumatra and much of Java in Indonesia. The alluvial soils of the river valleys also are highly fertile and are intensively cultivated. Climate All of Southeast Asia falls within the warm, humid tropics, and its climate generally can be characterized as monsoonal (i.e., marked by wet and dry periods). Changing seasons are more associated with rainfall than with temperature variations. There is, however, a high degree of climatic complexity within the region. Temperatures Regional temperatures at or near sea level remain fairly constant throughout the year, although monthly averages tend to vary more with increasing latitude. Thus, with the exception of northern Vietnam, annual average temperatures are close to 80 °F (27 °C). Increasing elevation acts to decrease average temperatures, and such locations as the Cameron Highlands in peninsular Malaysia and Baguio in the Philippines have become popular tourist destinations in part because of their relatively cooler climates. Proximity to the sea also tends to moderate temperatures. Precipitation Much of Southeast Asia receives more than 60 inches (1,500 millimeters) of rainfall annually, and many areas commonly receive double and even triple that amount. The rainfall pattern is distinctly affected by two prevailing air currents: the northeast (or dry) monsoon and the southwest (or wet) monsoon. The northeast monsoon occurs roughly from November to March and brings relatively dry, cool air and little precipitation to the mainland. As the southwestward-flowing air passes over the warmer sea, it gradually warms and gathers moisture. Precipitation is especially heavy where the airstream is forced to rise over mountains or encounters a landmass. The east coast of peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, and parts of eastern Indonesia receive the heaviest rains during this period. The southwest monsoon prevails from May to September, when the air current reverses and the dominant flow is to the northeast. The mainland receives the bulk of its rainfall during this period. Over much of the southern Malay Peninsula and insular Southeast Asia there is little or no prolonged dry season. This is especially marked in much of the equatorial region and along the east coast of the Philippines. While the dry and wet monsoons are important in explaining rainfall patterns, so too are such factors as relief, land and sea breezes, convectional overturning and cyclonic disturbances. These factors often are combined with monsoonal effects to produce highly variable rainfall patterns over relatively short distances. While many of the cyclonic disturbances produce only moderate rainfall, others mature into tropical stormsâcalled cyclones in the Indian Ocean and typhoons in the Pacificâthat bring heavy rains and destruction to the areas over which they pass. The Philippines are particularly affected by these storms. Plant life Tropical forests in Southeast Asia Tropical forests in Southeast Asia The seasonal nature and pattern of Southeast Asiaâs rainfall, as well as the regionâs physiography, have strongly affected the development of natural vegetation. The hot, humid climate and enormous variety of habitats have given rise to an abundance and diversity of vegetative forms unlike that in any other area of the world. Much of the natural vegetation has been modified by human action, although large areas of relatively untouched land still can be found. The vegetation can be grouped into two broad categories: the tropical-evergreen forests of the equatorial lowlands and the open type of tropical-deciduous, or âmonsoon,â forests in areas of seasonal drought. The evergreen forests are characterized by multiple stories of vegetation, consisting of a variety of trees and plants. Although a large diversity of tree species is found in these forests, members of the Dipterocarpaceae family account for roughly half of the varieties. Deciduous forests are found in eastern Indonesia and those parts of the mainland where annual rainfall does not exceed 80 inches. Just as in the equatorial forest, a wide variety of species is normally the rule. Certain species, such as teak, have become highly valued commercially. Teak is found in parts of Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. In addition to these two basic types of vegetation, other regional patterns reflect topography. Especially noteworthy are coastal and highland plant communities. Mangrove belts, of which there are more than 30 varieties, occur where silt is deposited in coastal areas. Upland forests dominated by maples, oaks, and magnolias are found especially on mainland mountain slopes. Human activity has been rapidly altering the stands of virgin forest in Southeast Asia. Most deforestation results from removal for fuelwood and clearing for agriculture and grazing. Although only a relatively small portion of the total land area has been permanently cleared for cultivationâe.g., in Java (Indonesia) and western Luzon (the Philippines)âin some areas shifting cultivation has brought about the replacement of virgin forest with secondary growth. In addition, nearly all countries have commercial logging industries; notable are those in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar. A growing problem has been illegal logging. Thus, timber harvesting has come to contribute significantly to deforestation. Programs in social forestry and reforestation have yet to halt the rapid denuding of the landscape. Animal life Southeast Asia is situated where two major divisions of the worldâs fauna meet. The region itself constitutes the eastern half of what is called the Oriental, or Indian, zoogeographic region (part of the much larger realm of Megagaea). Bordering along the south and east is the Australian zoogeographic region, and the eastern portion of insular Southeast AsiaâCelebes (Sulawesi), the Moluccas, and the Lesser Sunda Islandsâconstitutes a transition zone between these two faunal regions. a classroom in Brazil More From Britannica education: Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is notable, therefore, for a considerable diversity of wildlife throughout the region. These differences are especially striking between the species of the eastern and western fringes as well as between those of the archipelagic south and the mainland north. The differences stem largely from the isolation, over varying lengths of geologic time, of species following their migration from the Asian continent. In addition, the tropical rain forests in many parts of the region, with their great diversity of vegetation, have made possible the development of complex communities of animals that fill specialized ecological niches. Especially numerous are arboreal and flying creatures. orangutans orangutansOrangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Sumatra, Indonesia. The distinction between the two faunal regions is best depicted by their mammal populations. In general, Australia is inhabited largely by marsupials (pouched mammals) and monotremes (egg-laying mammals), while Southeast Asia contains placental mammals and such hybrid species as the bandicoot of eastern Indonesia. Small mammals such as monkeys and shrews are the most numerous, while in many areas the larger mammals have been pushed into more remote areas and national preserves. Bears, gibbons, elephants, deer, civets, and pigs are found in both mainland and insular Southeast Asia, as are diminishing numbers of tigers. The Malayan tapir, a relative of the rhinoceros, is native to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, while the tarsier is found in the Philippines and parts of Indonesia. A number of rare endemic species are found in Indonesia and East (insular) Malaysia, including the Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros, the orangutan, the anoa (a dwarf buffalo), the babirusa (a wild swine), and the palm civet. As the pace of development accelerates and populations continue to expand in Southeast Asia, concern has increased regarding the impact of human activity on the regionâs environment. A significant portion of Southeast Asia, however, has not changed greatly and remains an unaltered home to wildlife. The nations of the region, with only few exceptions, have become aware of the need to maintain forest cover not only to prevent soil erosion but to preserve the diversity of flora and fauna. Indonesia, for example, has created an extensive system of national parks and preserves for this purpose. Even so, such species as the Javan rhinoceros face extinction, with only a handful of the animals remaining in western Java