The History, Climate, Biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago located about 621 miles (1,000 km) from the continent of South America in the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is composed of 19 volcanic islands that are claimed by Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are famous for their variety of endemic (native only to the islands) wildlife that was studied by Charles Darwin during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. His visit to the islands inspired his theory of natural selection and drove his writing of On the Origin of Species which was published in 1859. Because of the variety of endemic species, the Galapagos Islands are protected by national parks and a biological marine reserve. Also, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. History The Galapagos Islands were first discovered by Europeans when the Spanish arrived there in 1535. Throughout the rest of the 1500s and into the early 19th century, many different European groups landed on the islands, but there were no permanent settlements until 1807. In 1832, the islands were annexed by Ecuador and named the Archipelago of Ecuador. Shortly after that in September 1835 Robert FitzRoy and his ship the HMS Beagle arrived on the islands, and naturalist Charles Darwin began to study the areas biology and geology. During his time on the Galapagos, Darwin learned that the islands were home to new species that only seemed to live on the islands. For example, he studied mockingbirds, now known as Darwins finches, which appeared to be different from each other on different islands. He noticed the same pattern with the tortoises of the Galapagos and these findings later led to his theory of natural selection. In 1904 an expedition from the Academy of Sciences of California began on the islands and Rollo Beck, the expeditions leader, started collecting various materials on things like geology and zoology. In 1932 another expedition was conducted by the Academy of Sciences to collect different species. In 1959, the Galapagos Islands became a national park, and tourism grew throughout the 1960s. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, there was a period of conflict between the islands native population and the park service. However, today the islands are still protected, and tourism still occurs. Geography and Climate The Galapagos Islands are located in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, and the closest landmass to them is Ecuador. They are also on the equator with a latitude of about 1Ëš40N to 1Ëš36S. There is a total distance of 137 miles (220 km) between the northernmost and southernmost islands, and the total land area of the archipelago is 3,040 square miles (7,880 sq km). In total, the archipelago is made up of 19 main islands and 120 small islands according to UNESCO. The largest islands include Isabela, Santa Cruz, Fernandina, Santiago, and San Cristobal. The archipelago is volcanic, and as such, the islands were formed millions of years ago as a hot spot in the Earths crust. Because of this type of formation, the larger islands are the summit of ancient, underwater volcanoes and the tallest of them are over 3,000 m from the seafloor. According to UNESCO, the western part of the Galapagos Islands is the most seismically active, while the rest of the region has eroded volcanoes. The older islands also have collapsed craters that were once the summit of these volcanoes. Also, much the Galapagos Islands are dotted with crater lakes and lava tubes, and the overall topography of the islands varies. The climate of the Galapagos Islands also varies based on the island and although it is located in a tropical region on the equator, a cold ocean current, the Humboldt Current, brings cold water near the islands which causes a cooler, wetter climate. In general, from June to November is the coldest and windiest time of the year and it is not uncommon for the islands to be covered in fog. By contrast from December to May, the islands experience little wind and sunny skies, but there are also strong rain storms during this time. Biodiversity and Conservation The most famous aspect of the Galapagos Islands is its unique biodiversity. There are many different endemic birds, reptiles and invertebrate species and the majority of these species are endangered. Some of these species include the Galapagos giant tortoise which has 11 different subspecies throughout the islands, a variety of iguanas (both land-based and marine), 57 types of bird, 26 of which are endemic to the islands. Also, some of these endemic birds are flightless such as the Galapagos flightless cormorant.There are only six native species of mammal on the Galapagos Islands, and these include the Galapagos fur seal, the Galapagos sea lion as well as rats and bats. The waters surrounding the islands are also highly biodiverse with different species of shark and rays. Also, the endangered green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle commonly nest on the beaches of the islands.Because of the endangered and endemic species on the Galapagos Islands, the islands themselves and the waters s urrounding them are the subjects of many different conservation efforts. The islands are home to many national parks, and in 1978 they became a World Heritage Site. Sources: UNESCO. (n.d.). Galapagos Islands - UNESCO World Heritage Center. Retrieved from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1Wikipedia.org. (24 January 2011). Galapagos Islands - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islands

Understanding The Complexity Of Measuring Intelligence And...

The topic that will be discussed in this paper is Culture and Intelligence which were developed by Howard Gardner. In order to test or begin to understand the complexity of measuring intelligence and define it we have to research information on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theories. In the theories of Intelligence Gardner argued that to measure intelligence or get a clear understanding, it can be measured in seven areas. The areas are linguistic, logical mathematics, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. (Bruadli, A.C. T., 2016) In today’s society these seven intelligence theories are used to define intelligence levels in the classroom, on jobs, and other areas of individual’s lives. When researching these levels of intelligence it is based off how an individual’s ability to solve problems may be effected by their culture, environment, or biologically. (Bruadli, A.C., T.1996) In this paper I researched three areas of the multiple intelligence theories. The first one I focused on was logical mathematical, second Musical, and third Bodily Kinesthetic. Also in the paper I will discuss the culture differences of intelligence between the United States culture and the Japanese culture, in how the two cultures define what intelligence means to their culture. (Furnham, A., Hosce, T., Li-Ping Tang, T., 2001) Logical Mathematic The first Multiple Intelligence discussed is Logical Mathematics. 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Opinion Paper Gender Reassignment Free Essays

Human Sexuality/Gender Re-Assignment This is an Opinion Paper Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice, or body characteristics. â€Å"Trans† is sometimes used as shorthand for â€Å"transgender. We will write a custom essay sample on Opinion Paper: Gender Reassignment or any similar topic only for you Order Now While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia, and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow. After you do your research and readings, in a one page opinion paper, state your position on Gender Re-Assignment. Chaz Bono brought this important and once hidden topic to the forefront. Write about your position. Be sure you add a reference page in APA format and use in-text citations when using the authors words. Writing an opinion paper for college can be a daunting task for college students. Opinion papers by nature require you to state an opinion or take a position on a specific issue and defend that position. An opinion paper is not, however, license to rant and rave about an issue without providing any evidence. This paper will involve research, organization, and planning to be effective. ? 1. Research your topic. Stating an opinion in a paper involves more than reporting what you think. You’ll often hear these assignments referred to as position papers, as you must take a reasonable position based on evidence that is grounded in fact. Determine your opinion based on your research, and know your topic thoroughly on both sides of the argument before you state it and attempt to provide any type of reasoned defense. ? 2. ?Create an outline for your paper consisting of the three main parts that you’ll follow when crafting your document: an introduction, body, and conclusion. In your introduction, state your opinion on the topic at hand. This will set the stage for the rest of the paper. You can even hint at the reasons for your opinion, but don’t give them away entirely. You’ll want the reader to glean that information from the rest of your paper. The body of the outline should list the reasons for your position. The conclusion should clearly and concisely sum up your argument. ? 3. ?Construct your essay using your outline. State your opinion in your introductory paragraph and then use your list of reasons for stating your opinion in the body of your essay. The body should include three to five substantive reasons why you have taken your position. Provide the most compelling reasons last and the least compelling reasons first. This will give your paper a crescendo effect and drive home the point of your essay. ? 4. ?Write a definitive conclusion. Your conclusion is your opportunity to restate what you’ve already state in your introduction and in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should reiterate the main conclusion of your essay based on the facts that you’ve provided. Go over each point briefly, but be careful not to simply chronicle them without tying them together. The grading criteria will be the same as in other modules. How to cite Opinion Paper: Gender Reassignment, Essay examples

Operations Management in Johnsons & Johnsons †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Operations Management in Johnsons Johnsons. Answer: Introduction: Operation Management is a crucial part of management that is related with the controlling and designing the production process. It is concerned with organizing, planning and supervising the manufacturing, production and services provision. It makes the organization more efficient by effectively turning inputs into output. Johnsons Johnsons is a multinational company that deals with medical devices, consumer and pharmaceutical packaged goods (jnj.com. 2018). In the recent times, management combines and transforms different resources applied in the operations subsystem of the firm. This resource is converted into valued added services in an effective and controlled way as per the organizational policies (Hitt, Carnes and Xu 2016). In the recent times, Johnsons Johnsons has formulated all the strategies that lead to overcome the magnitude of changes in its technological and managerial procedures. Operations Management in Johnsons Johnsons: Quality management: Johnson Johnson is the most diversified and largest healthcare organization in the world. According to Heizer and Render (2014) Johnson Johnson takes major step to ensure sustained and consistent high-quality, effective and safe products. The organization took action after evaluating and settings targets to ensure standardization. As per the companys citizenship and sustainability report, it ascertained various material issues. This includes affordability and access to health care, ethical performance, global performance, global health and compliance. As mentioned by Slack, Chambers and Johnston (2010) ensuring safety and product quality is the major issue of Johnson Johnson. The company best serves their customers with its quality product to maintain its autonomy. The company has formed Johnson Johnson Quality Compliance (JJ QC) so that consistent implementation and standardization of its across its standards and policy across the organization. As per Greasley (2009) Johnson Johnson continuous and quality approach includes management review process. This requires the firm to continuously improve the quality system by ensuring adequacy, suitability and effectiveness. On the other hand as per Johnston, Clark and Shulver (2012) Johnson Johnson has achieved major proactive and integrated approach for continuous and quality improvement. The organization continues look at safety and quality throughout all product life cycles phases. Safety and health impacts are assessed for all of organizational important product categories in every business segment throughout the world. Johnson and Johnson recently are exploring innovative techniques to foster its proactive quality culture in a continuous manner. As mentioned by Chase, Jacobs and Aquilano (2006) the firms pharmaceutical segment is monitored continuously before the use of in-market products. Effective decisions on quality matters are taken by the Quality organization. Inventory management: Johnsons and Johnson aggregated amount of materials that are unprocessed should be used in production or manufacturing process raw material and its supplies has increased from 2015 to 2017 (jnj.com. 2018). Besides satisfying the market demand obtaining adequate performance, the effectiveness of organization is known through its enhanced features. The organization has online system for requests and orders that involves the authorized dealers. As per Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons (2008) the companys inventory management is massive complex. It is important that that the inventory management system is optimized so that the needs of the patients is met in a more transformational way. Effective inventory policies and high level of medical supplies services are essential objectives of health care industries (Slack et al. 2009). The main focus of the operations management of the firm is made by maintaining optimal inventory holding and ordering. Johnson Johnson addresses this decision is implemented through finished goods inventory by applying just-in-time inventory management. The medicines and related products are immediately shipped to fulfill the needs and orders of the customers. Johnson Johnson holds other products as a crucial finished goods inventory. To ensure optimal ordering of inventory and holding, the companys employees are also trained to increase the speed and transparency related to order fulfillment (Johnston Clark and Shulver 2012). The application of mobile computers by linking it to the databases and central computer has made the process more adequate. Moreover, operations management optimizes the inventory size so that cost is minimized. Job Design and Human Resources: According to Smith, Maull and CL Ng (2014) in this strategic decision area the main focus of Johnson Johnson, the main focus is human resource development. Training and development program is given by the organization to satisfy the concerns of the organization. As per the website report, the organization has also research teams and support centers for the purpose. The capability and adequacy are the major concern of organization in the fields of operations management. The organization uses adequate training programs so that the employees feel more empowered. Johnson Johnson should use proper workflow so that it could integrate creative and innovative ideas. Moreover, while making the decisions for inventory and operational management the company should engage in automation system. This helps in monitoring and controlling its overall inventory. This would further help in evaluating, monitoring and checking the productivity level of Johnson and Johnson. The pharmaceutical company should also use first in first out method so that earlier products are sold first before any new goods are introduced in the market (Choi, Cheng and Zhao (2016). staff motivation is important in the long-run as it would help Johnson Johnson to achieve maximum satisfaction of the employees and also creates performance appraisal. Operational strategy for Johnson Johnson: Johnson Johnson main objective is related to maximizing profit and market growth as a long-term strategy. Johnson Johnson has adopted strategy for global standardization and has lowered its cost by customization of products. Operational strategies consist of customer driven approaches that fulfill the desire and requirements of its potential target market. The quality of the product has been increased through proper innovation and added values (Chan et al. 2017). Johnsons and Johnsons have continuously enhanced its core competencies and on an ongoing basis has developed new strengths. The internal environment is evaluated to ascertain the strategy plan that internally affects the organization. Strengths: Johnson and Johnson being leading health-care brands have been ranked the best among its competitors in the industry. Abundant financial resources are used by the organization and further exploited by Research and Development department so that committed staffs are employed. They further create and innovates hygiene products due to usage of latest technology and companys brand image. Moreover, the focus is on the product leadership that offers its consumers the best product in the overall industry (Knoppen et al. 2015). The employees of Johnson Johnson are well motivated and have provided its employees various incentives. This ranges from personal to personal benefits including bonus for annual incentive, long-term incentives and severance benefits. The organization has expanded all around the world at an international level. The better world-wide distribution skills because of its global standardization strategy have allowed the firm to generate efficient market strategies by cost reduction (Hitt, Carnes and Xu 2016). This approach generally arrives through fast product development and economies of scale that is based on stable relationship with the distribution agents. Weaknesses: The major business strategy of Johnsons and Johnsons is to control cost. This leads rise to major drawback as it results in low customization. The organization is highly dependent on the success of its launch product that is vulnerable due to uncertainty. Conflict with its partner and portfolio companies also creates havoc in the operation management of the company. The ingredients used in the products are unsafe as per the government reports (jnj.com. 2018). The brand image of the company is adversely affected due to negative words of mouth. Therefore, it creates a negative impact on productivity of the organization. Moreover, the manager also lacks the flexibility required to overcome the existing challenge for changes required in the local market. Recommendation: Certain improvements are required in the Johnson Johnson Company. The firm should adopt more centralized approach for management so that the employees are more motivated. The firms need to be more involved in certain initiatives by developing incentives and rewards for achieving the goals of the organization. Though Johnson Johnson has a great collaborative relationship but outsourcing would help the firm in lowering the cost of production. The organization hires it employees completely based on their experience and ability but relocation of staff can also helps the firm to strengthen the companys management structure. The operation management decision of the firm should adopt additional core strategies to evaluate and adopt itself according to the changing environment. Conclusion: Johnson Johnson operation management area has been analyzed and its operational strategy has been reviewed. The firms operational management areas, where decision for quality management, inventory management and job design and human resources. It can be concluded that the organizations operation management decision is adequate but need to be more optimized and updated to yields maximum profit in the long-run. The present activities related to the organization have been analyzed and effective ways for the improvement of information is also considered. The operational strategy of the firm has also influenced and enhanced the firms competitive advantage in the business environment. Moreover, the strength and weakness evaluated from the operational strategy showcased the firms existing position in the business market. References: Chan, H.K., Lacka, E., Yee, R.W. and Lim, M.K., 2017. The role of social media data in operations and production management.International Journal of Production Research,55(17), pp.5027-5036. Chase, R. B., Jacobs, F. R. and Aquilano, N. J., 2006, Operations Management for Competitive Advantage, 11th Ed., McGraw-Hill. Choi, T.M., Cheng, T.C.E. and Zhao, X., 2016. Multi?Methodological Research in Operations Management.Production and Operations Management,25(3), pp.379-389. Fitzsimmons, J. A. and Fitzsimmons, M. J., 2008, Service Management: Operations, Strategy, Information Technology, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. Greasley, A., 2009, Operations Management, 2nd Edition, John Wiley Sons APM, 2013, APM Body of Knowledge, 6th Ed. Heizer, J. and Render, B., 2014, Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management, 11th Global Ed., Pearson Prentice Hall Hitt, M.A., Carnes, C.M. and Xu, K., 2016. A current view of resource based theory in operations management: A response to Bromiley and Rau.Journal of Operations Management,41(10), pp.107-109. jnj.com (2018).Johnson Johnson Homepage | Johnson Johnson. [online] Available at: https://www.jnj.com/ [Accessed 19 Mar. 2018]. Johnston, R., Clark G. and Shulver, M., 2012 Service Operations Management: Improving Service Delivery. 4th edition. FT Prentice Hall. Knoppen, D., Ate?, M.A., Brandon-Jones, A., Luzzini, D., Van Raaij, E. and Wynstra, F., 2015. A comprehensive assessment of measurement equivalence in operations management.International Journal of Production Research,53(1), pp.166-182. Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnston, R., 2010, Operations Management, 6th Edition, FT Prentice Hall. Slack, N., Chambers, S., Johnston, R. and Betts, A., 2009, Operations and Process Management - Principles and practice for strategic impact. 2nd Ed., FT Prentice Hall. Smith, L., Maull, R. and CL Ng, I., 2014. Servitization and operations management: a service dominant-logic approach.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(2), pp.242-269.