Biodiversity

The octocoral Eunicea fusca is the source of important anti-inflammatory compounds
such as the diterpenes fuscol and the fuscosides. Evidence suggests that these
compounds are being produce by bacterial sources that live in symbiosis with the coral.
As part of an investigation to better understand the role of bacteria associated with E.
fusca , the characterization of the bacterial community using two different techniques
(culture dependent technique and culture independent technique) and sea water samples
was done. Sea water samples were used as a control to determine how closely associated
bacteria are to this octocoral. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal
bacterial primers FC27 and RC 1492 specific to prokaryotic 16S rDNA gene sequences
was used to characterize the total bacterial population when using both the culturable and
the non-culturable approaches. The results indicate a diverse group of bacteria associated to E. fusca composed of 10 different groups. The pro teo bacteria group was the most
predominant group when both techniques were used. The a-proteobacteria represented
the highest percentage of bacteria associated to E. fusca.

The Regeneration of Nature: an alternative to ecological restoration is an exploration of the human response to alterations society has imposed on natural ecosystems. Ecological restoration is the dominant response to these degraded systems that has emerged within Western, empirical thought. Restoration as it is characteristically practiced in the United States attempts to reverse human impact by returning an ecosystem to an earlier state of existence; its so called pre-disturbance condition. However, I argue that ecological restoration does not adequately address degraded ecosystems dominating today's landscape primarily because it excludes humans as an integrated part of ecosystems and it ignores the dynamic characteristics of nature. Despite the dichotomy embedded in the restoration view, humans and nature are best understood as interdependent. Therefore, those working on urban environmental issues must develop integrated solutions in which both society and nature benefit without creating negative impacts on each other. In The Regeneration of Nature: an alternative to ecological restoration , I show how the connections between science, society, and nature can be recognized as an integrated view to establish a new paradigm for positive change within communities, both natural and human. The new paradigm, which I entitle ecological regeneration, extends the interdisciplinary style of environmental research as it calls for the development, adoption, and dissemination of a truly integrated and dynamic socio-ecological model to replace the static and reductionist view that prevails within the ecological restoration model. Where restoration treats the human and natural environments as mutually exclusive, regeneration recognizes the necessity of integrating human built systems within nature and nature within built systems. By examining conceptual and practical problems within ecological restoration, my goal is to offer an ecological regeneration framework leading to theoretically better solutions with respect to society's impact on natural ecosystems. The vision I offer here of regenerating nature within the built environment is intended to help fellow scientists, non-scientists, and the general public pursue an environmentally accountable and socially responsible prospect.