Prehistoric Life During the Devonian Period

From a human perspective, the Devonian period was a crucial time for the evolution of vertebrate life: this was the period in geological history when the first tetrapods climbed out of the primordial seas and began to colonize dry land. The Devonian occupied the middle part of the Paleozoic Era (542-250 million years ago), preceded by the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian periods and followed by the Carboniferous and Permian periods. Climate and Geography The global climate during the Devonian period was surprisingly mild, with average ocean temperatures of only 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (compared to as high as 120 degrees during the preceding Ordovician and Silurian periods). The North and South Poles were only marginally cooler than the areas closer to the equator, and there were no ice caps; the only glaciers were to be found atop high mountain ranges. The smallish continents of Laurentia and Baltica gradually merged to form Euramerica, while the giant Gondwana (which was destined to break apart millions of years later into Africa, South America, Antarctica, and Australia) continued its slow southward drift. Terrestrial Life Vertebrates. It was during the Devonian period that the archetypal evolutionary event in the history of life  took place: the adaptation of lobe-finned fish to life on dry land. The two best candidates for the earliest tetrapods (four-footed vertebrates) are Acanthostega and Ichthyostega, which themselves evolved from earlier, exclusively marine vertebrates like Tiktaalik and Panderichthys. Surprisingly, many of these early tetrapods possessed seven or eight digits on each of their feet, meaning they represented dead ends in evolution since all terrestrial vertebrates on earth today employ the five-finger, five-toe body plan. Invertebrates. Although tetrapods were certainly the biggest news of the Devonian period, they werent the only animals that colonized  dry land. There was also a wide array of small arthropods, worms, flightless insects and other pesky invertebrates, which took advantage of the complex terrestrial plant ecosystems that started to develop at this time to gradually spread inland (though still not too far away from bodies of water). During this time, though, the vast bulk of life on earth lived deep in the water. Marine Life The Devonian period marked both the apex and the extinction of the placoderms, prehistoric fish characterized by their tough armor plating (some placoderms, such as the enormous Dunkleosteus, attained weights of three or four tons). As noted above, the Devonian also teemed with lobe-finned fish, from which the first tetrapods evolved, as well as relatively new ray-finned fish, the most populous family of fish on earth today. Relatively small sharks--such as the bizarrely ornamented Stethacanthus and the weirdly scaleless Cladoselache--were an increasingly common sight in the Devonian seas. Invertebrates like sponges and corals continued to flourish, but the ranks of the trilobites were thinned out, and only the giant eurypterids (invertebrate sea scorpions) successfully competed with vertebrate sharks for prey. Plant Life It was during the Devonian period that the temperate regions of the earths evolving continents first became truly green. The Devonian witnessed the first significant jungles and forests, the spread of which was aided by the evolutionary competition among plants to gather as much sunlight as possible (in a dense forest canopy, a tall tree has a significant advantage in harvesting energy over a tiny shrub). The trees of the late Devonian period were the first to evolve rudimentary bark (to support their weight and protect their trunks), as well as robust internal water-conduction mechanisms that helped to counteract the force of gravity. The End-Devonian Extinction The end of the Devonian period ushered in the second great extinction of prehistoric life on earth, the first being the mass extinction event at the end of the Ordovician period. Not all animal groups were affected equally by the End-Devonian Extinction: reef-dwelling placoderms and trilobites were especially vulnerable, but deep-sea organisms escaped relatively unscathed. The evidence is sketchy, but many paleontologists believe that the Devonian extinction was caused by multiple meteor impacts, debris from which may have poisoned the surfaces of lakes, oceans, and rivers.

The Mayan Civilization - 2031 Words

The Mayan Civilization at its height was one of the greatest civilization to ever reign on the planet. Their advances in astronomy and mathematics well in advance has helped present civilizations to prosper. But one of the great questions is what happened to the Mayans? Why did they collapse? What caused them to collapse? It is a question that had gone unanswered for decades until some of the worlds great historians and scientist finally concluded to three reasons why the Mayan Civilization collapsed. The Mayans Collapse was fast and occurred due to Deforestation and Climate Change, Overpopulation, and Internal and Exterior Rivalry. The Classical Maya was lost to the archaeological records until the last 200 years due to it’s abandonment. When the Mayans left there great cities, thick vines and jungles overtook the great monuments they once built. But in the last 200 years, in depth research has lead to breakthroughs into what the Classic Maya was like. The earliest Mayans wer e agriculturalist, growing crops such as corn (maize), beans, squash and cassava. The Mayans also invented a very accurate calendar, a math code using 0’s, constructed buildings still intact today, and a writing system that took decades to decode. The Mayans were situated in one geographical block covering all of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), modern-day Guatemala, Belize, parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador. Due to their location on theShow MoreRelatedMayan Architecture And The Mayan Civilization848 Words   |  4 PagesMayan Architecture Represented Through Their Beautiful Art The Mayan civilization is identified for many significant accomplishments, one of those significant accomplishments is their architecture. The Mayan civilization was capable of building massive structures such as; palaces, temples and pyramids. Each Mayan pyramids is dedicated to a deity. The Mayans were also known for their art, their developed writing, astronomical and mathematical systems, and supernatural beliefs. One of the majorRead MoreThe Mayan Civilization1930 Words   |  8 PagesThe Mayan civilization was a bountiful society that flourished from around 300 BCE to 900 CE and, according to some, lasted for up to 3000 years. During the height of their civilization, the Maya built a prominent society and created many inventions, some of which are used today. They are well known for creating the first writing system called cuneiform, the concept of zero, calendars, mathematics, ball-courts, and the length of the solar year measured at about 365.242 days. Having first migratedRead MoreMayan Civilization : Ancient Civilizations1314 Words   |  6 PagesMayan Civilization The mayan civilization was one of the earliest civilizations that occupied areas that are today known as Guatemala, Northern Belize, and Mexico. The mayan civilization lived through what is known as the Classic Period. Their culture began about 250 C.E. and ended near 900 C.E. While most of the population lived in what is present day Guatemala the population of the mayans rose from 5,000 to almost two million people near the end of the Classic Period. Although the mayans are knownRead MoreThe Mayan Civilization : Ancient Civilization1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mayan Civilization: For many centuries the Mayan was of life was a mystery to archaeologists. Their geography, social structure, government, economy/trade, technology, writing, and arts were all thought to be forever lost. Now, as archaeologists are still uncovering more information, what was once referred to as â€Å"The Lost Civilization of Maya†, has been awakened from the grave of unknown. Geography: The ancient Mayan Civilization surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean stretchedRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Mayan Civilization814 Words   |  4 PagesMayan Civilization There were many incredible civilizations in mesoamerica including the Incas, Aztecs, and the Mayas. They all had many strengths and weaknesses but the strongest among them were the Mayans. The Mayans were a very advanced civilization who survived for many, many years. The Mayans were very advanced in astronomy. They could map out the stars, the planets, the sun, and the moon. They knew so much about astronomy that they built all of their buildings in perfect alignment with compassRead MoreIs The Classic Mayan Civilization?1558 Words   |  7 Pageson one specific civilization, what led to their falling as a society and elaborate on some theories as to why collapses may occur. The development that I am going to be discussing is the Classic Mayan civilization. The civilization was located in Mexico around the region of the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala. The Growth and collapse of the Classic Mayan started at approximately 250 AD and ended around 830 AD. In 1931, a theory was proposed that the collapse of the Southern Mayan Lowlands was dueRead MoreThe Decline Of The Mayan Civilization1196 Words   |  5 PagesThe rise of civilizations significantly increased as the world made its shift from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Era and onward. The Mayan civilization arose as a part of Mesoamerica during the sixteenth century. Occupying the regions of Central America and Mexico, the Mayans had a strong impact on the world with militaristic and influence from the invention of advancements. The earliest record of the Mayan existence dates back to circa 400 B.C. The Mayan Civilization extended over a timeRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Mayan Civilizations733 Words   |  3 Pagesof civilizations. Three major ones are the Aztec, Maya, and Inca . These different civilizations play a very important role in history today. The Maya empire was highly skilled at building and architecture. They also were the only empire in mesoamerica to dev elop a complete writing system. The Maya were also highly skilled at agriculture and farming. The Maya were by far the most advanced and smart civilization. The Maya empire was very precise and exact when it came to architecture. Mayans builtRead MoreEnd of Mayan Civilization1143 Words   |  5 PagesEnd of Mayan Civilization Samuel Nathaniel H. Stansbury HUM 111 11/3/2012 The mystery concerning the fundamental explanation for the collapse of the Mayan Civilization has been a major focus for researchers in the fields of anthropology and archeology for a considerable period of time. At the very core of this mystery of the Mayan collapse was the question of how could such a strong, stable civilization that had flourished for approximately twenty-seven hundred years disappear without a clearRead MoreMayan Civilization and Culture1077 Words   |  5 Pages The Ancient Mayan civilization contained nearly two-thirds of Mesoamerica. The area included mostly volcanic mountains to porous limestone, also referred to as the lowlands in the more central regions. Mayan civilization extended from Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the north, to Honduras in the south. What made the Mayans stand out to me the most, were their complex societies, which were built and modernized far ahead of its time in a tropical rainforest climate (Aissen, 1992). Normall y

Mozart Piano Sonata No. 3 Free Essays

In B flat major and the third of the set Mozart composed, the Piano Sonata (K. 281) opens with an Allegro in sonata form. Almost immediately after the restatement of the four-measure theme begins, Mozart moves away from the tonic toward the dominant, F major. We will write a custom essay sample on Mozart Piano Sonata No. 3 or any similar topic only for you Order Now An insistent repeated-note figure is the main feature of the secondary theme, which quickly gives way to a trilled closing motive. After a harmonically daring development section we hear one of Mozart’s most predictable recapitulations, tracing the exposition in full and resolving everything to the tonic before closing without a coda. Marked Andante amoroso, the slow movement is in sonata form with a brief development. A large leap at the beginning of the secondary theme contrasts with the descending scale that makes up the first theme. Trills and sudden dynamic contrasts inject intensity into an otherwise serene atmosphere that pervades the entire movement. As in the Allegro, the recapitulation follows exactly the path of the exposition, except for the modifications necessary to remain in the tonic, E flat major. The movement closes without a coda. The concluding Rondeau (or rondo is infused with elements of sonata form. The first episode (section B) is on the dominant, F major, thus preparing the way for the first (and only partial) return of the rondo theme. In the manner of a recapitulation, this same episode returns nearly in full and resolved to the tonic just before the last statement of the rondo and the close of the movement. How to cite Mozart Piano Sonata No. 3, Papers

Analysis of the Problem of the Brisbane Travel Company †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Analysis of the Problem of the Brisbane Travel Company. Answer: Introduction This report primarily portrays an analysis that the international travel and tourism company cannot retain its proper amount of value generation. However, the company has a good amount of Total Transaction Value but somewhere or the other the sales of some brands are not up to the mark. Brisbane Travel Company is an internationally claimed company but it has also problem with its Ethical Values, Organizational Behaviours and in Corporate Social Responsibility (Blowfield Murray, 2014). The report mainly focuses on the fact that this company has a huge problem with the leadership qualities of the managers and the CEO. Most of the employees join in the company but they do not work for a long time. The outline of the report is mainly related to the implication of Organizational behaviours and Ethical Values in order to improve the work culture (Brammer Mellahi, 2015). Analysis of the Critical Problems and Issues Brisbane Travel Company has a national and international recognition. It has mainly become successful with the conventional techniques of brick and mortar business type in which the customers interact face to face with the businessperson in the store. Then they have used the business strategies of online marketing and the collaboration strategies (Christensen, Mackey, Whetten, 2014). Consequently, it has a positive impact on the progress of the company. They have also reached the target of Total Transaction Value specifically on their own efficiencies. Nevertheless, the problem occurred when they saw disturbance in the prosperity of the company. This is because the transaction value went well but their revenue generation in some of the company did not go well. The CEO of the company Danielle Harding then observed that the TTV declined by 15 percent which became a concerning issue for the company (Slack, Corlett Morris, 2015). Then the CEO recognized that they have to use new innova tive ideas for the company which includes the focus on different areas mainly focusing on the Ethical Values and Corporate Social Responsibility and finally applying strategies based on this. Absence of Positive Ethical Culture It can be considered that in present days any companies or business organization has to be answerable to the employees and the customers and even to the government in various cases. The company cannot act according to its will. The dealings and the transactions of the company comes under different business policies and ethics. Not everything happens according to the wills of the manager or CEO of a company. The main reason for maintaining the ethical culture because it helps the company to maintain a consistency between the strategies of achieving targets of the company as well as it does not have adverse effect on the employees of the organization (Mason Simmons, 2014). On the other hand the employees and the the leaders of the company should also maintain certain norms in order to have a suitable working environment (Baden Harwood, 2013). . The main problem of the Brisbane Company is that the employees do not stay in the company for a long time. This is one of the major drawbacks of a company. This reflects the fact that the leaders and the managers of the company do not pay much heed to the benefits and needs of the employees. It can also happen that due to the absence of proper managerial skills and the lack of implication of proper disciplines of the company the employees are not interested to work in the company for a long time. No Motivational Leadership Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility integrates one of the important things, which is the inclusion of the proper leadership. Leaders are very important for a company. First leaders should have certain qualities of honesty, integrity and the capacity of binding the employees together (Tingchi et al., 2014) He or she should not become a power wielder that to attain his or her personal benefit only rather that person should motivate the employees and the team members to work co-ordinately and efficiently with the other employees. The leaders of the company should be honest and there should be no bias nature among them, which will create a discontent among the employees ( He Lai, 2014). Moreover, the leaders also have to encourage the employees to implement their own ideas in the work. The leaders should also emphasis on the weakness and strengths of each employee so that it can tackle them and manage them accordingly. The leaders also have to be conscious and well aware about the code of conduct of the office or the company and behave accordingly because seeing the attitudes and behaviours of the managers and the leaders the employees will get inspired accordingly. The HR managers should also be cordial as well as strict while dealing with the employees. In the end it can be considered that that the leaders should supervise the fact that the progression of the company as well as they must look after the individual development of an individual in the company along with all the benefits and securities of the employee (Zhu, Sun Leung, 2014). The Brisbane Travel Company lacks in the absence of the leadership. This is the reason for which the company is not able to retain its employees permanently. No Execution of Code of Conduct in the Company It is told earlier that application of proper code of conduct and business ethics is very much required for a company to retain its consistency in profit making. The implication of ethical code is also required for the consistent survival of the employees (Wu et al., 2015). Thus, for this reason the proper implementation of the ethical values are very much required in a company. In Brisbane Travel Company, this is one of the aspects, which is lacking in the company. This reveals the issue that the managers of the company only focused on the revenue-generation of the company. But todays trend in the business market is also looking after the ethical codes of the company which enhances the overall reputation of a company. The weak application of the ethical codes also creates a disorder and chaos in the business environment. Moreover, if there is misconduct from the employees or the supervisors and the managers then no one is accountable for it. If an office or an organization has to retain its consistency then obviously it has to be very strict regarding the rules, regulations and the principles of the company ( Vlachos, Panagopoulos Rapp, 2014) . In addition, this fault of the leaders that he or she cannot imply the code of conducts in the company. Analysis of Alternatives and Options The Brisbane Travel Company has specifically problem in the organizational behaviour and the implementation in the ethical codes .The company lacks in encouraged leaders and new innovate strategies. Application of Ethical Code of Conduct Ethical code of conduct is very much required in an office in order to sustain an enriched ethical culture in the organization. The ethical code of conduct is very entitled to the behaviour of the employees and the managers of the company. The deterioration in the ethical code of conduct leads to corruption and anarchy in the company. So in order to solve this problem at first there must be an Ethical Committee, which would look after these issues (Park, Lee, Kim, 2014). There must be a penalty if the code of conduct is violated in its highest terms. HR managers play a crucial role in administering these norms of conducts in the company. He or she has to be employee-friendly as well as formal and strict while dealing with the employees of the company. The managers in the Brisbane must implement these business strategies to create a cordial environment in the company. Finally, every company should have a separate cell to look after the problems of the woman. Presence of Motivational leaders The most tragic part of the Brisbane Travel Company that there is no existence of inspirational leaders for the company. A leader of a company should be a role model for the employees of the company. A leader plays a crucial role in binding the employees of the organization and a company (Crane Matten, 2016). Therefore, the company must have efficient team leaders who could supervise and coordinate the members in a positive way as well as to teach the faults and shortcomings of the employees and the members for the organization. An efficient leader must not exploit the subordinates for any kinds of personal benefits. If a leader does this then, it would be a serious breach of conduct and the leader would set a very bad example in the company. Hence, the leader must be very strict with his or her own code of conduct. A leader must also do a review the decisions of the Committee that in true sense they are supervising the code of conduct in the company. Finally, the Brisbane Travel co mpany should appoint a such kind of leader that it would motivate the employees to implement their own knowledge in the work and also encourage them to continue in the company. Up gradation in Policies for the Employees In the Brisbane Travel Company apart from the application of the policies in context to ethical principles and the norms and principles of the company there should also be application of the policies for the employees in context to remuneration, leaves and other benefits (Glavas Kelley, 2014). There should be proper awards and recognition for the hardworking employees of the company. The environment of the company must have proper discipline as well as the surroundings of the company must be joyful also otherwise the employees will find no interest to work in the company. It is true that a company or a workplace is a place to do work only. However, it must be remembered that if the employees are not given a sense of happiness and a feeling of safety and security then the employees will not be no more eager to work in the company. There must be friendly and cordial relations among the colleagues of the company. Otherwise, if there is existence of conflicts and tensions among the empl oyees then also the working environment of the employees get disturbed. These are factors must be kept in mind among the policymakers of the company while formulating the policies for the welfare of the company. Recommendations It can be said that in the whole report there are discussions and analysis about the faults of the company for which inspite of attaining the target in terms of revenue generation, the companys sale declined in some of the brands of it. There are various solutions given in relation to proper implication of ethical code of conduct and appointment of efficient and broad-minded leaders. Another important thing recommended in this section is that besides giving benefits to the families of the employees of the company ( Zeng et al., 2015) . It can be said that the CEO of the company can provide pension schemes and medical benefits to the families of the employees. This will motivate the employees to sustain in the company for a long time. Another important thing is that the company must be sensitive in gender related issues. Finally these are the additional issues which must be considered during taking decisions to make the policies and other norms. Conclusion In the end it can be considered that the employees of a organization are the main assets of a company. If the interests of the employees are not looked after then it is hard for the whole company to be consistent in its position in the long run. One can learn from the above analysis that it is very important to maintain proper code of conduct, discipline of the company. Hence, in order to do this the company must apply a strict code of conduct, ethical culture in the organization. However, along with the implication of the strict principles in the company the company has to observe that the infrastructure of the office is very joyous and interesting. This is because the employees must feel a homely environment while working in it. Another important factor is that the company must have good quality of leaders who will lead the company in a positive way. This is because they are the pillars upon which the companies are based on , they supervise each and every aspects of the employees a nd collectively work along with the employees. This will give a strong sense of confidence and dignity if the leaders also respect them and have assurance on them. These are the issues which are to be scrutinized in the Brisbane Travel Company to regain its recognition. References Baden, D., Harwood, I. A. (2013). Terminology matters: A critical exploration of corporate social responsibility terms.Journal of Business Ethics,116(3), 615-627. Blowfield, M., Murray, A. (2014).Corporate responsibility. Oxford University Press. Brammer, S., He, H., Mellahi, K. (2015). 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