If we ever want to get off this planet and travel even the shortest distance in interstellar terms then we need to improve our application of closed eco systems. The nearest star remember is over 4 light years away and that is just outside our door in interstellar terms. Closed in this context means entirely self contained except for energy, which all ecosystems get from the sun either directly or indirectly.
We know this and recycling air and water has always been one of the basic things we can do already. Unfortunately, it is not enough for longer journeys as animals, and that is what we are, are very hard on food resources and require a significant amount of space to grow enough food for our survival. There are ways of reducing the requirements for space and new techniques are being tried on a regular basis. We will need to have a completely closed system to ensure safe journeys in any venture outside our solar system and preferably within to save of the amount of foodstuffs we have to take with us.
I’ve always had an interest in nature and in particular fish where I have had several tanks of fish of all types mainly tropical whilst I was younger and then marine fish when I was older and earned my own money. One thing I’ve always wanted is an Octopus. These creatures are one of the most intelligent on the planet and can solve puzzles, like the cute tree rats, and can be taught things as they have long term memory. One day I’ll get around to purchasing one.
Home fish tanks however are not complete ecosystems, they are simply subsets of a marine ecosystem because they require inputs beyond energy, food for the fish and replacement water, and output, cleaning of debris and dirty water removal. These are being improved and the larger the water volume the more it approaches a closed system. If you have really big tanks or a decent sized outdoor pool then you can create a closed ecosystem yourself.
I have an interest in ecosystems because despite my skepticism on global warming I do believe that we should take care of the environment, recycle what we can and minimise our impact on our planet. I was taking bottles, plastics and newspapers down to the local recycling area before it was corrupted and became a cash cow for our political class. Plus, I’m pretty hopeless at looking after things and all the plants, animals etc. that fully rely on me die.
Creating a simple closed ecosystem is actually quite easy, providing you do not have any complex animals in it. There are several projects out there where you can create an entire closed ecosystem in a jar or a 2lt pop bottle. You can even buy sealed containers with the ecosystem already built on the web. These ecosystems can last years as long as they are set up correctly and get some light. It does not matter how little there is of some of the components, moss, ferns, etc. as the ecosystem will quickly come into balance and then stay there.
Of course ecosystems that are comprised of invisible creatures, ferns and moss are pretty boring. A quick look and you have seen it all. Even the ones with brine shrimp in are unlikely to keep your attention long. I want something a bit more interesting.
I read somewhere about someone coming across a complete, non enclosed, ecosystem in an old bath. It was partially filled with water, had a family of frogs, some snails and a snake. Mosquitoes, one of the few inputs, laid the eggs which the frogs ate, the frogs had tadpoles which the snake ate and it seemed to be nicely balanced. I wanted to replicate this is a large tank I had but we don’t have many snakes here and it isn’t really self sustaining having only one snake never mind the problem with getting the mosquitoes. It would have been interesting though having a snake and not having to feed it directly.
I suppose though that if I want a complete ecosystem in something the size of a fish tank, even a large one, we are looking at animals no bigger than beetles, ants, spiders etc. Anyone know how to train a spider to do tricks?
Closed ecosystems
If we ever want to get off this planet and travel even the shortest distance in interstellar terms then we need to improve our application of closed eco systems. The nearest star remember is over 4 light years away and that is just outside our door in interstellar terms. Closed in this context means entirely self contained except for energy, which all ecosystems get from the sun either directly or indirectly.
We know this and recycling air and water has always been one of the basic things we can do already. Unfortunately, it is not enough for longer journeys as animals, and that is what we are, are very hard on food resources and require a significant amount of space to grow enough food for our survival. There are ways of reducing the requirements for space and new techniques are being tried on a regular basis. We will need to have a completely closed system to ensure safe journeys in any venture outside our solar system and preferably within to save of the amount of foodstuffs we have to take with us.
I’ve always had an interest in nature and in particular fish where I have had several tanks of fish of all types mainly tropical whilst I was younger and then marine fish when I was older and earned my own money. One thing I’ve always wanted is an Octopus. These creatures are one of the most intelligent on the planet and can solve puzzles, like the cute tree rats, and can be taught things as they have long term memory. One day I’ll get around to purchasing one.
Home fish tanks however are not complete ecosystems, they are simply subsets of a marine ecosystem because they require inputs beyond energy, food for the fish and replacement water, and output, cleaning of debris and dirty water removal. These are being improved and the larger the water volume the more it approaches a closed system. If you have really big tanks or a decent sized outdoor pool then you can create a closed ecosystem yourself.
I have an interest in ecosystems because despite my skepticism on global warming I do believe that we should take care of the environment, recycle what we can and minimise our impact on our planet. I was taking bottles, plastics and newspapers down to the local recycling area before it was corrupted and became a cash cow for our political class. Plus, I’m pretty hopeless at looking after things and all the plants, animals etc. that fully rely on me die.
Creating a simple closed ecosystem is actually quite easy, providing you do not have any complex animals in it. There are several projects out there where you can create an entire closed ecosystem in a jar or a 2lt pop bottle. You can even buy sealed containers with the ecosystem already built on the web. These ecosystems can last years as long as they are set up correctly and get some light. It does not matter how little there is of some of the components, moss, ferns, etc. as the ecosystem will quickly come into balance and then stay there.
Of course ecosystems that are comprised of invisible creatures, ferns and moss are pretty boring. A quick look and you have seen it all. Even the ones with brine shrimp in are unlikely to keep your attention long. I want something a bit more interesting.
I read somewhere about someone coming across a complete, non enclosed, ecosystem in an old bath. It was partially filled with water, had a family of frogs, some snails and a snake. Mosquitoes, one of the few inputs, laid the eggs which the frogs ate, the frogs had tadpoles which the snake ate and it seemed to be nicely balanced. I wanted to replicate this is a large tank I had but we don’t have many snakes here and it isn’t really self sustaining having only one snake never mind the problem with getting the mosquitoes. It would have been interesting though having a snake and not having to feed it directly.
I suppose though that if I want a complete ecosystem in something the size of a fish tank, even a large one, we are looking at animals no bigger than beetles, ants, spiders etc. Anyone know how to train a spider to do tricks?