Dalhousie Ocean Pond

Hello all,
This is a post created by Grace McCaffrey and group about the Dalhousie ocean pond!

Located at Dalhousie University, in a nook in back of the chemistry building and behind the LSC, is a little conservationist’s haven called the Ocean Pond. Initially set up to provide an alternative to first year biology field trips, the garden boasts nine different ecological communities. Despite its size and central location, few students actually know about the Ocean Pond. It’s a great place to view a marshland-like habitat and to spot squirrels and migratory birds.

Before the creation of the Ocean Pond, the Dalhousie campus was lacking in any distinct natural areas. Dr. Martin Willison published an article in a biology newsletter in April 1993 that painted a picture of a greener campus with ecological gardens spread throughout. The gardens would serve to eliminate the various issues the faculty was encountering in trying to expose first year biology students to relatively pristine environments, including pollution from school buses, direct damage to said environments, high costs and time constraints.

Shortly after the article was published, Dr. Willison, some graduate students and the Facilities Management began to draw up and debate various proposals for the implementation of an ecological garden on campus. Finally, in the summer of 1997, the Pond was dug in the naturally occurring wet area where it remains today. Ocean Ltd. dug the area for free and donated a liner, rocks from their quarry and volunteer labour. The grass in that area was no longer mowed and later, a decomposing organic material pile and both Gypsum and Halifax slate were added to enhance the area. The Pond is of human construction, but is still an excellent example of the purpose of nature conservation: conserving a space for the future.

Unfortunately, the Pond is rarely used by biology professors today. However, it remains as an example of what happens when a plot of land is left to its own devices. It is a beautiful spot to walk by and is incredibly diverse despite its small size. With Dalhousie geared up to start extensive renovations in the near future, does the Ocean Pond have a place on campus? Will we lose one of our relatively untouched green spaces? If so, do the new campus plans include space for other untouched pockets of ‘wilderness’? How do we quantify the value of something as important and as abstract as nature?

Next time you’re walking to class, stop beside the Ocean Pond and take a minute to breathe in the sea air. You won’t regret the clarity and focus that can come from even a moment of immersion in a space untouched.  

(All information from http://biotype.biology.dal.ca/oceanPond/Index.htm)

Green Energy Technology

Effective energy harnessing technologies are important because they provide us with the ability to outlast our dependence on fossil fuels and avoid the negative impact they have on the environment. The cleanest and most efficient methods of energy transfer involve solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, and hydro-power. The least efficient or potentially harmful energy production methods include the burning of coal and oil because they release harmful pollutants into the air, and the utilization of fissionable material due to the consequent production of harmful radioactive waste. An individual aiming to reduce their energy bill and help the environment at the same time will find personal solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heating to their liking. The cost for these systems is high initially but remember that they pay for themselves over and over in time.

Fossil fuels in the form of Coal and oil have supplied us with the combustible material for energy during the recent past. The combustion of these fuels has increased the amount of green house gas emitted enough to change the very climate of the planet. These fuels aren’t clean burning and their utilization comes at an increased release of CO2 and other pollutants. The main reason to avoid relying on fossil fuels is that they wont be around forever. It has taken since prehistoric times to accumulate in significant amounts and will never do so again because we use most of the organic carbon around us rather than let it sit in the ground.

 The primary methods of harnessing the sun’s energy are photovoltaic solar cells, concentrated solar power and biofuel. Photovoltaic cells take advantage of the photoelectric effect. This effect occurs when high-energy radiation like UV rays, hit a material and move its electrons up higher energy levels to be released from the substance as photoelectrons. These electrons are usually stored in batteries until needed. Concentrated solar power focuses sunlight into a beam that heats a chosen substance like water or gas causing it to expand and power an engine or turbine to generate electricity.  Biofuel is the stored energy from photosynthesizing organisms. Many modern fuels are a mixture of fossil fuels and biofuel to decrease emissions. Biofuel has the limitation of requiring valuable resources to produce. Whether it is worthwhile to clear forests and destroy natural habitat for biofuel that contributes by making an insignificant dent in carbon emissions is up for debate. Individuals looking to use solar power will find photovoltaic systems online that can be scaled to their needs. The expense of one of these units is around 300$ for a panel that generates 250 w.

Wind power is currently the most cost effective clean energy because it requires very simple materials and relies on an energy source that is almost always available to tap. Wind is likely the fastest growing green energy because of its simplicity and cost effectiveness. Individuals seeking to shift to wind power will find many others have built their own turbines from scratch and now partially or completely power their homes this way. New vertical blade designs even cater to residential and urban areas where wind tunnels may force the wind into odd upward or downward directions.  The cost of a standard wind turbine is around 2000$ per 1000w generator and can be considered nearly twice as effective as a solar panel because it won't function at night.

Accessing the inside of our planet can provide all the heat we could ever need. Geothermal temperature regulation takes advantage of the cross current exchange of heat between a solution and the earth. Ideally a geothermal heating system can increase or decrease the temperature to suit the season. During the summer months the earth is cooler than the air surrounding it, the opposite is true during the winter. By running long tubes of water deep into the earth the temperature of the water can be increased and used to heat the air of the domicile. Some major drawbacks of geothermal heating are limited access to the heat and the cost to tap into it. The price of a geothermal heating system will likely run in the tens of thousands of dollars but can eliminate up to 70% of one’s energy bill.

Dartmouth Lakes

Lakes in Dartmouth:

One of the most entertaining adventures is to make a trip to the different lakes in Halifax and Dartmouth.

Stop 1: Sullivan's pond:

Located in Dartmouth along Prince Albert Rd. It is enclosed by the city and has a rather big diversity of animals.

The water is clear, which means it's relatively clean, despite the fact that the pond is located in the middle of the city and is frequented by many.

You can find ducks, crows, seagulls, pigeons and fish.

 

There are many signs posted around the lake to remind people not to feed the animals. The main reason for that is that some birds are migratory, so feeding them would prevent them from leaving whenever the time is right.

Despite the strict laws and maintenance that apply to this lake, you can still find some garbage here and there.

Sullivan's pond is also a place influenced by humans.

Let's not forget Mr. Naturalist.

STOP 2: Lake Banook:

Lake Banook is just north of Sullivan's pond and is directly connected to it by means of two large pipes and some sort of miniature dam.

This elaborate and complex system seems to be part of a larger canal system.

Here is a view of lake Banook.

The lake is clean and the waters are clear.





Only two ducks were spotted in the lake. A seagull was flying around the lake. Fish could not be found, at least not near the shore.

STOP 3: Maynard Lake:

Maynard lake is a very beautiful lake. But if you want to check it out, make sure you wear boots. The tracks there are treacherous and muddy. It is found on Portland street, before Prince Arthur Avenue.

The waters here are clean and clear.



There are a few ducks and birds.





Rules still apply here as well.

I couldn't see any fish, but there was a fisher trying to catch some.

The tracks around Maynard Lake were difficult. They weren't straightforward and were very muddy.

Some minor traces of pollution.

STOP 4: Oat Hill Lake:

Oat Hill Lake can be found above Maynard Lake.

Waters are very clean and there is practically no pollution.

The tracks are a little bit easier than those of Maynard lake.

There were some ducks and birds.

STOP 5: Penhorn Lake:

Penhorn lake was still partly frozen when I got there. It's located along the Circumferential highway and Penhorn drive. The area there is noisy because of traffic on the highway. However, the lake is surprisingly clean.

Some people were trying to catch some fish.

The path around this lake was extremely beautiful and soothing.

Finally, here is an extra. I don't know how to describe this, but...