Baby Woolly Mammoth
A number of television documentaries have aired recently concerning the discovery and the initial research on a baby Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) whose frozen carcase was recovered from Siberia. Each spring, as the winter snows thaw, a number of Pleistocene animal remains are discovered as they are eroded out of the thawing ground by the action of rivers in spate. These fossils, some of them beautifully preserved with internal organs and fur intact reveal that this part of the world during the Pleistocene Epoch was inhabited by some spectacular prehistoric mammals.
The Russian Mammoth Steppe
The habitat known as the Russian Mammoth steppe was a huge expanse of grassland that existed between the northern ice sheets and more wooded, mainly conifer forest that was to be found further south. A number of large herbivores grazed on the plains. As well as Mammoths, there were Woolly Rhinos (Coelodonta spp.), giant deer, several other types of now extinct antelope and horses. Living alongside these herbivores there were several types of predator, a number of species of bear, plus Sabre Tooth Cats and other members of the Felidae (cat family) such as Cave Lions and the slightly smaller Steppe Lion.
Recently, the body of a baby Mammoth was discovered and scientists from the international Mammuthus organisation have been studying this carcase in a bid to find out more about Mammoths in general and to identify how this particular young animal met its end. The baby Mammoth has been given the name Yuka, and as well as being remarkably well-preserved, this corpse reveals evidence with other inhabitants of the Mammoth steppe, including the possibility of human hunters.
Evidence of Human Hunters?
The skull and pelvis have been removed from the corpse, they were found close to the body but most of the ribs and much of the spine is missing. There is a long, straight cut along the top of the animal’s back, this was made by people, but whether it is evidence of the body being butchered as the remains rested on the steppe thousands of years ago or more recent human activity is difficult to determine.
The scientists are fairly certain that this young Mammoth was not actually killed by people. Yuka shows signs of being attacked by an apex predator possibly a Cave Lion or a Steppe Lion, certainly a member of the Felidae (cat family). It is very likely that this predator killed the Mammoth calf, human hunters may have discovered the carcase and removed some of the bones and meat, or perhaps they chased the lion(s) of the kill and took over the body, robbing the big cats of their meal.
Poor Yuka, seems to have had a very unfortunate and brief life. Healed scratches on the preserved skin shows that this Mammoth survived another attack by a cat – possibly an Eurasian Cave Lion, but much deeper wounds and a broken leg which had not healed imply that a second attack was either fatal or severely weakened the young animal.
10,000 Year-Old Woolly Mammoth Remains
The carcase provides evidence of potential ancient human interaction. Radio carbon dating indicates that this Mammoth lived right at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, perhaps it was one of the last Mammoths to live in this part of Siberia. The corpse is estimated to be around 10,000 years old. The long, straight cut along the back, in conjunction with other cut marks that show a distinctive pattern as if they were created by a saw-bladed cutting tool of some kind, provide evidence that humans have interfered with the body.
Looking for the Liver
If the liver had been removed, then this could be further evidence that the carcase had been butchered for its meat. The liver is regarded as one of the most nutritious parts of any mammal carcase. Nomadic hunters today, when killing and butchering large mammals such as antelope often remove the liver first. If the liver is missing and the body cavity shows signs of intrusion then this could confirm the hypothesis that some human hunters 10,000 years ago grabbed an opportunity to get some food from the young Mammoth’s remains.
The researchers from the International Mammuthus Organisation suggest that Yuka was about 30 months old at the time of death. In Africa, lions are known to attack young elephants (African elephants – genus Loxodonta), but this is the first time that evidence has been found of a Woolly Mammoth being attacked by members of the Felidae.
Tackling an elephant is a substantial task, even for a pride of lions. Often the elephants are aware of the big cats, but during daylight they can fend off any attacks. The lions tend to wait until dark, where their better night vision gives them an advantage over their much heavier intended victims. It can only be speculated, but perhaps a Steppe Lion attacked a weakened Yuka at night, finally bring the young animal down.
Much of the soft tissue is still connected to the bones, and there is a substantial amount of Mammoth fur on the remains. Fur is still on the flanks, on the rump and the feet, it is as strawberry blond colour, bearing out predictions made a few years ago on the potential colour of Mammoth fur after a detailed genetic analysis on another frozen baby Mammoth known as Lyuba.
Finding such beautifully well-preserved remains of these ancient herbivores will help scientists to better understand Mammoth DNA and traits such as eye and hair colour. Although, many Mammoths were a reddish-brown colour, the gene that contains fur/hair colour is very similar to the gene that controls the colour of human hair. This means that Woolly Mammoths could be as varied in colour as human hair – Mammoths could be blond, ginger or even brunettes.
Woolly Mammoths and their fossils seem to have captured the public’s imagination in the same way as dinosaur fossils.
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Succes in University
As students prepare to enter university, many are unsure of what to expect. For some students this is a scary transition while others are excited and ready for the change.
University is a great time to develop and improve academic, social, and life skills. This is students’ opportunity to meet new friends, network with future business partners, learn how to be organized and how to manage their time, and learn the significance of responsibility and the power of self-discipline.
Here are a few tips to help students in their transition from high school to post-secondary education.
Responsibility: For many students, university is a good opportunity to learn the significance of responsibility. Understanding responsibility means understanding that every outcome in your life is a result of your actions or lack of action. This means that if you are looking for specific outcomes, it us your responsibility to keep your actions in line with your goals. This means that if things don’t go right, you are not a victim of circumstance (e.g., wrong university, unreasonable professors, and too many social activities) but a victim of your poor decisions. Likewise, all great outcomes are a result of your right decisions and your right action.
Self-empowering beliefs: Do you believe you are capable of taking care of yourself and making the right decisions on your own? What you believe about yourself will have an impact on how things turn out. You can succeed, but it is a matter of believing in yourself and following up with what needs to be done. University is an experience to be approached with enthusiasm and a positive outlook. Clean up any beliefs that make you doubt your abilities.
Time Management and Organization: As you approach the beginning of your first year of university, it is a great time to brush up on your organizational and time management skills. The workload gets heavier and life can get more complicated with assignments, labs, readings, social events, family, etc. How organized you are and how well you manage or plan your time will influence how well you perform. It is important to have all assignments, readings, and events scheduled. Even more important is to stick to the schedule you have made for yourself as closely as possible.
Self-discipline: Many students are moving out on their own for the first time. The sudden freedom from parents can be exciting and liberating. Unfortunately, this may leave some students struggling with certain areas such as academic performance or organization. It is up to you to create the type of life you want while at university. As much as freedom is fun, it also comes with responsibility and responsibility can be achieved through self-discipline. Remember that only your behaviour produces your outcomes so make choices that are in line with your goals.
Motivation: Always keep your eyes focused on the big picture. There will be times when things get tough, you’ll get tired, and you’ll be confused wondering if you are on the right path. If you concentrate on your long-term goals, it will make it easier to get through the tough times. A social support group can also help you stick to what matters. Be part of a group that has similar values as you with similar ambition. In the meantime, keep yourself interested by creating new academic and social challenges and always celebrate your successes.
Balance your life: University is a great time to learn how to live a balanced life. It offers various social, sports, cultural, and academic clubs and organizations. Here you can learn how much time you want to dedicate to various activities, yet still giving yourself a little of every experience. While it is impossible to be perfectly balanced in all areas (some things require more time and effort), it is important to expose yourself to a little of everything. A balanced life will give you inspiration and even increase your motivation to stay on track.
California Colleges
Though California colleges have ready significant news bulletin recently for ever-increasing guidance charge, Californias known universities are systematically well-known for on condition that outstanding educations. Many colleges in California ready it on top of Us. News bulletin & Humanity News Greatest Colleges: Best Known Schools 2011 make an inventory. In piece of evidence, five of the best ten, together with the best two a skin condition, were California universities.
California Colleges: The Records
California has significantly further colleges and universities than supplementary states, allocation a scholar residents of larger than 2 million in 2006– a figure that has possible mature seeing as then as college enrollments countrywide have greater than before. According to the Resident Inside for Schooling Data, in 200809 in California here were:
147 known institutions (compared to a Us. normal of 32)
146 private, not-for-profit institutions us. normal of 31)
143 private, for-profit institutions us. normal of 23)
The Resident Inside for Known Course of action and Privileged Schooling breaks it along foster in its 2008 Present yourself Certificate:
35 known four-year California colleges
112 known two-year California colleges
200 private four-year California colleges
72 private two-year California colleges
California Colleges Present yourself Certificate Grades
The Resident Inside for Known Course of action and Privileged Educations 2008 Present yourself Certificate for California universities and colleges reflected the financial plan challenges the utter has veteran. Californias most terrible grades, C- for affordability and C for contribution, in principal reflected the latest guidance increases California has veteran (as to a great extent as 32 percent at a quantity of colleges.
Rising guidance has greater than before the percentage of revenue that students and their families allocate for schooling. In 200708 persons presence two-year colleges compensated 25 percent of type revenue on college, compared to 24 percent nationally in 19992000, that quantity was 20 percent in California and 19 percent nationally.
For four-year college students, in 200708, 28 percent of type revenue was worn for schooling (keep pace with to the resident normal) in 19992000, it was 21 percent in California and 20 percent nationally.