Floods †A literature review Essay

Writer Linber LewisSchool Presidents College, GuyanaIf one asks the question, what butt end floods do?, then the following may seem like designation answers. During the summer monsoon season, heavy rains lay down destructive floods in Southeast Asia. In China, the floods of the Huang He River have been so frequent and devastating that the river is called Chinas Sorrow. Likewise in the US, record spring and summer rains in 1993 caused the Mississippi Rover to gush its banks, flooding farms and towns from North Dakota to Missouri, causing 10 billion dollars in modify and leaving 70, 000 homeless.These overstretchs attest to the destructive nature of floods. By contrast, Britannica Encyclopedia tells us that the success of the Egyptian Civilization was heavily dependent on the yearly flooding of the Nile to replenish soil moisture and fertility, and in any case to supply to irrigation urine.Since plants and animals are a part of human life, once gouge assume that if floods us urp us they volition affect them (plants and animals) alike, whether positively or negatively. Research shows that home(prenominal) animals seem to suffer greatly during conditions of superfluity water. According to the book, Where there is no Vet the infectious disease foot rot that attacks the hooves of animals, is prevalent during plastered weather and in wet areas. It is known that floods bring a stabbing increase in insect population. Consequently animals suffer from skin and optic irritations referable to these insects. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during the 2005 flood, more(prenominal) than 2000 animals were hardened during the early stages of the floods. They were treated for worms, diarrhea, nutritional deficiency, and respiratory and skin problems.The shortage of intellectual nourishment had also affected animals. GINA also stated that feed and molasses were distributed. According to a Stabroek news article dated 05/02/16, farmers at E nterprise on the eastward Coast of Demerara had to place in excess of 1000 cows on mud dams. In addition, many were stranded in swamp area, or stuck in mud. Many of these animals drowned due to cramps. Deaths of livestock were prevalent among cattle, swine, sheep and tooshie due to abortion or pregnancy complications. Animals on mud dams also fought amongst themselves resulting in many injuries that often resulted indeath. Ducks enjoyed the water but were make to prey to caimans. Other poultry sought refuge on capital tops.With regards to crops, information garnered from Biological Science 1 tells that terrestrial crops will non fare well during or soon later on a flood, since excess water causes water logging that result inClogged piece of cake spaces leading to death of microorganisms in soil.Rotting of plan roots due to excess water.Leaching (washing a expressive style) of soil nutrients.A change in the pH of acidic soils.Surprisingly, Microsoft Encarta tells us that some varieties of strain grow with roots underwater in water, and that these varieties are more productive because their roots easily extract demand nutrients from water. But once sieve starts to mature, water is drained or pumped out of fields since a dry field is withdrawed for plants to mature and grains to ripen.In the same news article previously referred to rice, rice farmers in Enterprise lost over 300 acres of rice since the ripening grains were damaged by the excess water.However, when one looks at the reception of the ecosystem to floods, the revelations that spring froth tell a different story. According to record Encyclopedia intimately amphibians lead solitary lives, but for many species the need for water in which to mate, brings large numbers together at upbringing pools. This exodus is dependent on factors such as daylength, temperature change and most importantly weather. The annoying croaking of male anurans to get the attention of a female occurs more freque ntly during the rainy season. Hence the rains (a likely cause of a flood) created an optimum condition for amphibian reproduction.The Nature Encyclopedia also tells us that some fishes take physical steps toprotect their matter and thus build nests. The hassar nests, very common during rainy seasons are severalise that fishes also multiply in excess water. The sharp increases in mosquitoes during and after flood are due to the fact that their larvae mature in stagnant water.When an area is flooded, aquatic plants spread in the stop the flow of water and trap silt. Silt greatly aids in bringing more vegetation (such as reeds, lilies and grasses) to the flooded area.But a deluge can also have negative impacts on the natural ecosystems. An example given over in the Nature Encyclopedia is the delay ion completion of metamorphosis in frogs. Tadpoles lose their gill for lungs, and lose their tail for legs provided that conditions are right, on their way to becoming mature frogs. But if environment is swamped, then the maturing frog will continue to grow but retain their gills and tails for longer periods in order to adapt to their surroundings. This delay in maturity means a longer elapse before reproduction. If this happens in large numbers (extreme cases) the frog population can be affected.