Mini Report practice 2

UAE farmers have been learning about hydroponics, which allows them to grow fruit and vegetables using less water and energy. The technology uses 80% less water, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides than traditional farming, and gives at least 30% more productivity.

The system was imported from Holland and grows  plants without soil. Two government-run organizations, the Khalifa Fund and the Farmers’ Service Centre help farmers with the costs of conversion and with technical advice

Normally, productivity on Abu Dhabi farms falls during the hot summer months but hydroponics is expected to change that. The system can be used both in open-field farms and in greenhouses. All water is recycled and re-used. An open hydroponics system saves up to 40% of water compared to conventional farming and the closed system saves 60-80%. Productivity increases, maintenance costs are lower, there is limited chemical usage and the new system is easy to manage.

150 words.

Mini Report practice 1

The numbers of UAE houbara declined in the past due to two factors: first, the destruction of their natural habitat, caused by urban development, and, second, the trapping of the birds in order to train falcons to hunt them, as the houbara is not the natural prey of the falcon.

The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) has bred more than 13,000 Asian Houbara chicks this year, exceeding expectations. Apart from two UAE breeding centres there is also one in Morocco and one in Kazakhstan. Plans to introduce the birds into the wild have to be balanced with the needs of falconers. The IFHC conducted surveys at the 2012 Abu Dhabi International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition to get information on the correct balance needed. The exhibition, designed to represent Emirati culture and giving all visitors a chance to learn more about endangered animals, hunting equipment and locally-made items and to watch shows performed by Arab horses, camels and police dogs, attracted a worldwide audience.

164 words.

Extended summary 2

How do corals survive in the very hot Gulf waters? Is it due to a 4,000 year-long evolutionary process? Samples of Gulf coral have been analysed in a British lab to work out the molecular basis of the corals’ acclimatization to hot water. One reason for the corals’ success is that they live in symbiosis with a type of algae which produces sugar which gives the coral energy. In return the coral provides shelter and nutrients for the algae. It seems a perfect arrangement  but both coral and algae are entirely co-dependent. At very high temperatures the algae produce chemicals which damage the coral, causing bleaching. As a result many corals have been lost.

Still, overall, corals have recovered from damage and are surviving. How? Corals reproduce by fragmentation, which is tricky, or by larval reproduction, which seems to be key. Coral larvae are produced in billions during spawning and float around until they can attach themselves to rocks and so begin to form new reefs. Scientists suspect there may be seeding reefs upstream in the Gulf, which would strengthen calls for cross-border environmental protection agreements to protect coral reefs.

190 words