Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
The Green Sea Turtle, Sierra Rhiannon Brown
The Green Sea Turtle, Sierra Rhiannon Brown
PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Artist Statement
The Green Sea Turtle is a piece I produced as a part of my final portfolio for the Scientific Illustration course I participated in during the summer semester of 2022. The Green Sea Turtle is a watercolor and gauche painting on Bristol paper that was created as part of a collection representing each of the five sea turtle species native to the Florida coasts. Green sea turtles (Chelonia Mydas) are the largest species of hard-shelled turtle in the world, they are also unique because of their specialized diet which consists primarily of sea grass and algae. …
Rna World And The Development Of Rna Protocells, Benjamin C. Mayfield
Rna World And The Development Of Rna Protocells, Benjamin C. Mayfield
PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Origins of life research, also known as pre-biotic chemistry or astrobiology, aims to unravel the mystery of the first cell’s origin on Earth. This interdisciplinary field encompasses biology, chemistry, and physics, with the primary goal of understanding the conditions necessary for life to emerge from abiotic environments. The RNA world hypothesis suggests that early life initially used RNA instead of DNA to store genomic information and for enzymatic functions. Protocells, membrane-bound entities with metabolic processes and self-replication capabilities, likely preceded the emergence of true cells. The challenges associated with RNA world is currently an active field of research. Advancements in …
Alligator Skull, Katherine Weaver
Alligator Skull, Katherine Weaver
PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Artist Statement
Alligator Skull was created through mimicking the shadows on the bones of a giant creature with the dots of my pen. Living in Florida, I have known these animals my entire life, and I have been mesmerized by them the whole time. To see one humbled into a skeleton form is so intriguing. They are apex predators that encompass fear in many, but they are just as mortal as the rest of us. They only kill to survive, but the power they possess over the waters has humans either petrified or entranced. This individual from the Alligator mississippiensis …
Leafy Sea Dragon, Phycodurus Sp., Kennedi X. Light
Leafy Sea Dragon, Phycodurus Sp., Kennedi X. Light
PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Artist Statement
Leafy sea dragons, Phycodurus sp. are part of the Syngnathidae family. Syngnathidae is a genus made up of seahorses, pipefishes, and sea dragons. All three of the species are known to have beautiful patterning. However, leafy sea dragons got their name from their leafy appendages like their fins and limbs. The reason I chose to draw a leafy sea dragon is due to my own interest in astrobiology. Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe and astrobiologists look for signs of life within the universe. I would like to be an astrobiologist one day and focus …
The Florida Scrub-Jay, Emily Hill
The Florida Scrub-Jay, Emily Hill
PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Artist Statement
The Florida Scrub-Jay is a digital scientific illustration of Aphelocoma coerulescens, the only native bird species endemic to Florida. This piece celebrates the natural beauty of the Florida scrub-jay and its key features that allow it to thrive in scrub habitats. These habitats are threatened by anthropogenic activity and climate change, leading to the fragmentation, degradation, or eventual loss of these areas. Through this artwork, I hope to emphasize the importance of conservation and inspire viewers to appreciate and protect this bird species.
Every stroke and color choice were carefully considered to accurately depict the bird’s physical attributes. …