User:Preposa/sandbox

Parker- You initially picked a huge topic but we like the way you narrowed it down.. Assuming that your article is EARLY ORIGIN THEORIES, we suggest that you put it in the HISTORY section of the AQUACULTURE article. It will probably be its own sub-section of history, but you will also need to edit and change the history section that exists so that your addition makes sense and reads in a fluid manner. What you have so far reads like a summary of the one FAO article that you address. You need multiple sources and develop what you already have here.

Article evaluation: (Greenhouse)

• "The Roman emperor Tiberius ate a cucumber-like vegetable daily." This quote in its context is slightly unclear. Instead of simply "ate," the author should say "Tiberius ate a cucumber-like vegetable... that may have been grown in an early form of indoor system..."
• A source may be required to reinforce the French greenhouses or orangeries
• An academic/peer-reviewed source is needed to reinforce the actual date of the first greenhouses in Italy. Currently the source is a .com reference from "italiantourism.com." Could be stronger ~~~~

Potential Topics

History of aquaponics- Aquaponics is a topic that is receiving a lot more buzz lately as we enter a time where sustainable food production is in peak demand. I would love to add to the bank of knowledge pertaining to the history of fish cultivation as a source of natural fertilizer, where it has been used, who were the first people to harness fish as fertilizer producers, and where the practice is headed.

Vertical farming- this article has a fairly extensive history section, however could be added to in the context to urban potential and some of the projects within cities themselves.

Soil phytonutrients- Soil phytonutrients are essential trace elements found in soils that are thought to be the basis for a lot of the flavor and nutrient levels in our food. I would love to add/create this page and explore more about the role good soil has on taste/quality of food.

Parker's Aquaculture Draft (Improving)

Ryan and Jenny,

I would like to specify what is to be graded here:

The existing aquaculture article does a great job of explaining the development of aquaculture post 475 B.C, but lacks any information about how early history inspired aquaculture as we understand it today. For this assignment I chose to focus on some of the early origin theories of how aquaculture is thought to have begun. I decided to focus on early aquaculture because of the parallel nature it shares with the transition of hunter-gather societies toward agricultural societies. In many ways, early adoption of aquaculture likely shared many of the similarities that the birth of agriculture encountered. Aquaculture is said to have officially begun in 475 B.C in China with Fan Li's "treatise on aquaculture," however there are many theories and constructive hypotheses that support earlier origins of primitive aqua-cultural practices. 475 B.C is when the first recorded written textual evidence for aquaculture was produced. Many others have stated that Aristotle mentions references to fattening carp in ponds and some scholars believe that Greeks and Romans may have been raising fish in controlled environments as early as 2000 B.C and maybe even as early as 3500 B.C in parts of Asia and Africa (Egypt).

START GRADING HERE:

Early Origin Theories

Determining the earliest origins of aquaculture can be difficult due to the minimal early archaeological evidence that remains, however constructive theories do exist. Early aquaculture theories are as follows: The Oxbow theory, Catch-and-hold theory, Concentration theory and Trap-and-crop theory.

Proto-aquaculture

Early aquaculture theories fall into the category of 'proto-aquaculture.' Proto-aquaculture is defined as any activity that attempts to increase the yield from aquatic environments. Some of proto-aquaculture practices include: 1. the transplantation of fertilized eggs, 2. trapping fish in environments that will allow them to thrive and be harvested 3. enhancing the environment of aquatic organisms (i.e, enhancing food supply, providing spawning grounds, removing competitors or predators from the area) and 4. holding organisms is primitive cages and ponds until they reach a harvestable maturity.

The Oxbow Theory

Example of an oxbow lake.

This theory states that human populations took advantage of oxbow lakes that naturally formed alongside the banks of streams and rivers. Over time, the flow and direction of the river would change and form an oxbow curve that could sustain fish populations. Seasonal flooding of rivers may have overflowed into these oxbow lakes, replenishing fish stocks. Fish populations during high flow periods would seek refuge in the calm waters of oxbow curves, creating a natural predilection to these calmer water zones. Human populations living near rivers and streams may have capitalized on this phenomena by enclosing the oxbows and enforcing the embankments of rivers then proceeding to harvest the trapped fish in the contained area. An engineering team commissioned by the Perak State Government in Malaysia tested the suitability of this theory in a study done in 1988.

Catch-and-hold Theory

This theory postulates that some fish farming practices were formed out of the necessity of keeping stocks of fresh fish on hand for rulers of ancient empires. Surrounding temples, castles, and palaces, water areas were already in use at the time for protective and decorative purposes. This theory states that these same water areas were eventually used for the rearing of fish for food. Many types of fish were said to be tested in these early ponds, however, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was likely the most successful species during the period. These early ponds and water areas were called “stews” in Ancient Rome. Romans experimented with local fish species, eventually importing common carp from the Danube in the first and second centuries A.D.

Concentration Theory

Concentration theory describes a phenomenon in which people in tropical, low-lying regions would capitalize on the formation of water catchments left after monsoon flooding had dissipated. In the rainy season, high water levels would swell rivers and overflow into flatlands. When the rainy season would end, the flooded plains would return to normal levels, leaving concentrated numbers of fish populations. People started fishing these naturally forming watersheds. As this practice progressed, people of these area began practicing better harvesting techniques and selection processes that allowed smaller fish to grow larger over time and allowed for increased yields of fish for human consumption.

Trap-and-crop Theory

Trap and crop theory of early aquaculture

This theory refers to an early aquaculture method that would have been practiced in marine or brackish environments. Populations living in these coastal communities established early methods of raising fish in cages and primitive traps. After early signs of overfishing and fish stock depletion, larger catchments and cages were likely introduced. Methods of harvesting less as often and allowing the fish to grow to maturity, and started the resemble primitive forms of aquaculture we know of today.

END

Feedback from Ethan Wolf on the Aquaculture article so far:

Sources look good. Tone is good, seems very neutral. There are some spelling errors and grammatical ones, ones that Parker no doubt knows about like, "seen t naturally ebbed...". There isn't too much to review, but the sources are sound, and the hopes for what to add look good. Maybe he could highlight farms around the world doing sustainable aquaculture.

Comments: Annie Burkus

I think you really need to add what aquaculture is because I have no idea so trying to understand the different types of practices is hard without basic understanding. (That being said, I have a feeling you are adding this to an existing page that may already define aquaculture and I am just an idiot - so you can ignore my comment if you are adding to a page). Second, your tone of voice is very wiki and straight forward which is good. I think expansion on raising aquatic life is a good idea. Can you add pictures? I love pictures. I think it is important to include a section on modern day aquaculture because it often in the media. It would be super interesting for you to draw comparison of modern day aquaculture to early aquaculture. Could just be a quick short sentences - no need for specific section dedicated to the comparison. You should definitely talk about sustainability - how has that changed as aquaculture has changed from early to modern. Great start!

Alexa's Peer Review I think there's a good structure for the elements that you have, and I see a successful final product in the making. However, I feel you sort of jumped ahead by not starting with a baseline definition for aquaculture. Even though someone may conclude what it is (which isn't hard), it's still important to clarify and provide background information. To elevate this even further, images for each theory would be a great addition. You're doing amazing!

Bardach, J.E., J.H. Ryther and W.O. McLarney, 1972 Aquaculture; the farming and husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms. Wiley-Interscience, N.Y. 1972: XIII + 868 p.