User:Kzakarian/Choose an Article

Article Selection
Please list articles that you're considering for your Wikipedia assignment below. Begin to critique these articles and find relevant sources.

Option 1

 * Ocean Zoning
 * Article Evaluation
 * After going through this article stub on ocean zoning, I think that this marine conservation topic can be expanded on, especially since water/wildlife preservation is becoming more and more of a prominent topic as climate change increases as a global threat. While the article lists the various zones or spaces that countries and communities establish as a way to outline what certain areas of water are used for, it does not get into detail of how these zoning designations impact those areas and the surrounding environment. I think it would be interesting to include not only a more elaborate picture of the benefits and detriments of ocean zoning but also the ways in which the climate and water crises impact the zoning process. One could explore whether or not humans have the inherent right to assign parts of the ocean certain properties for their own use and self-interest, and if these motives conflict with marine conservation. If, for example, a political body zones a territory as a space for recreation or energy production, what are the implications of this intrusion on aquatic life and how could such practices contribute to the increasing human encroachment on natural habitats and resources?
 * Sources
 * Ocean zoning
 * "Ocean Zoning Factsheet". Waitt Institute. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
 * Ocean zoning
 * "Ocean Zoning Factsheet". Waitt Institute. Retrieved 2015-06-08.

Option 2

 * Environmental Impact of Recreational Diving
 * Article Evaluation
 * After going through this article on the ecological effects of recreational/scuba diving, I think one of the main areas of improvement for this article entails a more in-depth description of the scuba diving sport itself and how acts associated with scuba diving as well as the history of the sport have had a positive or negative effect on wildlife preservation in those aquatic areas. The article does present a solid platform explaining the pros and cons of the activity from an environmental perspective, specifically describing the coral reef monitoring networks, conservation efforts, and detrimental growth of the scuba industry; however, individuals unfamiliar with recreational diving who read this article may not fully understand how elements of the sport can prove to be dangerous to underwater habitats, particularly towards coral. The article thoroughly discusses the fragility of coral reefs and the ways in which human interaction and movement amongst these old, delicate structures can be extremely harmful and unrecoverable. I think the organization of the article is straightforward and the referenced images give a clear picture of the sport, but an inclusion of pictures showcasing the impact that scuba diving has on oceanic wildlife would be beneficial to the reader and bring to light the importance of training to dive and being respectful of the ecosystem where that sort is taking place.
 * Sources
 * Environmental impact of recreational diving
 * Sources
 * Environmental impact of recreational diving

Hammerton, Zan (2014). SCUBA-diver impacts and management strategies for subtropical marine protected areas (Thesis). Southern Cross University.


 * ~Kzakarian
 * ~Kzakarian