Week One

 

Environmental Science

 

1. Describe the historical development of the environmental movement.

 

1. Identify human population impacts on the environment.

 

1. Explain how principles of system theory apply to the Earth as a living system.

 

Course Assignments

 

1. Readings

 

1. Read Ch. 1–4 of the text.

 

1. Review animation and video clip resources available for these chapters.

 

1. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

 

1. Nongraded Activities and Preparation

 

1. Become familiar with WileyPlus, an interactive supplemental Web site designed to provide thechapter readings for this course. In addition to the readings, WileyPlus provides additional resources such as video clips, animations, interactive activities, and so forth, to help clarify the concepts covered in this course. The links to WileyPlus are available on the weekly course pages.

 

1. Individual Assignment: Environmental Science Worksheet

 

1. Complete the worksheet found in Week One on the student Web site.

 

 

1. Discussion Questions

 

1. In your opinion, what are the benefits and constraints of using the scientific method to analyze environmental decisions?

2. In your opinion, why is it significant to think about the age composition of a human population?

 

1. Why is it difficult to calculate the increase of the human population?

 

1. What is an example of a J-curve population in nature? Explain.

 

1. What are some social, economic, aesthetics, and ethical issues involved in a current environmental controversy? Explain.

2. What is zero population growth? Is this a reasonable and attainable goal for the global human population?

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Week Two

 

Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change

 

1. Describe structural and functional dynamics of ecosystems.

 

1. Identify how humans affect biogeochemical cycles.

 

1. Explain how knowledge about ecosystem structure and function can be applied to ecosystem management and restoration.

 

Course Assignments

 

1. Readings

 

1. Read Ch. 5–6 & 9–10 of the text.

 

1. Review animation and video clip resources available for these chapters.

 

1. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

 

1. Individual Assignment: Biotic Components Paper

 

1. Select a representative natural ecosystem in your area such as preserves or parks that aremanaged for native species.

 

1. Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper explaining:

 

o The major structural and functional dynamics (processes) of that ecosystem including changeover time

oHow humans may have affected biogeochemical cycles in that ecosystem

 

1. How knowledge about that ecosystem’s structure and function can help or has helped to develop plans for its management and restoration

 

1. Include two outside references.

 

1. Format your paper according to APA standards.

 

 

1. Discussion Questions

 

1. Identify a natural ecosystem in which you live or one near to where you live? How does this ecosystem support you? At what tropic level are you? Why?

 

1. Why can it be difficult to identify the boundaries of an ecosystem? How can environmental scientists resolve this boundary issue when studying an ecosystem?

 

1. Why is understanding biogeochemical cycles important to environmental science? Provide an example.

 

1. What are the similarities and differences between an ecosystem and an ecological community? How does this apply to your community?

 

1. Because ecosystems change and may recover naturally from disturbance over time, what factors affect decisions about whether human intervention is needed to help ecosystem recovery? Provide examples.

 

1. What are some human impacts on the natural cycling process of ecosystems in your community?

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Week Three

 

Natural Resource and Energy

 

1. Identify impacts to ecosystems and wild species from a growing human population.

 

1. Compare benefits and risks associated with use of nonrenewable and renewable energy resources.

 

1. Identify management practices for sustainability and conservation of natural resources.

 

Course Assignments

 

1. Readings

 

1. Read Ch. 11–14 & 17–20 of the text.

 

1. Review animation and video clip resources available for these chapters.

 

1. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

 

1. Paper Assignment: Natural Resources and Energy Paper

 

1. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on natural resources and energy. Include the following:

 

o Choose a specific ecosystem, such as a forest, a grassland, or a marine or freshwater aquatic

ecosystem.

 

oIdentify and discuss the effects that a growing human population may have on that ecosystem’s resources, including loss or harm to populations of wild species.

 

1. Discuss one management practice for sustainability and conservation of natural resources in that ecosystem.

 

1. Identify the risks and benefits of extracting or using one type of nonrenewable and one type of renewable energy resource from that ecosystem, or in areas near that ecosystem.

 

1. Include two outside references.

 

1. Format your paper according to APA standards.

 

1. Discussion Questions

 

1. In your community, what aspects of suburban sprawl and urban blight are evident? Identify how the effects from these might be alleviated.

2. Is your community people- or car-oriented? Why or why not? How does that affect energy use and sustainability of your community?

3. Are there personal impacts of having more biodiversity or less biodiversity in your community? Explain.

4. What is one major cause of present-day species extinction? Explain how this extinction came about and what could have been done to prevent it.

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of soft-path energy development compared to hard-path energy development?

Week Four

 

Environmental Pollution

 

1. Describe water management and its effects on the environment.

 

1. Identify potential impacts of environmental pollution to human and ecosystem health.

 

1. Identify causes of pollution and its treatments.

 

1. Explain the causes and effects of global warming.

 

Course Assignments

 

1. Readings

 

1. Read Ch. 21–25 of the text.

 

1. Review animation and video clip resources available for these chapters.

 

1. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

 

1. Final Project Instructions

 

1. Begin Economic Analysis Presentation due in Week Five.

 

1. Individual Assignment: Environmental Pollution Outline

 

1. View the simulation “Managing Environmental Concerns and Resources” found in Week Four of thestudent Web site in preparation to complete the outline.

2. Complete the Environmental Pollution Outline found in Week Four on the student Web site.

 

 

1. Discussion Questions

 

1. In-stream use is a controversial issue. What is your opinion on in-stream use and defend your stance?

2. How could your community better manage its water resources?

 

1. What is one way natural ecosystems can perform wastewater treatment? Explain.

 

1. How is the London 1952 fog event similar/different to the smog problem in the Los Angeles basin?

 

1. What are some of the causes of both indoor and outdoor air pollution where you live, work, or attend school? How does this affect that environment?

2. Why do you feel there is debate about policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? How can science help resolve the debate?

Week Five

 

Environmental Economics, Policies, and Choices

 

1. Perform an economic analysis of environmental issues.

 

1. Analyze the role of global, national, and regional policies and decisions on environmental issues.

 

Course Assignments

 

1. Readings

 

1. Read Ch. 27–29 of the text.

 

1. Review animation and video clip resources available for these chapters.

 

1. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

 

1. Individual Assignment: Final Examination

 

1. Prepare to take final examination.

 

1. Final Assignment: Economic Analysis Presentation

 

1. Perform an economic analysis on an assigned environmental issue in the world today.(Check with your instructor to make sure the topic is appropriate for this assignment.)

2. Prepare a 15- to 20-minute oral presentation accompanied by 10 to 15 Microsoft^®PowerPoint^®slides. (Online Campus students must submit a 10 to 15 slide Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation with detailed speaker’s notes). Include the following:

 

o Importance of economic analysis

o Description (general overview) of the assigned environmental issue o Economic analysis of the environmental issue

 

1. Costs

 

1. Benefits

 

1. Risks

 

1. Limitations

 

1. Problems

 

1. How economic analysis can be used to determine the most effective and economical regulations or policies (see Ch. 28 of the text) to help solve the environmental concern

 

1. Include two other resources aside from the textbook.

 

1. Discussion Questions

 

1. Who should manage the natural resources: legislature, public, scientists, special interest groups, and why?

2. What is an environmental issue in your local area that has been supported by a local conservation group? Explain the issue.

3. How have environmental regulations implemented by local politicians affected your daily life? Provide an example.

4. What has been the media coverage of a local environmental issue? Explain.

 

1. What are some of the federally funded environmental management projects being completed by Civilian Conservation Corps, U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. National Forest Service that have been completed in your area? Provide a summary of the project.