Apes Course Outline

Apes Course Outline

APES COURSE OUTLINE:

LABORATORY SAFETY ACTIVITY AND LAB QUIZ

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Course content, protocols, expectations, materials

Planet Earth: Earth Science Concepts: Origin, composition, and components of Earth [SC1, SC2, SC6]

  1. Earth Systems and Resources
  2. Earth’s 4 Spheres
  3. Biotic vs. Abiotic components
  4. Nebular hypothesis
  5. Formation of the sun, planet Earth, Oceans and Atmosphere
  6. YouTube video of Nebular Hypothesis
  7. Lab activity: Atmospheric evolution and modern structure
  8. Atmosphere
  9. Composition
  10. Air Pollution [SC9]
  11. Lab: Particulate pollution
  12. Lichen Study – long-range study
  13. Laws (Clean Air Act)
  14. Weather vs. Climate
  15. Seasons and tilt of Earth – mini lab
  16. Global Winds (Coriolis effect)
  17. Ocean currents – warm vs. cold
  18. El Niño/La Niña Activity
  19. Minerals, rocks, and the rock cycle
  20. Mineral formation/groups
  21. Mineral resources
  22. Mining
  23. Extraction
  24. Global Reserves
  25. Map Lab: All the World’s Minerals
  26. Map Lab: Issues/pollution – Historical and Recent Spills/Contaminants [SC9]
  27. Laws/Treaties
  28. GIZMOS Lab: Rocks and Rock cycle
  29. Plate tectonics
  30. TAZA Software: Plate Tectonics: Advanced
  31. LAB: Plate boundaries and geologic locations/features (volcanoes)/events(earthquakes)
  32. Geologic hazards
  33. Historical Geology
  34. Geologic Time
  35. Weathering/Erosion & Soils
  36. Chemical and Mechanical processes
  37. Weathering & Erosion Field Study
  38. Soil types
  39. Soils lab – using the soil texture triangle
  40. Soils lab – horizons/structure/abiotic and biotic components
  41. Soil depletion/degradation and conservation – Best management practices
  42. Culminating Activity: Lab 1A: Introduction to Environmental Problems: P x A x T = I
  43. Global Water Resources & Use [SC6]
  44. All the Earth’s water
  45. Location of Earth’s fresh and salt water
  46. Surface vs Groundwater
  47. Groundwater flow demonstration
  48. Water quality (fresh)
  49. Water quality lab:
  50. Leaf-litter macroinvertebrate analysis and chemical tests (EPA water quality parameters)
  51. Lab 13B: Freshwater Stream Water Quality Study
  52. Riparian Buffer Internet Activity
  53. Field Trip: Riparian buffer vs. non-buffered water: Chemical and Biological Measures of Stream Health
  54. Save Our Streams Internet Water Quality Assessment Activity
  55. Water pollution [SC9]
  56. Sewage treatment and septic systems
  57. Field trip: Water and Sewage treatment facility
  58. Laws
  59. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles – an overview
  60. Student research and report:
  61. Students will present one of the 5 biogeochemical cycles (conservation of matter will be presented in lecture). Student mastery will be assessed on inclusion of 5 major components of the presentation
  62. The Living World – Ecosystems/Energy Flow/Cycles [SC3]
  63. Energy Flow
  64. Conservation of Matter and Law of Thermodynamics [SC11]
  65. Photosynthesis and respiration
  66. LAB: Measuring primary productivity in an aquatic ecosystem and effects of nutrient enrichment [SC17]
  67. Food webs/chains and trophic levels
  68. Calculating energy loss through trophic levels
  69. Ecosystem Structure
  70. Populations and communities
  71. PopEcology Lab1
  72. Design Your Own Ecosystem Activity
  73. Ecological niches
  74. Species interaction and Keystone species
  75. Species diversity and edge effects
  76. Biomes – aquatic and terrestrial
  77. World Biomes Mapping Activity
  78. Rust Sanctuary field study
  79. Comparison of field, pine, and hardwood forest communities
  1. Ecosystem Diversity
  2. Natural Selection
  3. Bean Lab
  4. Resources and Survival Lab
  5. Evolution
  6. Ecosystem Services
  7. Natural Ecosystem Change
  8. Climate shifts
  9. Map Lab: Historical/Current Climate
  10. Map Lab: Desertification
  11. Species Movement
  12. Map Lab: Bird migration routes
  13. Ecological succession
  14. Comparison of old-growth/new-growth forest (effects of logging and replanting)
  15. Primary vs. secondary succession: Forest fire vs. abandoned field
  16. Rust Sanctuary Field Study
  1. Population –Concepts/Human populations/Impacts [SC4]
  2. Population Biology Concepts
  3. Population ecology
  4. PopEcology Files: Graphing lab and survivorship curve analysis
  5. Lab 10: Elk and Vegetation Management Plan: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
  6. Carrying capacity
  7. Reproductive strategies
  8. Survivorship curves
  9. Human Population
  10. Human population dynamics
  11. Historical population analysis
  12. Student-generated Time line: Human population correlated to industrial revolution and medical/technological advances
  13. Population distribution
  14. Fertility/growth rates and doubling time
  15. Calculating population growth – idealized and realistic equations
  16. Rule of 70
  17. Demographic transition and Age structure Diagrams
  18. Population Size
  19. Calculations
  20. Strategies for sustainability
  21. Case studies
  22. National policies
  23. Impacts of Human population growth
  24. Hunger
  25. Disease
  26. Mapping activity: Mapping movement/incident of disease
  27. Lab activity: Monoculture vs. biodiversity: Charting the progression of disease
  28. Economic effects
  29. Resource use
  30. Mapping activity: Global resources: Location vs use
  31. Habitat destruction
  32. Land Use Changes (Suburbanization/Urbanization, Transportation infrastructure and habitat/resource fragmentation/depletion and degradation map analysis and projected outcomes of future growth: Long-range study, predictions, and possible solutions
  33. Noise pollution [SC9]
  34. Effects
  35. Measures for control
  36. Land Use [SC5]
  37. Agriculture
  38. Introductory activity: “Tragedy of the Commons” – ‘Goldfish’ in a pond
  39. Food for a growing population
  40. Human nutritional requirements
  41. Types of agriculture
  42. Green Revolution
  43. Genetic engineering and crop production
  44. Debate: GMO foods and the environment
  45. Deforestation
  46. Irrigation
  47. Salinity
  48. Loss to evaporation: Lab activity
  49. Sustainable agriculture
  50. Agricultural practices: Comparison of Developed countries’ and Underdeveloped countries’ practices
  51. Mega-farms vs traditional farms: Comparison of practices
  52. Pest control
  53. Chemical vs. biological vs. mechanical controls
  54. LAB: controlling fruit flies – chemical and organic options
  55. Costs and benefits of pesticide use
  56. Integrated pest control/management
  57. Laws
  58. Forestry
  59. Tree plantations
  60. Old-growth forests
  61. Forest fires
  62. Historical vs. current forest fires
  63. Forest management
  64. Presentation by Loudoun County Forester
  65. The Logging Debate – Should our National Forests be used by the logging industry?
  66. National Forests
  67. Student research and presentation: US Forests
  68. Rangelands (tied into long-range studies of habitat/resource fragmentation/depletion)
  69. Overgrazing
  70. Calculating number of animals/acre: Cows, sheep, horses
  71. Soil compaction and permeability activity
  72. Deforestation
  73. Desertification
  74. Mapping lab: Encroaching deserts
  75. Rangeland management
  76. The Wolf/Predator Debate
  77. Federal rangelands – role of the BLM
  78. Other Land Use
  79. Urban Land Use
  80. Planning an ideal community: Lab activity
  81. Suburban sprawl
  82. Presentation by Loudoun County Planning Commissioner
  83. Urbanization
  84. Mapping major urban areas and natural wildlife corridors
  85. Transportation infrastructure
  86. Federal Highway System
  87. Canals and channels
  88. Roadless areas
  89. Ecosystem impacts (tied to long-range study)
  90. Endangered and extinct species
  91. Public and Federal Lands
  92. Student reports on national parks and forests
  93. Wildlife Refuges – presentation by international veterinarian and Wildlife Rehabilitation Certified Veterinary Technician
  94. Wetlands
  95. Chesapeake Bay
  96. The Bay’s report card
  97. Mapping anoxic zones
  98. Wetland soils analysis
  99. Laws: remediation/creation of wetlands
  100. Sustainable Land-use Strategies and Land Conservation (Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
  101. Imbedded content – wetlands, forests, prairie
  102. Vernal pools
  103. Student reports: US “report card” on natural lands/protected spaces
  104. Fishing
  105. Techniques
  106. Overfishing
  107. Endangered species
  108. “What to avoid ordering/buying”- comparison of populations of food fish in the last 50 years; Graphical and statistical analysis
  109. Aquaculture
  110. Laws (state/national/international)
  111. Global Economics
  112. Globalization
  113. World Bank
  114. Laws/treaties
  115. Energy [SC8]
  116. Concepts and Consumption
  117. Concepts
  118. Forms of Energy
  119. Power/Units/Conversions
  120. Brief review of Laws of Thermodynamics (ecosystems) [SC11]
  121. Consumption
  122. Historical perspective (Industrial revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis – tie into populations)
  123. Present global energy use and Future demands (tie-in to population growth)
  124. Comparison of cultures – developed vs. developing countries graphical analysis and projections
  125. Energy Resources [SC7]
  126. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
  127. Coal, petroleum, and Natural Gas (Hydraulic Fracturing)
  128. Production processes
  129. World reserves and global demand
  130. Map activity and analysis: Resources and geology
  131. Environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources
  132. Synthetic fuels
  133. Nuclear Energy
  134. Fission process/fuel
  135. Radioactive Decay Lab simulation
  136. Nuclear Reactors
  137. Types of reactors
  138. Virtual Nuclear Plant tour and operation activity
  139. Advantages/Disadvantages
  140. Safety issues
  141. Radiation and human health [SC9]
  142. Waste [SC9]
  143. Chernobyl – then and now
  144. Nuclear Fusion
  145. Hydroelectric power
  146. Dams
  147. Student reports/presentation on the major dams of the world
  148. Salmon and dams: impacts and strategies
  149. Maintenance
  150. Silting
  151. Environmental/Cultural impacts
  152. Renewable Energy
  153. Student projects on Solar, hydrogen fuel cells, biomass, wind, small-scale hydroelectric, tidal and ocean wave-generated electricity, and geothermal
  154. Web search includes physical plant/construction/mechanics (electricity conversion), locations, environmental advantages and disadvantages
  155. Pizza Box Solar Oven Lab
  156. Energy Conservation
  157. Efficiencies
  158. CAFÉ standards
  159. Hybrid and electric vehicles
  160. Mass transit
  161. Solid Waste [SC9]
  162. Types, disposal, reduction
  163. Solid waste inventory
  164. Pollution’s Impact on Human and Environmental Health [SC9]
  165. Hazards to human health
  166. Environmental risk assessment/analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; indoor air pollutants; smoking and other risks
  167. The People’s Choice: Endangered Planet video
  168. Student generated time-line of major disasters parallel to Environmental Laws/policies
  169. Calculating LD50
  170. Hazardous Chemicals in the Environment
  171. Types/treatment/disposal of hazardous waste
  172. Contamination clean up – include EPA superfund sites
  173. Hurricane Katrina
  174. Gulf spill
  175. Biomagnification
  176. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (Video)
  177. Economic Impact
  178. Cost-benefit analysis
  179. Externalities
  180. Marginal costs
  181. Sustainability
  182. “Design a Disaster” activity – students work in groups to create an environmental disaster. Group members role play – affected citizen, owner of the company/plant, Governor/Mayor of the town/city, environmentalist. Include economic/environmental impact, clean-up/remediation strategy, cost vs. benefit of clean-up/remediation, health impacts, time-frame. Presentation will include a “town council” format where findings are presented.[SC16]
  183. Gold King Mine disaster
  184. Assessment/predictions/solutions
  185. Alternate strategies for future clean-up
  1. Global Change [SC10]
  2. Stratospheric ozone
  3. Formation
  4. Role of UV radiation
  5. Depletion and effects of depletion
  6. Strategies to reduce depletion
  7. CFC’s vs HCFC’s
  8. Laws/Treaties
  9. Global Warming/Climate Change
  10. Greenhouse gases/Greenhouse Effect
  11. An Inconvenient Truth excerpts
  12. “How Big is a Pound Of CO2” Activity/Calculations
  13. Impacts/Consequences of Greenhouse Effect
  14. Bird Migratory routes
  15. The Monarch Butterflies in Mexico
  16. Reducing Climate Change
  17. Laws/Treaties
  18. Loss of Biodiversity
  19. Habitat loss (loss vs. fragmentation)
  20. Overuse
  21. Pollution
  22. Introduced/Invasive species
  23. Snakehead fish Odyssey
  24. Lionfish
  25. Zebra Mussel
  26. Hydrilla and the Chesapeake bay
  27. Endangered and extinct species
  28. The Story of the Dodo
  29. Ivory Billed Woodpecker
  30. The Story of the Passenger Pigeon
  31. Excerpts from The Sixth Extinction
  32. The Plight of the amphibians
  33. Maintenance through conservation
  34. Laws and Treaties
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