1st test Wed, Sept 20nd

Bring: #2 pencilPhoto IDStudent ID#NetID (usually 1st part of e-mail)

Arrive early Sit every other seat. Neighbors should have different

exams (colored booklets)

Test Format

50 questions, multiple choice & T/F 2 bonus questions (one short answer)

50 minutes

Test Material

Any thing from lecture or readings is fair game

~80% of test from “Points to know” Mostly fact-based questions, some

concept application

Chapters from Book: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assigned Reading

Chapter 1

Dredging the Hudson River

Between 1946 and 1977 GE legally discharged over 1 million lbs of PCBs in the Hudson River.

Production of PCBs was banned in 1976.

The EPA ordered a $460 million dollar clean up project.

Is dredging the best solution (as seepage of PCBs continue) or should we wait at let natural processes (like bacteria) clean up this mess (may take centuries).

Chapter 1The Scientific Process

Scientific assumptions

1. The world is knowable - we can make sense of the processes that shape our environment.

2. Basic patterns that describe events are uniform in time and space.

3. If two equally plausible explanations exist, we should choose the simpler one - parsimony.

4. Change in knowledge is inevitable.

5. Science never provides absolute proof.

Chapter 1The Scientific Process

Scientific design

1. Data must be reproducible

2. Experiments should be replicated

3. Experiments should only differ from a control by one thing at a time.

4. Types of experiments (thought, observational, manipulative): blind experiments avoid bias.

5. Experiments strive to be both accurate and precise.

Chapter 1The Scientific Process

Reasoning

1. Deductive Reasoning: starts with a theory or general principle, makes predictions, tests those prediction. “top-down”

2. Inductive Reasoning: starts with an observation and then try to discover theory to explain those observations “bottom-up”

Chapter 1The Scientific Process

Critical Thinking

1. Identify and evaluate premises and conclusions in an argument - are they supported by evidence.

2. Acknowledge and clarify uncertainties and contradictions.

3. Distinguish between facts and values.

4. Recognize and asses assumptions.

5-6. Evaluate source reliability / Recognize coneptual frameworks.

Chapter 1History of Environmentalism

Pragmatic Resource Conservation

1. “Man and Nature” 1864 by George Perkins Marsh. Marsh warned of ecological consequences of American way of life.

2. Gifford Pinchot, 1905 first Chief of Forest Service. “There may be just as much waste in neglecting the development and use of natural resources as there is in their destruction”.

“…for the greatest good, for the greatest number for the longest time”

Chapter 1History of Environmentalism

Moral and aesthetic nature preservation

John MuirFounder of the Sierra ClubFought for establishment of

Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks

Nature for its own sake

Biocentric preservation

Chapter 1History of Environmentalism

Modern Environmentalism

Rachel Carlson

Wrote book “Silent Spring” (1962) - threats of chemicals to environment and people

Started modern environmental movement.

Chapter 1Current Environmental Conditions

Causes of Environmental Degradation

1. Human population (over 6 billion and counting)

2. Food shortages and famines.

3. Soil erosion and nutrient depletion

4. Water deficits and contamination

5. Use of non renewable resources (fossil fuels) over renewable resources (solar power, wind, biomass).

6. Destruction of biological diversity

7. Production of toxins, pollutants and other hazardous wastes

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sustainability

Overarching theme of book:“a search for ecological stability and human progress that can last over the long term”.

Sustainable development: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Matter and Energy

Matter is recycled through living things- C, N and P cycles

Most energy in ecosystems originates as sunlight.

As consumers eat producers, energy is lost in form of heat - only about 10% is conserved between each level.

First law of thermodynamics: energy is conserved

Second law of thermodynamics: with each transfer of energy, energy is lost

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Matter and Energy

Ecosystem - a group of interacting biological communities and their environment (biotic and abiotic).

Community - all of the populations of organisms that live in an area and interact.

Population - all members of a species that live in the same area at the same time. - unit where evolution operates.

Species - a group of genetically similar and potentially interbreeding organisms.

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Matter and Energy

Food Chains - a series of organisms linked together through energy transfer (predation).

Food Webs - a series of interconnected food chains.

Trophic level - an organisms feeding position in an ecosystem.

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus cycles

Hydrologic Cycle: the path of water through the environment.

Sulfur Cycle: essential component of proteins.

Most natural sulfur tied up in rocks and minerals

Human activities release large amounts of sulfur - increases acidity in water and soil.

Chapter 2Principles of Ecology

Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus cycles

Hydrologic Cycle: the path of water through the environment.

We will likey discuss these cycles in more detail later in the semester - do not worry too much about them now.

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

Tolerance limits

The minimum or maximum level of some environmental factor (abiotic) beyond which a species cannot survive.

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

Evolution

Adaptation: trait that allows an organism to survive in its environment.

Speciation: the evolutionary process by which new species are created.

Divergent Evolution: selection pushes species or populations apart in some characteristic.

Convergent Evolution: selection results in unrelated species looking more similar.

Divergent Evolution - related organisms become different to reduce competition.

Cardon cactusSaguaro cactus

Convergent Evolution - unrelated organisms look similar as a result of similar environmental pressures.

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

The Ecological Niche

Ecological Niche: the role of a species in its environment or all the environmental factors that determines a species range.

The number of niches may determine the number of species that can coexist in a community.

Competitive exclusion: no two species can occupy the same niche.

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

The Ecological Niche

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

The Ecological Niche

Chapter 3Populations, Communities,Species Interactions

Edges and boundaries

Ecological Succession

We will cover these concepts later in the semester

Chapter 4Human Populations

Follow the points to know from the three lectures.

Instructions for Wednesday

1. As you take your seat, please move to the middle of the row

2. Sit every other seat, put everything under your seat

3. Put your name and ID # on both the scantron and the test. On scantron also fill out test form, net id, and sign it. Use a #2 pencil to fill bubbles on scantron.

4. Do not sit next to someone with the same color test

6. Turn in both your test and your scantron. Show your ID.

5. Remove hats or turn them backwards.