Course: CP Environmental Science Year: Teacher: Rebekah Polemeni

Transcription

1 Course: CP Environmental Science Year: Teacher: Rebekah Polemeni Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Science Approximate Time Frame: 2 weeks -Environmental Scientists apply scientific principles to identify and solve problems affecting our How are humans impacting the environment? How do humans impact common resources? Humans have a profound effect on the world s ecosystem -The depletion of natural resources threatens our way of life -Environmental decisions vary in complexity and cost Identify major problems: resource depletion, pollution, extinction -Identify renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources -Identify the differences between developed and developing countries - Describe the use of common resources and the Tragedy of the Commons Humans are using almost all resources faster than they can be replaced -Pollution is the introduction of something harmful or unwanted into an ecosystem and can wipeout entire ecosystems and harm human health -Most species are becoming extinct because the areas in which they live are being destroyed -Renewable energy resources are replaced by nature in a relatively short period of time -Nonrenewable resources are not replaced by nature in a fast manner -Countries may vastly differ in incomes and standards of living Biosphere Developed Countries Developing Countries Environment Environmental Science Natural Resource Nonrenewable Resource Renewable Resource Pollution Extinction Population Crisis Sustainable Tragedy of the Commons Unit 2: Environmental Science and the Scientific Method Approximate Time Frame: 2 Weeks Essential Enduring Skills Content Vocabulary understand the process of science, and be able to apply scientific principles to identify and solve problems Applied sciences utilize pure sciences as a way to solve complex problems. How is the scientific method used to solve issues? What is the difference between applied and pure sciences Environmental Science is an applied science that utilizes knowledge from pure sciences as a way of understanding the natural world. Environmental Decision making is utilized to determine the best course of action to solve problems. -Identify what is and isn t science. -Differentiate between and give examples of: hypotheses, theories and laws. -Explain and list examples that support the durability of science but emphasize that it is open to change. -Identify the focus and importance of studying science. -List 3 ways scientific knowledge and problem solving benefit people The steps of problem solving include gathering information, considering values, exploring consequences, and making a decision. Inference Law Model Observation Peer review Scientist Theory Inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning Positive Feedback Loops Negative Feedback Loops

2 Unit 3: Scientific investigations in Environmental Science Approximate Time Frame: 1 week Essential Questions Enduring Understandings Skills Content Vocabulary How do Environmental Effectively use metric measurement The scientific method is used to solve scientists Scientists make equipment to obtain quantitative data. problems. understand the process investigat clear distinctions of science, and be able e a between Recognize safety hazards and take the Scientists create hypothesis and make to apply scientific problem observations, necessary precautions during lab predictions in order to solve principles to identify and inferences, and activities. problems. and solve problems. report their findings? predictions How can we insure that investigations are both safe and consistent with scientific principles? Scientists incorporate the use of the scientific method to solve problems. Design and conduct an experiment using the scientific method. Considered costs and benefits when choosing a strategy for solving a problem. Write a complete lab report including the steps of the scientific method. When a problem cannot be solved using the scientific method, scientists use the correlation method. The scientific habits of mind include curiosity, skepticism, honesty, and creativity. Environmental scientists use statistics to analyze data. Environmental Scientists use physical, graphical, and conceptual models. Analysis Controlled experiment Dependent variable Independent variable Control Controlled variables Hypothesis Unit 4: Ecosystems and How They Work Approximate Time Frame: 3 weeks Essential Enduring Skills Content Vocabulary Life on Earth depends on interactions among organisms and between organisms and their What defines the environment we live in? -How does energy flow through an ecosystem? How does matter cycle through an environment? Everything in an ecosystem is connected -Ecosystems include all organisms along with their physical environment -All organisms need energy to survive; this energy flows throughout the ecosystem -Materials are constantly recycled Identify biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem -Identify the levels of organization in an ecosystem -Describe how energy is transferred in an ecosystem -Describe how water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur get recycled at various rates Living organisms are organized into levels from smallest to largest units -Nonliving portions of the ecosystem affect life in a variety of ways -Levels of organization include organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere -Life depends on energy from the sun either directly or indirectly -Producers use energy directly from the sun whereas consumers use energy indirectly from the sun -Food chains and food webs display how energy is transferred from one organism to another and show many Species Organism Population Community Ecosystem Habitat Niche Biotic Abiotic Cellular Respiration Consumer Decomposer Food Web Producer Assimilation

3 through an ecosystem feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem -The water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle are essential to recycling materials in an ecosystem - Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy provided through the process of photosynthesis and available to consumers prior to plant respiration. Unit 5: Biomes Approximate Time Frame: 3 Weeks Essential Questions Enduring Understandings Skills Content Vocabulary Temperature and Explain how the unique properties of A biome is a large region understand the precipitation water enable our planet to sustain life. characterized by a specific climate and importance of biome diversity and will be contribute to a certain types of plants and animals. able to describe factors regions climate. Describe how biomes are characterized that influence their and relate Earth's 3 main climate zones Plants of a particular biome have global locations and to the terrestrial biomes. adaptations to survive within that diversity of their inhabitants. particular biome. How does altitude and longitude contribute to the temperature and precipitation within a biome? How does the amount of precipitation and range of temperature affect the biotic factors within an ecosystem? How do humans impact aquatic biomes? How do freshwater and aquatic biomes differ? Limiting factors impact the flora and fauna within an ecosystem. Freshwater ecosystems include streams, lakes, and rivers. Salt water ecosystems include coral reefs, salt marshes, and estuaries. Explain how net primary productivity varies geographically with latitude, temperature and precipitation. Be able to identify and describe Earth s six terrestrial biomes as to climate, flora and fauna Identify the basic characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems in Connecticut. Understand the importance of the biodiversity found in Earth s biomes and ecosystems Climatograms can be used to identify the amount of precipitation and temperature within specific biomes. Salinity, sunlight, and depth contribute to differences within aquatic biomes. Nitrification Ammonification Denitrification Trophic Level Precipitation Water Cycle Climax Community Succession Primary Productivity Open and closed system Law of Conservation of Matter First and Second Law of Thermodynamics. Biome Coniferous Deciduous Estivation Hibernation Permafrost Latitude Altitude Climatogram Adaptation Weather Coastal Intertidal zones Photic zone Aphotic zone Plankton Nekton Benthos Littoral zone Benthic zone

4 Unit 6: Community Interactions and change within an ecosystem Approximate Time Frame: # of Weeks 3 understand that life on Earth depends on interactions among organisms and between organisms and their How do interactions among organisms affect their ability to survive? Species interactions are dependent upon both biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystems. Explain the roles of tolerance and competition and their effect on where and how an organism lives. Discuss how resource partitioning decreases competition between species. Five types of species interactions competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism affect the resource use and population sizes of the species in an ecosystem. Keystone and foundational species support the growth of other species within an ecosystem. Ecosystems change overtime. Use examples from Connecticut ecosystems to illustrate predator prey relationships and organisms that practice herbivory or parasitism. Describe how predation can lead to the evolution of adaptations that enable an organism to better survive Identify the symbiotic relationships between organisms such as: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism and be able to give examples of each. Distinguish between native, invasive, keystone, and foundational species. Some species develop adaptations that allow them to reduce or avoid competition with other species for resources No population can continue to grow indefinitely because of the limitations on resources and because of competition among species for those resources The structure and species composition of communities and ecosystems change in response to changing conditions through a process called ecological succession Primary succession Pioneer species Secondary succession Climax community Biotic potential Environmental resistance K selected species R selected species Top down regulation Bottom up regulation Growth Curve Competitive Exclusion Principle Distinguish between primary and secondary succession. Unit 7: Understanding Population change Approximate Time Frame: 2 Weeks What Characteristics of Describe the following methods of Each population has specific understand that life on characteristics populations include counting a population: sampling, properties including size, density, and Earth depends on make up a the number of capture-mark-release, direct pattern of dispersion. interactions among population? individuals, age observation, and indirect observation organisms and between structure, density, Population density is calculated by the organisms and their and pattern of formula # of individuals/ area distribution In a mock scenario, identify which method of counting a population would be the best to use. Calculate the population density of an area when given appropriate data. Diagram and give examples of the three The capture marc- release method is used to identify the total number of a species within an ecosystem. Age structure Age structure diagram Population density Population distribution Population size Sex ratio Biotic potential Carrying capacity Density-dependent factor Density-independent factor Emigration

5 different types of population distribution; random, uniform and clumped. Use age structure and sex ratio diagrams to draw conclusions about future population growth. Unit 8: Human Populations Approximate Time Frame: 3 weeks Essential Enduring Analyze how population size is determined by births, deaths, immigration, emigration, and limiting factors (biotic and abiotic) that determine carrying capacity Questions Why is it important to keep track of population growth? Understandings Sanitation, food availability, and medicine have contributed to the exponential growth of the human population. Population growth can be compared using data regarding infant mortality, life expectancy, and total fertility rate. Exponential growth Immigration Migration Survivorship Skills Content Vocabulary Explain how technological advances in agriculture and industry triggered the World s human population growth. Explain how fertility rate, age structure, sex ratios, movement and limiting factors affect and define a population's growth potential. Identify the two main social factors that seem to determine a nation s population growth and resource use. Use real time Connecticut data to identify methods of calculating population growth and determine whether the growth is exponential or logistical. Use real time World data to describe a demographic transition and how economic growth can lead to social change and other factors that might affect population growth We do not know how long we can continue increasing the Earth s carrying capacity for humans without seriously degrading the life-support systems for humans and many other species. Population size increases because of births and immigration and decreases through death and emigration. The average number of children born to women in a population (total fertility rate) is the key factor that determines population size. The numbers of males and females in young, middle, and older age groups determine how fast a population grows or declines. Experience indicates that the most effective ways to slow human population growth are to encourage family planning, to reduce poverty, and to elevate the status of women. Demography Demographic transition model Growth rate Industrial revolution Infant mortality Life expectancy Unit 9: Biodiversity and Conservation Approximate Time Frame: 2 Weeks understand the benefits of biodiversity and explain the role of evolution in its development. Why is it important to protect biodiversity Humans are impacting the level of biodiversity on earth. Threatened species Differentiate between an endangered species and a threatened species. List examples in Connecticut Use the WWF s Living Planet Index, to show that extinction is on the rise. We are degrading and destroying biodiversity in many parts of the world, and these threats are increasing. We should prevent the premature Endangered species Endemic Extinction Extirpation Habitat fragmentation Invasive species Mass extinction Poaching

6 are declining populations that must be protected. Endangered species are likely to become extinct if protective measures are not taken immediately. List examples of how human population growth is threatening our planet s biodiversity. Identify the problems caused by invasive species. Explain the basic components of the Endangered Species Act and the CITES treaty. List an example of a species saved through a Species Survival Plan. Identify strategies used to protect species through both habitat and ecosystem approaches extinction of wild species because of the economic and ecological services they provide and because they have a right to exist regardless of their usefulness to do so. The greatest threats to any species are (in order) loss or degradation of its habitat, harmful invasive species, human population growth, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. We can help to prevent premature species extinction by creating and maintaining wildlife refuges, gene banks, botanical gardens, zoos, and aquariums. Unit 10: Human Health and Environmental Hazards Approximate Time Frame: 2 Weeks understand how human population growth and advances in technology have increased our impact on the How does the environment s health affect our own? Humans are impacted by the level of pollution present within the ecosystem. Compare and contrast epidemiology and toxicology. Explain how they help us understand about how hazards might affect our health. Major types of hazards faced by humans include cultural, physical, chemical, and biological hazards. Toxicity levels can be identified and limited. Know that individuals respond differently to all types of exposure due to their unique differences in age, sex, weight, health issues and genetic makeup List 4 ways that infectious diseases are spread, methods used to reduce risk of exposure and monitor the outbreak. Describe some of the chemical hazards that are in our outside air, water and land. Explain their sources, how we might be exposed, and the effects on our health. Describe the threat of bioaccumulation in organisms and give examples. Toxicology is the scientific field that measures the degree of harm a hazardous agent can cause. Scientists measure toxicity based on dosage, solubility, persistence, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and chemical interactions. Chemical hazards include agents that are flammable or explosive, damage or irritate lungs or skin, interrupt oxygen uptake, and cause allergies. Chemical hazards are defined by their toxicity, the person s acute and chronic reactions to it, and its pervasiveness in the The types of disease threatening people in developing countries are primarily infectious diseases of childhood while those threatening people in developed countries tend to Bioaccumulation Biomagnification Carcinogen Dosage response relationship Emerging disease Hazard Infectious disease Pathogen Pollution Toxicology Risk assessment

7 Describe how natural disasters can affect our environment and our health be chronic diseases of adults, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory conditions. Risks can be estimated, managed, and reduced by identifying hazards, evaluating related risks (risk assessment), ranking risks (comparative risk analysis), determining alternative solutions, making decisions about reducing risks (risk management), and informing decision-makers about risk (risk communication). Unit 11: Soil and Agriculture Approximate Time Frame: 3 Weeks understand that our planet s survival depends on our developing practices that enable us to use resources sustainably. How can we harvest our resources sustainably? Soil is a nonrenewable resource that must be conserved. Describe the formation of soil from bedrock through weathering and erosion to the final product. Describe a soil profile and identify the components of each horizon. Many of the poor suffer health problems from chronic lack of food and poor nutrition, while many people in the developed countries have health problems from eating too much food. Farming practices that support biodiversity and conserves an ecosystems natural capital must be utilized. Explain how the characteristics of soil indicate its ability to support plant life. Compare and contrast farming methods that erode and conserve soil. Describe methods that both farmers and ranchers can utilize to reduce the prospect of desertification Describe how U.S. and International organizations are promoting soil conservation. Identify ways in which pesticide, fertilizer and irrigation can cause soil pollution. The greatest obstacles to providing enough food for everyone are poverty, political upheaval, corruption, war, and the harmful effects of food production. We have used industrialized and traditional methods to greatly increase supplies of meat, fish, and shellfish. Food production in the future may be limited by its serious impacts, including soil erosion and degradation, desertification, water and air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and degradation and destruction of biodiversity. Aquaculture Bedrock Contour farming Crop rotation Desertification Genetic engineering Genetically modified organism (GMO) Irrigation Organic agriculture Pesticide Salinization Soil Soil Degradation Soil Horizon Soil Profile Terracing Tilling Weathering Trace the development of agriculture from its beginnings to the green revolution. We can sharply cut pesticide use without decreasing crop yields by using a mix of cultivation techniques,

8 Explain several methods of pest control and the benefits and risks of each Infer how the decline in pollinators might affect our food production in the future Describe the advantages and disadvantages of industrialized food production biological pest controls, and small amounts of selected chemical pesticides as a last resort (integrated pest management). We can improve food security by creating programs to reduce poverty and chronic malnutrition, relying more on locally grown food, and cutting food waste. Explain why sustainable alternatives good for both the planet and its people Discuss the need for the world to grow more food and how biotechnology might hold the answers Unit 12: Waste and Recycling Approximate Time Frame: 2 weeks Waste disposal methods and recycling have largescale impacts While materials can be recycled in an ecosystem, others accumulate in the environment and may affect the balance of the Earth systems. How do our choices as a consumer and waste producer affect our environment? How will our actions determine the future sustainability of our planet? New technologies and changes in lifestyle relating to waste disposal can have positive and/or negative effects on the Identify the categories of waste Describe the methods of waste disposal, including landfills, incinerators, and recycling Describe how producing less waste, composting, and changing the materials we use can be beneficial to the environment Describe hazardous waste and identify examples in industrial settings and home settings Identify hazardous waste management strategies Solid waste is categorized into biodegradable and nonbiodegradable, with varying risks to the environment Waste can be disposed in landfills, recycled, or incinerated Landfills and incineration of waste materials have both short and longterm impacts on the quality of the By recycling, humans are reducing the consumption of raw materials and improving air and water quality. Minimizing waste production, composting food and yard wastes, and the use of easily recycled or biodegradable items are beneficial to minimize the impact of waste on our environment Hazardous waste includes toxic chemicals manufactured through industrial process as well as chemicals Biodegradable Landfill Solid Waste Compost Hazardous Wastes

9 found in homes such as paint, pesticides, and motor oil Strategies to manage hazardous waste include producing less waste, reusing toxic waste, conversion into subhazardous substances, incineration, and land disposal methods Unit 13 : Water and Air Pollution Approximate Time Frame: 4 Weeks While materials can be recycled in an ecosystem, others accumulate in the environment and may affect the balance of the Earth systems. How does the environment s health affect our own? Access to freshwater and water pollution is a global concern affecting all living organisms Solutions to water shortages have both advantages and disadvantages Water and air pollution can destroy ecosystems Water and air pollution will negatively impact the health of living organisms and global climate patterns Describe how large amounts of freshwater are stored underground in aquifers Identify the advantages and disadvantages of desalinization, towing water, and water conservation Identify the difference between point and nonpoint pollution Describe how water pollution affects the health of an ecosystem Identify both primary and secondary air pollutants Describe how indoor air pollution leads to sick building syndrome Describe the formation and dangers of acid rain Aquifers, layers of rocks with holes in them to store water, are running low Water shortage solutions have both advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost and consequences Point pollution can be traced to a single source whereas nonpoint pollution comes from multiple sources and is difficult to control and regulate The presence of pathogens in water, biological magnification, eutrophication, and thermal pollution all have serious consequences on living organisms Primary air pollutants are put directly into the air by human activities Secondary air pollutants form when primary air pollutants reach with each other Sources of indoor air pollutants such as radon and asbestos can lead to sick building syndrome, directly impacting human health and quality of life Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions are causing the formation of acid rain precipitation Aquifer Groundwater Watershed Biological Magnification Nonpoint Pollution Point Pollution Thermal Pollution Water Pollution Air Pollution Primary Pollutant Secondary Pollutant Smog Thermal Inversion Sick Building Syndrome Acid Precipitation

10 Acid rain impacts entire ecosystems by affecting plants, animals, and structures Unit 14: Global Climate Change and Energy Resources Approximate Time Frame: 2.5 Weeks Essential Questions Enduring Understandings Skills Content Vocabulary Life has changed Earth's atmosphere, and changes in the atmosphere affect conditions for life. The use of resources by human populations may affect the quality of the Various sources of energy are used by humans and all have advantages and disadvantages How does Earth s changing climate impact affect life? How is electricity generated? What are the issues related to the use of fossil and nuclear fuels to produce electricity? What are the issues related to the use of geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, hydrogen fuel and solar energy to produce electricity? Several factors can impact the climate of a region Human activities are impacting the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, directly affecting Earth s greenhouse effect and Earth s climate The effects of ozone thinning have a major impact on the health of living organisms During the burning of fossil fuels, stored chemical energy is converted to electrical energy through heat transfer processes. Alternative energy sources are being explored and used to address the disadvantages of using fossil and nuclear fuels. Explain how the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere increases Earth s greenhouse effect and may cause climate changes Describe the effects of a thinning ozone layer Describe how electricity is generated Describe the issues related to the use of fossil and nuclear fuels to produce electricity Describe the issues related to the use of geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, hydrogen fuel and solar energy to produce electricity Important factors that determine climate are latitude, air circulation, ocean currents, and local geography The Greenhouse Effect is a process that causes energy from the sun to be retained by the Earth Global climate change is the result of an increase in the Greenhouse Effect due to increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere CO2 reduction strategies include a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and planting trees/creating more open spaces To prevent the destruction of the ozone layer, CFCs and other harmful substances have been banned in many countries -Burning fossil fuels or nuclear reactions can heat water to produce steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity Fossil and nuclear fuels have both advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, abundance, and consequences Alternative energy sources have both advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, abundance, and consequences Atmosphere Climate Weather Global Warming Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Gases Ozone Generator Fossil Fuel Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fusion Geothermal Energy Passive Solar Heating Solar Energy Hydroelectric Energy Biomass Hydrogen Fuel Cell

11 Unit 15: Sustainable Cities Approximate Time Frame: 2.5 Weeks Essential Questions Enduring Understandings Skills Content Vocabulary understand that our choices today will define the future sustainability of our planet... What are the characteristics of a sustainable city? There are political, social, and consequences of sustainable use of land. Describe the four components of city planning and the tools used by a Developer or city planner. There is a need for adequate monitoring of parameters when making policy decisions List the advantages of using zoning and urban growth boundaries when planning development areas. Describe how the philosophy of smart growth and new urbanism can begin to reverse the effects of urban sprawl by redevelopment. Discuss transportation options and stress the need for a mass transit system instead of individual vehicles. Almost half of the world s population live in urban areas and half in rural areas. Government policies, poverty, lack of land to grow food, declining agricultural jobs, famine, and war that force people out of rural areas are all factors that determine how urban areas develop. Urban areas are rarely selfsustaining, threaten biodiversity, destroy and damage ecosystems, lack trees, grow little of their own food, concentrate pollutants and noise, spread infectious disease, and are centers of poverty, crimes, and terrorism. Land-use planning, zoning, and smart growth can be used for planning and controlling urban growth. City planning Ecological restoration GIS Green building Greenway Mass Transit Smart growth Urban growth boundaries Zoning List two examples of why open space or greenways are important to city dwellers. Describe the goal of green building design and list several examples of how it can be utilized. Cities can be made more sustainable and more desirable places to live by creating parks, greenbelts, urban growth boundaries, cluster developments, mixed-use villages, greenways, and ecocities.

12 Explain how cities making progress toward sustainability may be the key element toward global sustainability