00_study_guide_ecology.docx | |
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Who Speaks for Earth?
Below I have attached a video explaining the effects of the flint Michigan water crisis. This is one example of many that are occurring across the world. It may be challenging to see how these issues can be prevented, however, this is exactly why scientific literacy is important. Many political candidates openly want to deregulate industry in the name of having a more open economy to encourage job growth. However, the proposed economic gains are lost in health care costs, lost work days, and "clean up" costs. In a time where the economy is held up above all else, perhaps we should start looking at the long term economic costs of our short term thinking.
ecology_lesson_1.pptx | |
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How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
One thing all life shares in common is our need for ENERGY. Some produce their own food, while others rely on consuming other organisms. Despite the differences, all organisms within an ecosystem are important in keeping the ecosystem sustainable.
ecology_lesson_2-3.pptx | |
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Pyramid of biomass / numbers
Most of the energy consumed is utilized to maintain the organism and very little is stored. As a result the single best thing you can do to save our planet very well may be to become a vegetarian.
In addition to videos discussing the impacts of meat eating I have added a video taken from the ISS. The shots at night do a great job of illustrating how large the human footprint on our planet has become.
In addition to videos discussing the impacts of meat eating I have added a video taken from the ISS. The shots at night do a great job of illustrating how large the human footprint on our planet has become.
ecology_lesson_4.pptx | |
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The Carbon Cycle
We are carbon based life forms. Scientists tasked with trying to think of possible alien life have yet to imagine an organism that does not utilize carbon. Knowing how carbon is cycled through our environment is important to understanding how the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems interact.
ecology_lesson_5.pptx | |
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Carbon Cycle Adventure
You are a carbon atom.... you will be photosynthesized, eaten, respired, and much much more. The processes that govern the global cycling of carbon will be going on until the eventual death of our planet. Even the carbon trapped in sedimentary rocks will one day be recycled into the mantle of our planet and spewed forth via volcanic action.
carboncycleadventurestory_booklet.compressed.pdf | |
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Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming, and Climate Change
The increase in global levels of greenhouse gases over such a short time is unprecedented in the story of climate as told from ice core samples. This global experiment has been a devastating success, with no end currently in sight. I for one am hoping that we can find an alternative means of fulfilling our energy needs before it is too late.
From 1880 to today we have increased the global temperature by 0.85 degrees Celsius. We have witnessed the ice caps disappearing in front of our eyes, the permafrost melting, more energetic storms, floods, and droughts. If we continue on our current emission path the big fear is runaway climate change that we cannot stop due to the positive feedback mechanisms on our planet. Some scientists say this could happen at an increase of two degrees Celsius, which will likely still happen if we stopped emissions today, others say at six degrees Celsius, which we are on track to hit this century. If this happens the surface of our planet would look extremely different, with mass extinctions in the range of half of life on earth, drought over almost half of habitable land, and sea levels rising several meters.
From 1880 to today we have increased the global temperature by 0.85 degrees Celsius. We have witnessed the ice caps disappearing in front of our eyes, the permafrost melting, more energetic storms, floods, and droughts. If we continue on our current emission path the big fear is runaway climate change that we cannot stop due to the positive feedback mechanisms on our planet. Some scientists say this could happen at an increase of two degrees Celsius, which will likely still happen if we stopped emissions today, others say at six degrees Celsius, which we are on track to hit this century. If this happens the surface of our planet would look extremely different, with mass extinctions in the range of half of life on earth, drought over almost half of habitable land, and sea levels rising several meters.
ecology_lesson_6.pptx | |
File Size: | 633 kb |
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what_is_climate_change.docx | |
File Size: | 144 kb |
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Before the Flood
I hope you enjoyed the exploration of climate change and how humans are shaping our planet. I hope this has inspired you to care more about the life support systems of our planet and the future habitability of our pale blue dot.
With an issue ripe with ignorance and denial-ism, how do we change the future?
What legacy will we leave for future generations?
Glaciers have been called the canary in the "climate change" coal mine. It is where you can see climate change happening at an alarming rate. James Balog has done an amazing job inspiring millions to consider the effect we our having on our planet.
Check out the documentary Chasing Ice, exploring climate change as told through the story of Glaciers. For those of you still thinking that you can't have an impact in the climate change debate, or any scientific debate for that matter, look at what James (a photographer) was able to accomplish. His imagery is a visceral experience that reaches far more people than a graph or statistics.
With an issue ripe with ignorance and denial-ism, how do we change the future?
What legacy will we leave for future generations?
Glaciers have been called the canary in the "climate change" coal mine. It is where you can see climate change happening at an alarming rate. James Balog has done an amazing job inspiring millions to consider the effect we our having on our planet.
Check out the documentary Chasing Ice, exploring climate change as told through the story of Glaciers. For those of you still thinking that you can't have an impact in the climate change debate, or any scientific debate for that matter, look at what James (a photographer) was able to accomplish. His imagery is a visceral experience that reaches far more people than a graph or statistics.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Ohhhh those tiny little bacteria that gross us out and make us sick. Well those little guys are also responsible for all processes the govern the movement of nitrogen in our ecosystems. Without these bacteria no plant or animal life on our planet would exist.
The importance of the nitrogen cycle to our everyday lives is often taken for granted. However, is our influence in the nitrogen cycle to grow our food (fertilizers) having negative consequences in the ecosystems of our planet?
The importance of the nitrogen cycle to our everyday lives is often taken for granted. However, is our influence in the nitrogen cycle to grow our food (fertilizers) having negative consequences in the ecosystems of our planet?
ecology_lesson_7.pptx | |
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nitrogen_cycle_practice.docx | |
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Population Dynamics
The human population has exploded to numbers once thought to be well beyond the carrying capacity of our planet. Will technology allow us to continue to increase the carrying capacity of our planet? or will life look very different in the near future? The video below by FW thinking is an amazing look at the potential of expanding our carrying capacity.
I recommend you check out the book or documentary "guns, germs, and steel!" If you are interested in the history of colonization, disease, or technology you would really enjoy it.
I recommend you check out the book or documentary "guns, germs, and steel!" If you are interested in the history of colonization, disease, or technology you would really enjoy it.
ecology_lesson_8.pptx | |
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7_-_population_growth__resource_.pdf | |
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Invasive Species and Extinction
Species on our planet are going extinct at a rate not seen since the dinosaurs (based on fossil evidence). This mass extinction has been termed the Holocene extinction, and is almost solely caused by human activities.
Invasive species are playing a big role in disrupting ecosystems on our planet, pushing many native species to the brink of extinction. I gave you a brief look at invasive species around the world. However, there are MANY more examples out there.
Invasive species are playing a big role in disrupting ecosystems on our planet, pushing many native species to the brink of extinction. I gave you a brief look at invasive species around the world. However, there are MANY more examples out there.
ecology_lesson_9.pptx | |
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invasive_species_and_extinction.docx | |
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Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
We like to think we are above the problems that effect food chains on our planet, but bioaccumulation and biomagnification are a major worry. We are now finding more than 200 synthetic chemicals in the umbilical blood of developing fetuses. In the past we have seen how it can affect things like birds of prey, in the case of DDT, crashing their populations.
http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Toxins/Sci-Media/Interactives/Bioaccumulation-in-the-sea
http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Toxins/Sci-Media/Interactives/Bioaccumulation-in-the-sea
ecology_lesson_10.pptx | |
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practice_questions_bioaccumulation.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
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