FREE ESSAY ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Ch. 1 introduction: sustainability, stewardship, sound science 
A. The global environmental picture - population growth, degradation of soils, global
atmospheric changes, loss of biodiversity
B. Three unifying themes - sustainability, stewardship, sound science
C. Brief history of environmentalism & modern environmental movement; some laws passed by
EPA
Ch. 2 - structure of ecosystems
A. Climate - pp.213-15 & pp.501-4 & handouts of diagrams (doldrums, horse latitudes,
ITCZ, gulf stream, NE + SE trade winds, Hadley cell)
B. What are ecosystems? Terms pp.26-28
C. Major terrestrial biomes & aquatic systems & oceanic profile
D. Ecosystem structure - terms pp.28-42
E. Diagrams pp. 37,34 (food web in general), 41, 45 (fig2-21)
Ch. 3 Ecosystems: How they work
A. Matter, energy, & life - know terms & examples of each - pp.54-66
B. First & second laws of thermodynamics/ Law of conservation of matter & energy
C. Know Endergonic/ Exergonic graphs
D. Know equations for cellular respiration & photosynthesis
E. Know table 3-1 p.54 - the 4 principles of sustainability
F. Principles of ecosystem function - Energy flow; Primary production; Energy flow &
efficiency; Gross/Net primary production; carbon cycle
G. Implications for humans - p.75 fig. 3-22
Ch. 4 ecosystems: Populations & Succession
A. Population dynamics - Growth curves, biotic potential vs. environmental resistance
(fig. 4-2 & 4-4); Know terms pp. 83-87
B. Mechanisms of population equilibrium - fig.4-5 predator-prey relationships; effect of
introduced species; territoriality; plant-herbivore dynamics,; competition between
plants; terms pp.87-94
C. Disturbance & succession - terms pp. 94-99; primary, secondary; fig.4-17; terms
pp.101-102 - 4th principle of sustainability 
Ch. 5 Ecosystems & Evolutionary Change 
A. Terms pp. 109-113
B. Genetics terms from notes & pp.113-116
C. Speciation (pp.116-120)
D. Notes on Darwin, Evidence for evolution & natural selection, as well as handouts
showing developmental similarities & homologous structures 
E. Limits of change (pp.122 - 124) & punctuated equilibrium
Georges Bank - Be able to label the map of the gulf of Maine, identify commercial fish
species; terms pp.293-297 & notes ( commons, Magnuson Act, Sustainable Fisheries Act,
etc)