BIO 220 Grand Canyon All Weeks Discussions

BIO 220 Grand Canyon All Weeks Discussions

BIO220

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussion 1

Choose an environmental issue from your textbook, or from your own personal experience and explain how this environmental issue directly affects you. What is the role of environmental science in addressing this issue? What challenges do you believe are the obstacles that would hinder the recommendations of environmental scientists to address this environmental issue from being successfully implemented?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussion 2

Go to the following website to determine your personal footprint:.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm”>.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm”>http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm Report the result of your personal footprint assessment. What factors do you think had the most effect on your footprint? What can you do to change your footprint? (Note: For those students using a Screen Reader refer to the Directions for Screen Reader Users.)

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 2 Discussion 1

Select an example of a global biome and an example of an ecosystem found in that global biome (grassland, forest, desert). What kind of animals and plants would you expect to make up that ecosystem? Provide one symbiotic relationship example within your selected ecosystem (such as mutualism, commensalism, and predator prey).

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 2 Discussion 2

View Biome Explorer located in the Topic 2 materials. Choose a biome and a scenario and explain how conservation genetics (refer to the lecture notes and textbook for examples) could affect the survival of any of the species in the scenario. Other than the factors identified in the media piece, what other factors can you identify that contribute to the growth, stability, and decline of a species’ population?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 3 Discussion 1

Many people outside of China believe that the country’s effort to reduce birth rates, through its one-child policy, does not justify its methods. Do you agree? Can you think of any future, unintended consequences for China as a result of adopting this policy? Offer an alternative technique (one not currently used by China) to reduce a country’s fertility rates that you believe would be less controversial.

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 3 Discussion 2

Consider the most recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Describe the various mechanisms and pathways that transport toxins to the environment. Note: Avoid only talking about the oil spill affecting people in Mexico.

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussion 1

Explain how employing best practices in farming can benefit both the farmer and the environment. Explain the consequences to both the farmer and environment for not following sustainable practices.

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussion 2

Given what you know about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), identify some of the costs and benefits associated with GMO crops. Which of the costs and benefits do you find most important? Why? Support your response with scientific rationale based on concepts you learned from the readings.

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussion 1

Explain why biodiversity is important for the survival of species, including humans. How could the destruction of the rainforest, and its biodiversity, affect people living in the United States?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussion 2

How would you balance human preferences—such as aesthetics, utility, and cost—with biological considerations such as biodiversity, ecological authenticity, and evolutionary potential? Provide an example of you would achieve this balance.

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 6 Discussion 1

Study the following articles:

.ehow.com/info_8259688_plants-animals-around-volcanoes.html”>http://www.ehow.com/info_8259688_plants-animals-around-volcanoes.html .nps.gov/sucr/naturescience/index.htm”>http://www.nps.gov/sucr/naturescience/index.htm

Based on the above articles and your understanding of ecosystems and populations from this course, explain how volcanoes both destroy and rejuvenate ecosystems. Make a prediction about how the succession of plants and animals will unfold as the landscape at Sunset Crater Monument recovers from the volcanic eruption. What are other geological risks that could have positive and negative impacts?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 6 Discussion 2

Drilling for oil in the Arctic, off the coast of California, and in the Gulf of Mexico is a controversial issue. Based on the 2010 British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, provide reasons both for drilling and against drilling in these locations. Which side of the argument do you find more persuasive? Why?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 7 Discussion 1

Describe the hydrologic cycle and various methods of water use and management. What changes might occur in the hydrologic cycle if our climate were to warm up or cool down significantly?

 

BIO 220 Grand Canyon Week 7 Discussion 2

Obtain a water quality report from your local municipality. If you are unable to locate a recent report from your municipality, use a report from a neighboring municipality. Post a short description of what you found. What are your thoughts about your tap water after reading the report you obtained? If you were in charge of your local municipality, and the report indicate organic impurities within the water supply, what technique(s) for water management (water pollution control, remediation, or water legislation) would you employ to address this problem? Predict how the application of the technique(s) would affect your daily life?