Unit 7 Blog

Welcome to the 2nd semester of APES!!!  

In the spirit of starting fresh, we are going to change up the way we write our blogs just a bit. First, I'm going to include a list of vocabulary words that I believe are important for the unit.  Instead of defining them like we have been, I'm encouraging you to make your own flash cards in a similar way that you have been doing so far this year (your own definition and draw a picture to help you remember them).  As we finish these last units, keep track of all of your flash cards to use as a study tool for AP test preparation.  That being said, you are no longer required to include vocabulary in your blog post!

Second, our discussion portion is going to the emphasis of our blogs.  This is an attempt to help you guys prepare for the FRQs that we will be working on for each unit and for your ultimate FRQ- the AP test!  The more comfortable you guys are with writing about these topics, the more information you will have to pull from and talk about when you are in an actual testing situation!  So.... here we go!  Make sure you pay attention to all parts of each question and answer each part thoroughly using complete thoughts and proper grammar!

Suggested Vocabulary:

• Maximum Sustainable Yield
• Clear Cutting
• Selective Cutting
• Ecologically Sustainable Forestry
• Urban Sprawl
• Urban Blight
• Smart Growth
• Undernutrition
• Overnutrition
• Agribusiness
• Energy Subsidy
• Green Revolution
• Waterlogging
• Salinization
• Monocropping
• Bioaccumulation
• Pesticide Treadmill
• Shifting Agriculture
• Desertification
• Nomadic Grazing
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Organic Agriculture
• CAFOs
• Aquaculture

Forestry Discussion

In many ecosystems, forest fires are an important natural process.  In recent years it has become more commonplace for prescribed burns to be used as an alternative way to manage forests.  Discuss at least one benefit and one cost for managing forests in this manner.  Make sure that for each example given, you discuss the economic, ecological and human impact of your example.

Global Nutrition Discussion

While meat is a regular part of most American's diets, many people in other parts of the world have a primarily plant-based diet because meat is very expensive.  Explain why meat production is more costly than grain production in terms of the amount of land required, the amount of energy and resources needed and the overall environmental impact of meat production.

Genetic Engineering Discussion

Genetically modified crops have become increasingly popular in the industrialized world.  Describe the benefits and costs of farming GM crops versus non-GM crops in terms of their environmental and economic impacts.  Make sure you discuss one at least one benefit and one cost for each impact.

Sustainable Agriculture Discussion

The dust bowl of the 1930's was caused by a combination of extended severe drought conditions in the midwest and poor farming practices.  Not sure what the dust bowl was???  Take a look at this 3 minute video to help you get a better idea of the utter devastation that took place!  Http://www.history.com/topics/dust-bowl/videos/black-blizzard

In an effort to avoid a second dust bowl, soil conservation has become a priority to many farmers.  Discuss at lease two examples of farming techniques that can be used to prevent soil erosion and improve soil quality.  For each example, discuss both the economic and environmental benefits of these techniques.  

Pest Management Discussion

Many farms have started using integrated pest management as an alternative to traditional pesticides.  Define IPM and give at least two examples of of how it works.  For each example, explain how this method of pest control is considered to be more environmentally friendly to farms than traditional pesticide use.  Additionally discuss whether or not the method is considered to be more cost effective than traditional pesticides. 

BIG Picture Discussion  

This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT (forgot what these were over the holiday???  human impact, environmental impact, economic impact and legislation that applies to the unit). Please tie in information you learned in your reading (chapters 10 and 11), from completing your assignments, the documentary we watched and from your labs.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.  Remember to be specific in your examples.  Do not just say "there are laws that govern this" or "people destroy the Earth."  Give me the names of the laws, what they regulate and who enforces them.  Tell me what humans are doing to destroy the earth.      

Blogs are due tentatively by February 3rd.  I'm still working out the remainder of the unit, but I expect to be testing that week.  Lastly, don't forget to PUBLISH your blog... saving and publish are two different things in the eyes of Google Blogger!  Happy Blogging! 

Unit 6 Blog

Hey guys!  So here's the dirt on dirt, since we have so many test grades this 6 weeks, this will be a shorter blog with only vocabulary and BIG picture discussion.  It will count as a quiz grade on this 6 weeks.  The instructions for the blog are below!

Unit Vocabulary- define each term in your own words and include a picture that ties in to the term to help you remember the definition.  

The list is below:

Asthenosphere

Lithosphere

Plate Techtonics

Tectonic Cycle

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Transform Fault Boundary

Physical Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Deposition
Cation Exchange Capacity

Base Saturation

Soil Degradation

Ores

Big Picture Reflection-  This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT.  Please tie in information you learned in your reading, from completing your assignments, the documentary we watched and from your lab.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.  Remember to be specific in your examples.  Do just say "there are laws that govern this" or "people destroy the Earth."  Give me the names of the laws, what they regulate and who enforces them.  Tell me what humans are doing to destroy the earth.      

Unit 5 Blog

Unit 5 Blog- The Human Population

Instructions for your Unit 5 blog are below.  Please pay attention to changes in the assignments.  

Also, THE BIG IDEAS are to cover the ENTIRE UNIT.  

You should be discussing your reading, labs, current event AND anything else you can tie in that we learned during this unit.  

If you only discuss your article, POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED!

Unit Vocabulary- define each term in your own words and include a picture that ties in to the term to help you remember the definition.  The list is below:

CBR

CDR

TFR

Replacement Level Fertility

Population Momentum

Net Migration Rate

Family Planning

Affluence

IPAT equation
GDP

Population Pyramid- no definition, just include an example of what a pyramid looks like for a country experiencing a high growth rate, stable growth, and a declining population. 

Making Connections- Review the theory of demographic transition.  Discuss the expected environmental impact associated with each stage of demographic transition (ex. as a country transitions from stage 1 to 2, stage 2 to 3, etc, what kind of impact does this demographic change have on the environment?)

Current Event- Find a current event that discusses the population control measures being taken in either India or China.  Summarize the article and discuss the pros and cons of these measures. 

Big Picture Reflection-  This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT.  Please tie in information you learned in your reading, from completing your assignments, the documentary we watched and from your current event.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.    

Turning it in- I have your link and will continue to put your feedback on the google doc I shared with you.  Blog is due Sunday November 30th (yep, thats right, you get through Thanksgiving break).

Unit 4 Blog

Unit 4 Blog

Instructions for your unit 4 blog are below.  Please pay attention to changes in the assignments.  

Also, THE BIG IDEAS are to cover the ENTIRE UNIT.  

You should be discussing your reading, labs, current event AND anything else you can tie in that we learned during this unit.  

If you only discuss your article, POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED!

***Make sure you are just creating a new post on the blog you have already started.  We should not be posting a new blog every time we do this.  Work on your blog a little at a time over the next few weeks, save as a draft and publish it when you are done!  Not sure what I'm talking about?  Ask me in class!***

Unit Vocabulary-define each term in your own words and include a picture that ties in to the term to help you remember the definition.  The list is below:

Species Richness

Species Evenness

Microevolution

Macroevolution

Evolution by Natural Selection

Evolution by Artificial Selection

Allopatric Speciation

Sympatric Speciation

Genetically Modified Organisms

Fundamental Niche

Exponential Growth Model

Logistic Growth Model

Carrying Capacity

Keystone Species

Current Event- Instead of finding a current event for this unit, I'm sending you to a website.  Go to Biodiversity HotSpots and review pages 144-147 in your textbook.  Pick a hotspot on the website to discuss (when you click on one of the regions, a list of specific areas will come up, pick one of those.)  Discuss the following points specific to your chosen hotspot.  Be prepared to discuss this portion of your blog in class.

• What is a biodiversity hotspot and why are they important?
• Where is your hotspot located and what type of ecosystem is present there (posting a map showing where your hotspot is located could help you here).
• Describe at lease one endemic plant species and animal species found here.  Explain what it means to be an endemic species.
• Describe the human induced and/or natural reasons why biodiversity is decreasing in the area.
• Explain what is being done to protect the area.

Pick a Side- In a paragraph, using AT LEAST 5 of your vocabulary words (they don't have to be the ones listed above, just any words from chapter 5 or 6 in your book) describe the ideal conditions in which a species will either adapt to changes in it's ecosystem and evolve OR conditions that would lead to species extinction.

Big Picture Reflection-  This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT.  Please tie in information you learned in your reading, from completing your labs and from your current event.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.    

Turning it in- I should have the link to your blog at this point.  Verify that I have access to view your blog through your privacy settings with my school email address. I will continue to grade your blogs on the google doc I shared with you two blogs ago to give you specific feedback.  Do the math- there are 4 sections, out of 100, each section is worth 25 points.  Be thorough and don't skip a section!  Due Date: Nov. 3rd

Happy Blogging! 

~Kays

Unit 3 Blog- Ecosystem Ecology

Please read and follow instructions provided in each section.  There are 4 sections, your blog should cover each!

Vocabulary- define each term in your own words and include a picture that ties in to the term to help you remember the definition.  The list is below

Ecosystem

Gross primary Productivity

Net Primary Productivity

Biomass

Standing Crop

Ecological Efficiency

Trophic Pyramid

Biogeochemical Cycles

Macronutrients

Limiting Nutrient

Leaching

Disturbance

Resistance

Resilience

Instrumental Value

Intrinsic Value

Current Event- post the link to your event along with a summary.  

Note- If you connect your BIG picture ideas to your article only, I will take off points!

Environmental Quote- (yes this is a new section, I told you I would be switching it up every unit.)  Respond to the quote provided below.  Based on what you learned this unit, give your OPINION as to whether or not you think this statement is true.  This is not a simple yes or no response, support your argument with supporting facts.

Big Picture Reflection-  This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT.  Please tie in information you learned in your reading, from completing your mini-project and from your current event.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.  

Turning it in:  Your completed blog is due Monday October 6th.  Please copy/paste the link to your published blog into the file I pushed to you in your school google drive.  Make sure you have given my school email account (see whiteboard in my classroom) permission to view your blog post.  Not sure how to do all of this??  See me for help!  Happy blogging! 

Unit 2 Blog

Hey guys!  So we are starting unit two tomorrow (A day) and Monday (B day)!  Unit 2 covers chapter 4 in your book.  The reading is divided into two parts, with a reading quiz for each part due on Sundays.  Part 1 is pages 87-99 (quiz due by 9/14) and part 2 is pages 99-114 (quiz due by 9/21).  

Your blog for this unit needs to include the following items: 

Vocabulary- define each term in your own words and include a picture that ties in to the term to help you remember the definition.  The list is below

Climate

Troposphere

Stratosphere

Albedo

Hadley Cells

ITCZ

Polar Cells

Coloilis Effect

Gyres

Upwelling

Thermohaline Circulation

ENSO

Rain Shadow

Current Event-  Like before you need to post the link and summarize it.  Unlike before, you do not have to tie it in to the the four big principals, that will be for your reflection.

Reflection-  This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to this unit.  You can tie in information you learned in your reading, from completing your project and from your current event.  Not sure what those BIG PICTURE topics were??  Go back and look at your notes from unit 1 and your previous post!  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.  

Remember, these blog posts will count as a test grade from this unit on.  The requirements will change as we progress through the school year (we may need to reflect on a lab or another activity we have completed in the unit), but the vocabulary, current event and reflection will be included in every unit!  Happy blogging! 

~Kays

Unit 1- Current Event Example

Hey guys!  Welcome to my APES BLOG!!!

You are required to maintain a blog throughout the school year for each unit we study.  Please take a moment to set up your blog using blogger. Feel free to personalize your blog as little or as much as you would like.  I'm not concerned about the format, only that the content is there.  After you have set up your blog, please complete your first assignment.  An example is provided for you below.  Your blog may be as public or private as you would like, the only requirement is that I have access to view it.  Please share your blog with me with your first assignment completed by Friday August 28th (A and B day students).

Assignment:  Your task is to find a current event (within the last 12 months) that relates to one of the topics covered in pages 3-14 in your text book.  Post the link to the article that you find (btdubs- make sure this comes from a reputable news source) and then comment below the article giving me a summary of the article and tying it in to our four BIG PICTURE topics.  Forgot those already??  Human Impact, Environmental Impact, Economic Impact, and Government Legislation.

Example:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/07/24/mass-extinction-study/13096445/

Summary- this part should be a summary of the article posted above and not opinion based  (posted 7/24/14) Scientists are warning that the Earth could be in the midst of a 6th mass extinction.  Studies show that although the human population is growing rapidly, many populations, especially those of invertebrates, are in rapid decline.  While larger species typically get most of the attention when the topic of extinction arises, the loss of lower level consumers can have a much larger impact as they play a critical role in terrestrial and aquatic food chains.  Earth has experienced 5 mass extinctions throughout it's history, the last being around 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs went extinct. Previous extinctions are typically contributed to meteorite impacts with the earth and massive volcanic activity.  Scientists believe the difference between previous extinctions and the current mass extinction is the introduction of anthropogenic or human activities such as overhunting, climate change and habitat destruction.  Scientists believe that plants and animals are dying out at least 1,000 times faster than they did previously due to these human activities.     

This is where you take information from the article and apply it to what you have learned in class
Human Impact- human activity such as urban and agricultural development has had a huge impact on species viability over the last few centuries resulting in a potentially catastrophic decline in the number of species on earth.  When we alter the ecosystems by building new structures or introducing pollutants into the air and water, this effects biodiversity of the ecosystem because these organisms must either adapt, move to another location or go extinct.    

Environmental Impact-  Loss of a seemingly minor species, like an insect, can have a potentially detrimental effect on an ecosystem because these species are all part of a larger food web.  The "little" species is more than likely a food source for a larger species.  If that food source is depleted, it will ultimately effect all higher level consumers within this food web leading to an overall loss of biodiversity within the ecosystem.  

Economic Impact- Loss of biodiversity can have an economic impact in a multitude of ways.  Tax money is spent to protect these endangered species.  Jobs can be lost and gained in this process.  Jobs created by the conservation efforts as a well as jobs lost in areas where biodiversity has been effected.  These could include jobs in the tourism industry and agriculture.

Government Legislation- The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 in an effort to protect and recover declining species and their ecosystems.  These laws are enforced by the US fish and wildlife service (primarily terrestrial organisms) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (primarily aquatic organisms).