Exam 1 Big Topics and Tasks Chapter 1: Define environmental science and what is necessary in order to study environmental

mental science Explain several of the current important environmental problems What are the 7 basic principles of science and describe them (table 1.2) What are the 6 steps of the scientific process and describe them (figure 1.13) Understand how to read data, graphs, the use of statistics, probability and statistical significance Define and describe qualitative and quantitative data, independent and dependent variables, inductive and deductive reasoning, correlation and causation, natural and manipulative experiments. Be able to give examples of each. Know how to tell the difference between sound science and junk science (table 1.3) Know what is causation and correlation. Be able to give examples of causation. Be able to give examples of correlation. Define and describe the different types of thinking (table 1.4). Give examples of when to use the different types of thinking Know the key people who contributed to the current environmental movement and what their contributions were Read the Exploring Science article on page 9 titled, How do we know the state of population, poverty and other issues? Be able to understand where the data for creating large scale perspectives comes from, how the data is made into visual forms and the 4 steps for interpreting the visual forms. Know when to use this type of data presentation, the limitations and when it cant be used. Read the Exploring Science article on page 15 titled, Why do scientists answer questions with a number? Be able to explain the 3 ways data is calculated and presented. Know when to use this type of data presentation, the limitations and when it cant be used.

Objective: Describe the scientific process and current, broad environmental issues Chapter 2: Read the case study on page 27 Working to Rescue an Ecosystem and understand the overall problem and solutions. Know what systems thinking is and why we use it in environmental science Define what a system is, what an open system and closed system are; know what stocks and flows are and why they help in understanding systems Define and give examples of positive and negative feedback loops Define disturbance, resilience, state shift and emergent property Define the basic chemistry terminology Know the 6 basic elements (atoms) in living organisms Know the 9 common molecules in figure 2.6 on page 31 Know the 4 organic macro-molecules Know the different types of energy- kinetic, potential, chemical and heat Know the first and second law of thermodynamics and what entropy is Read the Exploring Science article on page 34 titled, A water planet. Know the 6 properties of water and why each property is important in living systems Know how energy is produced and how it is used

Know what a species, population and community is Know what an ecosystem is and how we organize organisms into categories like producer, consumer into trophic levels and food webs Know what an herbivore, carnivore and omnivore is Describe the 5 biogeochemical cycles and life processes Know what a stock is and what a flow is and how stocks are converted into flows. Define the terms inputs, outputs and transformation Know what systems thinking is and why it is used in environmental science Read A closer look: How do energy and matter move through systems on page 44-43 and know the concepts presented.

Objective: Explain the basic ecology, chemistry and systems theory concepts Chapter 3 Know the difference between convergent and divergent evolution and how these concepts contribute to the diversity of species we see today. Understand how to read figure 3.4 and know the information it conveys. Be able to read and understand figure 3.7 Understand the concept of speciation and how speciation occurs Explain the connection between resource availability and diversity Read A closer look: Where do species come from? on page 56-57 and be able to discuss all of the concepts presented. Know the different types of competition Know the relationships between organisms and why they are important Know what exponential growth, J curves, carrying capacity and logistic growth are. Be able to recognize graphs depicting these concepts Understand the information depicted in figures 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20 Know the characteristics of the two types of reproductive strategies in table 3.3 Know what a community is and how we define the relationships within a community Know the 3 types of population distributions in figure 3.23 Define complexity and complicatedness Define hierarchy Know how communities change over time Define disturbance and explain why it is important. Be able to provide examples of disturbance Know the different species found in soil ecosystems as depicted in figure 7.16

Objective: Explain evolution, speciation, relationships between species and the types of growth the species demonstrate Be able to synthesize information from chapter 1, 2 and 3 to explain why learning about the ecology discipline is necessary for understanding environmental science. Exam 2 Topics and Tasks Chapter 5: Biomes and Biodiversity

Read the Case Study Predators Help restore biodiversity in Yellowstone. Understand the why wolves were introduced into Yellowstone and how the introduction affected the overall function of the ecosystem. Connect the concept of Yellowstone park to the topics of conservation discussed in chapter 6. Explain what a biome is and the parameters defining a biome including vegetation Know how we define a tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, tropical seasonal forest, temperate forest, boreal forest, tropical scrub & woodland, savanna, grassland, tundra, desert and agricultural biomes. Know how vertical zonation applies to mountains Know the aquatic biomes and how we define the aquatic biomes (coral reefs, sea-grass beds, mangroves, estuaries, salt marshes, tide pools, wetlands, lakes, swamps, marshes, bogs, streams and rivers) Know the 3 types of biodiversity (genetic, species, ecological) and why they are important Know what the HIPPO acronym stands for and relate it to biodiversity Know the forms of habitat destruction such as fragmentation, what a minimum population is and island biogeography Be able to read and understand figure 5.24 and the relationship between population size and extinction Know what an invasive species is and several of the invasive species present in Illinois Know what overharvesting is and the result of this practice Know what an endangered, threatened and vulnerable species is and give examples of each in IL Know what a keystone, indicator, umbrella and flagship species are and give examples of each

Objective: Explain the different types of biomes, the types of species and how they relate to the different biomes Chapter 6: Forests, Grasslands and Conservation Read the Case Study Saving the Great Bear Rainforest. Know the biome and the problem this biome faced. Know the solution to the problem in the Great Bear Rainforest and how it got its name Explain the concept of ecosystem services and be prepared to give several examples of ecosystems. Be able to connect the concept of ecosystem services to the forests and grassland biomes. Know what a closed canopy and old-growth forest and monoculture forest is Know the major products we receive from forests and grasslands Know the types of deforestation Know the REDD acronym and why it is important Know the types of harvesting methods (clear-cutting, shelterwood harvesting, strip-cutting and selective cutting) Read A closer look: Save a tree, save the climate? and be able to explain each of the concepts Know what fire management is, fire suppression and the results of fire management techniques Know the 7 principles of ecosystem management and the criteria for sustainable forestry (table 6.1) Know the processes of rotational grazing, overgrazing, desertification and what pastoralists are Know what a park, preserve and biosphere reserve are and the differences between different protected areas (table 6.2) and how the World Conservation Strategy is being used What is the role of ecotourism, corridors, core habitats and edge effects

Objective: Explain the role of conservation and define the two major biomes found in Illinois

Bio 106: Exam 3 Topics and Tasks

Chapter 4, Human Populations: Understand why were focusing on the population of one species in the biosphere Be able to explain figure 4.3 and relate it to growth models weve seen in chapter 3 Know the worlds most populated countries Know the largest countries in the world (table 4.2) Know what an ecological footprint is, the underlying data needed for the calculations and the benefits and drawbacks of the tool Know why we use hectares or land as a way to measure our impact on the planet

Know the countries with the largest average footprint and smallest footprint and why they have the footprint sizes Know what the projected human populations are for the future Know what crude death and crude birth rates are, why we use them and the drawbacks to the data Know what is included in a fertility rate calculation, what zero population growth is and the replacement rate. Why are these concepts important? Explain life expectancy and the variables influencing life expectancy (table 4.3) Explain the effect of the HIV virus causing AIDS has had on African countries and how this has affected the age class histogram (figure 4.6). Speculate how this influences the societies in the countries. Explain Chinas one child policy, how it influenced the countries long term population and distribution of the population. Be able to read and explain the age class histograms and predict what this will mean for the country 10, 25 and 50 years into the future (figure 4.9). What is the correlation between educating women and birth rates? What are the implications of this correlation? Be able to discuss demographic transitions and the underlying variables influencing the transitions (figure 4.12 and 4.13) What is the most critical factor in stabilizing a countrys population? Define family planning Be able to calculate your own carbon footprint and understand how your lifestyle influences the planet

Objective: Define the types of human population growth and the influence humans have on the planet Chapter 8, Environmental Health & Toxicology: What is the WHO and why is it important? Define the terms: disease, morbidity, mortality, pathogen and environmental health What is a DALY and why is it important? Know the leading causes of disease burden for the planet (table 8.1) in 1990 compared to 2020 (8 years from now!) Know the major sources of environmental health risks (figure 8.2) What is an emergent disease and why is this classification important? Be able to discuss figure 8.6 and connect the data to the concept of emergent disease and causes of emergent diseases. Be able to discuss the role of climate change in influencing emergent diseases Define ecological disease and be able to explain a few examples like Ebola, Dermo, MSX and botulism On page 186, Cunningham & Cunningham point out the commonality between emergent disease in both human and ecological systems- be able to explain this Explain antibiotic resistance and relate the explanation to the concept of emergent diseases Define toxicology, mutagen, neurotoxin Know the top toxic & hazardous substances listed in table 8.2 Be able to identify toxins you are regularly exposed to in your personal environment Know how toxins move through the environment (figure 8.10 and table 8.3). Be able to discuss why this is important Define bioaccumulation and biomagnification and be able to explain examples of each (figure 8.12). Understand how this connects to Rachel Carson and her book Silent Spring Define and know the common persistent organic pollutants, and why they are dangerous Define synergism and explain what this can lead too (connect back to the concept of positive feedback loops) Know what an epigenome is be able to explain the mouse example. Connect the mouse example to concepts learned in this chapter Know where you can go to find more information about substances and empower yourself to know about your exposure

Objective: Explain some of the emergent diseases and damaging types of substances and effects on humans and ecological systems Chapter 14, Economics & Urban Development: Explain the benefits of the Vauban development and the primary method they used to change peoples behavior Define a city, urban agglomeration, mega-city and know the worlds largest cities (table 4.2) Explain reasons why people live in cities and why people live in rural areas What are the major drawbacks to living the major cities of the world? What are the benefits? Explain the Lake Calumet Industrial District in Chicagos South Side problems and how theyve been able to change their situation. Is this similar to Rockford in any way? Define urban planning. Why is it important to plan how a city develops? Define smart growth and know the goals outline in table 14.4 What are the 10 design principles of New Urbanism? (Note, they continue onto page 352) Define sustainable development, capital, GNP, GDP, natural resource economics and ecological economics Know the important ecological services in table 14.5. Speculate how you would value ecological services (example: what would you be willing to pay for clean water?). Are there ecological services left out from this table? Define renewable and nonrenewable resources and give examples of each Know the flawed underlying assumption behind many economic models Explain the Tragedy of the Commons Define CBA (cost benefit analysis), externalizing costs and internalizing costs Explain how green design can be good for businesses and the primary reasons for layoffs (figure 14.25) Know the role of distribution systems in urban development, the primary ways we move goods to market and resources to manufacturers. Know the primary resources the distribution system is dependent on and why this is a problem

Objective: Define the types of development humans have created and explain how economics influences development and use of resources Bio 106 Exam 4: Topics and Tasks Chapter 7: Define industrial agriculture, organic agriculture and traditional agriculture Read A Closer Look: How can we feed the world? Be able to discuss the benefits and drawbacks with the green revolution, genetically modified crops and organic production Be able to read and understand figure 7.9, 7.11, 7.19, 7.16, 7.2 and table 7.2 Be able to connect the different agricultural practices with soil conditions Define food security, famine, malnurishment and the plate (in place of the Harvard food pyramid: figure 7.7) Understand why we grow the quantities of corn and connect our crop production to our meat and dairy consumption using the kilogram of grain needed to produce one kg of live weight (figure 7.11) Define a CAFO and aquaculture and be prepared to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using this method Define the biohazards associated with different agricultural practices Define the six characteristics of soil Be able to discuss why only 11% of the earths land area is in agriculture and where the largest increases in cropland are occurring Define the three main types of erosion, the causes of erosion worldwide and the effects of the types of erosion Define waterlogging and salinization Explain why we say eating our food similar to drinking a barrel of oil

Define organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons Define the Green Revolution, genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms Define Bt resistance Define contour plowing, strip farming, terracing, cover crops, reduced tillage systems and no-till planting; be able to explain why farmers use these methods Define locavore and provide examples of how you could become one Explain what eating low on the food chain is and explain the benefits and drawbacks of eating low on the food chain Explain why Americans generally consume more calories than needed while people in other countries are malnourished

Objective: Explain why agriculture is important to humans and influences ecological systems Chapter 9: Define climate, weather, atmosphere and air pollution Define aerosols, troposphere, convection currents, ozone, stratosphere, albedo, greenhouse effect, latent heat and thermohaline Be able to explain figure 9.3, 9.5 and table 9.1 Know the two conditions leading to rainfall Know what drives ocean circulation and be able to define gyres; know the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch Be able to explain how the ocean currents are connected to the earths climate (including figure 9.10) Define what an ice core is and explain why ice cores provide data about the planets climate Know what a Milankovitch cycle is and how it influences the earths climate Be able to read and understand the information in figure 9.8 and figure 9.11 Know what the IPCC is and the work they have done Know the gases contributing to climate change and be able to rank them based on the contributions to climate change (most to least) Know the 12 major pieces of evidence the American Geophysical Union has used to conclude the world is warmer than it has been in the past Know the 8 claims in the popular media about climate change and how scientists respond to those claims Read the case study, When wedges do more than silver bullets, and be able to explain the 5 wedges for reducing or stabilizing emissions. Know what the business as usual, stabilization, and declining trajectories are Define emissions, point source, non-point source, primary pollutants and photochemical oxidant Define ambient air, unconventional pollutants, indoor air and choroflourocarbons Know the 6 primary criteria air pollutants in the U.S. and the largest source of each of those pollutants (figure 9.2) Define synergistic effects Be able to identify which of your activities contribute to the 6 criteria pollutants. Be able to identify ways you could decrease the contribution of the 6 criteria pollutants

Objective: Define climate change using evidence of altered ecological systems and explain how human activity has caused climate change Chapter 10:

Explain the hydrologic cycle and what influences the hydrologic cycle Define residence time and be able to explain table 10.2 and figure 10.3 Define aquifer, renewable water supplies, withdrawal, consumption, groundwater. watershed and surface water Be able to explain what happened to the Aral Sea; speculate what would happen if it were to be refilled Explain figure 10.14 and be able to determine your household water use Define point and non-point sources of water pollution and be able to explain figure 10.16 Define oligotrophic, eutrophic, hypoxic Read the Exploring Science Studying the Gulf Dead Zone article and be able to explain how agricultural practices in IL, WI, IA, MN and other states has affected the shrimp industry Explain the two principle sources of toxic organic chemicals in water Read the case study and be able to explain the bath tub ring around Lake Mead Read A Closer Look Could natural systems treat our wastewater and be prepared to discuss how wastewater is currently treated and how they could be changed; be able to explain the 3 questions in this reading

Objective: Explain the hydrologic cycle and explain how humans have altered the cycle, including ecological consequences of human activity Bio 106 Exam 5: Topics and Tasks Chapter 11.4: Explain what rare earth elements are and why they are labeled rare Define mineral and rock Define smelting and heap leach extraction Define strip mine and explain the benefits and drawbacks of strip mining Explain the methods for obtaining our major energy types: methane gas, coal, oil Explain the information in table 11.3 and table 11.2 Define recycling Define mini-mill Know the types of products which can be recycled and the types of products that cannot be recycled Understand what your cell phone is made of where the raw materials come from Define fracking From lecture: understand the benefits and drawbacks of resource extraction

Objective: Explain how we obtain mineral resources and explain the impact extraction has on ecological systems Chapter 12: Know the types of fossil fuels we use for energy Define work, joules, energy, power, watt and capacity Explain Figure 12.2, figure 12.3, figure 12.6, 12.9, 12.18, 12.27 Define tar sands and oil shale, nuclear fission, chain reaction, control rod, pressurized water reactor Know the steps to save energy and money described in the What can YOU do box on page 302 Define smart metering, biomass, cogeneration and biofuels Know how we can harvest energy from the wind and sun Understand the difference between electricity demand and supply ; know the different ways electricity is created and the drawbacks and benefits of each energy source Define active and passive solar systems and photovoltaic cells

Understand how we get power from water Define geothermal energy and fuel cells From lecture: understand the benefits and drawbacks of energy use and understand the relationship between social, economic and environmental systems

Objective: Define the types of energy humans use, where it comes from and the ecological and social impacts of the use