You Should Know the Following for the Test
Study Guide for Unit 1, Chapter 1 F and R
Mrs. Ashley
You should know the following for the test:
1. How the results of the green down lab can inform scientists about climate change.
2. What is meant by a control in an experiment
3. How to distinguish independent and dependent variables in an experiment
4. The procedure for zeroing a scale
5. The purpose of the leaf pack experiment
6. Be able to describe in detail the differences between Wildflower Island and the forest area around Bailey Stream and the probable reason for the differences. Relate these two areas to issues of population and species diversity.
7. Know the processes in the scientific method including: observation and questions, forming hypotheses; collecting data, interpreting results, and disseminating findings.
8. Know the vocabulary of experimentation: independent variable, dependent variable, control, accuracy, precision; uncertainty, null hypothesis; inductive and deductive reasoning; theory, law, and model.
9. Understand natural experiments and the advantages and difficulties of doing a natural experiment.
10. Know and understand the ethical issues in doing experiments in environmental science.
11. What are environmental indicators and give some examples?
12. Identify ways in which humans have altered the environment.
13. Know and be able to discuss the five key environmental indicators that help us evaluate the health of the environment: biological diversity; food production' average global surface temperature and CO2 concentrations, human population, and resource depletion.
14. Define sustainability and explain ecological footprint.
15. Be able to describe Environmental Justice as it applies to poorer people or people with less power being unjustly carrying the burden of more pollution and fewer resources.
16. Be able to describe how human consumption is directly related to ecological footprint.
17. What is "the tragedy of the commons?" What is a local example and how can the commons be protected? Be able to discuss what characteristics of human nature make the "commons" so vulnerable.
18. What is the present population of the Earth?
19. What environmental indicators are anthropogenic?
20. What is the greenhouse effect? What are some of the important greenhouse gases?
21. What is the normal rate of background extinction?
22. What is the estimated number of species on the earth?
23. What are the main causes of loss of biodiversity?
24. What are the three types of diversity and how do they relate to the health of the environment?
25. Know at least 5 of the environmental indicators listed in Table 1:1 on page 5.
26. What is unusual about the life cycle of Pfiesteria? In what way could the changes in the life cycle be an advantage for survival? What human activities influenced thePfiesteria to release toxins?