April 7, 2014-Chapter 15: Toxicology

Study all terms and define in  the open response questions.

Friday, last day of February 2/28/2014

Too many snow days and broken weeks have gotten this blog behind, but here we go! The clock is still ticking towards that APES exam date, May 5, 2014, so we must press on. I have an interesting video, Nature: Frogs: The thin green line, for you to watch so you could all get together and watch on someone's laptop or computer, streaming it on pbs.org. Then you could answer and talk about the questions I have emailed or you picked up in class.

The video is packed with up-to-date info on pesticide and chemical residues and the effects they are having on the amphibian populations (Dr. Tyron Hayes' work on endocrine disruptors is still controversial and he has frequently had men in black on his doorstep from Syngenta ), which are good water quality indicator species, right?

Then I have an article for you to read to learn about Atrazine, with questions to answer and discuss among yourselves. Atrazine is still used today on many produce farms. You will have to decide how you feel about that. Could you see how organic produce be a good alternative and why we should support organic farmers? These chemicals are having devastating effects on our water quality and are highly carcinogenic. So make sure you get copies of the article & questions. You can turn these in next week please, Friday, March 7th latest.

Have a great weekend!!

Friday, Last day in January 2014

Hi,
Try out these other links to complete your Land Cover/land Use Charts, then turn them in Monday, please, with what ever you have.

http://landcover.usgs.gov/documents/LCI%20factsheet.pdf
http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd01_stat.php
http://kygeonet.ky.gov/govmaps/

These have more info on Kentucky specifically.

 I would like to wrap up this chapter next week and give you a test on Tuesday, 2/4/14. I am trying to make the course P/F so that testing will not be a bog deal, but will teach you information you need to know and keep up your practice on taking the AP tests.
So to prepare for the test do Testing comprehension, p.370 #1-10 to be sure you have covered & read everything in Chapter 12. If you want to check your answers ask me for the key & you can compare with the textbook answers.

Monday 1/27/2014 Forest Resources-National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife refuges

Check padlet.com, http://padlet.com/wall/emcuqh14gu or use your QR reader:

and answer the question after reading about resistance to National Park regulations.

Forest & Wilderness Resources

Check out the short news pieces in the link sent to your emails on the state of our wilderness and National Park areas, such as: FCRNRW and Izembek Wilderness in Alaska. You may have to click on the links to get a little more info, but these are wonderful examples of pristine, delicate areas continually under attack by commerce and development. 

Pick one of these articles and send back to me by your return email the 1) name of the Park or Area you chose, 2) the location and 3) a description of the resource(s) discussed in this article under protection. Then describe the 4) threats to this resource which could be changed forever if exploitation were allowed to go forward with new legislation and 5) the relative value of the resources at stake, whether they be economic,  genetic/biological,  ecological,  recreational, educational, etc. and why you chose those categories of value to describe it/them. 

Then tell me 6) which one you would like to visit one day, with whom and why. 

Have fun exploring!

MSY~What is it?

Reminder: All assignments posted during a week are due by midnight the Sunday following. Today is Tuesday, January 21st so all assignments this week are due Sunday, Jan 26th.

1/21/14-Read p. 345-346 in your text, then fill in p. 2 of your outlines, part C, D & E, with definitions & examples to give you the background info you need. Then:

1. Blog your answer below to the following question: Do you think MSY represents an appropriate policy for resource managers to follow for ALL resource types? Why or why not? Give examples to support your rationale.
2. Do Testing Comprehension on p. 370 #2 and send it to me by email, subject line, "TC p.372 #2".
3. There are lots of good info /news links posted on FB. I just saw a good one on Ants & Trees, so search for 'American Forests' & Like the page on FB, so you can check out the info!

Please post questions here & I will respond asap. Others may have the same questions, so it will save time for everyone.

Thanks! Enjoy the snowscape!

Land Use Project Help

I know the Land use chart has a lot of information to look for but you need to really explore the maps & links on one of the websites, dig a little deeper and be patient but persistent with yourself and the internet.
Here are a few direct links:
 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/MeasuringVegetation/
 http://sites.bu.edu/cliveg/
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/guide/forestmap_oct2010.htm
read captions on charts & diagrams, take note of the data available.
Read/skim through it to find the data you need.
You are welcome to Google or Bing search these topics as well if that is easier for you!
:)

Chemical Spill in WV

You've got to watch this John Stewart satire on the 'Freedom' Chemical spill. He tells it like no other...http://tv.yahoo.com/news/jon-stewart-west-virginia-spill-building-chemical-tanks-131143371.html?pt=BureoF1GVB

Then tell me, who should pay for this cleanup? Who should pay for the damages to the people who are affected by this tragedy? Why?

Jan 13-17, 2014 Chapter 12: Resource Use & Forestry Management

Monday-Try this out! Post your comments on padlet.com about a question from your text.(Seeking solutions# 4) very similar to a question I gave you last week. I hope this app works because I would like to use it in the future also!
 QR code:

OR website URL: http://padlet.com/wall/8ifwz9jiui

Also I would like you to do some research on resource use statistics. Check your email for a copy of the handout or ask me for a hard copy, "Investigating land use cover in KY, US & the World" using the website at the top of the handout. Allow enough time to explore this website or others to fill in each space in this chart.
Another assignment Wednesday....so check back for updates!

YOU can make it a great day! :)

Wendell Berry's Vision

Before the break, we read The Peace of Wild Things and I gave you a handout with several questions for reflection and comment. Please finish that assignment and turn it in by Friday. I will send out an electronic copy in case you have misplaced yours. If you need to watch the video again please do @PBS.org, search for Wendell Berry and you should be able to access the Bill Moyers' interview, "Wendell Berry: Poet & Prophet" Have a great day!!!

Hump Dayyyyyyy!

HI,
I hope everyone can see this and will learn how to use it, so that all of us can continue to work, learn and adapt to the new technology we will use for this course and in college. please let me know if you have any problems! Can't wait to get some discussion going about some great environmental topics in response to the questions on the blog. Hope you have a great first half-week back!

Happy New Year on planet Earth!

1/6/14-Welcome to the first ever, Burgin AP Environmental Science website/blog! You all are making history in the advance of technology, communications AND environmental science. I hope everyone had a great Christmas  and New Year winter break and are ready to go back to work learning all that you can about our beautiful amazing planet and what we can do to help conserve it, for the survival of all life forms.

We will continue in our textbook, The Science Behind the Stories by Withgott & Brennan, in Chapter 12: Resources Management, Forestry, Land Use & Protected Areas. I will try to post all of the week's work on Monday's but may have to post on Monday & Wednesday some weeks. Your first assignment is to begin your outlines by:

• Reading the case study on pages 343-346, 348-349 then answering the questions that follow in the outline in part I, A-F. Then type in your thoughts on the questions below G, H & I in the blog by the end of the week.
•  G. What resource in Kentucky has followed a similar historical path of exploitation, production and political strife tied into business in the name of progress, jobs and economic growth? Outline its points of development and present day status.
• H. How does this case study show similarities to the visionary story of  "The Lorax"? Name two points & explain their relationship.
• I. What environmental science topic(s) would YOU especially like to study during this second semester, that is of great interest to you and would help you do your best on the AP ES exam?