Welcome to AP Environmental Science!
2015-2016
Mrs. Gretchen Whelan
Room: 243
Email: whelangretchen@rockwood.k12.mo.us
** As of July 1, 2015, my email address will be changing to whelangretchen@rsdmo.org **
Website: https://staff.rockwood.k12.mo.us/whelangretchen/apes
Congratulations on signing up for AP Environmental Science. I truly believe that it is a class that will make you
both an informed citizen and a critical thinker! Please note that you signed up for “AP” Environmental
Science. This means that you are going to work, with me and also on your own. You are going to struggle.
You are going to be successful. We will struggle and succeed as a class and a collaborative team!
For many APES students, this course marks the third, fourth, fifth AP course which they have taken. For others,
APES is the initial AP science course they have enrolled in and/or the first AP course in any discipline which
they have taken. The diversity of students in this course is one of the unique, and in my opinion, truly
outstanding aspects of the AP Environmental Science course.
AP Environmental Science is a college level lab-based science course to prepare students for in-depth study in
Environmental Sciences. The goal of this course is to integrate scientific principles and disciplines into the
study of environmental science. Using these principles and disciplines, students will be able to understand
interrelationships of the natural world, analyze and identify environmental problems, and evaluate those
problems to determine solutions for resolving those natural and human induced problems.
The major topics of the class are as follows:
•
Energy Systems and Resources (atmosphere, soil, groundwater, and geology)
•
The Living World (ecosystems and cycles)
•
Populations (demographics, dynamics and growth)
•
Land and Water Use (agriculture, forestry, mining, fishing and global economics)
•
Energy Resources and Consumption (fossil fuels, nuclear energy, conservation and consumption)
•
Pollution (types of pollution and its impact, waste disposal)
•
Global Change (ozone, global warming, loss of biodiversity)
IMPORTANT NOTE
There is a zero hour component to this course. This means that you are required to attend zero hour 1 day
each week before school from 7:08 – 8:10. It will be Tuesday or Wednesday morning depending on your
scheduled class period.
During this time we will do lecture, unit tests, test corrections, current events, practice AP tests, etc. It is
imperative that you attend as this will impact your performance in this class – and absences can result in a
lunch detention. If you have a conflict, please talk to me to see if we can work it out.
This summer assignment will give you a brief overview of all of the topics we will go over this year by looking at some of
the associated prerequisites. Over the course of the year, we will learn more about the science and social issues
associated with each of the topics.
As an introduction to the course, you are going to do the following things and bring them the first day of school:
1. You need to purchase a Composition Book. These books go on sale in the summertime and are 9.75 inch by 7.5
inch lined paper bound into a book. This is NOT a spiral notebook. I will only grade labs and assignments that
are in composition books.
− Once you purchase your Composition Book you should put your name on the cover.
2. Read Cartoon Guide to the Environment. You may purchase this book or it is available for reading on my
website (APES Summer Reading Assignment). As you read, you will be completing the notes packet. See the
requirements on the following page.
3. Lastly, you will be reading 3 current events articles (from the past year) relating to the environment from
reputable sources (magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.) and reflecting about what you read. I promise not to
overwhelm you (I like my summers, too), but I do want you to see that AP Environmental Science is a HUGE part
of your life, even if you don’t know it yet! See the requirements on the last page of this packet.
If you have any questions over this assignment, don’t hesitate to email me!
Have a great summer and make good choices! I can’t wait to get going in the fall!
Cartoon Guide to the Environment Notes
1. On the first page, fill out your name in the heading box.
2. Complete the notes packet as you read each chapter.
− In the large center box, you will be taking notes. Subtopics/cues have been included in the left box for
guiding your note-taking. Notes can be in the form of: outline, diagrams, calculations, examples, etc.
Please do not use complete sentences, try to abbreviate as much as you can – it may be helpful to use a
shorthand systems for note-taking (see example below).
Symbols:
↑= increase
↓= decrease
∆ = change
O2 = oxygen
CO2 = carbon dioxide
Shorthand (try leaving out
vowels):
Example notes:
phtsythss = photosynthesis
grdwtr = groundwater
↑ in phtsythss = ↓ atmsphre CO2 and ↑ in atm O2
3. Write a thoughtful summary in the box at the bottom of the page. What is the chapter mostly about? Hint: look at
the title of the chapter (see example below).
− Restate the main idea in your own words with at least 4 relevant supporting points accurately.
**This is just an example… you may use
it as reference; your notes should reflect
your learning style
Current Events Requirements
Pick three articles to read relating to the environment from reputable sources (magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.)
and reflect about what you read.
− The current event article should be from the past year (Jan 2014 –Present).
− Your reflection should be stapled to the current event article.
The requirements for your current events are below:
A) IDENTIFY THE THEME(S) that the chosen article addresses:
• Climate system
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable use of natural resources
• Earth system science
• Natural hazards
• Environment, pollution and human health
• Emerging Technologies
B) Identify if this is primarily a LOCAL, NATIONAL, or INTERNATIONAL ISSUE.
C) SUMMARY
Without copying from the article briefly describe what the article is about. You should use your own words.
Please do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is the act of copying someone else's work and passing it off as your own.
D) REACTION
This paragraph should tell us what you thought about the article. You may want to answer these questions in
your reaction:
• Why did you choose this article?
• How did this article affect you?
• What would you do if you were in this situation?
• How would you have handled it?
• Why did I like or dislike the article?
• Who could benefit from reading this article?
• Do you think this article is an important topic for kids your age? Why or why not?
E) BIBLIOGRAPHY (i.e. Title, author, source info)
Use Citationmachine to help you create an accurate bibliography in APA format
Name: __________________________________
Cartoon Guide to the Environment
Chapter 1: Forests & Water
Easter Island
1722 condition
AD 400 condition
cause of change
Water Cycle
include watershed,
transpiration,
groundwater,
water table
Tree Functions
Trees & Easter Island
Easter Island &
Earth Analogy
Summary:
Chapter 2: More Cycles
Hydrologic Cycle
Oxygen Cycle
oxygen origin
cyanobacteria
respiration
producers
consumers
Abiotic vs Biotic
….spheres
Feedback Loops
Homeostasis
Macro vs. Micronutrients
Biogeochemical cycling
Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle
sequestered
Phosphorus Cycle
Summary:
Chapter 3: Evolving Systems Struggling Individuals
System vs. Individual
Evolution
selective advantage
differential reproduction
Species Definition
Speciation
Allopatric vs. Sympatric
Population
Population Dynamics
biotic potential
environ resistance
extrinsic vs. intrinsic
Reproductive Strategies
r - selection
K- selection
Pop pattern graphs
Diversity
Genetic
Species
Ecological
Summary:
Chapter 4: Communities Wet…
Ocean Info
Net Primary Prod
NPP vs. GPP
Euphotic Zone
phytoplankton
zooplankton
Bathyl Zone
Abyssal Zone
Coastal Zone
coral reefs
coastal wetlands
mangrove swamps
Streams
Lakes
Inland Wetlands
Summary:
Chapter 5: ... and Dry
Biomes Info
Tundra
Boreal Forest
Temp Deciduous For
Grassland
Deserts
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Grassland
Ecotone
Edge Effect
Ecological Succession
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Ecological Stability
inertia
constancy
resilience
Summary:
Chapter 6: Let’s Eat
Energy
chemical
heat
flow
1st Law of Thermo
Sun
Photosynthesis
solar
chemical
Chemosynthesis
2nd Law of Thermo
Ecological Efficiency
1st Trophic Level
2nd Trophic Level
3rd Trophic Level
Niche
Competition
Interactions
symbiosis
commensalism
mutualism
parasitism
predation
Summary:
Chapter 7: From Hunting to Planting
Hunter-Gatherers
Agriculture
Animal Domestication
Corn
Farming
Soil management
nutrients
interplanting
erosion
terracing
Sumer & Salt
Mexican Phosphorus
Salt & De-Nile
Summary:
Chapter 8: What Limiting Factors?
Agriculture & Class
Exponential Growth
doubling time
carrying capacity
J-curve
S-curve
Malthus
War
Famine
Pestilence
plague
typhus
vector
influenza
DevelopED World vs.
DevlopING World
Population
Summary:
Chapter 9: Bye, Bye, Biome!
Global Species
Islands
Commercial Hunting
& Fishing
Keystone Species
Competitive Exclusion
Endangered Species
Threatened Species
Indicator Species
Summary:
Chapter 10: Energy Webs
Energy
heat
work
biomass
mechanical energy
Steam Engine
Fossil Fuels
Industrial Revolution
Efficiency
Electricity
Energy Consumption
Input/Output/Waste
Nuclear
Solar
Hydroelectric
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal
Summary:
Chapter 11: Let’s Eat Again!
Agricultural Practices
shifting cult
nomadic herders
traditional intensive
industrial agriculture
GNP
GNP per capita
Global Wealth
Cash crops
Green Revolution
biodiversity
human population
forests
Fishing
Summary:
Chapter 12: Bright Lights, Big City
Cities
Transportation
Infrastructure
water
electricity
natural gas
Solid Waste
Sanitary Landfill
Incineration
Recycling
Source Reduction
Liquid Waste
Waste Water Treatment
Plants
Wetlands
Summary:
Chapter 13: Pollution
3 reasons
DDT
Rachel Carson
EPA (1972)
toxic
hazardous
carcinogens
Risk/Cost Benefit Analysis
Air Pollution
Clean Air Act
Catalytic Converters
Acid Rain
Ozone Depletion
CFCs
UV
chlorine
skin cancer
Global Warming
carbon dioxide
greenhouse effect
sea level
temp
fossil fuels
Summary:
Chapter 14: Earth Island
Tragedy of the Commons
Sustainability
Summary: