AP Environmental Science
1. Explain how the "principle of unintended consequences" might apply to the wolf situation in Yellowstone.
2. Sea Ranch, north of San Francisco found that when they brought in sheep to keep the grass down, the gopher population dropped-why?
3. Explain how altitude and latitude impact biomes, and why they differ.
4. Pick a climate diagram and explain how it describes the plants and animals that live there.
5. Biomes evolve depending on what is constant, along with what is never present-explain with an example.
6. Most biomes are based on temperature, except for one-explain.
7. Why is photosynthesis greatest near the shore? Compare with Hadal zones.
8. What three factors impact life in a lake?
9. Dams are ecologically damaging for two reasons, both involving temperature-explain.
10. Streams and rivers demonstrate "continuity". Explain, and why this is critical to the study of pollution, species and biodiversity.
11. Compare genetic, species, and ecological diversity.
12. What connection do you see between biodiversity hot-spots in Figure 5.22?
13. Why would biodiversity increase stability of an ecosystem?
14. Explain how HIPPO might be different in Hawaii, Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar and North America.
15. Look up the mass extinction 65 MY ago, also known as the K-T extinction. Who discovered this, and where does he teach?
16. Why would deforestation (discontiguous forests) disrupt biodiversity? Look at this as a predator and a prey animal, as well as plant species.
17. Compare the monoculture of modern farming (e.g. Nebraska) with what was there before human intervention. Make sure you include soil, animal and plant life.
18. Using the concept of "Island Biogeography" explain and compare the Galapagos Islands vs. the Hawaiian Islands, and Molokai vs. Hawaii Island (where you live).
19. Why are invasive species such a threat to invasive species, and why would this be a greater threat here?
20. Why would pollution concentration impact an apex species more than another species lower on the food chain?
21. Look up CITES and compare with ESA
22. Look at figure figure 5.35: where are we, where have you been, and what have you seen that matches/explains the map?
23. What unique view or experience do you bring to a global discussion about biodiversity?
24. Given unlimited resources, what steps would you take to improve the global biodiversity situation?
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