Rebecca F

1st

Softball

Softball and Working at my job in a Country Club

Why I am enrolled in AP Environmental Science?- Because I skipped Environmental Science my Freshman year, so i had to go back and take it. I figured i might as well get college credit for it!

What I hope to get out of this class.- I hope that I get college credit and make an "A" in the class.

Links of Interest (you will be adding to this as you go through the semester).

Journal One

Chapter 1:What does the word “sustainable society” mean to you?  Do you believe that it is possible for the society you live in to become a sustainable society within the next 50 years?

The definition of a sustainable society is one "that can progress without catastrophic setbacks in the foreseeable future." I don't think that the current society can be a sustainable society within the next 50 years. With every advance in our knowlege and technology, more and more of the earth's natural resources are being consumed at a faster than they are produced. Do I believe the society will become a sustainable society in 50 years? I don't think it will even come close!

Journal Two:

Chapter 4:Why could the total amount of animal flesh on the earth never exceed the total amount of plant flesh, even if all animals are vegetarians?

            If the animals ever exceeded the plant life, the animals would die off due to lack of Oxygen and an overabundance of Carbon Dioxide. Also, the lower the amounts of plant life, the less food the animals have to survive on. It is a cycle of animals reproducing and eating most of the plants leading to them dying off and the plant life growing again. This is represented in our lab with the Lynx's.     

Journal 3

Chapter 8:  Suppose a hurricane blows down most of the trees in a forest.  Timber company officials offer to salvage the fallen trees and plant a tree plantation to reduce the chances of fire and to improve the area’s appearance, with an agreement that they can harvest the trees when they reach maturity and plant another tree farm.  Others argue that the damaged forest should be left alone because hurricanes and other natural events are part of nature and the dead trees will serve as a source of nutrients for natural recovery through ecological succession.  What do you think should be done and why?

I agree with the solution provided by the timber company. I feel as though if the mature trees have already fallen down, then they are fair game to timber companies. It is either fallen down trees or trees that are still standing, holding a purpose, and providing homes for several creatures. They clear out those trees which seems harmful to the environment, but they are planting new trees. So in conclusion, I think the right situation would be to allow the timber company to do as they please.

Journal 4 

Chapter 9:  Suppose because of disease or genetic defects from inbreeding, the wolves on Isle Royal (page 197) die off.  Should we (a) intervene and import new wolves to help control the moose population or, (b) let the moose population grow until it exceeds its carrying capacity and suffers another population crash?  Explain.

     I am going to have to go with import new wolves so that the life cycles remain as normal as possible. There are chances that the new species wouldn't act the same or may become an invasive species. But, i think it is better to take chances than to know certain that there will be a population crash with the moose because the food chain would get messed up.

Journal 5

Chapter 13:  Some people argue that starving people could get enough food by eating non conventional plants and insects; other point out that most starving people do not know what plants and animals are safe to each and cannot take a chance on experimenting when even the slightest illness could kill them.  If you had no money to grow or buy food, would you collect and eat protein-rich grasshoppers, moths, or other insects? 

     Well the prefered route would be, for me, to go to a homeless shelter and get food. But if i didn't have that choice, i probably would eat the insects. Knowing there was a possibility that i could get sick wouldnt phase me because i would hope that i would get put innto a hospital and get taken care of.

Journal 6

Chapter 18:  Do you agree/disagree with the argument by developing countries that developed countries should bear the brunt of reducing carbon dioxide emissions because they produce most of the emissions?  Explain. 

     I agree with the developing countries because if the developed countries produce most of the emissions, then they should feel the most responsible and pay more of the price. If they did this then the emissions would equal out. I am not saying that the developing countries shouldn't reduce emissions, but i think the countries that produce more emissions should work harder.

Journal 7

Chapter 15:  The United States now imports more than half the oil it uses and could be importing 64% of its oil by 2020.  Explain why you are for or against continuing to increase oil imports.  What do you believe are the 5 best ways to reduce oil imports?