Welcome to AP Environmental Science. Look here for assignments and other updates throughout the year. Check the APES Docs Button for class handouts.

11/2 Complete CH 6 Questions. They are due Wed in class. I will discuss Aquatic ecosystems, but will expect you to be up to speed--ready to ask supplemental questions. If you are unclear on how to respond to the wetland questions or feel you just need need more information, I STRONGLY suggest that you check out this EPA resource: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/. --what,why, how...Wetlands will be discussed in numerous upcoming units as we discuss human interaction and regulation.

11/6 Read chapter 15 - Soils. Be sure you know the contents of chapter 6 - even the topics I did not review in class. You will have a CH 6 exam late next week (Friday) after presentations are completed. I will be giving notes on CH 15 between presentations.

11/9 Ch 15 Questions 1-7 (see docs page)
11/10 We will be outside for a bit tomorrow. Begin Soil conservation, Degredation, desertification assignment. I'll expect it to be finished by Monday.

11/11Study for CH 6 Quiz. Complete the take home (discussion) questions for submission Friday. Selected questions will be graded and added to your quiz grade Friday. No, I will not tell you which ones they are.

1/13 Quiz tomorrow. Bring in your take home section questions. Be sure to review all sections of CH 6, including the case study segments featuring ecosystems and natural places we did not have he chance to discuss. We talked about a number of aquatic ecosystme which tied in nicely which the stream quality investigation we did at Indian Ledge. Be sure to review the effects of human activities on aquatic ecosystems and the tests commonly done to assess water quality. Finally, review your presentation notes. Know those biomes.

11/13 CH 6 MC Quiz - Including questions about natural place presentations.

11/16 Finish soil chapter questions. Soils test will be Thurday 11/18. Tues in class we will test soil percolation, porosity and pH. We will aslo set up Berlese funnels and determine the % organics in your sample (the soil samples I cooked). Please read ahead to see what you will be expected to do. You will have to divide the labor to get throught the lab in one period. Per 2 we will introduce desertifiction and view a film.

11/17 Complete Soil Lab questions. Early on we determined our soil types both qualitatively and quantitatively. As you look a the rest of your results, ask yourself whether you think they are consistent with the soil type you think you have. Question 5 in part 2 requires you to consider percolation data in your answer. Question 7 in this section asks you to tell what you know about how soils are formed. Essentially – why are there different particle sizes? Calcs in part three should be clear - show work - but I am open to your thoughts in question 3 of part 3. Part 6 requires calculation. Note that percolation is a rate so time must be included int the answer. The units are

ml water /cm2 (surface area)/second. You should have all the info to calculate this for sand and your sample.. In part three convince me that your results make sense. Part 7 - done in class. Part 8- You can't really answer question 2. Given that the forest where we got our soil is in pretty good shape, you should be able to predict the best soil pH for the plants there. Review which particle sizes represent sand , silt, clay then Look at the columns provided and figure out the soil types.

Finally – complete the lab summary questions.

The handout with notes summary may help you in your write up.

11/19 Check out the docs pagefor exam prep info.

 

11.23 CH 2 read all of history section.

11.24 History questions at back of packet from class.  All due by Tues.