Fields, Meadows & Fencerows EcoStudy Unit Ecological Dilemmas

People's choices impact ecosystems. Development is an obvious example of an impact. But there are many others.

Here are a few actions of people that impact the inhabitants of fields, meadows and fencerows: fertilizers, pesticides, oiling of roads, driveways & parking lots, precipitation acidification, cigarette butts, wind energy development, federal energy grid development, genetically engineered crops, weed and insect control programs, loss of host plants, golf courses, tickborne disease, invasive species, dioxins, careless disposal of consumer trash, habitat fragmentation, white tailed deer management, dumping of toxins, feeding wild animals - A Vicious Cycle, flyash dams, lead shot for hunting, recreational use of wild lands, releasing alien species into the wild. General Ecology website

Select one of these actions or issues. (If there is another one that is of particular local interest, do it)

Describe the action or issue. Include data.

Explain the issue including its ecological impact. Show several sides of the argument.

Identify alternatives that achieve the goals of people, while minimizing or perhaps eliminating the negative impact.

Decide: Should the change be made? How - by law, by regulation or by individual choice?

 

Make a VE video about the issue. (VE Rating - Very educational making a strong use of data and critical thinking skills.)

Excellent examples: Requiem for the Honeybee from Charles Greene CSPAN Student Cam project

Down to the Last DROP from Madison Richards CSPAN Student Cam project

 

Extend your thinking:

Competition Conundrums - Four mammals are presenting challenges.

Investigate one of the issues. What are the problems?

What are some solutions? White Tailed Deer - OR - Black Bears - OR - Feral Swine - OR- Feral Cats

 

Project based Learning: Outside - In Showcase or Website Project - make one | Digital Science Journal