Biology Intro

Part 1: Discussion Question “Nothing comes to be or perishes, [but undergoes continual rearrangement]” – Empedocles (490-430 BCE). We know this to be true. We live in a universe of cause and effect, equal and opposite reactions, energy neither being created nor destroyed – only transformed. We know how political unrest in one part of the world effects gas prices in another. We know how bee population stability effects crop yields. We know the relationship between CO2 and global temperature, between episodic rainfall events and outbreak of disease, etc. etc. etc….and this pool of knowledge on cause and effect is deepening daily. It seems fitting that we complete the semester with a synthesis of key concepts covered in Biology 103. Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms with each other and with their environment. There was a time in the not so distant past that trying to understand the relationships between two seemingly unrelated events, interactions or organisms was considered ‘Chaos theory’. But as it turns out, the closer and longer we look, the more resolved the image becomes until the evidence is tangible and Lauren Hill was right – everything is everything. What is the relationship between Saharan dust in Africa and harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico? What is the relationship between songbird nesting behavior and the magnitude of hurricane seasons? If these questions interest you, consider watching the acclaimed mini-series, Connected on Netflix (trailer below). If you are curious about how pesticides in infinitesimal concentrations (parts per million, ppm) could influence ecosystem stability, you’re in the right place! Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is a critical discourse on the adverse ecological effects of nonselective pesticide applications. Published in 1962, this work introduced the American public to the dangers associated with environmental contamination and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and key pieces of environmental legislation including the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Clean Water Act (1972). This week’s discussion will focus on The Obligation to Endure, an excerpt from Silent Spring. After reading this excerpt, please provide thoughtful discussion on the following: 1) What is meant by the title, Silent Spring? 2) What problems do pesticides resolve? What new problems arise with the indiscriminate use of pesticides? 3) What does the term bioaccumulation mean? What does the term biomagnification mean? What are trophic levels? 4) Describe how the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of environmental contaminants effects organisms at different trophic levels in an aquatic ecosystem. Give an example of this phenomenon as we experience it today. 5) What is your response to this work? Are these concepts still relevant? Part 2: Complete Activity Form in Attachment Requirements: 100-200