Introduction to Environmental Science: 2nd Edition

2nd Edition: Revised by Kalina Manoylov, Allison Rick VandeVoort, Christine Mutiti, Samuel Mutiti and Donna Bennett in 2017. Authors\u27 Description: This course uses the basic principles of biology and earth science as a context for understanding environmental policies and resource management practices. Our planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, from oil spills to global climate change. In ENSC 1000, you will learn about the science behind these problems; preparing you to make an informed, invaluable contribution to Earth’s future. I hope that each of you is engaged by the material presented and participates fully in the search for, acquisition of, and sharing of information within our class. Environmental Science Laboratory (ENSC 1000L) is a separate class and you will receive a separate grade for that course. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, you will be able to: Evaluate the diverse responses of peoples, groups, and cultures to environmental issues, themes and topics. Use critical observation and analysis to predict outcomes associated with environmental modifications. Demonstrate knowledge of the causes & consequences of climate change. Apply quantitative skills to solve environmental science problems. Demonstrate knowledge of environmental law and policy. Design and critically evaluate experiments. Interpret data in figures and graphs. This open textbook for Introduction to Environmental Science was created under a Round Two ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Accessible files with optical character recognition (OCR) and auto-tagging provided by the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation.https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-textbooks/1003/thumbnail.jp

Introduction to Environmental Science

This Grants Collection uses the grant-supported open textbook Introduction to Environmental Science from Georgia College and State University: http://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-textbooks/4/ This Grants Collection for Introduction to Environmental Science was created under a Round Two ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-collections/1001/thumbnail.jp

Providing Early Childhood Pre-Service Teachers with Increased Science Content Knowledge and Effective Teaching Strategies: A Two Year Project

This presentation explores the results of a two-year project with pre-service teachers which focused primarily on providing increased knowledge of science concepts, effective strategies, and use of resources to improve science instruction while increasing confidence for the teaching of science

Assessing the Influence of Physical Factors and Human-Related Disturbances on Forested Wetland Communities in Georgia

Forested wetlands act as buffers between human civilization and aquatic ecosystems, providing numerous services. Due to widespread human influence, most existing forested wetlands are secondary forests. This study investigated 3 forested wetlands in the Oconee basin in middle Georgia to assess the influence of physical factors and anthropogenic disturbances on the tree composition. Our analyses revealed that the northernmost wetland had experienced the most recent major anthropogenic disturbance based on the dominance of an early successional species. The southernmost site, a floodplain forest, was the most diverse due to the short flooding durations that support a larger suite of species. The middle site was the least diverse but had the largest trees and total basal area

Using GIS and remote sensing to explore the influence of physical environmental factors and historical land use on bushland structure

Bushland is a vegetation type with a dense cover of woody plants of low stature and a grass understory. We explored the influence of environmental factors (precipitation, topography, geology, hydrology and waterhole density) and historical land use in the Tsavo ecosystem bushland. We mapped vegetation patterns in the region using remote sensing, GIS and field data and tested relationships with physical factors. We used regression analysis to explore the interaction of physical factors and human influence by including a protected and a nonprotected area, representing contrasting historical land use policies, as factors in the regression model. Bushland vegetation had the largest proportion in the region as a whole, but its proportion was notably greater in the nonprotected area. Precipitation, elevation, geology and historical land use were significant predictors of vegetation patterns in the regression models. Higher precipitation and elevation make woody plants superior competitors over grasses, resulting in predominance of bushland in such areas. Geologically, marine deposits result in shallow calcareous soils that favour grasses over trees, hence, absence of bushland. Wildlife management policies such as providing water for wildlife, protective boundaries and controlling wildfires influence distribution of wildlife and result in conditions that prevent regeneration and recruitment of trees

Inquiry-Based Activities for Life and Earth Science Course for Pre-Early Childhood Education Majors

A presentation of the outcome of the first of two phases of incorporating inquiry-based activities into a science content course for pre-early childhood majors and how this has improved student learning and knowledge retention.

Proposal and Report for Grant 109: Introduction to Environmental Science

This proposal and final report are from the first ALG grants finishing between Spring 2015 and Spring 2016. They have been republished in the repository in order to move our first reports over from being hosted on the ALG website

THE DISTRIBUTION OF MACROINVERTEBRATES ON SAPELO ISLAND, GA

Sapelo Island is one of Georgia’s barrier islands that is almost completely owned and managed by the state. The island has vast amounts of salt marshes and tidal drainages that are inhabited by aquatic organisms. Salt marshes support large macroinvertebrate biodiversity, with the southeastern coast having the highest number of known crayfish species in the United States. The goal of this research was to study the distribution, presence and diversity of macroinvertebrates on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and correlate this distribution to the salinity (conductivity) and nitrate distribution and concentrations. Macroinvertebrates were collected using D-framed nets following the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream’s sampling protocols. A YSI multi-parameter instrument and a LabQuest Pro were used in the field to measure physical and chemical water parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total dissolved solids). Nitrate concentrations were measured using an ISE nitrate-specific probe from Vernier LLC. Water and soil samples were collected and transported to the lab where salinity and nitrate concentrations were re-measured. Specific conductance values in surface waters ranged from 0.2 to 44 mS/cm while nitrate ranged from 1 to 60 ppm. The surface water bodies generally have very low macroinvertebrate diversity. These preliminary results showed strong negative correlations between salinity and the presence of crayfish and oval water beetles. Crayfish and oval water beetles on Sapelo Island appear to prefer low salinity waters (fresh and brackish water), which also coincided with low nitrate concentrations. Further spatial and temporal distributions and correlations are being carried out. These preliminary results imply that as global temperatures rise and seawater floods barrier islands, there will be a loss of habitats for some of the species of macroinvertebrates

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SALINITY AND ALGAL BIOMASS IN COASTAL WATERS OF GEORGIA

Climate change predictions suggest that weather patterns are becoming more erratic with an increase in the frequency of intense storms. These storms coupled with an expected sea level rise will result in more saltwater intrusion on the limited freshwater bodies on coastal and barrier islands. Seawater incursion will increase salinity levels by converting fresh and brackish water environments into saline habitats. This change can cause significant stress and reduction in biodiversity of these unique aquatic systems on the islands. The goal of this project is to map the spatial and temporal distribution (and correlations) of salinity, nutrients, algae and chlorophyll-a on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Field physicochemical parameters were measured in the field using handheld probes while lab samples were analyzed using benchtop equipment. Algae and chlorophyll-a biomass were measured in the field using the Bentho Torch, while lab samples were analyzed using an Algae Guard. The highest nitrate and phosphate concentrations were 2.62 mg/L and \u3e2.75 mg/L, respectively. Green algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria biomass ranged from 0 µg/L to 399 µg/L, while total chlorophyll-a biomass had a maximum of 623 µg/L. Spatial regression analysis showed that there was a 35% positive correlation among pH, phosphate (combined), and diatom biomass. ArcGIS analysis showed geospatial correlations among salinity, phosphate, diatoms and human habitation. Algal diversity decreased as the water became more saline. These preliminary results imply that climate change has the potential to adversely impact aquatic systems. Temporal analyses will show how these relationships change on a seasonal scale

ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF GEORGIA COLLEGE\u27S FOOD WASTE COMPOST**

Producing sufficient food for the growing human population is one of the many causes of soil degradation and water pollution. Mitigating the damage requires sustainable approaches and the goal of this study was to assess the quality of compost (GC compost) produced in Georgia College & State University’s (GCSU) rotary digester. The study was first initiated in GCSU’s greenhouse in Milledgeville, GA, in March 2021, using Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (cherry tomato). Garden soils were first amended by adding GC compost obtained from a pile roughly 10 months old and averaging 27°C. The garden soil and compost mix (2:1 ratio) was then used to pot 16 established tomato seedlings. For comparison, 15 seedlings were potted in garden soils amended with a commercial compost (peat and organic matter) in the same ratio. A control group of 15 plants potted in unamended garden soils was also included. This manipulation was replicated in a local garden beginning in May 2021 to see how plants performed under field conditions. Measurements including plant height, leaf size, flowering, fruiting, and fruit weight were recorded weekly. Standard soil analyses of before and after soil samples and X-ray florescence analysis of heavy metals were conducted. Results from one-way ANOVA showed that the GC compost treatment produced significantly larger plants and more fruit than both the commercial amendment and control groups in both replications. The commercial compost group of plants performed the worst in both replicates. Potted soil with GC compost contained significantly higher P, Mn, Na, and CEC. Additionally, soil from GC compost treatments in both replicates had significantly lower pH. Our findings demonstrate the potential for GCSU’s compost to provide a sustainable approach to boosting productivity while reducing the amount of landfill-bound waste. For future studies, we would like to test the performance of GCSU’s compost against artificial fertilizers