SUPPLEMENT 10 S59

SUPPLEMENT

Chapter Projects (Chapters 3–11) 10

for cutting the world’s population growth rate by half

within the next 20 years. Develop a detailed plan that

would achieve this goal, including any differences between

policies in developing countries and those in developed

countries. Justify each part of your plan. Try to antici-

pate what problems you might face in implementing the

plan, and devise strategies for dealing with these

problems.

2. Prepare an age structure diagram for your community. Use
   the diagram to project future population growth and eco-
   nomic and social problems.

CHAPTER 7 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

1. How has the climate changed in the area where you live
   during the past 50 years? Investigate the benefi cial and
   harmful effects of these changes. How have these changes
   benefi ted or harmed you personally?


2. How have human activities over the past 50 years affected
   the characteristic vegetation and animal life normally found
   where you live?

CHAPTER 8 Aquatic Biodiversity

1. Develop three guidelines for preserving the earth’s
   aquatic biodiversity based on the four scientific
   principles of sustainability (see back cover).


2. Visit a nearby lake or reservoir. Would you classify it as
   oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic, or hypereutrophic?
   What are the primary factors contributing to its nutrient
   enrichment? Which of these factors are related to human
   activities? Try to determine the specifi c activities in your
   area that may be affecting this body of water.


3. Developers want to drain a large area of inland wetland in
   your community and build a large housing development. List
   (a) the main arguments the developers would use to support
   this project and (b) the main arguments ecologists would
   use in opposing it. If you were an elected city offi cial, would
   you vote for or against this project? Can you come up with a
   compromise plan?

CHAPTER 9 Sustaining Biodiversity:

The Species Approach

1. Make a record of your own consumption of all products for
   a single day. Relate your level and types of consumption
   to the decline of wildlife species and the increased destruc-
   tion, degradation, and fragmentation of wildlife habitats
   in(a) the country where you live and (b) tropical forests.
   Compare your results with those of your classmates.


2. Identify examples of habitat destruction or degradation in
   your community that have had harmful effects on the popu-
   lations of various wild plant and animal species. Develop
   a management plan for rehabilitating these habitats and
   species.

CHAPTER 3 Ecosystems: What Are They

and How Do They Work?

1. Visit a nearby terrestrial ecosystem or aquatic life zone and
   try to identify major producers, primary and secondary con-
   sumers, detritus feeders, and decomposers.


2. Write a brief scenario describing the major consequences
   for us and other species if each of the following biogeo-
   chemical cycles were to stop functioning: (a) water;
   (b) carbon; (c) nitrogen; (d) phosphorus; and (e) sulfur.

CHAPTER 4 Biodiversity and Evolution

1. Visit a nearby terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem and try to
   identify a native, nonnative, indicator, keystone, and foun-
   dation species.


2. Visit a nearby terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem, try to identify
   a generalist species and a specialist species, and try to esti-
   mate the area’s species richness and species evenness.


3. Use the library or the Internet to learn about the emerging
   fi eld of synthetic biology, which combines biology, genetics,
   and engineering. How might synthetic biology get around
   some of the problems raised by genetic engineering? What
   problems does it pose?

CHAPTER 5 Biodiversity, Species Interactions,

and Population Control

1. Use the library or Internet to fi nd and describe two spe-
   cies not discussed in this textbook that are engaged in a (a)
   commensalistic interaction, (b) mutualistic interaction, and
   (c) parasite–host relationship.


2. Visit a nearby natural area and try to identify examples of
   (a) mutualism and (b) resource partitioning.


3. Do some research to identify the parasites likely to be found
   in your body.


4. Choose one wild plant species and one wild animal species
   and use the library or the Internet to help you analyze the
   factors that are likely to limit the population of each
   species.


5. Visit a nearby land area such as a partially cleared or burned
   forest or grassland or an abandoned crop fi eld and record
   signs of secondary ecological succession. Was the disturbance
   that led to this succession natural or caused by humans?
   Study the area carefully to see whether you can fi nd patches
   that are at different stages of succession because of various
   disturbances.

CHAPTER 6 The Human Population

and Its Impact

1. Assume your entire class (or each of a number of groups
   from your class) is charged with coming up with a plan