Download AP and DP Env Sci Correlation

DP Syllabus component
AP Environmental Science Syllabus
Hours/
Week
Topic 1: Systems and models
1.
Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes,
volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude)
10
hours/
1-2
1.
Ecosystem Structure
(Biological populations and communities; ecological
niches; interactions among species; keystone species;
species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and
aquatic biomes)
10
Hours/
3-4
1.
Energy Flow
(Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs
and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)
10
Hours/
5-6
1.
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water,
conservation of matter)
5
hours/
7-8
1.
Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive
strategies; survivorship)
2.
Human Population
A. Human population dynamics (Historical
population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth
rates and doubling times; demographic transition; agestructure diagrams)
B. Population size (Strategies for sustainability;
case studies; national policies)
C. Impacts of population growth (Hunger;
disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat
destruction)
1.
Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power;
units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)
2.
Energy Consumption
A. History (Industrial Revolution; exponential
growth; energy crisis)
B. Present global energy use
C. Future energy needs
3.
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
(Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas;
extraction/purification methods;
world reserves and global demand; synfuels;
environmental advantages/ disadvantages of sources)
4.
Nuclear Energy (Nuclear fission process;
nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor
types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety
issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes;
nuclear fusion)
5.
Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control;
salmon; silting; other impacts)
6.
Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency;
CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass
transit)
20
hours/
9-12
Topic 2: The ecosystem
2.1 Structure
2.2 Measuring abiotic components of the
system
2.3 Measuring biotic components of the
system
2.4 Biomes
2.5 Function
Field Trip- Botanic Gardens Last week of
Sept 26/Oct 1 or 2
2.6 Changes
2.7 Measuring changes in the system
Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.1 Population dynamics
3.7 Limits to growth
Field Trip- Cemetery Lab
Nov 5 or 6
3.2 Resources—natural capital
3.3 Energy resources
Thanksgiving Project:
Field Trip- Comanche Peak/Museum of
Science first week DEC 4, 10-12
10
hours/
13-14
5
hours/
15
5
hours/
16
5
hours/
7.
Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar
electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy;
small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal
energy; geothermal; environmental
advantages/disadvantages)
1.
Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle;
formation; composition; physical and chemical
properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil
problems; soil conservation)
2.
Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural,
industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater
issues; global problems; conservation)
17
3.
Agriculture
A. Feeding a growing population
(Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture;
Green Revolution; genetic engineering and crop
production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable
agriculture)
B. Controlling pests (Types of pesticides; costs
and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest
management; relevant laws)
10
hours/
20-21
4.1 Biodiversity in ecosystems
1.
Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural
selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
4.2 Evaluating biodiversity and vulnerability
1.
Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts;
species movement; ecological succession)
4.3 Conservation of biodiversity
1.
Forestry (Tree plantations; old growth forests;
forest fires; forest management; national forests)
2.
Rangelands (Overgrazing; deforestation;
desertification; rangeland management; federal
rangelands)
3.
Other Land Use
A. Urban land development (Planned
development; suburban sprawl; urbanization)
B.Transportation infrastructure (Federal
highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas;
ecosystem impacts)
C.Public and federal lands (Management;
wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges;
forests; wetlands)
4.
Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing;
aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
5.
Loss of Biodiversity
A. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced
species; endangered and extinct species
B.Maintenance through conservation
C.Relevant laws and treaties
5
hours/
22
5
hours/
23
20
hours/
24-27
3.4 The soil system
3.6 Water resources
5.4 Eutrophication
**Christmas Break Project
Second Semester Begins
3.5 Food resources
3.8 Environmental demands of human
populations
5
hours/
18
5
hours/
19
Topic 4: Conservation and
biodiversity
Field Trip- Fort Worth Zoo- anytime Feb 1920
Topic 5: Pollution management
5.1 Nature of pollution
5.5 Solid domestic waste
6.
Pollution Types
A. Air pollution
10
hours/
Field Trip- Water Treatment/Landfill
Early March 5 or 6
5.2 Detection and monitoring of pollution
5.8 Acid deposition
5.3 Approaches to pollution management
**Spring Break Project
5.6 Depletion of stratospheric ozone
5.7 Urban air pollution
Topic 6: The issue of global warming
6
Topic 7: Environmental value
systems 6
(Sources — primary and secondary; major air
pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid deposition
— causes and effects; heat islands and temperature
inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and
reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant
laws)
7.
Noise pollution (Sources; effects; control
measures)
8.
Water pollution (Types; sources, causes, and
effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater
pollution; maintaining water quality; water
purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean
Water Act and other relevant laws)
9.
Solid waste (Types; disposal; reduction)
1.
Impacts on the Environment and Human
Health
A. Hazards to human health (Environmental risk
analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response
relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks)
B. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
(Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of
hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites;
biomagnification; relevant laws)
2.
Economic Impacts (Cost-benefit analysis;
externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
1.
The Atmosphere
(Composition; structure; weather and climate;
atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
1.
Stratospheric Ozone
(Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet
radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone
depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion;
relevant laws and treaties)
1.
Global Warming
(Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts
and consequences of global warming; reducing
climate change; relevant laws and treaties)
1.
Global Economics
(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the
Commons; relevant laws and
treaties)
28-29
5
hours/
30
5
hours/
31
5
hours/
32
5
hours/
33
5
hours/
34
TOTAL 165 Hours/ 34 Weeks