Environmental Science

Chapter 6: Biomes Case Studies

Assignment: Go to the following websites and read the case study about a threat facing each biome.

Take notes on the biomes handouts you have been given in class in the space marked “Case Study Notes.”

1. Temperate deciduous forest – Air Quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm

2. Tropical rainforest –Write at least 5 facts that you remember from our case study on the loss of biodiversity

in Madagascar last semester. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/09/madagascar/draper-text

3. Temperate rain forest – “Ethics and the Spotted Owl Controversy” http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n1/

4. Boreal Forest – “A Forest Under Siege: Threats to the Boreal Forest”

http://www.fws.gov/birds/documents/conservationFinal.pdf

5. Tundra – “The Alaska Pipeline: A Necessary Obstruction?”

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section003_group001/home

6. Desert – “Threats to the High Desert”

http://oregon.sierraclub.org/conserv/hidsrt/threats.asp

7. Chaparral/Mediterranean habitat – “Saving Mediterranean Habitats Worldwide”

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/california/projectprofiles/shawquestions.html

8. Grasslands – “A Story of Loss and Hope” – Attwater Prairie Chickens

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/attwater/story.html