CSUSB Environmental Issues Questions

A. Whats in your local ecology?

Upload the app “iNaturalist” on your phone and register. You are welcome to keep this app or delete it after this assignment. We will go over some examples of use in class.

I would like you to spend some time in a natural area of your choice. It could be your backyard, a local park, anywhere where you can see some plants and habitats. It doesn’t have to be wilderness. Please go during the day, and please consider bringing a friend or family member.

I would like you to use the “iNaturalist” app to complete the following sections. I show you on our video.

1. Find a quiet place and just sit, on the ground, for fifteen minutes—no cheating! Don’t talk, just breathe and think whatever you want to think about, as long as you are quiet.  Do you notice, hear, smell, sense, or feel anything at the end of the ten minutes different from the beginning of the ten minutes? Did you notice any animals (birds, insects, mammals, whatever) while you were sitting?

2. Find and identify ONE non-native or invasive species. Where was this species from? What effect does this species have on the ecology or human society? What is one example or case study being made to control this species? Please include a photo of this species and a case study of how it is managed. (include a reference, please)

4. Identify another plant not part of the previous sections. What is one key adaptation that this plant has evolved to help it survive? Include a photo of that plant.

5. Find one insect or other small animal. Take its picture and identify it using iNaturalist. What is your species? What type of habitat does it prefer?

B. Let’s explore the concept of “ecological footprint”. 

Take the “ecological footprint quiz” presented at    https://www.footprintcalculator.org/ 

1.    What is an ecological footprint?

2.    What is your ecological footprint? Be sure to include units of measurement and what those units mean. I’ll be honest with you: the first time I took this, I was horrified at my footprint.

Now, re-do this quiz at another website, the “Nature Conservancy Carbon Calculator” at https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-h…  or another website of your choice.

How does this website differ from the first one? Which is more realistic, and why?

3.    How does this website differ from the first one? Which is more realistic, and why?

Now, re-do this quiz on either website (your choice), changing a variable. 

4.    How significant was this factor in changing your footprint? Why do you think the modelers “chose” this impact? In other words, why is this factor important to your consumption footprint?

Spend some time on this:

5.    Start this section by reading “Does the Shoe Fit?” by Blomqvist et. al., critiquing the concept and use of footprint modeling. You should be able to download the article from this link, and I’ve saved it on ILearn as a PDF. How is this concept of “ecological footprint” calculators and concepts a useful tool? In what ways is it inaccurate or not useful? Include one or two references other than those I’ve provided. (Note: there are several sections of each footprint website that can help you answer this as well)