Resources for Learning About Wildfire

As I find resources and information about wildfires, I will post them here.  Keep checking back for updates.

Lesson Plans - In Celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Smokey Bear public awareness campaign, Smokey Bear Live: A distance Learning Adventure K12
http://smokeybearlive.org/resources/lesson-plans

Ecology - Thought Experiments

Here's a set of thought experiments for those who are interested in the field of ecology:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s8lPtRgFuNz23A0qkiaT0mycVwvkEQqM/view?usp=sharing

Credit and thanks to the Ecological Society of America for the definition of Ecology
https://www.esa.org/

Professional Ethics and Values in Biology and Ecology

A Question of Values

Here is a review that I have written:

_________________________________________________________________________________

Errington, Paul L.  1987.  A Question of Values.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.  ix + 196 p.  $18.95.  Edited by Carolyn Errington.

_________________________________________________________________________________ 

     This book is a selection of 15 essays written by Dr. Paul L. Errington, renowned for his influential views in the field of wildlife management and conservation.  The first three essays discuss predation and factors determining population levels of prey species.  Next, four essays describe the cyclic nature of the "terms in a biotic equation" of marsh habitats and the populations supported by these habitats.  Five essays tell of the author's experiences in the wilderness of northern Minnesota and Canada with special reference to wolves.  These give the reader insight into the personal life of the author and a feel for the outdoor work environment.  The next two essays discuss conservation.  This is where the central underlying theme of a "question of values" is raised.  The last essay is a discourse on what an enlightened civilization might be able to learn from studies of animal populations.  Taken all together, the essays revolve around a challenging speculation.  If the environment has qualities of value recognized by diverse interests, which values are to be included in decisions about management?  In addition, the maturity of the reasoning used to make decisions must be examined.  Included at the end of the book is "In Appreciation of Aldo Leopold," as well as, "An Iowa Boyhood," and a dedication to Dr. Arthur Karr Gilkey.  The bibliography contains a complete listing of Dr. Errington's publications:  214 books, journal articles, and reviews.  There is also a list of 10 biographical citations.

     This book will provide excellent supplemental reading for students of wildlife management, ecology, mammalogy, conservation, and those interested in the philosophy of values.  Researchers engaged in current ecological research will not find any new ideas, or explanations proposed, however, the narrative is descriptive and complete enough to point out areas where fundamental questions have not yet been answered.

     By using examples of his own experiences, Dr. Errington elucidates differences in reasoning between the public attitude concerning outdoor values and the studies of ecologists.  Predator-prey patterns in relationship to environmental quality, habitat availability, and behavior are discussed.  He points out that the studies of ecologists have led to standards of conduct, judgement, and philosophy.  He boldly states that:

"Recognizing that there have to be compromises, I should say that a civilized attitude would be to try to preserve a good deal of Nature in as natural condition as we can, if only for the sake of our own mental health.  From our own selfish standpoints, the good life needs more than man and the man-made.  To at least some civilized people, opportunities to enjoy and to reflect in the natural out-of-doors are as important as material comforts."

     Dr. Errington also asks that professionals, as well as the public, examine the maturity of their thinking and decisions.  "Reputable bird students have been among those who have outdone themselves in applying epithets to the horned owl, and we read of voraciousness, bloodthirstiness, blazing eyes, untamable savagery, and other attributes that are considered unattractive in wild animals.  These words may be applied to man, who coins such terms, but not to wild animals, acting under the compulsions of their natural way of life."  He also points out mistakes in management practices, such as cleaning up areas that should have been left alone, advocating control of native vertebrates, and campaigning against predatory species.  He attributes these mistakes to decisions based on faulty ideas, even when there has been adequate study.

     Iowa State University Press and Mrs. Errington are to be commended on the quality of the printing and editing.  Not only is the book thought provoking, it is also pleasing to the senses and an inspiration to those working in the field.

 Here is a STEM Lesson on Gray Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains:

https://beartrust.org/gray-wolves-in-the-northern-rockies

      

How Long Will It Take To Clean Up the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico? - An Engineering Calculation

Click on each page to view the calculations.  Here is the summary, or conclusion that can be inferred from the calculations:

If the oil reservoir contains 2 billion gallons and the well leaks at a rate of 1 million gallons/day, it will take 2000 days (5.47 years) to empty the reservoir. If the rate of shoreline fouling is 100 cubic inches of tar and oil per square yard of beach per every 10 days, then it will take 26,260 days to clean the Gulf (71.9 years) if the only method of tar and oil removal is to clean the beach.  Read the details below:

Why Is Evolution Important Now? Understanding Extinction and Our Environment

Students read an article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27503150/ about the possible extinction of the Mexican axolotl, and answered the following questions:

Koop, David. “Scientists try to preserve Mexico’s bizarre axolotl.” The News Journal, [Wilmington, Delaware] 3 Nov. 2008: A5.

Reading Questions

Name _______________________ Period _______
1. What exactly is an axolotl?
2. The International Union for Conservation of Nature put the axolotl on its
annual list of threatened species. Why is the axolotl population declining?
a.
b.
3. Biologist Luis Zambrano says that if the axolotl goes extinct, it would be a great loss to:
a.
b.
4. Describe:
a. What an axolotl looks like.
b. How an axolotl moves around in its environment.
c. What an axolotl eats.
d. How the axolotl got its name.
5. How does the axolotl play a key role in laboratory research?
6. How can the axolotl be saved from extinction?

Here's cute axolotl childrens' book: https://twitter.com/Jess_Keating/status/1034423833275461633

Here is another recent article about the axolotl and extinction:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8220000/8220636.stm

Variation and Natural Selection -Variation in Wolves

A wolf bounty? Not in N.C. In a switch, there’s a reward for a human killer of rare red wolves
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-wolf-bounty-not-in-nc-in-a-switch-theres-a-reward-for-a-human-killer-of-rare-red-wolves/2013/11/10/328aef68-47dc-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

A celebration of Darwin Day and Natural Selection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry7ND9Ja1-o

News about the Global Food Bank
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/10/19/syrian-seeds-withdrawn-from-arctic-doomsday-vault

The origins of multicellular organisms
Lab yeast make evolutionary leap to multicellularity - life - 23 June 2011 - New Scientist

For more reasons to understand evolution, the following posts also address the question: Why is Evolution Important Now?

 Why Is Evolution Important Now? Understanding Extinction and Our Environment
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-is-evolution-important-now.html

Why Is Evolution Important Now? Disease Prevention
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-is-evolution-important-now-disease.html

Why Is Evolution Important Now? Antibiotic Resistance
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-is-evolutions-important-now.html

Why Is Evolution Important Now? Understanding Diseases and Food Production
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-is-evolution-important-now.html

Why Is Evolution Important Now? Understanding Predation
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-is-evolution-important-now.html

Why Is Evolution Important Now?  Battling the Bedbug Epidemic and Cockroach avoidance of bait - Pesticide Resistance
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-is-evolution-important-now-battling.html