Environmental Science 3205

The biosphere as an interacting system

I can define the biosphere as a complex system of interacting living things that extends into the geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere, and explain how humans affect the other systems.

Human impact on the NL land over time

I can describe how land use in Newfoundland and Labrador changed from Indigenous peoples through European settlement to the present, and the impact each phase had.

What environmental science is

I can describe environmental science as an interdisciplinary field, recognize common misconceptions about science, and list applications of environmental science.

Environmental issues and human demand

I can relate human population growth, resource demand, and consumerism to environmental issues, and explain how anthropocentric attitudes and ecosystem balance fit in.

Conservation, stewardship, and the precautionary principle

I can define conservation and stewardship, list the three factors of sustainability, and explain the precautionary principle and the roles of legislation and monitoring.

The ecological footprint

I can use the ecological-footprint concept to describe individual and community environmental impact and environmental responsibility.

Eco-citizenship and economic reality

I can define eco-citizenship, give examples at different levels, and explain the tension between eco-citizenship and economic realities.

NL eco-regions and biodiversity

I can recognize the variety of eco-regions in Newfoundland and Labrador, define biodiversity, and identify factors that relate to it.

Species at risk

I can identify why organisms become at risk, distinguish natural from human-caused extinction, and describe the impacts of introduced species.

Protecting biodiversity — species

I can describe how a species is classified as at risk using COSEWIC categories and outline the recovery process.

Protecting biodiversity — spaces

I can define protected areas, identify their types in NL, explain their benefits, and describe how they are created and managed.

Wilderness and its value

I can define wilderness, identify its values and benefits, and describe recent changes in nature-based recreation in NL.

Consumptive and non-consumptive recreation

I can distinguish consumptive from non-consumptive recreation and describe the environmental impacts of each.

Ecological integrity and eco-tourism

I can define ecological integrity, identify measures that preserve it, and explain the values of eco-tourism.

Wilderness access and its impacts

I can identify routes and modes of access to NL wilderness and their environmental impacts.

Hunting, quotas, and wildlife management

I can explain how regulated hunting supports conservation, how quotas are set, and how predators like coyotes affect moose and caribou populations.

The inland recreational fishery

I can identify NL's inland recreational fishery — its species, its contribution, its regulation, and the factors affecting inland fish populations.

Introducing forest ecosystems

I can identify the role of forest ecosystems in the biosphere, the major global and Canadian forest types, and forest usage in NL.

The boreal forest and fire

I can list the characteristics of the boreal forest and explain the role of fire in its succession.

Old-growth forests

I can identify NL old-growth forest, describe its characteristics and the Main River example, and weigh maintaining versus harvesting it.

Sustainable forest management

I can describe Sustainable Forest Management and the shift to it, including the components of a management plan and the public's role.

Harvesting and caring for forests

I can distinguish clear-cutting from selective cutting, explain silviculture, and contrast the effects of silvicultural practices.

Fresh water sources

I can recognize water as a finite resource, describe the fresh–salt water connection, list fresh water sources, and define a watershed.

Watersheds and their management

I can list the functions of a watershed and identify the types of fresh water ecosystems.

Water quality and riparian zones

I can define water quality and riparian zones, identify physical/biological/chemical impacts on water, and evaluate human impacts on water resources.

Impacts on fresh water ecosystems

I can identify the impacts of forest harvesting, mining, hydroelectric development, and urbanization on fresh water ecosystems.

Drinking water treatment

I can list NL drinking water sources, explain the multi-barrier approach, and outline the phases of municipal water treatment.

Wastewater and its treatment

I can list wastewater sources, the impacts of untreated wastewater, and how municipal and industrial effluent is treated.

Wastewater treatment methods

I can describe the disposal and treatment methods used for municipal and industrial effluent.

Marine ecosystems and NL

I can identify the importance of marine ecosystems to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The state of the world's fishery

I can describe the present state of the world's fishery, its major issues, and define fish stock and fish population.

The fishery and its management

I can describe the history of the NL cod fishery, the role of stock assessment, and how governments and agencies manage fisheries.

Sustainable fishing and its challenges

I can define sustainable fishing, identify the factors that affect it, and describe the impacts of fishing techniques including bycatch.

Fishing techniques, bycatch, and seals

I can describe the environmental impacts of fishing techniques, define bycatch and its types, and outline how seal–prey impacts are assessed.

Aquaculture

I can define aquaculture, explain why dependence on it is growing, name NL's main farmed species, and describe its environmental issues.

Marine debris and coastal impacts

I can list sources of marine debris, describe how currents move pollutants, and explain the impacts of debris and mitigation efforts.

Oil spills and mitigation

I can describe how oil pollution occurs, its sources and impacts, and strategies to mitigate marine oil spills.

Impacts of marine oil spills

I can describe the economic and wildlife impacts of marine oil spills.

Mitigating marine oil pollution

I can describe mitigation strategies for marine oil pollution.

The atmosphere and its interactions

I can define the atmosphere, identify its major layers, and identify natural and human interactions that affect it.

Interactions in the atmosphere

I can identify the natural and anthropogenic interactions that affect Earth's atmosphere.

Air quality and particulate matter

I can list the factors affecting air quality and define particulate matter.

Critical air contaminants and smog

I can describe how critical air contaminants and smog degrade air quality.

Persistent organic pollutants

I can describe how persistent organic pollutants affect air quality and the environment.

Sources of airborne pollutants

I can identify the sources of contaminants that degrade air quality.

Air quality and human health

I can describe the effects of poor air quality on human health.

Improving air quality

I can identify ways and methods to improve air quality.

Acid precipitation

I can describe acid precipitation — how it forms, its effects, and how improving air quality reduces it.

The ozone layer and UV radiation

I can describe stratospheric ozone depletion — its cause and its consequences for UV radiation.

Climate change

I can explain that climate change can have catastrophic effects on Earth and identify its main driver.

Climate change impacts across Canada

I can describe the impacts of climate change across Canada on wildlife, forests, agriculture, the fishery, coastal zones, weather, and human health.

Addressing climate change

I can describe efforts to address climate change through mitigation and adaptation.

Alternate energy sources

I can identify alternate sources of energy and their relevance to NL.