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Unit 1:
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Interlude A
Unit 2:
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Interlude B
Unit 3:
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Interlude C
Unit 4:
Ch. 16
Ch. 17
Ch. 18
Ch. 19
Interlude D
Unit 5:
Ch. 20
Ch. 21
Ch. 22
Ch. 23
Ch. 24
Ch. 25
Ch. 26
Ch. 27
Ch. 28
Ch. 29
Ch. 30
Interlude E
Unit 6:
Ch. 31
Ch. 32
Interlude F
Unit 7:
Ch. 33
Ch. 34
Ch. 35
Ch. 36
Ch. 37
Ch. 38
Interlude G

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Radical Change in Ecological Science Urged
Science, 28 May 2004

An article calls for a sea change in how scientists study nature and the practices that are used to sustain the environment. It's a plan for cooperation between science and technology that will be "music to some folks' ears and blasphemy to others."

» Read the full article

Active Reading Questions

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    In many ecology-related articles one sees the word “sustainable.” What do scientists mean when they seek sustainability?
    a) They want to make sure a practice does not cause irreparable damage to the environment.
    b) They want to make sure an action can be carried on indefinitely without using up all of the available resources.
    c) They want to make sure the resources that are consumed are renewable.
    d) All of the above.
  2. fiogf49gjkf0d
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    The ideas in this article encourage ecologists to change one major part of how they study ecosystems. What is this major change?
    a) accounting for human impact in their studies, rather than looking at ecosystems as untouched by humans
    b) studying ecosystems as pristine environments
    c) accounting for global warming
    d) all of the above
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    Dr. Palmer states, “Rather than trying to restore ecosystems to pristine states, design ecosystems that range from manipulation of slightly altered systems to ’designer ecosystems’ or ’ecologically designed solutions.’” What is your reaction to the idea of ’designer ecosystems’? Is this the answer to sustainability, or are humans overstepping their bounds?
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