This report presents an overview of how humans have altered the global nitrogen cycle. An introduction to the nitrogen cycle is provided; as well as human induced nitrogen fixation and its impact on the atmosphere, carbon cycle, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function, and biodiversity. The importance of nitrogen as a primary building block of life and its role in biological processes is also...

Publisher: EcoEd Digital Library

• More Info

This photograph shows scientists obtaining sediment core, which is useful in studying changes in forest composition, the frequency of forest fires, and climate change over the past 10,000 years. Pollen charcoal, and chemistry of lake sediments are used for this work.

Publisher: EcoEd Digital Library

• More Info

This Issue focuses on a research article by Turner et al. (2003) that was published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The article discusses the ecological causes and effects of intense, infrequent fires such as the large fire that occurred during 1988 in Yellowstone National Park. Turner et al. synthesize 15 years of research on vegetation and ecological processes at Yellowstone and...

Publisher: EcoEd Digital Library

• More Info

In this report, biodiversity and its relevance to the ecosystems that support humanity is discussed. Ecosystem functioning is defined as the collective activities of all biota within an ecosystem and how they affect its chemical and physical factors; therefore, it can be negatively impacted by decreases in biodiversity-the wide variety of life forms inhabiting the planet. The ecological and...

Publisher: EcoEd Digital Library

• More Info

In this simulation, students work in groups to design a marine reserve in a hypothetical island state called “Udubia.” After learning about marine reserve design, students will choose characters that represent a variety of stakeholders, be placed in like-minded groups, create a reserve design based on provided data sources, and defend it in a presentation and debate. An optional individu...

Publisher: EcoEd Digital Library

• More Info