Rationale and Purpose: The impact of Plant Biology and Ecology on our society is immense and will influence your personal and vocational life. This assignment provides an opportunity for you to select a topic of personal or professional interest in botany and/or ecology and to work cooperatively with your group to identify the biological and possibly ethical considerations and present a summary report from a list of articles provided.
Procedure:
1. Individual Choice: Review the article titles below and the complete articles which are published within WebCt. Simply login to WebCT, select "Course Content and Related Materials" and then "Cooperative Group Resources." There you will find links to the "PET Articles" in full-text PDF. Decide after skimming the titles and complete articles what will be your "top 3 choices" using the topic number from the listing below.
2. Cooperative Group Concensus : Meet with your group and compare individual choices and rationales for choosing a PET topic. Agree on a combined ranking of the group's "top 4." When a sign-up sheet is provided, indicate your group's "top 4 choices" in ranked order using topic number from the listing below.
3. Read/Discuss: You will be assigned the PET article as near to your first choice as posslble. Read the assigned article and exchange insights within your group by meeting in person and via BIO 2130 WebCT where a special discussion space will be provided. You may optionally include an additional article in your research and report to give balance or additional insight. However, you are mainly responsible for distilling the assigned article.
4. PET Report: Compose one short essay (300-500 words published in WebCT for your group) in which you define the nature of the topic; explain its importance; address any ethical, Scriptural, or personal considerations; and present conclusions or recommendations from your group. Use proper grammar and include citations of your article and any additional reference(s) using the APA (American Psychological Association) format.
Evaluation and Grade Points: Up to 15 points will be awarded for reports posted by the deadline, noon Sat. October 15 . Up to 5 additional points will be awarded to those who later post a reaction to another group's PET report. Your reaction may be written in collaboration with your PET group, or with one or two peers with similar interest in a chosen PET topic. It should be a well reasoned, substantive reaction (several sentences). So much the better if your report or reaction creates a thread of discussion involving others. Reactions due October 28.
| No. and PET TOPIC | Article Title | Comments |
| 1. Environmental Ethics | Bioethics in a Changing World |
Two related articles that address how to connect humans to "the land," and the influence of Aldo Leopold. Choose one article, but perhaps draw insights from each. |
| 2. Phytomedicines | Synergy and Other Interactions in Phytomedicines | The phenomenon of synergy--key to unlocking the unexplored potential of phytomedicines? |
| 3. "CAFO's" | Nutrient and Microbial Pollution of Aquatic Systems | Ecological and social implications of confined animal feeding operations. |
| 4. Genetic Engineering and World Food Production | Genetic Engineering, the Farm Crisis, and World Hunger |
In what ways does gene technology aid or hinder modern agriculture and the world food supply? |
| 5. Gene Flow from GMO's | Gene Flow from GM Rice and Its Environmental Consequences | Allison Snow from The Ohio State Univ. and her colleague from China evaluate the possibility of genes moving from crops into wild relatives. |
| 6. West Nile Virus | West Nile Virus and Wildlife | What pathological, ecological and political insights are being gained from the study of this virus? |
| 7. Strongly Interacting Species | Strongly Interacting Species: Conservation Policy, Management, and Ethics | Do policies regulating endangered species need a reexamination in light of new understanding of strongly interacting species? |
| 8. Predators and Plants | Linking Wolves and Plants: Aldo Leopold on Trophic Cascades | Amazing influences of carnivores on plant communities as claimed years ago by Leopold. |
| 9. Ethanol as Fuel-- | Energy, Carbon Dioxide Balances, and Ecological Footprint | Is it ecologically feasible to produce ethanol from crop biomass? |
| 10. Organic and Conventional Farming | Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons | Can conventional farming be improved by taking lessons from the organic farmers? |
| 11. Roundup: Ecological Impact | Lethal Impact of Roundup on Aquatic and Terrestrial Amphibians | What does one researcher learn as a result of studies that attempt to relate "laboratory findings" to conditions that more nearly approximate an agricultural system? |
| 12. Climate Warming | The two internet sources (see left) address the issue of climate change, one with emphasis on the scriptural mandate, the other presenting a summary of extensive research. | |
| 13. Eutrophication of Coastal Waters | Dead Zones Spreading in World's Oceans | Ecological studies of coastal waters reveals startling information and reasons for taking action. |