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5.2.4 Lab - Simulate Sustainable Resource Management (Dry Lab)

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3K views9 pages

5.2.4 Lab - Simulate Sustainable Resource Management (Dry Lab)

Uploaded by

theo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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5.2.

4 Lab: Simulate Sustainable Resource Dry Lab


Management
Earth Science Sem 2
Name:
Date:

Simulate Sustainable Resource Management

In this virtual lab, you will use a computer model. The model will let you see how
conventional agriculture affects the environment. Then you will explore how
conservation tactics can reduce those effects. You will also use the model to observe
the effects of different combinations of resource-management practices and
compare how sustainable they are.

Tips and Tricks

Pay close attention to the x-axis and y-axis labels when you are reading the graphs.

Procedure and Data


Part 1: Simulate Conventional Agriculture

Read the information on page 2 of this activity. Then, follow the procedure on page 3
to model conventional agriculture using the Resource Use and Conservation Virtual
Lab. Use the following tables to record the data you collect. (6 points)

Conventional Agriculture Data


Year Land usage Land usage Land usage Population
(cropland) (forest) (grassland and
wetland)

210

5.2.4 Lab: Simulate Sustainable Resource Management 1/9


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Year Freshwater CO and CO2 Pesticide Fertilizer Soil
consumption concentration concentration concentration erosion
(Water debt)

210

Year Biodiversity Human disease Human disease


(cancer) (respiratory
ailments)

210

Part 2: Simulate Sustainable Agriculture

Read the information on page 4 of this activity. Then, follow the procedure on page 5
of the activity to model sustainable agriculture using the Resource Use and
Conservation Virtual Lab. Use the following tables to record the data you collect. (13
points)

Sustainable Agriculture Data


Conservation tactic Cropland Biodiversity Year
usage (210 (number of simulation
years) species after ended
210 years)

Recycle runoff.

Use drip irrigation.

5.2.4 Lab: Simulate Sustainable Resource Management 2/9


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Rotate crops.

Use cover crops and no-till


farming.

Plant high-yield crop varieties.

Improve food-storage facilities.

Environmental Impact After 210 Years


Conservation tactic Freshwater Pesticide Fertilizer Soil
consumption concentration concentration erosion
(Water debt)

Recycle runoff.

Use drip irrigation.

Rotate crops.

Use cover crops and


no-till farming.

Plant high-yield crop


varieties.

Improve food-storage
facilities.

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copying, reuse, or redistribution is prohibited.
Combinations of Conservation Tactics to Maximize Sustainability
Conservation Conservation Cropland Biodiversity Year
tactic 1 tactic 2 usage (year (number of simulation
simulation species at ended
ended) year
simulation
ended)

Use drip Use cover


irrigation. crops and no-
till farming.

Rotate crops. Plant high-


yield crop
varieties.

Plant high- Improve food-


yield crop storage
varieties. facilities.

Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions


Part 1: Simulate Conventional Agriculture (16 points)

1. As the simulation ran, what visual changes in the ecosystem did you observe? (1
point)

2. What do you think caused the percentage of land used to grow crops to increase
over time? (1 point)

3. What land was converted into cropland? What do you think were some of the

5.2.4 Lab: Simulate Sustainable Resource Management 4/9


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copying, reuse, or redistribution is prohibited.
effects of this conversion? (2 points)

4. Why do you think soil erosion increased over time? How do you think the increase
in soil erosion affected the ecosystem? (2 points)

5. Why do you think the water debt increased and the water table fell? (1 point)

6. What forms of pollution appeared in the environment? Where do you think these
pollutants came from? (2 points)

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copying, reuse, or redistribution is prohibited.
7. Why do you think current conventional agricultural practices are linked with
increased rates of respiratory ailments and cancer? (1 point)

8. The simulation ended after most of the land in the ecosystem turned to desert.
Why do you think this desertification happened? (1 point)

9. How were the potential negative effects of technology shown in the simulation? (3
points)

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10. How did biodiversity change over time? Why do you think this happened? (2
points)

Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions


Part 2: Simulate Sustainable Agriculture (15 points)

1. What were the main effects of recycling runoff, rotating crops, and using cover
crops and no-till farming? Why do you think they had these effects? (2 points)

2. How did drip irrigation affect the ecosystem? How does this practice make farming
more sustainable? (2 points)

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3. Which conservation tactics helped decrease soil erosion the most? Why do you
think these practices were effective? (2 points)

4. Which conservation tactics helped increase the amount of time the simulation ran?
Why do you think they had this effect? (2 points)

5. Which combination of two conservation tactics allowed the simulation to run the
longest? How long did the simulation run under these conditions? (2 points)

6. How would adding integrated pest management (IPM) as a conservation tactic be


likely to change the simulation? (2 points)

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7. Some of the conservation tactics did not change the biodiversity or cropland usage
in the model ecosystem. Does this result mean that these practices are not useful in
making farming more sustainable? Why or why not? (1 point)

8. Did using conservation tactics make agriculture sustainable? How could adding in
the effects of human population and consumption affect the sustainability? (2
points)

Complete the Lab Activity

Submit this worksheet to your teacher.

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copying, reuse, or redistribution is prohibited. Apex Learning ® and the Apex Learning Logo are registered trademarks of

Apex Learning Inc.

5.2.4 Lab: Simulate Sustainable Resource Management 9/9


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