A Tale of Twin Towns

By Vandana A. Gudi

Abstract

This case study presents the fictional tale of two neighboring towns that have recently experienced a growth boom and are now suffering the environmental consequences. The case provides an opportunity to explore a wide variety of anthropogenic causes of natural capital degradation. Students are assigned the role of scientists working for the regional Department of Environmental Resources Management, and it is their job to discover the underlying causes for a wide variety of citizen complaints and to suggest reasonable and cost effective solutions. The case may be assigned as a recap activity after teaching a unit on natural capital degradation. The case includes a PowerPoint presentation as well as three lab activities that are included in the teaching notes. The case would be appropriate for high school or lower level undergraduate ecology or environmental science courses.

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Date Posted

02/12/2016

Overview

Objectives

Evaluate environmental effects of extracting mineral resources.
Analyze the transmission of diseases via water.
Predict the effects of acid deposition on plants and soil.
Scrutinize the effect of human activities on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the troposphere.
Describe and summarize the effects of various water pollutants on surface and ground water.
Determine the causes leading to cultural eutrophication and how to reduce them.
Explain how ground water can become contaminated.
Explore and recommend measures to prevent ground water contamination.

Keywords

Natural capital degradation; deforestation; acid rain; cultural eutrophication; water pollution; acid-mine drainage; point source; contamination; runoff; aquifer; soil degradation; erosion; surface mining; underground leakage; anthropogenic activity

Subject Headings

Environmental Science

Natural Resource Management

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

FORMAT

PDF, PowerPoint

TOPICAL AREAS

Regulatory issues

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Analysis (Issues), Laboratory, Role-Play

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Teaching notes are intended to help teachers select and adopt a case. They typically include a summary of the case, teaching objectives, information about the intended audience, details about how the case may be taught, and a list of references and resources.

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Answer Key

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Please note: there is no answer key for this case study.

Materials & Media

Supplemental Materials

The PowerPoint presentation below focuses on the specific concepts students need to write the report assigned in the case study.

Natural Capital Degradation

Videos

The Anthropocene: Human Impact on the Environment
Human activities are reshaping our planet in profound ways. The changes that have occurred in the last 50-200 years have led scientists to propose a new geologic epoch, called the Anthropocene. This interactive activity demonstrates how human population growth, air pollution, agriculture, mining, water use, and other human activities have impacted the environment and the mark they will leave in the fossil record. Produced by HHMI BioInteractive.