Description

Most of us throw or flush things away every day without thinking about the fact that there is no “away.” Whether discarded substances break down or not, they affect our environment. By investigating the processes in wastewater treatment, composting, landfilling, and bioremediation of contaminated sites, Decay and Renewal teaches important science concepts within the context of environmental issues. Using inquiry-based methods, the book focuses on biodegradation to help students learn basic biological and ecological concepts. The Student Edition has four sections:

(1) basic concepts in biodegradation in nature and in composting, wastewater treatment, and bioremediation;
(2) 14 protocols with specific instruction on research techniques;
(3) how to develop relevant research projects using protocols; and
(4) how to build systems for treating simulated wastewater.

Also included are abundant worksheets to guide students from planning a research project to presenting results.

Table of Contents

STUDENT EDITION

FIGURES AND TABLES IN THE STUDENT EDITION
PREFACE
SciLinks

SECTION 1. UNDERSTANDING BIODEGRADATION

CHAPTER 1. NATURAL FORCES OF DECAY AND RENEWAL
• Biodegradation
• Producers and Consumers
• Nutrient Cycles and Energy Flows
• Classification of Living Things
• Biodegradation on Land
• Biodegradation in Water
-Organic Pollution
-Eutrophication
• Conclusion
• Discussion Questions

CHAPTER 2. HARNESSING NATURAL DECAY
• Human Waste Disposal Processes
• Biodegradable Plastics
• Landfills
• Composting
-Compost Biology
-Compost Chemistry and Physics
• Wastewater Treatment
-Using Wetlands to Purify Wastewater
• Discussion Questions

CHAPTER 3. BIOREMEDIATION: USING MICROBES TO CLEAN UP CONTAMINATED SITES
• Degrading Groundwater Contaminants
• Cleaning Up Oil Spills
• Choosing When to Use Bioremediation
• Discussion Questions

SECTION 2. BIODEGRADATION PROTOCOLS: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

IDENTIFYING DECOMPOSERS
• Protocol 1. Picking and Sorting Invertebrates
• Protocol 2. Berlese Funnel for Collecting Invertebrates
• Protocol 3. Wet Extraction of Soil Organisms
• Protocol 4. Collecting and Observing Aquatic Invertebrates
• Protocol 5. Observing Soil Microorganisms
• Protocol 6. Culturing Bacteria
• Protocol 7. Culturing Fungi

CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF BIODEGRADATION
• Protocol 8. Measuring CO2 Produced in Soil or Compost
• Protocol 9. Measuring Dissolved Carbon Dioxide
• Protocol 10. Measuring Dissolved Oxygen
• Protocol 11. Measuring Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

COMPOSTING AND LANDFILLING
• Protocol 12. Using Soda Bottle Bioreactors for Biodegradation Experiments

BIOREMEDIATION
• Protocol 13. Growing Enrichment Cultures
• Protocol 14. Isolating the Degraders

PROTOCOL PLANNING AND REVIEW FORMS
• Protocol Planning Form
• Data Analysis Peer Review Form

SECTION 3. INTERACTIVE RESEARCH: EXPERIMENTS AND FIELD STUDIES

IDEAS FOR BIODEGRADATION RESEARCH
• Invertebrate Life
-Compost Invertebrates
-Soil Invertebrates
-Aquatic Invertebrates
• Microbial Life
• Chemical Effects of Biodegradation
-Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
-pH
• Composting
-Bioreactor Design
-Compost Ingredients
-Microorganisms
-Compost Physics
-Effects of Compost on Plant Growth
• Biodegradation in Landfills
-Biodegradable Plastics
• Bioremediation
-Cleaning Up an Oil Spill
-Isolating the Degraders
-Comparing with Other Microbes

FORMS FOR INTERACTIVE RESEARCH
• Planning Research
-Choosing a Research Topic
-Interactive Research Planning Form #1
-Interactive Research Planning Form #2
• Presenting Research Results
-Research Report Form
-Poster Guidelines
• Peer Review Forms
-Experimental Design Peer Review Form
-Research Report Peer Review Form
-Poster Peer Review Form

SECTION 4. INTERACTIVE RESEARCH:
WASTEWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE

WASTEWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE
• Materials
• Setting the Scene
• The Challenge
• Design Criteria and Constraints
• The Design Process

FORMS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE
• Parts List and Cost Analysis Form
• Design Selection Rubric
• Design Proposal Form
• Design Challenge Peer Review Form