1. In this threaded discussion, you will draw on the data you analyzed in the field study. Place your answers to the following questions online. Identify the ecosystem you investigated and state its geographic limits. Write a short summary of the abiotic and biotic factors that you found. In the same post, choose a plant or animal species that is not currently in your ecosystem, and think of a scenario in which this species might realistically migrate into the ecosystem you studied. Describe some of the abiotic and biotic factors in the ecosystem that would affect the species. Do you think this species would become extinct or thrive in your ecosystem? Next read the posts of two or more people. Review and comment on their analysis in a respectful manner. Comment on the parts of their analysis that you find interesting and suggest areas of improvement. In at least two cases for each, explain why you agree or disagree with their analysis. Finally go back to your original post and reevaluate it based on the feedback your peers gave you, and state how other posts changed or supported your initial idea.EXAMPLE ANSWER : Biotic life is plentiful with 2 large trees, many garden plants like small flowering plants, mint plants (Mentha longifolia), earth worms(Lumbricidae), the bugs that live amongst us and my cats. All of these biotic factors assist or retract from one another. One thing I noticed is that because of the large size of the trees, many of the plants are not exposed to sunlight, forcing un-even growth. Forms of energy like rain, sunlight and the water from the sprinkler system, are all included in the Abiotic list.Since we laid new top soil, tended the garden and planted new grass seed, birds have taken notice of the plethora of earth worms in our yard. This has led to an influx of aerial attacks by nearby birds. They have also taken it upon themselves to dwell in the two column like tree that stand in the yard. Look at the illustration of a trophic level pyramid. For each trophic level, write one or two sentences explaining the role of that type of organism. You should include those organisms that fall outside the normal pyramid. Give an example of each type of organism.Your examples do not have to belong to the same food chain in real life. Why does the pyramid get narrower at each higher level? Answer: (8 points) Score 2.  What is an environmental sphere or earth system sphere? Name the earth’s five major environmental spheres and state the defining characteristics of each. Give one example of a way in which two or more earth system spheres interact. Answer: (8 points) Score 3.  What is biogeochemical cycling? For each of the following five cycles, state two processes in which matter changes its form: carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Answer:

You are the emergency manager in a city with a population of 250,000 in the northeastern United States. The fire chief has asked you to draft a brief research paper for the new fire service recruits explaining critical infrastructure. He wants you to focus specifically on the key assets that the fire service recruits may deal with during their fire service careers.Prepare a research paper of 750–1,000 words for your presentation that focuses on those critical infrastructure sectors and key assets that are of direct concern to the fire service. Of the assets you highlighted, which 3 assets are fire service personnel most likely to encounter during the course of their career? Explain.Assignment GuidelinesPrepare a research paper of 750–1,000 words that addresses the following:Which of the 16 critical infrastructure and key resource (CIKR) sectors are of the most concern to the fire service?For each of the sectors of most concern to the fire service, identify 3 associated assets, and describe each asset.Out of all the assets identified, which 3 are fire service personnel most likely to encounter during the course of their career? Explain.

Identify an environmental issue facing your community.Imagine that you have been asked to educate the members of your community on this environmental issue.Create a 12- to 14-slide presentation about your selected environmental issue. Include the following in your presentation:An overview of your selected issue.The effects of human activities on your community and the biosphere and how this has led to your chosen issue.The biotic and abiotic environmental components involved in this issue and how their interaction has affected the diversity of organisms in your environment.How energy and materials flow in your local ecosystem and how this is related to your selected issue.Some actions those in your community can take to diminish the issue.