What This Document Is
This document outlines a virtual lab exercise focused on bioaccumulation and biomagnification, specifically using the case study of DDT and its effects on ecosystems. It combines background reading on the history of DDT use, the work of Rachel Carson, and a scientific study examining DDT’s impact on bird eggshells, with a hands-on simulation to model how pollutants move through a food chain.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is designed for students in a Biology course (BIO100 at Hunter College CUNY) learning about ecological principles and environmental toxicology. It’s used to understand how persistent pollutants like DDT can have disproportionately large effects on top predators. The lab is likely used during a unit on ecosystems, environmental science, or conservation biology, helping students visualize and investigate a critical environmental issue.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides the framework for a virtual lab experience. It does *not* provide the answers to the questions or complete the simulation for you. It also doesn’t cover the broader scope of all persistent organic pollutants, focusing specifically on DDT as a case study. Users will still need to actively engage with the provided links and the virtual lab itself to fully grasp the concepts.
What This Document Provides
This document includes:
* Background information on DDT and its historical use.
* A summary of Rachel Carson’s work and its impact.
* A link to a scientific study on the effects of DDT on bird eggshells, with questions to guide analysis of the study.
* Instructions for accessing and using a virtual lab simulation to model biomagnification.
* Specific tasks to complete within the simulation, such as setting DDT levels and observing the results.
* Questions to prompt observation, analysis, and critical thinking throughout the exercise.
This preview does *not* include the answers to the questions, the results of the simulation, or a complete explanation of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. It is designed to prepare you for the lab, not to replace it.
