Charles Darwin, Climate Change and endangered species

answer these questions while listing sources.

1- Stephen J. Gould called Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection “the most discombobulating idea in all of mankind”, and Daniel C. Bennett called it “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea”. From what you have learned this semester,

A- Clearly describe Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection (How does it work),
B- Clearly explain how it differed from other ideas at the time (i.e., why is it “discombobulating”), and
C- How does it change the “worldview” of scientists? (Hint: READ Darwin for Beginners!]
D- What is the best evidence FOR Evolution by means of Natural Selection?
E- What is the best evidence AGAINST Evolution by means of Natural Selection?

2- Charles Darwin took over 20 years before he published his first book, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.” One of the reasons was his inability to understand the nature of inheritance of characteristics.

A- What were the predominant theories of inheritance in the mid-1800s?
B- How is Gregor Mendel’s theory of inheritance different from Jean LaMarck’s theory?
C- How are either of the above theories compatible/incompatible with Darwin’s theory of evolution?
D- What is the evidence for Mendel’s theory of inheritance?
E- Are either/both theories of inheritance “science” and why?

3- As stated by V.P.Gore in his “Inconvenient Truth” lecture. Global Climate Change (=global warming) is a very real phenomenon resulting from excess generation of greenhouse gasses. He demonstrated that this is a global issue that causes, both flooding and drought, equatorial cooling and polar warming. For this “research” question,

A- What is the evidence that human activity is resulting in the increase of the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere?
B- State the city, state (province) and country (if not the U.S.A.) where your family lives (not at U-Tampa) and/or you were raised,
C- Identify two (2) environmental issues that are local to your home of origin and whether or not your local and/or state/provincial/federal government is doing anything to address these issues.

4- To date, the United State and China are the only world-powers not to have ratified the Kyoto Accord (of 1998), however, recently these two nations have agreed to some level of climate protection.

A- What is the Kyoto Accord and why had the US been reluctant to ratify this Accord/Treaty?
B- Why has China also not ratified the treaty?
C- What have the US and China agreed to (in 2014)?
D- What are the arguments FOR and AGAINST the US participation in this most recent agreement?

5- Water-related environmental issues are, perhaps the most pervasive environmental issues at both a state and local level in the US (and probably throughout the world.) Investigate and report the (a) facts, (b) arguments, and (c) resolution for any two of the following:

A. The Tampa Bay Water wars of the 1980s and 1990s,
B. The Atlanta (Georgia) water wars (current), or
C. The New Mexico/Texas water wars

and then indicate the role of Global Climate Change in these “wars”.

6- Choose ONE (1) of the following endangered species; the Florida Panther, the Florida Gopher Tortoise, or the West Indian Manatee, and identify:
A. The size and geographic range (in Florida) for the species,
B. The environmental REASON/CAUSE that the species is endangered,
C. The steps being taken to mitigate the environmental causes for the species population decrease, and finally…
D. Discuss whether or not we should be doing those thing