Read the article “To Frack or Not To Frack and answer the accompanying worksheet.

Module 1 Environmental Science Chapter 1 Module 1 Environmental Science

Environment = is the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life. These conditions include: Living organisms Nonliving components (soil, temperature, water) Influence of humans

Environmental Science = is the field of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature. Systems = are any set of interacting components that influence one another by exchanging energy or materials . = can be human-made or natural.

Man-made system

Natural Systems = Ecosystem Includes living component (biotic) and nonliving component (abiotic)

Which one is a system?

Agree or Disagree? Humans manipulate the systems in their environment than any other species. Human activities have also created opportunities for certain species to thrive.

Environmental Scientist vs Environmentalist Activity: Compare using a Venn Diagram Use the manipulative cards to compare the two. Draw a Venn Diagram in your notebook after we go over the answers.

Environmentalism = is a social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activities and education. Environmentalist – is a person who participates in environmentalism. Environmental scientist = follows the process of observation, hypothesis testing, and field and laboratory research.

Environmental Studies (interdisciplinary) - environmental science (encompasses topics from many scientific disciplines such as Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science) - environmental policy - economics - literature - ethics

Environmental Indicators and Sustainability Module 2 Environmental Indicators and Sustainability

Environmental scientists monitor natural systems for signs of stress. Natural environments provide ecosystem services. Ecosystem services = the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced.

Ecosystem Services

Environmental Indicators = describe the current state of an environmental system. They are also used to describe the health and quality of natural systems.

Lichens

Starfish – absorbs heavy metals in the water

Five (5) Key Global Indicators Biological Diversity Food Production 3. CO2 Concentration 4. Human Population 5. Resource Depletion

Other common environmental indicators Ecological Footprint Water quality Fish catch Habitat loss rate Infant mortality rate Life expectancy

1. Biological Diversity Is the diversity of life forms in an environment. It exists in three (3) scales; a) genetic diversity b) species diversity c) ecosystem diversity

Genetic diversity = is a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population. * Make organisms better able to respond to environmental change.

Solanum lycopersicum Canis familiaris

Species diversity = indicates the number of species in a region or in a particular type of habitat.

Ecosystems with more species are more productive and resilient. Species = are group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology (body form and structure, behavior, or biochemical properties). Individual within species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Identified and catalogued = 2 M species Estimate number = 5 M to 100 M Most common estimate = 10 M

Major causes of extinction Habitat destruction Habitat degradation * Along with overharvesting.

Speciation = evolution of new species typically happens very slowly perhaps on the order of 1 to 3 new species per year worldwide. Background extinction rate = is the average rate at which species go extinct over the long term. It happens very slowly about 1 species in a million every year.

Ecosystem diversity = is a measure of the diversity of ecosystems or habitats that exists in a given region.

2. Food Production Our ability to grow food to nourish the human population. The 2008 food shortages around the world led to higher food prices and even riots in some places. Why did this happen? Grain production is influenced by many factors; - climatic condition - amount and quality of land under cultivation - irrigation - human labor - energy required to plant, harvest and transport grain to market.

Why grain production not keeping up with population growth? In some areas the productivity of agricultural ecosystems has declined as a result of soil degradation, crop diseases, drought/flooding. Demand is outpacing supply. Grains are used to feed livestock. Some government policies discouraged food production by making it more profitable for land to remain uncultivated or by encouraging farmers to grow crops for fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel instead of food.

Will there be sufficient grain to feed the world’s population in the future? Humans will always discover and employ technological or biological innovations to increase food production but these innovations may put a strain on the productivity of the soil.

3. Average Global Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration

Increase derived from human activities is called anthropogenic. Two (2) major sources of anthropogenic CO2 Combustion of fossil fuels Heat loss of forests and other habitats that would otherwise take up and store CO2 from the atmosphere.

4. Human Population 7.2 B = current global population and is still growing.

The increasing world population places additional demands on natural systems since each new person requires food, water and other resources.

5. Resource Depletion Natural resources provide the energy and materials that support human civilization but as human population grows these resources become depleted. Negative consequences of resource extraction; Pollution and Land degradation caused by mining Waste from discarded manufactured products Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion

Patterns of resource consumption vary by the level of development. Development = improvement in human well-being through economic advancement. Developed vs Developing countries?

Goals of Environmental Science Sustainability = living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use the resources without depriving the future generations of those resources. Sustainable development = is development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations.

Defining Human Needs Biophilia = love of life Ecological Footprint = a measure of how much an individual consumes expressed in areas of land.

Activity: Calculate your own Ecological Footprint