Questions to think about: Do you think the current human population or even increases in human population can be sustained? Do you think our current way of life can be sustained? (and even extended to all people) Or do you think there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way we live? Do you think that technology and innovation will allow humans to continue to be successful in spite of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services?

1. Planetary Management The planetary management worldview believes that humans are set apart from nature and can manage nature while adequately meeting our increasing needs and wants. Believers of planetary management believe that with the help of technology and innovative ingenuity, we can manage our resources and not run out of those that are limited. Also, economic growth is unlimited in the world and should not be restricted by worry about natural resources. The success of the human race depends on how well humans are able to use the Earth’s natural resources for our advancement and benefit.managementtechnology World Views 2. Stewardship Those who have a stewardship worldview believe that we have an ethical responsibility to be caring managers, or stewards of the Earth and its finite resources. Stewards believe that with the right management strategies and mindfulness, we will not run out of resources. These strategies must encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth and discourage growth that harms the environment. The success of the human race depends on how well we are able to manage the earth’s life support systems for our benefit and the rest of the world’s organisms and ecosystems.

3. Environmental Wisdom Those that believe in an environmental wisdom worldview believe that we are all a part of and totally dependent on nature. Nature exists for the good of all species and we must include them as we create management plans. An environmental wisdom belief system believes that all resources are limited and should not be wasted or squandered. Environmentally friendly modes of economic growth should be employed and those economic practices that degrade the Earth should be discouraged. The success of the human race depends on learning how natural systems maintain and sustain themselves. Humans must integrate lessons of nature into the ways we think and live. Environmentally friendly

Early earth atmosphere: H 2 O, Nitrogen gases, H 2, CH 4, CO 2, H 2 S Pre-life Earth

The Emergence of Life on Earth and the Evolution of Diversity of Life “Life creates conditions for life”

Atmospheric composition: N 2 78% O 2 21% CO %

Can a single species alter the atmospheric composition? 390ppm in 2010

ECOLOGY The study of the interrelationships among and between living things and the nonliving environment.

Ecosystems: The nonliving environment and all the living organisms within a defined area. These defined areas are called “biomes”. All the interacting populations within the biome are defined as a “community”. The nonliving environment (geology, geography, climate) impact the community that develops through evolution, and the living community can affect the non living environment.

Evolution creates diversity, and diversity creates stability and balance in an ecosystem. Biodiversity of communities creates stability Interactions between members of the community and the environment create balance.

Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Bacteria Bromeliad Ants Tree frog Green tree snake Katydid Climbing monstera palm Squirrel monkeys Blue and gold macaw Harpy eagle Ocelot Slaty-tailed trogon Slaty-tailed trogon Trophic levels

Fig. 9.7, p. 202 Number of individuals Time Irruptive Stable Cyclic Irregular Population Dynamics in an Ecosystem

Carrying Capacity (K) - population size that can be sustained - Biotic potential - Intrinsic rate of growth (r) (minimum population size necessary) - Environmental resistance (both biotic and abiotic)

POPULATION SIZE (Carrying Capacity) Growth factors (biotic potential) Favorable light Favorable temperature Favorable chemical environment (optimal level of critical nutrients) Abiotic Biotic High reproductive rate Generalized niche Adequate food supply Suitable habitat Ability to compete for resources Ability to hide from or defend against predators Ability to resist diseases and parasites Ability to migrate and live in other habitats Ability to adapt to environmental change Decrease factors (environmental resistance) Too much or too little light Temperature too high or too low Unfavorable chemical environment (too much or too little of critical nutrients) Abiotic Biotic Low reproductive rate Specialized niche Inadequate food supply Unsuitable or destroyed habitat Too many competitors Insufficient ability to hide from or defend against predators Inability to resist diseases and parasites Inability to migrate and live in other habitats Inability to adapt to environmental change Balance!

All of these interactions between populations and the non-living environment lead to stability and sustainability of the ecosystem

Biosphere Carbon cycle Phosphorus cycle Nitrogen cycle H 2 O cycle Oxygen cycle Heat in the environment These interactions result in energy flow and matter cycling All Solar powered, and perfect recycling of materials! Do you think Humans have something to learn from this?

The Carbon Cycle

Fig. 4.36, p. 99 Solar Capital Air resources and purification Climate control Recycling vital chemicals Renewable energy resources Nonrenewable energy resources Nonrenewable mineral resources Potentially renewable matter resources Biodiversity and gene pool Natural pest and disease control Waste removal and detoxification Soil formation and renewal Water resources and purification Natural Capital Ecosystem Services Healthy ecosystems create conditions that support life!

The Global Expansion of Modern Humans

Global Human Population Growth Agriculture Industrial revolution

Fig. 11.9, p. 242 High Medium Low High 10.7 Medium 8.9 Low 7.3 Year Population (billion) Projections for world population TFR = 2.5 TFR = 2.0 TFR = 1.6

Fig. 9.7, p. 202 Number of individuals Time Irruptive Stable Cyclic Irregular

How do we estimate how much the earth can handle? I= P x A x T The world population is 4x larger and the world economy is 17x larger than 100 years ago!

Fig. 4.36, p. 99 Solar Capital Air resources and purification Climate control Recycling vital chemicals Renewable energy resources Nonrenewable energy resources Nonrenewable mineral resources Potentially renewable matter resources Biodiversity and gene pool Natural pest and disease control Waste removal and detoxification Soil formation and renewal Water resources and purification Natural Capital Ecosystem Services Not on economic balance sheets! Environmental issues are too costly and damaging to our economy???

Natural Resources Energy Manufactured Product Consumer use Waste The rate of production and consumption must be ever increasing - this is impossible! (mainly hydrocarbons) Current Economic Model - Linear, through-put of resourses - No accounting for cost of resource depletion (environmental degradation), waste production (pollution) - Based on stored, limited source of energy Economic development based on GDP, rather than overall quality of life and environment.

What must Humanity do to achieve a sustainable society? Lester Brown – President of The Earth Policy Institute, and author of Plan B:4.0 1)Restructure the global Economy so that it does not destroy or degrade the natural support systems (ecosystem services) 2)Stabilize Human population – we need a major shift in Human reproductive behavior 3)Change in societal values and lifestyles – we have become disconnected from the natural world

Natural Resources Energy Manufactured Product Consumer use Sustainable, increased standard of living is a function of energy efficiency and efficiency of matter cycling. Economic development measured by quality of life and ecosystem! Economic model based on mimicking ecosystems - Stable population - Use of solar energy - Products must be recycleable, no toxic waste. Materials and production mimic nature. Solar business_logic_of_sustainability.html