Intro to the Environment Chapter 1

Environmental Science A scientific study A scientific study Human interaction with their environment Human interaction with their environment

Ecology Scientific study Scientific study How living things interact with each other How living things interact with each other How living things interact with their non- living environment How living things interact with their non- living environment

Summary We might study how changes in wetlands affect migratory waterfowl (ecology) We might study how changes in wetlands affect migratory waterfowl (ecology) Then we might study changes in hunting seasons for harvesting from an oversized population of Canada Geese (environmental science) Then we might study changes in hunting seasons for harvesting from an oversized population of Canada Geese (environmental science)

Other sciences contributing to environmental science Zoology – animals Zoology – animals Botany – plants Botany – plants Geology – earth and its processes Geology – earth and its processes Hydrology – water resources Hydrology – water resources Chemistry – chemical interactions Chemistry – chemical interactions Geography – human/earth interactions Geography – human/earth interactions Anthropology – interactions of man, biology, culture, geography and history Anthropology – interactions of man, biology, culture, geography and history Many others Many others

Reasons for Environmental Science Maintain healthy society Maintain healthy society Maintain functional society Maintain functional society Solve existing and expected problems in nature Solve existing and expected problems in nature Help in planning for the future Help in planning for the future

Change NOT New! Hunter-gatherers; often low impact Hunter-gatherers; often low impact Low numbers; nomadic; maintained prairies Low numbers; nomadic; maintained prairies Introduced exotic plants to new locales Introduced exotic plants to new locales Agricultural Revolution Agricultural Revolution Settled and planted Settled and planted Domesticated plant/animal species Domesticated plant/animal species Change to agricultural habitats Change to agricultural habitats Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Power sources other than muscle; mass production Power sources other than muscle; mass production Specialization of tasks Specialization of tasks Modern Science and Technology improves quality of life (?) Modern Science and Technology improves quality of life (?)

Main Environmental Problems Resource depletion Resource depletion Pollution Pollution Loss of biodiversity Loss of biodiversity Overpopulation Overpopulation

Resource Depletion Natural material used by humans Natural material used by humans Renewable Renewable Non-renewable Non-renewable

Natural Resources

Renewable Replaced relatively quickly by natural processes Replaced relatively quickly by natural processes Crops, livestock, forests, fresh water, air, even soil Crops, livestock, forests, fresh water, air, even soil Some kinds of energy Some kinds of energy

Nonrenewable Forms at a rate much slower than it can be replaced Forms at a rate much slower than it can be replaced Minerals and fossil fuels Minerals and fossil fuels

Depleted Resources Large fraction is used up and just a small portion remains usable Large fraction is used up and just a small portion remains usable Both renewable and nonrenewable Both renewable and nonrenewable

Pollution Undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms Undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms A pollutant is any substance that is out of place A pollutant is any substance that is out of place Two main types: Two main types: Biodegradable Biodegradable Nondegradable Nondegradable

Biodegradable pollutants Broken down by natural processes Broken down by natural processes Examples: sewage, old newspapers, yard waste, certain new plastics (see photo) Examples: sewage, old newspapers, yard waste, certain new plastics (see photo)

Nondegradable Don’t break down naturally or are very slow Don’t break down naturally or are very slow Examples: plastics, mercury, lead, styrofoam Examples: plastics, mercury, lead, styrofoam Build up to dangerous levels for life Build up to dangerous levels for life

Loss of Biodiversity Removal of species from the gene pool Removal of species from the gene pool Species are nonrenewable Species are nonrenewable Extinction is forever Extinction is forever Missing links in food web Missing links in food web Possible aids in survival lost forever Possible aids in survival lost forever Less adaptability for life today Less adaptability for life today All species have potential economic, ecological, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value All species have potential economic, ecological, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value

Population pressure Possibly the most serious threat to the environment is the rapid growth of population worldwide Possibly the most serious threat to the environment is the rapid growth of population worldwide Population growth is exponential Population growth is exponential Magnifies all the other problems Magnifies all the other problems

Society and Environment How we act How we act Why we act that way Why we act that way What we desire What we desire Our ability to think and adapt Our ability to think and adapt Driving forces? Driving forces?

Tragedy of the Commons Garrett Hardin, 1968 Garrett Hardin, 1968 Backbone of modern ecology Backbone of modern ecology Conflict of short-term interests of individuals versus long term welfare of society Conflict of short-term interests of individuals versus long term welfare of society Analogy of the town’s common area versus individual fenced acreages Analogy of the town’s common area versus individual fenced acreages

Economic Forces Supply and Demand Supply and Demand Controls prices Controls prices Environmental solutions include pay the price, use less, or find new sources of energy Environmental solutions include pay the price, use less, or find new sources of energy

Economic Forces Cost-benefit Cost-benefit Balances the cost of the action against the benefit expected Balances the cost of the action against the benefit expected Choice: pay more or use less expensive alternative that has fewer environmental safeguards Choice: pay more or use less expensive alternative that has fewer environmental safeguards

Economic Forces Risk assessment Risk assessment Cost effective ways to protect Cost effective ways to protect Must perceive risk accurately Must perceive risk accurately

Developed vs Developing Decisions are global in effects Decisions are global in effects Unequal distribution in wealth creates different situations, therefore, different problems and different choices Unequal distribution in wealth creates different situations, therefore, different problems and different choices Complicates the situation immensely Complicates the situation immensely

Populations and Consumption Overpopulation leads to overconsumption of simple resources: Overpopulation leads to overconsumption of simple resources: Deforestation, exhausted topsoil, extinctions Deforestation, exhausted topsoil, extinctions High standard of living leads to consumption of more complex consumer products High standard of living leads to consumption of more complex consumer products Food production, education, and jobs cannot keep up with rapid population growth Food production, education, and jobs cannot keep up with rapid population growth Crowding creates stress and related problems Crowding creates stress and related problems

Consumption fact Developed nations use 75% of resources Developed nations use 75% of resources Developed nations make up 20% of the world’s population Developed nations make up 20% of the world’s population High rate of consumption creates more waste and pollution per person than developing nations High rate of consumption creates more waste and pollution per person than developing nations

Ecological Footprint Your ecological footprint is a value showing the productive area of the Earth’s surface necessary to support one person (You). How many Earths would be needed to support our population if everyone lived at your level of consumption?

Ecological Footprint /index_worldmap.gif

The Key to environmental thinking is sustainability! That means….. How should we live that allows us to survive indefinitely?

Hopefully not…… THE END