HUMANS IN THE BIOSPHERE IN 1778, EUROPEANS ARRIVED ON THE
ISLAND CHAIN OF HAWAII. THEY CHANGED THE ISLANDS BY INTRODUCING
RANCHING, PREDATORS, AND DISEASE. LARGE AREAS HAVE BEEN PAVED FOR
HOUSING SCHOOLS AND INDUSTRY; NATIVE HAWAIIAN SPECIES ARE GONE
Slide 3
ALL ORGANISMS THAT LIVE ON EARTH SHARE A LIMITED RESOURCE BASE
HUMAN POPULATION IS INCREASING; OUR PLANET IS NOT
Slide 4
INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY GIVE HUMANS A STRONG ADVANTAGE IN
COMPETING FOR FOOD, ENERGY, AND SPACE HUMANS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE ON THE PLANET
Slide 5
1. HUNTING AND GATHERING 2. AGRICULTURE 3. INDUSTRY 4. URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
Slide 6
THIS USED TO BE THE PRIMARY MEANS OF SURVIVAL PEOPLE LIVED IN
SMALL GROUPS HUNTING AND GATHERING CAUSED ONE OF THE MAJOR MASS
EXTINCTIONS OF LARGE ANIMALS (WOOLY MAMMOTHS, GIANT SLOTHS, AND
SABERTOOTH CATS)
Slide 7
THE SPREAD OF AGRICULTURE WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDED
PEOPLE WITH A DEPENDABLE SUPPLY OF FOOD HUMANS GATHERED IN LARGER
SETTLEMENTS (TOWNS AND CITIES) AND DEVELOPED GOVERNMENT AND
LAWS.
Slide 8
DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS (SHEEP, GOATS, COWS, PIGS, HORSES,
DOGS) SUPPLIED HUMANS WITH MILK, WOOL, ETC. OVERGRAZING CHANGED
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS, ERODED SOIL, AND PUT LARGE DEMANDS ON WATER
SUPPLIES TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE (1450-1700) ALLOWED FOR THE
EXCHANGE OF FOODS AROUND THE WORLD TO BEGIN
Slide 9
1800S: IRRIGATION, NEW CROP VARIETIES, AND FARM MACHINES HELPED
FARMERS INCREASE THEIR YIELDS TREMENDOUSLY GREEN REVOLUTION:
INTRODUCED NEW FARMING PRACTICES THAT GREATLY INCREASED THE YIELDS
OF RICE, WHEAT, ETC.
Slide 10
MONOCULTURE: LARGE FIELDS ARE CLEARED, PLOWED AND PLANTED WITH
A SINGLE CROP YEAR AFTER YEAR FARMERS RELY ON IRRIGATION, CHEMICAL
FERTILIZERS, AND PESTICIDES THE BENEFIT TO HUMANS FROM THE GREEN
REVOLUTION IS NEW FARMING PRACTICES INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION AND
PREVENTED FOOD SHORTAGES
Slide 11
1. INTENSIVE FARMING CAN DEPLETE ENERGY AND WATER SUPPLIES 2.
MONOCULTURE ALLOWS PESTS TO REPRODUCE QUICKLY 3. PESTICIDES CARRY
HARMFUL CHEMICALS 4. FERTILIZERS CAN INTERFERE WITH FOOD WEBS AND
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Slide 12
HUMAN SOCIETY WAS TRANSFORMED BY THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION MOST
ENERGY NEEDED TO PRODUCE POWER CAME FROM FOSSIL FUELS (COAL, OIL,
NATURAL GAS) INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES POLLUTE AIR, WATER, AND SOIL
Slide 13
A RESOURCE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED TO TAKE CARE OF A NEED
A COMMON RESOURCE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE OWNED BY MANY PEOPLE
IN COMMON like the atmosphere or community pool
Slide 14
TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS: ANY RESOURCE THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE
(AIR, OCEANS) WILL EVENTUALLY BE DESTROYED BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN USE
IT, BUT NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESERVING IT NIMBY -
_______________________________
Slide 15
1. RENEWABLE: THEY CAN BE REGENERATED AND ARE REPLACEABLE
(TREES); THEY CAN BE LIMITED THOUGH 2. NON-RENEWABLE: CANNOT BE
REPLENISHED BY NATURAL PROCESSES; ONCE THEY ARE USED, THEY ARE GONE
FOREVER (FOSSIL FUELS)
Slide 16
SUSTAINABLE USE: A WAY OF USING NATURAL RESOURCES AT A RATE
THAT DOES NOT DEPLETE THEM ***UNLESS SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES ARE
USED, HUMAN ACTIVITIES CAN / WILL DAMAGE/DEPLETE RESOURCES
Slide 17
IF MANAGED PROPERLY, SOIL IS RENEWABLE. IF NOT, IT WILL BE
PERMANENTLY DAMAGED. FERTILE SOIL: BEST FOR FOOD CROPS TO GROW;
CONTAINS A MIXTURE OF HUMUS, SAND, CLAY AND ROCK PLOWING: REMOVES
ROOTS THAT HOLD SOIL IN PLACE SOIL EROSION = THE WEARING AWAY OF
SURFACE SOIL BY WATER AND WIND
Slide 18
DESERTIFICATION: COMBINATION OF FARMING, OVERGRAZING AND
DROUGHT THAT TURNS PRODUCTIVE AREAS INTO DESERTS
Slide 19
*VALUABLE FOR FOOD *FISHING HAS INCREASED, BUT FISH STOCKS IN
FISHERIES ARE BEING HARVESTED FASTER THAN THEY CAN
REPRODUCE=OVERFISHING
Slide 20
LIMIT THE CATCH OF FISH POPULATIONS: THE PROBLEM IS THAT OPEN
OCEAN WATERS ARE OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF ANY ONE SINGLE COUNTRY. AN
EXAMPLE OF A COMMON RESOURCE THAT EVERYONE WANTS BUT NO ONE HAS
INCENTIVE TO PROPERLY MANAGE Tragedy of the Commons!!
Slide 21
AQUACULTURE: FARMING OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS GOOD BECAUSE IT
PRODUCES ANIMAL PROTEIN IF IT ISNT MANAGED, THIS POLLUTES WATER
WITH FISH WASTES
Slide 22
SMOG: MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS THAT OCCURS AS A GRAY-BROWN HAZE IN
THE ATMOSPHERE; IT IS A COMBINATION OF SMOKE AND FOG, MOSTLY DUE TO
AUTOMOBILE EXHAUSTS AND INDUSTRY EMISSIONS POLLUTANT: HARMFUL
MATERIAL THAT CAN ENTER THE BIOSPHERE THROUGH THE LAND, AIR, OR
WATER **BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS SUCH AS NITRATES, SULFATES, AND
PARTICULATES**
Slide 23
PARTICULATES: MICROSCOPIC PARTICLES OF ASH AND DUST THAT CAUSE
HEALTH PROBLEMS COMBUSTION: RELEASES ACIDIC GASES THAT COMBINE WITH
WATER VAPOR, to make NITRIC AND SULFURIC ACIDS -- ACID RAIN. ACID
RAIN KILLS PLANTS, CHANGES SOIL CHEMISTRY, AND RELEASES MERCURY
FROM THE SOIL WHICH IS TOXIC.
Slide 24
OVERALL, WATER IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE. FRESHWATER IS LIMITED
AS A RESOURCE. POLLUTION THREATENS WATER SUPPLIES:
Slide 25
OIL SPILLS IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF CHEMICALS LEADS TO THEIR
SEEPAGE INTO STREAMS AND RIVERS WASTE DISCARDED ON LAND SEEPS INTO
SOIL AND ENTERS GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES DOMESTIC SEWAGE CONTAINS
NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS THAT ENCOURAGES GROWTH OF ALGAE
AND BACTERIA IN AQUATIC HABITATS SEWAGE ALSO SPREADS DISEASE AMONG
HUMANS AND ANIMALS
Slide 26
SUSTAINABLE USE=WATER CONSERVATION
Slide 27
VARIETY IS ALSO KNOWN AS DIVERSITY. BIODIVERSITY: THE SUM OF
THE GENETICALLY BASED VARIETY OF ALL ORGANISMS IN THE BIOSPHERE
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY: VARIETY OF HABITATS, COMMUNITIES, AND
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN THE LIVING WORLD
Slide 28
SPECIES DIVERSITY: NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THE BIOSPHERE
GENETIC DIVERSITY: SUM OF ALL DIFFERENT FORMS OF GENETIC
INFORMATION CARRIED BY ALL ORGANISMS LIVING ON EARTH
Slide 29
SPECIES HAVE PROVIDED US WITH: FOODS MEDICINES ANTICANCER DRUGS
PAINKILLERS ANTIBIOTICS HEART DRUGS ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Slide 30
HUMAN ACTIVITY IS THE NUMBER ONE THREAT! WE ALTER HABITATS,
HUNT SPECIES TO EXTINCTION, INTRODUCE TOXIC COMPOUNDS INTO FOOD
WEBS, AND INTRODUCE FOREIGN SPECIES TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT
Slide 31
EXTINCTION: OCCURS WHEN A SPECIES DISAPPEARS FROM ALL OR PART
OF ITS RANGE ENDANGERED SPECIES: SPECIES WHOSE POPULATION SIZE IS
DECLINING AND IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION
Slide 32
HUNTING HAS CAUSED EXTINCTION FOR MANY SPECIES TODAY,
ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE PROTECTED FROM HUNTING IN THE U.S. AFRICA,
SOUTH AMERICA, AND ASIA STILL ALLOW HUNTING OF ANIMALS FOR FOOD,
FUR, HIDES, ETC.
Slide 33
POLLUTION: SERIOUS PROBLEM THREATENING BIODIVERSITY; OCCURS
WHEN TOXIC COMPOUNDS ACCUMULATE IN TISSUES OF ORGANISMS (EX. DDT)
1. DDT WAS THOUGHT TO BE PERFECT- REMAINS ACTIVE FOR A LONG TIME,
KILLS MANY DIFFERENT INSECTS, AND WAS CHEAP 2. WHEN SPRAYED,
DRAINED INTO WATER SUPPLIES
Slide 34
DDT IS: 1. NON-BIODEGRADABLE: NOT BROKEN DOWN IN NATURE 2. NOT
ELIMINATED FROM THE BODIES OF ORGANISMS AS THEY PICK IT UP
Slide 35
DDT IS CONCENTRATED AND STORED IN AQUATIC PLANTS/ALGAE
HERBIVORES EAT PLANTS AND GET 10 TIMES THE CONCENTRATION THE PLANTS
HAD CARNIVORES EAT HERBIVORES AND DDT IS CONCENTRATED EVEN
MORE=PROCESS OF BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION
Slide 36
BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION: CONCENTRATIONS OF A HARMFUL SUBSTANCE
INCREASES IN ORGANISMS AT HIGHER TROPHIC LEVELS IN A FOOD CHAIN/WEB
BY THE 1970S, DDT WAS BANNED IN THE U.S. RACHEL CARSON WROTE A BOOK
IN 1962, TITLED SILENT SPRING WHICH EXPLAINED THE RESULTS OF USING
THE PESTICIDE DDT.
Slide 37
INVASIVE SPECIES: PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT HAVE MIGRATED TO
PLACES WHERE THEY ARE NOT NATIVE POPULATIONS EXPLODE BECAUSE THE
NEW HABITAT LACKS PARASITES AND PREDATORS
Slide 38
MANY BIOLOGISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF
TWO TYPES OF GLOBAL CHANGE: 1. THE THINNING OR DEPLETION OF THE
OZONE LAYER 2. GLOBAL WARMING
Slide 39
OZONE LAYER IS 20-50 KM ABOVE EARTHS SURFACE OZONE AT GROUND
LEVEL IS A POLLUTANT OZONE LAYER ABSORBS UV RADIATION FROM SUNLIGHT
BEFORE IT REACHES EARTHS SURFACE
Slide 40
SUNBURN CANCER DAMAGE TO EYES DECREASED RESISTANCE TO DISEASE
*THE OZONE LAYER SERVES AS A GLOBAL SUNSCREEN BECAUSE IT SHIELDS
THE BIOSPHERE FROM UV LIGHT
Slide 41
1970S: HOLE DISCOVERED IN OZONE LAYER OVER ANTARCTICA 1995:
OZONE HOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO EXPOSE PARTS OF THE US TO HIGH LEVELS OF
UV CFCS: CHLOROFLOUROCARBONS: ACT AS CATALYSTS THAT ENABLE UV LIGHT
TO BREAK APART OZONE MOLECULES
Slide 42
GLOBAL WARMING IS AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE
BIOSPHERE TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 1980 AND 2000 ROSE AT A FASTER RATE
THAN DURING THE PREVIOUS 100 YEARS 1990S WERE THE HOTTEST DECADE
EVER RECORDED
Slide 43
1. HUMAN ACTIVITIES HAVE ADDED CARBON DIOXIDE AND OTHER
GREENHOUSE GASES SUCH AS METHANE TO THE ATMOSPHERE. 2. GLOBAL
ATMOSPHERE GREENHOUSE RETAINS MORE HEAT.
Slide 44
3. THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS ADDS CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE
ATMOSPHERE, AS DOES CUTTING DOWN AND BURNING FORESTS. 4. NATURAL
VARIATIONS IN CLIMATE:AVERAGE GLOBAL SURFACE TEMPERATURE WILL
INCREASE BY 1-2 DEGREES CELSIUS BY 2050
Slide 45
IF GLOBAL WARMING CONTINUES AT CURRENT RATES, THE POLAR ICE
CAPS WILL CONTINUE TO MELT AND SEA LEVELS COULD RAISE ENOUGH TO
FLOOD SOME LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS STORMS COULD BECOME MORE
FREQUENT AND SEVERE MORE SERIOUS DROUGHTS IN NORTH AMERICA
ABUNDANCE OF DISEASE CARRYING SPECIES COULD INCREASE
Slide 46
USE RESOURCES WISELY RECYCLE MATERIALS CONSERVE ENERGY BETTER
INSULATE HOMES AND OFFICES BUY FUEL EFFICIENT CARS *STUDY FOR YOUR
TEST!!!