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Pretty Pictures for all of the Visual
learners
Environmental History of U.S.
National Environmental Policy Actdictates ALL federally proposed actions draft an environmental impact statement.
Carcinogens
Carcinogenscancer causing substances
See table 2-1 in text.Page 26
Deaths caused by smoking
Economics and the EnvironmentCost-Benefit diagram: economists identify
the optimum amount of pollution as the amount at which
Marginal costs= marginal cost abatement
Economics and the EnvironmentHARMFUL
Marginal cost of pollution EXCEEDS the cost of reducing pollution (abatement)
BENEFICIAL
why?
Levels of Biological Organization
Antarctic food web
Competitive Exclusion: one species is excluded from a portion of a niche by another as a result of interspecific competition.
(2 species with identical niches can’t coexist.)
Ecological Succession
Grasses Grasses shrubs shrubs poplars (cottonwoods) poplars (cottonwoods) pine trees pine trees oak oak
Predator/Prey Relationships Data collected from fur pelts from the Hudson Bay Company
Factors that Affect Population Size
Case-in-Point: Predatory Prey Dynamics on Isle Royale
Biological Diversity
Biodiversity
Species Richness
Genetic Diversity
Ecosystem Diversity
Why we need organisms
Biological diversity: the number and variety of organisms.
Genetic diversity: variation within a species.
Species richness: the number of species
Ecosystem diversity: variation within an ecosystem.
Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
Why We Need Organisms
Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
Maintains Maintains smaller fish smaller fish populations by populations by eating gareating gar
Digs underwater Digs underwater holes used by holes used by other aquatic other aquatic organismsorganisms
Gator trails clear Gator trails clear out aquatic out aquatic vegetationvegetation
Nests Nests eventually eventually become small become small islands of treesislands of trees
DDT and the Peregrine Falcon
Endangered & threatened Species
• What factors are common with most Endangered & threatened species?
Gymnogyps californianusGymnogyps californianus
Endangered & threatened Species
• Endangered & threatened species often have:
• Limited natural ranges
• Low population densities.
• Low reproductive rates
• Very specialized nutritional or reproductive requirements.
Conservation Biology, Challenges
The Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Hydrologic Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Atmospheric CirculationWinds: complex horizontal movements of the atmosphere.
Ocean Conveyor Belt
Climate associated with ENSO
Biomagnification
Determining Health Effects of Environmental Pollution
Lethal Dose-50%
(LD50)
Determining Health Effects of Environmental Pollution
Effective Dose-50% (ED50) –
Dose that induces 50% of test subjects to have some type of effect
Dose response curve –
Decision Making and Uncertainty
Risks:
Decision Making and Uncertainty
Cost-Benefit Analyses
CostBenefit
Reproductive Strategies
Survivorship
Principles of Population Ecology
Maximum Population Growth-
under ideal conditions = intrinsic rate of increase (aka biotic potential)
J-shaped curve (exponential growth)
Principles of Population Ecology
J-shaped curve exponential growth
Logistic growth
Arithmetic growth
Irruptive/Malthusian
Principles of Population Ecology
Overshooting the carrying capacity can lead to a population crash.
Factors that Affect Population Size
Density-Dependence and Boom-or-Bust Population Cycles
Demographics of Countries
Demographic Stages
High avg. # of children born (Baby boom)
Demographics of Countries
Age Structure of Countries
Generalized Age Structure
Population and Urbanization
Urban migration
The City as an EcosystemEnvironmental Problems Associated with
Urban Areas
• Creation of urban heat islands
The City as an Ecosystem
Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas
• Dust domes
Making Cities More SustainableWhat has Curitiba, Brazil done to become a
world model for sustainability?
Generically Creating Energy
Energy Source
Water Heated
TurbineDrivesto
Electricity
Generator
Drives
Produces
Emissions, with some exceptions
Type and amount of emissions depends on?
Fuel Sources:
Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Geo = ?
Energy Consumption
Per capita energy consumption
Energy Consumption
Energy consumption in the US
Coal
Making Coal a Cleaner Fuel
• Using scrubbers
• Using fluidized-bed combustion
Oil
Major Flows of Crude Oil
http://factsonfuel.org/gasoline/index.html#1gasoline
Oil and Natural Gas
World commercial energy sources for electrical power:
Oil and Natural Gas
Petroleum refining
Oil and Natural Gas
Reserves of Natural Gas
Oil and Natural Gas
Case-in-Point:
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Synfuels and Other Potential Fossil Fuel Resources
Synthetic fuel sources:
• Tar sands (oil sands)
• Oil shales
• Gas hydrates
• Coal liquefaction
• Coal gasification
Problem: these all still produce CO2
Not taking place
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movies/chainreaction.mov
Nuclear Fission
Primary circuitPrimary circuit
Secondary circuitSecondary circuit
Tertiary circuitTertiary circuit
Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Reactors Consist of ...Nuclear Reactors Consist of ...1 ) 1 ) Reactor core:Reactor core: Fission takes place Fission takes place heatheat..
2) 2) Steam Generator:Steam Generator: heat from reactor core heat from reactor core produces produces steam. steam.
3) 3) Turbine:Turbine: steam spins the turbine to generate steam spins the turbine to generate electricity. electricity.
4) 4) Condenser:Condenser: cools the steam back to liquid cools the steam back to liquid water.water.
Chernobyl
Exposure Exposure to to
radiationradiation
Radioactive Wastes SitesRadioactive Wastes Sites
Yucca Mountain
145 km (90) miles from Las Vegas
Scientific community agrees that underground repositories are the best long term option of high-level radioactive waste.
Around the world there are 2 dozen countries planning similar repositories
Direct Solar Energy
Heating Buildings and Water, Passive solar heating
Direct Solar Energy
Heating Buildings
and Water
Passive solar
heating
Direct Solar Energy
Solar-Generated Hydrogen
Solar energy
PV or wind generated electricity
Electrolysis of water
Solar generated hydrogen
Combustion of hydrogen
Usable energy
Compression of Hydrogen for storage and
transport
Indirect Solar Energy
Wind Energy
The Importance of Water
The Importance of WaterLargest watersheds
The Importance of Water
Aquifers
Water Use and Resource Problems
Too Much Water, Flood Management
Channelization
Water Use and Resource Problems
Too Much Water, Flood Management
Levees with natural river
Water Use and Resource Problems
Saltwater
intrusion
Water Management
Providing a Sustainable Water Supply
DesalinizationTwo methods:1) Distillation
Condenses
Simplified process:
Salt water
Pure water is collected
Water boiled
Produces steam
Water Conservation
Reducing Agricultural Water Waste
Reducing Water Waste in Industry
Reducing Municipal Water Waste
Recycling water Xeriscaping
Ecological Succession Ecological Succession
Climax Climax CommunityCommunity
Pioneer Pioneer OrganismsOrganisms
Mineral matter
Organic matter
Water
Air
What is Soil?Soil Composition
25%25%
45%45%
5%5%
25%25%
What is Soil?
Soil Horizons
E-horizon develops if leaching is severe.
?
What is Soil?Nutrient Cycling (alternate slide)
Organic matter in soil
Decomposition
Minerals freed and available to plant
Plant roots absorb minerals from soil
Elements incorporated into organic matter in
plants
Elements in organic matter in
animals
Major Soil Types
Soil ProblemsCase-in-Point: The American Dust
Bowl
Soil Conservation and Regeneration
Contour Plowing, Strip Cropping, and Terracing
Strip cropping & contour plowing
Terracing