case studies + fisheries! Flashcards
tragedy of the commons
shared, limited resources become depleted due to people acting for their self-interest and short-term gain
negative impacts of human land use
- logging –> mudslides
- deforestation –> climate change
- paving –> water runoffs, “heat islands”
- overuse of farmland –> soil degradation and water pollution
ways to prevent the tragedy of the commons
private ownership and regulation
maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
maximum amount of land that can be harvested without compromising future availability (kept at half of its carrying capacity)
which land type is the “most protected”?
natural reserves and wilderness areas
the ____ __________ is the LARGEST single landowner in the United States
federal government
multiple use lands examples
land used for grazing, timber, and mineral extraction (usually found in national forests)
benefits of rangelands
uses less fossil fuels than feedlots
consequences of rangelands
leave land exposed to erosion
urban sprawl
urban areas that have gradually spread into rural land (ex-suburban land)
4 MAIN CAUSES of urban sprawl
- automobiles and highways
- living costs
- urban blight
- government policies
industrial agriculture
farming through a more mechanized approach. increased use of fossil fuels
benefits of irrigation
efficient water usage
types of fertilizers
- N, P, and K
- organic (decomposed animal manure)
- synthetic (commercial)
waterlogging
saturation of soil with water
salinization
water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil
technique that reduces soil salinity due to salinization
removing salt from the root zone
benefits of GMOs
higher crop yields, better food quality, reduced pesticide use, higher profits, lower costs
intercropping
2 or more crop species planted in the same field at the same time
benefits of aquaculture
costs less to harvest a concentrated population
drawbacks of aquaculture
unintentionally catches targeted fish species that are already endangered (keystone) and produces waste
Aral Sea
streams that were fed in this sea were diverted to irrigate the surrounding desert. chemical fertilizers have ruined the groundwater, causing a health crisis. by the 90s, it had lost over 75% of its original surface area
Cuyahoga River Fire
caused the mass pollution of the Cuyahoga river in Ohio. the brief blaze touched a railroad bridge but branded Cleveland as a dirty city where water burns. launched pollution initiatives such as the Clean Water Act, EPA, and OEPA
Three Gorges Dam
the dam allows ships to sail further to various places in China. creates a reservoir 400 miles long. triggers landslides, alters ecosystems, and causes other serious environmental issues such as disease and drought.
California Water Project
water diversions, aqueducts, urban water usage, irrigating arid lands, water transfer, ecological impacts, political aspects
Ogalala Aquifier
intensely irrigated agriculture is draining the aquifer MUCH faster than rainfall can replenish it (dryness)
aquifer
filter groundwater by forcing it to pass through small pores (think of a brita filter) and between sediments, which removes harmful substances from the water
Colorado River
water diversion project; 14 major dams and almost no water reaches the sea
bycatch
the fishing of unwanted fish as a result of unfavorable fishing practices
