Ecology
The study of interactions of living organisms with one another in their environment
Agricultural
The raising of crops and livestock for food or for other products that are useful to humans
Spaceship earth (a closed system)
Energy from the sun is the only thing that enters the earth atmosphere in large amounts and The only thing that leaves in large amounts is Heat.
Problems?
- Some resources were limited and as the population grows the resources will be used more rapidly
- The possibility that we will produce wastes more quickly than we can dispose of them
Natural resource
Any natural material that is used by humans, especially water, petroleum, minerals, forest, and animals
Renewable resource
- Can be replaced quickly by natural processes
- freshwater, air, soil, trees, and crops are all resources that can be renewed
- Energy from the sun is also renewable
Nonrenewable resources
- Forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed
- nonrenewable resources are minerals and fossil fuel
- once a nonrenewable resources used up it it may take millions of years to replenish it
Ex. Metals- iron,aluminum, copper
Nonmetallic- salt, sand, clay
Pollution
Undesired change in air, water, or soil that harmfully affects the Health, survival, or activity of humans/living organisms
Biodegradable pollutants
Can be broken down by natural processes (human waste or Newspaper )
Non degradable pollutants
Can NOT be broken down by natural processes (ex: Mercury, lead, some types of plastic)
Biodiversity
# and variety of species that live in an area, genetic variation within the population , The variety of species in a community
The tragedy of the commons
- it was in the best interest of an individual to put as many animals in the commons as possible
- however, if too many animals grazed on the commons, they destroyed the grass
- once the grass was destroyed, everyone suffered because no one could raise animals on the commons
- The commons were eventually replaced by closed fields owned by individuals
- owners were now careful not to put too many animals on the land because overgrazing wouldn’t allow them to raise as many animals next year.
Law of supply and demand
The greater demand of a product, the more it’s worth
Ecological footprint
Calculations that show the productive area of earth needed to support one person in a particular country
- estimates the land used for crops, grazing, forests products, and housing.
- includes ocean area for harvesting seafood and forest area needed to absorb the air pollution caused by fossil fuels
Sustainability
The condition in which human needs are met in such a way that human population can survive indefinitely
Negative effects of the agricultural revolution
Many habitats(grasslands, forests, and wetlands) were destroyed and replaced with farmlands
- replacing forest with farmland can cause soil loss, floods, and water shortages.
- poorly farmed areas are no longer fertile (loss of nutrients, Salt contamination)
Positive effects of the agricultural revolution
- Allowed for large human population growth
- led to large populations in small areas
- increased sanitation and nutrition
Environment science
The study of air water and land surrounding an organism or community ranging from a small area to earths entire biosphere
- includes the study of the impact of humans on the environment and involves a PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL, & SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Positive effects of the industrial revolution
- Motorized vehicles allowed food to be transported cheaply across greater distance
- In factories, production of goods became less expensive than the local production of homemade goods
- machinery reduce the amount of land and human labor needed to produce food
- populations in urban areas grew
Negative effects of the industrial revolution
Pollution and habitat loss became much more common
Hardin’s point in the tragedy of the commons
Someone or some group must take responsibility for maintaining a resource or it will become depleted
The goals of environmental science
To understand and solve environmental problems
To accomplish this goal:
Scientists study 1.) how our actions alter our environment and 2.) The use of natural resources
What are the 3 Environmental problems occur on different scales
Local, regional, global
