Final (2nd half) Flashcards
Climate Change: Outline
I. Systems Thinking
II. The Greenhouse Effect
III. Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases
Climate Change
Systems Thinking: Definition
“A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something”
Climate Change
Systems Thinking: Earth’s Temperature
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Systems Thinking: Atmospheric Carbon
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Systems Thinking: Feedback Loops
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: 3 Key Steps & Diagrams
- Solar energy (light) passes through the atmosphere
- Earth’s surface absorbs some of that energy and reradiates it as heat
- Greenhouse gases absorb heat (infrared)
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: 400,000 years of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration and Temperature Change
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: US Greenhouse Emissions
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: N2O Sources, Emission Levels, Budget
Nitrogen comes from agriculture
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: Carbon Sources, Emission Levels, Budget
Today’s CO2 is 422 ppm of CO2–off this chart
SEE SLIDES
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect: Methane Sources, Budget
one big issue today is a limit on methane production in fossil fuel extraction
SEE SLIDES
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Why Should we Protect Biodiversity
- Intrinsic value
- Ecosystem services (human and nonhuman) sustains life
- Economic Value
- Potential pharmaceuticals
- Natural resources (only so many substitutions)
- Irreversible-millions of years
- Christian stewardship (God said so)
- I like it (aesthetic reasons)
- Unknown risk
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Biodiversity Definition
Biodiversity “is the variety of the earth’s species, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they live, and the ecosystem processes of energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustain all life.” –Miller and Spoolman
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
4 Types of Biodiversity
- Functional diversity: the biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems
- Ecological diversity: The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth
- Genetic diversity: The variety of genetic material within a species or population
- Species diversity: The number and abundance of species present in different communities
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Extinction Rates
- Species are becoming extinct at least 1,000 times faster than the historical rate - by the end of this century, the extinction rate is projected to be 10,000 higher.
- We should avoid speeding up the extinction of wild species because:
- of the ecosystem and economic services they provide
- because it takes millions of years for nature to recover from large-scale extinctions
- because many people believe that species have a right to exist regardless of their usefulness to us.
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Extinction Rates Example: Passenger Pigeon, Bison
Passenger Pigeon:
- Peak population 2-5 billion
- Extinct on: September 1, 1914, at 1pm
Bison:
- Peak population 20-40 million
- Almost extinct by 1885
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Endangered Species
“in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range”
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threatened Species
“likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range”
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: HIPPCO
Habitat Destruction/Degradation/Fragmentation
Invasive Species
Population and Resource Use Growth
Pollution
Climate Change
Overexploitation
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss: Roads
Roads:
1. Fragment natural communities and habitat
2. Create “edge effect,” which alters species composition and
distribution
3. Limit species (genetic) movement 4. Introduces pollution, such as salt
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss
Fragmented into state forests
There are very few roadless areas
Note that the Forest Service oversees more roads than the highway commission
SEE SLIDES for MAPS/SATELLITE
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Invasive Species
Nonnative Species: any species that is not native to an ecosystem.
Invasive Species: “an alien (non-native) species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”
-President Clinton, Executive Order 13112
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Invasive Species: Characteristics of Successful Invaders / Characteristics of Habitat vulnerable to invaders
Characteristics of successful invaders:
- Generalists
- Pioneering species
- Roads as invasion corridors
Characteristics of vulnerable habitat:
- Similar climate
- No predators
- Low biodiversity
- Transition
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Population Growth
All mammals: 96% are livestock and humans, 4% are wild mammals
60% livestock vs 36% humans–evolutionarily, livestock sure succeeded
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Pollution
Ex: Silent Spring
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Climate Change
Ex: Tropical forest in Puerto Rico–as climate changed, the cloud layer moved up the mountain–so how does that affect biodiversity?
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Over Exploitation
- Orchids–pleasing to eye, often dug up
- Medicinal plants dug up
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Threats to Biodiversity: Which Species are Vulnerable to Extinction?
- Low Reproductive Rate (blue whale, giant panda, rhinoceros)
- Specialized Niche (blue whale, giant panda, Everglades kite)
- Narrow Distribution (elephant seal, desert pupfish)
- Feeds at High Trophic Level (Bengal tiger, grizzly bear, bald eagle)
- Fixed Migratory Patterns (blue whale, whooping crane, sea turtle)
- Rare (African violet, some orchids)
- Commercially Valuable (snow leopard, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros)
- Require Large Territories (California condor, grizzly bear, Florida panther)
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Protecting Species: Textbook
We can reduce species extinction and sustain ecosystem services by establishing and enforcing national environmental laws and international treaties and by protecting wildlife sanctuaries.
Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Protecting Species: Textbook
Species Protection Laws:
A. The Endangered Species Act of 1973
B. The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of 1973 (CITES)
Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
Outline
I. From Scenery to Conservation
II. Great Yellowstone Ecosystem
Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
From Scenery to Conservation: Early Preservation: Scenery
Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872:
“dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. . . preservation, from injury or spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition.”
Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
From Scenery to Conservation: The Endangered Species Act of 1973
MECHANISMS:
- Listing species as threatened or endangered
- Designating critical habitat
- Prohibiting federal agencies from harming listed
species
- Prohibiting anyone from “taking” a listed
species
- Funding
- Cooperation
Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Purpose of Protection
- Established to protect scenery & curiosities: “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.“
- Wildlife were initially managed for entertainment.
- Park Service shifted its emphasis in the 1960s to maintaining “natural” conditions, including wildlife and ecosystems.
- The Endangered Species Act: required agencies to focus on habitat needs beyond park boundaries.
Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Grizzly Bear Example
- New park policy: wean bears off of garbage
- Listed as “threatened” under the ESA, which required critical
habitat designation - The Grizzly Bear Listed in 1975
i. 136 Bears in 1975
ii. 571 Bears in 2007 (Delisted)
Water Quantity & Quality: Outline
I. Water Quantity
a. Groundwater Mining
b. Saltwater Intrusion
c. Reduced Stream Flow
II. Water Quality
a. Defining Water Quality and Water Pollution
Water Quantity & Quality
The Great Lakes: Volume
20% of the world’s surface freshwater
85% of North America’s surface fresh water
6 quadrillion gallons
Water Quantity & Quality
Global Scarcity: Textbook
Concept 11.1A: We are using available freshwater unsustainably . . .
Concept 11.1B: Freshwater supplies are not evenly distributed, and one of every nine people on the planet does not have adequate access to clean water.
Water Quantity & Quality
The Hydrologic Cycle
Reliable Surface Runoff: Stable source of freshwater
Surface Water
Aquifer: Filled with Groundwater
(See SLIDES)
Water Quantity & Quality
Global Water Usage by Sector
70% agricultural
20% manufacturing
10% industrial
Water Quantity & Quality
Groundwater Mining: Textbook
CONCEPT 11-2A Groundwater used to supply cities and grow food is being pumped from aquifers in some areas faster than it is renewed by precipitation (groundwater mining)
Water Quantity & Quality
Confined & Unconfined Aquifers
SEE SLIDES
Water Quantity & Quality
Saltwater Intrusion
SEE SLIDES
Water Quantity & Quality
Reduced Stream Flow
SEE SLIDES
Water Quantity & Quality
Aral Sea Example
Simply overuse
Water Quantity & Quality
Dam-and-Reservoir Systems: Textbook
CONCEPT 11-2B Large dam-and-reservoir systems and water transfer projects have greatly expanded water supplies in some areas, but have also disrupted ecosystems and displaced people.
SEE SLIDES FOR DIAGRAM
Water Quantity & Quality
Freshwater from saltwater (Textbook) + Water recycling
CONCEPT 11-2C We can convert salty ocean water to freshwater, but the cost is high and the resulting large volume of salty brine must be disposed of without harming aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems.
Added Concept: Water recycling, or “toilet to tap.” Technology exists to clean waste water sufficiently to mix it back into municipal drinking water supplies. Some communities in the arid southwest are already doing this. And the city of Las Vegas does this functionally by dumping its wastewater upstream in the Colorado and then taking that amount out of the river further downstream.
Water Quantity & Quality
Water Quality: Definition
“The suitability of water for a particular use
based on biological, chemical, and physical characteristics.”
Water Quantity & Quality
Water Quality: 3 Aspects
- Biological: Micro-organisms & nutrients
- Chemical: Acidity, Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen
- Physical: Color, Turbidity, Taste/Odor, Temperature
Water Quantity & Quality
Water Quality: Water Pollution: Definition
“Any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organizations or makes water unsuitable for desired uses.”
Water Quantity & Quality
Water Quality: Water Pollution: Biological Pathogens
Giardia lamblia
Escherichia coli & Coliform Bacteria
