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Human Impacts on the Environment > Final (2nd half) > Flashcards

Final (2nd half) Flashcards

1
Q

Climate Change: Outline

A

I. Systems Thinking
II. The Greenhouse Effect
III. Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases

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2
Q

Climate Change

Systems Thinking: Definition

A

“A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something”

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3
Q

Climate Change

Systems Thinking: Earth’s Temperature

A

SEE SLIDES

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4
Q

Climate Change

Systems Thinking: Atmospheric Carbon

A

SEE SLIDES

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5
Q

Climate Change

Systems Thinking: Feedback Loops

A

SEE SLIDES

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6
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: 3 Key Steps & Diagrams

A
  1. Solar energy (light) passes through the atmosphere
  2. Earth’s surface absorbs some of that energy and reradiates it as heat
  3. Greenhouse gases absorb heat (infrared)

SEE SLIDES

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7
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: 400,000 years of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration and Temperature Change

A

SEE SLIDES

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8
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: US Greenhouse Emissions

A

SEE SLIDES

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9
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: N2O Sources, Emission Levels, Budget

A

Nitrogen comes from agriculture

SEE SLIDES

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10
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: Carbon Sources, Emission Levels, Budget

A

Today’s CO2 is 422 ppm of CO2–off this chart

SEE SLIDES

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11
Q

Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect: Methane Sources, Budget

A

one big issue today is a limit on methane production in fossil fuel extraction

SEE SLIDES

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12
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Why Should we Protect Biodiversity

A
  • 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
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13
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Biodiversity Definition

A

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

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14
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

4 Types of Biodiversity

A
  1. Functional diversity: the biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems
  2. Ecological diversity: The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth
  3. Genetic diversity: The variety of genetic material within a species or population
  4. Species diversity: The number and abundance of species present in different communities
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15
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Extinction Rates

A
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
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16
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Extinction Rates Example: Passenger Pigeon, Bison

A

Passenger Pigeon:
- Peak population 2-5 billion
- Extinct on: September 1, 1914, at 1pm

Bison:
- Peak population 20-40 million
- Almost extinct by 1885

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17
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Endangered Species

A

“in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range”

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18
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threatened Species

A

“likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range”

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19
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: HIPPCO

A

Habitat Destruction/Degradation/Fragmentation
Invasive Species
Population and Resource Use Growth
Pollution
Climate Change
Overexploitation

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20
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss: Roads

A

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

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21
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss

A

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

22
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Invasive Species

A

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

23
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Invasive Species: Characteristics of Successful Invaders / Characteristics of Habitat vulnerable to invaders

A

Characteristics of successful invaders:
- Generalists
- Pioneering species
- Roads as invasion corridors

Characteristics of vulnerable habitat:
- Similar climate
- No predators
- Low biodiversity
- Transition

24
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Population Growth

A

All mammals: 96% are livestock and humans, 4% are wild mammals

60% livestock vs 36% humans–evolutionarily, livestock sure succeeded

25
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Pollution

A

Ex: Silent Spring

26
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Climate Change

A

Ex: Tropical forest in Puerto Rico–as climate changed, the cloud layer moved up the mountain–so how does that affect biodiversity?

27
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Over Exploitation

A
  • Orchids–pleasing to eye, often dug up
  • Medicinal plants dug up
28
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Threats to Biodiversity: Which Species are Vulnerable to Extinction?

A
  1. Low Reproductive Rate (blue whale, giant panda, rhinoceros)
  2. Specialized Niche (blue whale, giant panda, Everglades kite)
  3. Narrow Distribution (elephant seal, desert pupfish)
  4. Feeds at High Trophic Level (Bengal tiger, grizzly bear, bald eagle)
  5. Fixed Migratory Patterns (blue whale, whooping crane, sea turtle)
  6. Rare (African violet, some orchids)
  7. Commercially Valuable (snow leopard, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros)
  8. Require Large Territories (California condor, grizzly bear, Florida panther)
29
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Protecting Species: Textbook

A

We can reduce species extinction and sustain ecosystem services by establishing and enforcing national environmental laws and international treaties and by protecting wildlife sanctuaries.

30
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Protecting Species: Textbook

A

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)

31
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Outline

A

I. From Scenery to Conservation
II. Great Yellowstone Ecosystem

32
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

From Scenery to Conservation: Early Preservation: Scenery

A

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.”

33
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

From Scenery to Conservation: The Endangered Species Act of 1973

A

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

34
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Purpose of Protection

A
  1. Established to protect scenery & curiosities: “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.“
  2. Wildlife were initially managed for entertainment.
  3. Park Service shifted its emphasis in the 1960s to maintaining “natural” conditions, including wildlife and ecosystems.
  4. The Endangered Species Act: required agencies to focus on habitat needs beyond park boundaries.
35
Q

Protecting Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Grizzly Bear Example

A
  1. New park policy: wean bears off of garbage
  2. Listed as “threatened” under the ESA, which required critical
    habitat designation
  3. The Grizzly Bear Listed in 1975
    i. 136 Bears in 1975
    ii. 571 Bears in 2007 (Delisted)
36
Q

Water Quantity & Quality: Outline

A

I. Water Quantity
a. Groundwater Mining
b. Saltwater Intrusion
c. Reduced Stream Flow
II. Water Quality
a. Defining Water Quality and Water Pollution

37
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

The Great Lakes: Volume

A

20% of the world’s surface freshwater
85% of North America’s surface fresh water
6 quadrillion gallons

38
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Global Scarcity: Textbook

A

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.

39
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

The Hydrologic Cycle

A

Reliable Surface Runoff: Stable source of freshwater

Surface Water

Aquifer: Filled with Groundwater

(See SLIDES)

40
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Global Water Usage by Sector

A

70% agricultural
20% manufacturing
10% industrial

41
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Groundwater Mining: Textbook

A

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)

42
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Confined & Unconfined Aquifers

A

SEE SLIDES

43
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Saltwater Intrusion

A

SEE SLIDES

44
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Reduced Stream Flow

A

SEE SLIDES

45
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Aral Sea Example

A

Simply overuse

46
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Dam-and-Reservoir Systems: Textbook

A

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

47
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Freshwater from saltwater (Textbook) + Water recycling

A

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.

48
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Water Quality: Definition

A

“The suitability of water for a particular use
based on biological, chemical, and physical characteristics.”

49
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Water Quality: 3 Aspects

A
  1. Biological: Micro-organisms & nutrients
  2. Chemical: Acidity, Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen
  3. Physical: Color, Turbidity, Taste/Odor, Temperature
50
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Water Quality: Water Pollution: Definition

A

“Any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organizations or makes water unsuitable for desired uses.”

51
Q

Water Quantity & Quality

Water Quality: Water Pollution: Biological Pathogens

A

Giardia lamblia

Escherichia coli & Coliform Bacteria

Human Impacts on the Environment (2 decks)

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