Unit 5 Flashcards
Summarize what the Tragety of the Commons is
A situation in which people acting individually and in their own interest use up commonly available but limited resources, creating disaster for the entire community.
Unintended Consequences
when actions of people have unexpected events
Externalities
the cost or benefit of a good or service that is not included in the purchase. price of the good or service.
Identify three examples of the Tragedy of the Common
- Coffee Consumption
- Groundwater use
- Overfishing
Mechanization
the new use of technology in farming has increased profit and productivity.
Genetically Modified Organisms
GMO is the adding a specific DNA into a plant which can entail altering the plant’s growth pattern or conferring disease resistance on it.
Fertilization
Plants develop resistant to damaging plant diseases, pests, and weeds with the help of fertilizers. The value of the harvest is increased when plant diseases are eradicated
Irrigation
irrigation can make it possible to grow crops in places where rainfall and soil moisture is low, this can increase food production for places that have low rainfall and it reduces the risk of crop failure
Pesticides
Pesticides are used to control a wide range of pests and disease carriers, including rats, mice, ticks, and mosquitoes. In agriculture, pesticides are used to manage weeds, insect infestations, and disease which can increase crop availability
What are some positive and negative results of the Green Revolution?
A positive result would include lower food prices as a result of lower production costs. However the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers increased soil and environmental pollution.
How does Tiling cause environmental damage?
Tillage alters soil structure by fracturing the soil, which speeds up surface runoff and soil erosion.
How does Slash-and-Burn Farming cause environmental damage?
Slash and burn results in the absence of trees and vegetation and their root systems, soil is washed away during heavy rains and blown away during droughts, which causes agriculture to also significantly contribute to soil erosion
How does Fertilizers cause environmental damage?
Using fertilizers excessively causes eutrophication. Nitrates and phosphorus, two chemicals found in fertilizers, are washed into lakes and oceans by rain and sewage. These compounds encourage excessive algea development in water bodies, which reduces the amount of oxygen available to aquatic life
Drip irrigation
this type of irrigation minimizes the evaporation percentage making it more useful for plant growth however it is very expensive
Flood Irrigation
It is the least expensive type of irrigation however it is the least efficient because of more water loss from runoff and evaporation.
Furrow Irrigation
furrow irrigation reduces water loss in the gravity irrigation system, this technique is cost-effective however it is not suitable for all crops
Spray Irrigation
is inexpensive and incredibly simple to put up. You won’t need to spend a lot of money on manpower to set it up, however if the surrounding environment is windy then lots of the water gets evaporated from the spray irrigation system
What are the benefits/drawbacks of applying pest control methods?
Pest control methods could harm non-target species and it can also contaminate soil and water which could be a safety risk to humans and animals. However pest control can help plant growth by reducing pests eating plant growth which can then result in more productivity/sales
How do pest control methods lead to artificial selection?
A pest’s gene pool may undergo unfavorable modifications as a result of repeated usage of the same class of pesticides, which might result in pesticide resistance
Can crops be GM to resist pests? Benefit? Drawback?
Yes, crops can be genetically modified to resist pests. A benefit would include increased crop yields, lower costs for food production, less need for pesticides, improved nutrient composition and food quality, pest and disease resistance. However genetically modified organisms can reduce biodiversity in the future.
What are concentrated animal feeding operations? (CAFOs)
Animals that are maintained and reared in tight spaces at agricultural meat, dairy, or egg facilities
Compare the efficiency of meat production compared to agriculture
Compared to agriculture, the production of meat is less efficient; it requires more land space to produce the same number of calories from meat as from plants
What are the benefits to farmers using CAFOs?
The advantages of CAFOs are mostly economic; for instance, they lower the cost of animal feeding. There may be an increase in local employment in areas where CAFOs are situated.
What are some factors that have led to overfishing?
While there are various reasons for overfishing, the primary causes include rising human demand, subsidies, ineffective fisheries management, and a lack of protective regulations
What are the impacts of overfishing on the marine ecosystem?
It can alter the size of the fish that are still present, as well as how they breed and how quickly they grow. When too many fish are removed from the water, an imbalance results that may weaken the food web and result in the extinction of other significant marine life
What are the consequences of regulations of the fishing industry?
As more regulations are made for the fishing industry then the more expensive fish will cost which will impact the clients/citizens.
Explain what surface mining is and provide an example of how it is done
Surface mining is when the dirt and rock that cover the mineral deposits are removed.
What are the consequences of mining ores that are more easily accessible?
Mining ores may have adverse effects on the environment, such as deforestation, erosion, contamination of nearby streams and wetlands, and soil contamination
Explain what slag and tailing are
Material left over from coal mining is known as slag and tailings, and it typically appears as spoil tips or tailings heaps
What are the benefits of mining?
Mined resources are required to manufacture houses, cars, computers, satellites, and many other consumer-favorite goods and services, as well as roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure
What are some consequences of mining coal?
Massive amounts of topsoil may need to be removed in order to extract coal, which could cause erosion, habitat loss, and pollution. Heavy metals dissolve and leak into ground and surface waters as a result of acid mine drainage brought on by coal mining.
What economic impacts are there to mining?
More generally, the increase in royalties, taxes, and other fees that businesses pay to governments is one of mining’s advantages to the community. These funds are subsequently distributed back to the community in the form of infrastructure improvements, policing, and services like hospitals and schools.
What is the impact on the hydrologic cycle of urbanization of coastal areas?
Urbanization in a watershed is frequently followed by increased flooding frequency and intensity, channel erosion, and the degradation of aquatic habitat. The hydrological alterations that are linked to these aquatic environment changes seriously jeopardize our streams’ ability to operate normally.
How does urbanization impact the carbon cycle?
Urbanization can lead to more carbon being released into the atmosphere which can lead to climate change.
What are some examples of impervious surfaces that result from urbanization and what impact would they have?
An example of impervious surfaces would be roads and pavement which causes additional runoff to accumulate. Therefore, the risk of flooding is significantly increased by urbanization as well as other variables like climate change.
What density trends result from urban sprawl? What environmental problems might result?
Deforestation and the destruction of wildlife habitat are two more negative environmental effects of sprawl in addition to air and water pollution.
What is your ecological footprint?
The term “ecological footprint” describes how much of the planet’s finite resources can be linked to your way of life.
Explain how Biological diversity can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
Stability increases with biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and people. For instance, species with several populations that are adapted to a wide range of environments and significant genetic diversity are more likely to be able to withstand disturbances, illness, and climate change.
Explain how Food production can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
Sustainable food production methods can increase soil fertility, reduce erosion, stop pollution of the air, water, and land, and promote biodiversity, all of which are essential for maintaining the health of the environment and agricultural output.
Explain how Average global surface temperatures can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
Biological variety, food production, average global surface temperatures, CO2 concentrations, human population, and resource depletion are some environmental indicators that can help humans achieve sustainability.
Explain how CO2 Concentrations can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
That heat would leave the Earth’s atmosphere and return to space if there were no greenhouse gases. The balance between the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and the amount stored in plants and the ocean is being altered by human actions like the burning of fossil fuels and logging of forests.
Explain how Human population can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
Particularly, population expansion puts increasing demands on the planet’s resources, including water, forests, land, and the atmosphere, causing climate change and making environmental sustainability difficult.
Explain how Resource depletion can serve as environmental indicators to guide humans to sustainability
Can make electricity use more efficiently, use more renewable energy, avoid using plastic, drive less, recycle more, reduce food waste, etc.
What is sustainable yield? Provide two examples
The word “sustainable yield” relates to the harvesting of a particular natural resource (that is self-renewing). Two examples of sustainable yield include timber and fish.
What design strategies decrease urban runoff?
Urban runoff can be reduced by putting in more trees, taller structures, and not expanding a streetblock’s footprint.
Describe methods such as intercropping
Since intercropping is the practice of growing one or two crops which can be a strategy for pest management since there will be a limit to pests since there isn’t a variety of plants but just one or two.
Describe methods such as crop rotation
Through crop rotation, one crop is swapped out for another that is resistant to a dangerous insect. Each type of food crop has its own unique assortment of pests that target that type of crop. The farmer can starve out those pests by planting a different crop each time.
Describe methods such as natural predators
Encouragement of natural predators can reduce the use of insecticides and, as a result, the accompanying environmental problems, such as loss of biodiversity due to adverse effects on non-target species.
benefits for IPM
- Encourages the use of more environmentally friendly control methods, hence lowering the environmental risk connected with pest management.
- Lessens the chance of ground water and air contamination.
- Encourages strong buildings and thriving vegetation.
cost for IPM:
-Can be more expensive which makes it harder for everyone to do this practice.
- Can be more time consuming that not everyone is willing to do.
How does Windbreaks prevent soil erosion
By increasing the wind speed across open fields, windbreaks can lessen soil erosion. Sand particles require very high wind speeds to be removed from the surface, whereas clay and silt particles can be easily removed from the surface at low wind speeds.
How does Perennial crops prevent soil erosion
The vast root systems of perennial grains can reach large depths. This prevents the soil from crumbling and eroding by strengthening it in a manner similar to how rebar strengthens concrete.
How does Terracing prevent soil erosion
Terraces have a significant role in preventing soil erosion by lowering runoff energy and slowing its speed. Some terraces serve to divert water flow underground rather than as runoff over the land.
How does No-till agriculture prevent soil erosion
:In no-till farming, the farmer digs a tiny furrow just wide enough to plant seeds using a no-till planter. By not being plowed or disked, cover crop waste shields the soil from crusting, erosion, extreme summer heat, and moisture loss.
How does Strip cropping prevent soil erosion
By building organic water dams, strip cropping prevents soil erosion and maintains the stability of the soil. More effectively than others, some plant layers will take up water and minerals from the soil.
How does Contour Plowing prevent soil erosion
Furrows created by contour plowing run perpendicular to the slope, reducing runoff and allowing the soil to absorb rain instead of being washed away.
What are some strategies to improve soil fertility?
By utilizing cover crops, which enrich the soil with organic matter and enhance its structure while fostering a fertile, healthy soil, one can further increase soil fertility.
What strategies would help a farmer avoid overgrazing in a particular area?
Some tactics include removing livestock from pasture and planting warm- or cool-season plants on a portion of pasture acres while perennial plants recover.
What are some factors that have led to the expansion of aquaculture?
Water supply, water quality, climate, soil characteristics are all factors that have led to the expansion of aquaculture.
What are some consequences of aquaculture?
Major obstacles to the future of aquaculture include, in particular, the release of greenhouse gases and toxins into the environment, the depletion of current populations, and the unequal distribution of resources.
Identify practices to mitigate deforestation
Buy recycled products, go paperless at school work or at home, buy certified wood products, and support companies that support and commit to reducing deforestation.
How do foresters implement integrated pest management?
IPM, an ecosystem-based strategy, aims to prevent pests or the harm they cause over the long term by using a variety of techniques, including biological control, habitat management, altering cultural practices, and the use of resistant cultivars.
