Unit 2: Introduction to Environmental Science

1. Unit 2: Introduction to Environmental Science EQ: Who is responsible for protecting the Earth and its resources?

2. Environmental Science: • The systematic study of our environment and our place in it. • Is Interdisciplinary! • Many subjects! Environmental Science

3. Environment: two definitions: • The circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms • The complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community Environment

5. The Bubble Map Assignment: Disciplines of Environmental Science Thinking Map The Tree Map

6. Assignment: Disciplines of Environmental Science Thinking Map • For each field of science : • Write name • Write definition (can be shortened or abbreviated) • Draw a little symbol to represent the major fields • Example: Chemistry - • Materials • Sheet of white or colored paper • Coloring utensils • Rulers

7. History of Environmental Science • Timeline of Important People • Follow along & match pictures to descriptions – then add to your notebook

8. History of Environmental Science • George Perkins Marsh: • 1864: published Man and Nature • Considered 1st modern discussion of environmental problems • His ecological insights brought awareness to humankind's impacts on the Earth. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Marsh,_George_Perkins

9. History of Environmental Science • John Muir: • 1890: influenced congress to create Yosemite National Park • 1st president of the Sierra Club • He has been called "The Father of our National Parks," "Wilderness Prophet," and "Citizen of the Universe.“ • http://www.sierraclub.org/JOHN_MUIR_EXHIBIT/

10. History of Environmental Science • President Theodore Roosevelt: • 1905: established U.S. Forest Service • Set up five new national parks http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar474860&st=theodore+ Argued that forests should be saved “to provide homes and jobs for people”

11. Aldo Leopold: Wildlife ecologist in Wisconsin 1949: wrote A Sand County Almanac– influential book about nature “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” History of Environmental Science

12. Rachel Carson: 1962: wrote book Silent Spring - created a demand for regulation of pesticides & pollution http://www.rachelcarson.org/BooksBy.aspx History of Environmental Science

13. Edward O. Wilson: 1967: wrote book The Theory of Island Biogeography; became a cornerstone of conservation biology He played a key role in the development of the new field of chemical ecology, where he studied the pheromone language of ants. http://www.eowilson.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=69 History of Environmental Science

14. Paul and Anne Ehrlich 1968: wrote The Population Bomb, warning that Earth's resources won’t last. http://www.heinzawards.net/recipients/display/paul_anne_ehrlich History of Environmental Science

15. James Lovelock: Scientist & environmentalist 1975, he came up with " The Gaia Theory”: the biosphere is a self-regulating entity with the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling the chemical and physical environment. http://www.ecolo.org/lovelock/lovebioen.htm History of Environmental Science

16. Lois Gibbs: 1978, fought for families living on hazardous waste site and against chemical company She went on to form the Citizens’ Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste http://www.chej.org/about_lois.htm History of Environmental Science

17. Amory Lovins: 1982: established the Rocky Mountain Institute, which promotes sound environmental engineering procedures and wise energy use His research includes the "hypercar," an ultra-lightweight, hybrid-electric vehicle that would save fuel and prevent pollution http://www.heinzawards.net/recipients/amory-lovins History of Environmental Science

18. Eugene & Howard Odum 1975: developed science of ecosystem ecology Eugene Odum wrote 1st ecology textbook: Fundamentals of Ecology. http://www.crafoordprize.se/press/arkivpressreleases/thecrafoordprizewinners1987eugenepodumandhowardtodum.5.32d4db7210df50fec2d800016978.html History of Environmental Science

19. Our Relationship with the Environment Over Time A. Hunter-Gatherer Era Hunter- Gatherers: people who collect plants & hunt wild animals Least impact on environment Human Impact on Environment Did prevent growth in grasslands, overhunted some large mammals, & spread plants to new areas Giant ground sloth Bison

20. B. Agricultural Revolution: ~10,000 years ago to present Agriculture: growing, breeding, & caring for plants & animals used for food, clothing, etc. Human impact on Environment Lead to exponential population growth Grasslands, forests & wetlands destroyed for farmland  soil & water loss Our Relationship with the Environment Over Time

21. C. Industrial- Medical Revolution: ~1700s + Human Impact: 1. Started using fossil fuels for energy & mass production of goods 2. Inventions: light bulb, steam engine, factory machinery, vehicles(Machines replaced human muscle and animal power) 3. Cities grew Our Relationship with the Environment Over Time

22. 4. Revolutions in health care (antibiotics, vaccines, water treatment)  longer lives • 1900s: began using plastics & synthetic chemicals(Artificial substances replaced some animal and plant products. . • 5. Amount of land and labor needed to produce food decreased.

23. Our Relationship with the Environment Over Time • D. Globalization (Information & Technology) Revolution: 20th century – present • Technology helps us understand env. Problems • Human impacts: • Rapid exchange of data & idea • Disposal of electronics • BUT can homogenize Earth’s surface (make all the same) • Same language • Same food • Same organisms – loss of diversity

25. Overusing Resources: -Two Main Types of Resources: Renewable: sunlight, forests, air, soil, wind, water, fisheries and animals. Nonrenewable: minerals, gems, & fossil fuels(Coal, oil, natural gas.) Right now, we over use both types, but esp. nonrenewable resources Environmental Problems Today

26. 2. Energy Consumption From Fossil Fuels: Oil, coal, & natural gas provide 80% of energy used in industrialized countries NONRENEWABLE & causes pollution Environmental Problems Today

27. Environmental Problems Today 3. Pollution: = any physical, chemical, or biological change that negatively affects organisms or negatively alters the environment • Includes air, water, & soil pollution • At least 1.1 billion people lack an adequate supply of safe drinking water • More than twice that don’t have modern sanitation

28. Biodegradable: Substance that can be broken down by biological processes.

29. Water pollution much bigger issue in impoverished rural communities • Clean Drinking • water can be • Provided by • Building a • Play Pump:

30. 4. Global climate change: Human activities release carbon dioxide (CO2) & other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere Over the past 200 years, atmospheric CO2 has increased by 35% By 2100… global temps will probably warm 1.5 to 6C (2.7-11 F) Environmental Problems Today

31. 5. Overpopulation More people = increased use of resources = destruction of environment Environmental Problems Today

32. 6. Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity: diversity of organisms (different species) in an area Over the past century, more than 800 species have gone extinct & at least 10,000 species are now threatened Environmental Problems Today cheetah- endangered Tasmanian tiger- extinct 1936 Great Auk - extinct 1844 tree kangaroo- endangered

33. Biodiversity • Number species on Earth known & described is ~1.7 million • Estimated to actually be ~ 10 million • INTERESTING FACT: Insects constitute the greatest number of species (nearly 1,000), followed by plants, arachnids, fungi, mollusks, and vertebrates

34. Why Biodiversity is Important: • 1. We depend on healthy ecosystems and many organisms for balanced nutrient cycles & energy flow. • Every species is dependent on or depended upon by at least one other species. • 2. We use organisms for food, clothing, shelter, & medicine. • About 25% of drugs prescribed in the US are derived from plants. Almost all antibiotics are derived from chemicals found in fungi.

35. 3.Tropical rain forests, coral reefs, coasts, & islands have high biodiversity • ~50% world’s species live in tropical rain forests • 25 spots on Earth are “Biodiversity hotspots” = have high #s of endemic species & are threatened • Endemic= found in a limited area; risk extinction • The hotspots include places like Madagascar, the Caribbean, and tropical forests in South America, China, the Philippines, etc.

36. 4. It is the morally right thing to do!

37. Examples of Endemic Species Lemurs of Madagascar Rock macaque of Taiwan Galapagos Tortoises Philippine Crocodile

38. Biodiversity Threats: • Endangered species= likely to go extinct in near future • ~10,000 animals worldwide are “endangered” • Threatened species= populations are declining Threats to Biodiversity: 1. Habitat fragmentation & destruction (Ex: Florida panther almost went extinct) 2. Pollution 3. Overharvesting & Poaching (illegal hunting) (Ex: fishing industries) 4. Invasive species (not native to a particular region; Ex: Fire ants, kudzu)

39. Preventing Biodiversity Loss: 1.Captive breeding: zoos, conservation groups 2. Endangered Species Act (1973) – law against hurting, trading, or destroying habitat of endangered species 3. IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) – founded 1948; works to protect species & habitats worldwide 4.CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered species) – treaty pass in 1973 by 170 countries; controls trade of wildlife 5. National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries

40. Invasive Alert Activity! • MUST show: • Common name & Scientific name • Where it came from & Where it is now • How introduced to new area • Why it’s bad. How it upset the natural equilibrium of an ecosystem • How we are trying to control it • Picture(s) (Either hand drawn or printed) • Extra: Other interesting facts • Work with group AT TABLE • Group will be given name & background info of an invasive organism that has negatively affected the environment. • As a group, you are responsible for creating one of the following: • “Wanted” poster • Facebook-like page • Wikipedia-like page • Comic strip • Or something similar

41. More than 1.4 billion people (1/5 of world’s population) live in extreme poverty • Income of less than $1 (U.S.) per day. • Lack access to adequate diet, housing, sanitation, clean water, medical care • Poorest people are forced to meet survival needs at cost to the environment • Eliminating poverty & protecting the environment are linked… Economics & The Environment

42. Supply and Demand – The greater the demand for a limited resource, the higher the price. • Ex: as nonrenewable resources are depleted, prices will go up! • Cost/Benefit Analysis – Is the benefit of development/progress worth the cost of damage to the environment?

43. Supply and demand is the relationship between availability and worth of resources. • Story of Stuff video

44. Developed: Higher income Industrial economies Slow population growth Stronger social support systems Ex: US, Canada, Japan, Australia & countries of western Europe B. Developing: 1.Lower income 2. Simple agricultural economies 3. Rapid population growth 4. Weak, nonexistent social support systems 4. Ex: China, India, African countries, Haiti • Use 88% of world’s resources • Create 75% of world’s pollution Developed vs. Developing Countries Use fewer resources & have smaller ecological footprint

45. us Japan Mexico Color and Glue in Map Indonesia Developed Countries Developing Countries Color the developed countries first! Everything that is left will be developing.

46. Pick one developed country (U.S. or Japan) and one developing country (Mexico or Indonesia). Copy 4 of the 6 measurements from the table into your notebook.

47. Ever wondered how much “nature” your lifestyle requires? • Ecological Footprint = amount of land & ocean required to sustain one’s lifestyle (consumption & waste) Ecological Footprint

48. plant-based diet requires less land and energy than a meat-based diet (animals need much more room). Meat production drives deforestation and requires high inputs of energy for processing and transportation. http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Fast_Food_Nation/Fast_Food_Nation01.html Ecological Footprint

49. So….What can we do to reduce our ecological footprint? • Solar windows • Eat food grown locally • Eat food in season • Walk for ride a bike instead of a car • Increase the temperature on thermostat • Eat less red meat

50. Things we use can be made from renewable resources, nonrenewable resources, or both: Renewable resources: resources normally replaced/ replenished by natural processes Examples: Wood or paper from trees Cloth from cotton Real leather from cows Classifying Resources