envi test 2

Solving Food Insecurity

gmos, smaller scale algriculture, buffers/barriers for soil erosion, variety of diets and crops, irigation, pesticides

green revolution

Agricultural revolution that increased production through improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation; helped to support rising Asian populations. (international rice research institute)

Green Revolution fallout

farmers going bankrupt, cant afford, need a lot of chemicals

chronic undernutrition (hunger)

people who cannot grow or buy enough food to meet their basic energy needs

malnourishment

the long-term absence from the diet of one or more essential nutrients

Macronutrients

carbohydrates, proteins, and fats

Micronutrients

minerals and vitamins

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

-Can have serious effects on body

- 2 billion people suffer

vitamin a

Supports the overall health of the skin and vision, a lack of it can lead to blindness

zinc

lack of it can lead to hair loss; greater susceptibility to infections

iron deficiency

too much oxygen in blood without, helps transport o2 through blood and a deficiency causes anemia

iodine

helps with thyroid function, lack causes brain damage

famine

extreme scarcity of food

famine is caused by

natural disasters, unstable gov/conflict, climate change

food security

People's ability to access sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

food security (locally)

food bank of the southern tier, vines, bring food rescue, chow, food pantry

food desert

An area in a developed country where healthy food is difficult to obtain

food swamp

Communities that are flooded with unhealthy, highly processed, low-nutrient food combined with disproportionate advertising for unhealthy food compared to wealthier neighborhoods.

key food sources

wheat, rice, corn (FEED LIVESTOCK, BIOFUELS, PROCESSED)

trends in mean production and consumption

china produces most meat, US, australia and argentina consume the most

CAFOS

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

aquaculture

Raising marine and freshwater fish in ponds and underwater cages

fishery

a commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological region

trawling

type of fishing done with net dragged across bottom the of the sea

purse seine fishing

used to catch surface-dwelling species by having ships senclose on large schools of fish and throw nets

long lining

in fishing, the use of long lines that have baited hooks and will be taken by numerous aquatic organisms.

issues with fishery

Other/unwanted species getting caught in these nets - Bycatch

Excess waste

Fisheries are depleting rapidly

aquaculture concerns

ethicality, disease, food, extra nitrogen

farm subsidies

a form of aid and insurance given by the federal government to certain farmers and agribusinesses

soil conservation program

Pay farmers to take land that they farm out of rotation, to help overall conservation of land and soil

conventional farming

approach that uses chemicals in the form of plant protectants and fertilizers, or intensive, hormone-based practices in breeding and raising animals

soil

A loose mixture of rock fragments, organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation

particles in soil

Sand- coarsest particle

Silt- middle size

Clay- finest mineral particles

Loam

A rich mixture of gravel, sand, silt, clay, and organic matter

soil profile

All the vertical layers or horizons that make up a soil in a particular place

organic layer of soil

dominated by organic material, consisting of undecomposed or partially decomposed plant materials, such as dead leaves

topsoil (a horizon)

Second highest horizon; it is dark and rich in accumulated organic matter and humus.

Subsoil (B Horizon)

The layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals.

parent material soil

The starting material that is weathered to form sediment in soil. It is important because it determines soil properties. If the parent material has a lot of organic material, then it will form soil rich in organic nutrients. If the parent material has a lot of rocks, it will form soil that does not hold together well.

bedrock

The solid layer of rock beneath the soil

carbon cycle

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again

fossil fuels

formed from the remains of plants and animals from carbon underground

nitrogen gas

is the atmosphere's most abundant element making up 78% of the volume in the troposphere. major building block for proteins

nitrogen cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere

nitrogen fixing bacteria

bacteria that can use nitrogen in soil to make nitrogen compounds

phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.

eutrophication

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

top soil erosion

the movement of soil components from one place to another by wind or water

stores water, nutrients that plants need

till

overturning land, pulling up grasses, making spaces for air and water

Dust Bowl

Region of the Great Plains that experienced a drought in 1930 lasting for a decade, leaving many farmers without work or substantial wages.

Soil Erosion Service

established to combat massive farm soil erosion due to dust bowl originally established in Interior, shifted to Agriculture and name changed to Soil Conservation Service

soil salinization

in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind. (ex. Fertile crescent, southwestern US)

waterlogging

A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods.

major crops with pesticide use

corn, soybeans, potatoes, cotton, wheat

insecticides

a chemical that kills insects

herbicides

target plant species that compete with crops

fungicides

Chemical agents capable of destroying, and/or inhibiting the growth of saprophytic or pathogenic fungi, including molds.

rodenticides

Pesticides that kill rodents.

Advantages of synthetic pesticides

save human lives, increase food supplies, work quickly, ratio between health risks and benefits are low, newer pest control methods are even safer and more effective

disadvantage to synthetic pesticides

disrupt balance of ecosystem

unintended human health effects

genetic resistance due to artificial selection

kills healthy soil bacteria and insects

water contamination

pets and wildlife harmed

organophosphates

Found in pesticides, attack nervous system

chlorinated hydrocarbons

Highly toxic, build up in fatty tissues in organisms

DDT

A colorless odorless water-insoluble crystalline insecticide that tends to accumulate in ecosystems and has toxic effects on many vertebrates

Neonicotinoids

a systemic agricultural insecticide resembling nicotine.

sustainable argiculture

maintaining soil nutrients, preventing soil erosion, lessening carbon emissions

conservation of topsoil

conserving organic matter

Terracing

creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope.

contour planting

plowing and planting crops in rows across the slope of the land, opposite to the direction of water flow, to reduce soil erosion and water runoff

strip cropping with cover crop

alternating strips of crops and cover crops

alley cropping (agroforestry)

plant trees and crop in a row. The trees act as a barrier for run off and unwanted evaporation

organic fertilizer

fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals, animal manure, green manure, compost

crop rotation

The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.

biological controls

use of natural predators, pathogens, or competitors to regulate pest populations, could be an issue with the pest becoming a pest itself

hydroponics

a technique of growing plants (without soil) in water containing dissolved nutrients

Aquaponics

a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.

organic agriculture

Approach to farming and ranching that avoids the use of herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, and other similar synthetic inputs.

genetic diversity

The range of genetic material present in a gene pool or population of a species. helps with natty disasters

species diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

species richness

the number of different species in a community

species evenness

relative abundance of each species

ecological diversity

the variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

biological extinction

when a species can no longer be found anywhere on the earth

invasive species

plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native

zebra mussel

Originally native to Capsian Sea this clam reproduces rapidly and forms dense clusters crowding out native species

Round Goby

Help control other invasive species by feeding on them - eat too much

Displace other fish based on their spawning habits

Females spawn every 2 weeks

Long mating season - males protect the eggs

emerald ash borer

Transported by firewood shipments. Native to Asia. Bright Green and feeds on Ash, bores through trees

Spotted Lanternfly

from Asia destroying fruits and grape vines

Autumn Olive

Introduced on purpose for ecosystem services and ornamental value

Grows almost everywhere and shades out other plants

international treaties

United nations convention on biological diversity goals:

Reduce global rate of biodiversity loss

Share use of genetic resources

Control and prevent spread of invasive species

endangered species

at risk of extinction

threatened species

risk of endangerment

vulnerable species

could be threatened

Endangered Species Act of 1973

A law requiring the federal government to protect all species listed as endangered.

US Fish and Wildlife Service

an agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife andtheir habitats

seed banks

institutions that preserve seed types as a kind of living museum of genetic diversity

botanical gardens

These gardens contain living plants. They help educate the public about plant conservation. They only hold about 3% of the world's rare and threatened plant species.

zoos and aquariums

captive breeding, egg pulling, DNA analysis for mating

forest ecosystem services

Stablize soil, prevent erosion, transport minerals to soil surface, slow runoff and prevent flooding, return organic matter to soil, purify water and filter pollutants, produce oxygen, store carbon, support biodiversity, provide fuel wood, lumber, paper, foods, dyes, etc, provide heath beauty and recreation.

forest harvesting methods

Clear cutting, patchwork clear cutting, and selective harvesting

shelterwood or group selection harvesting

Harvesting select mature trees at relatively short intervals; opens up space for light and room for growth; remaining trees provide shelter for new growth