APES Unit 5: Land and Water Use

common good

The collective well-being and benefit of a community or society as a whole, rather than individual advantage.

resource depletion

The reduction or exhaustion of natural resources due to overuse or extraction.

self-interest

Individual motivation to maximize personal benefit or gain, often at the expense of collective welfare.

shared resources

Natural or common resources that are accessible to multiple individuals or groups and not owned by any single entity.

tragedy of the commons

A concept describing how individuals acting in their own self-interest may deplete shared resources, ultimately harming the common good and the sustainability of those resources.

carbon dioxide

A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change.

clearcutting

A forestry practice in which all trees in an area are cut down at once, removing the entire forest cover.

climate change

Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, accelerated by the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from deforestation.

flooding

The overflow of water onto land areas, often caused by increased runoff from impervious surfaces that prevents water absorption into soil.

pollutants

Harmful substances in the environment that are absorbed and filtered by forest trees.

soil erosion

The wearing away and loss of topsoil, often caused by water or wind, particularly accelerated when vegetation is removed.

soil temperature

The heat level of soil, which can increase when forest cover is removed and exposes soil to direct sunlight.

stream temperature

The heat level of water in streams, which can increase when forest shade is removed from riparian areas.

fertilization

The application of nutrients to soil to enhance plant growth and crop productivity.

fossil fuels

Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned.

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered to enhance desired traits, such as crop yield or pest resistance.

Green Revolution

A shift to new agricultural strategies and practices designed to increase food production, beginning in the mid-20th century.

irrigation

The artificial application of water to land to support agricultural production.

mechanization

The use of machines and mechanical equipment in farming to increase efficiency and profits.

pesticides

Chemical substances used to kill or control pests, which can pose risks to wildlife, water supplies, and human health.

fertilizers

Substances added to soil to increase nutrient content for plant growth, which can cause water pollution and eutrophication when they run off into waterways.

slash-and-burn farming

An agricultural practice where vegetation is cut down and burned to clear land for cultivation, causing deforestation and air pollution.

tilling

The practice of turning over and breaking up soil, which can cause soil erosion and damage soil structure.

aquifer depletion

The severe reduction of groundwater in an aquifer due to overuse, such as for agricultural irrigation.

drip irrigation

An irrigation system using perforated hoses to release small amounts of water directly to plant roots; the most efficient method with only about 5% water loss but expensive to install.

evaporation

The process by which water transforms from liquid to vapor and is lost from soil and irrigation systems.

flood irrigation

An irrigation system that floods an agricultural field with water; loses about 20% of water to evaporation and runoff and can lead to waterlogging.

freshwater

Water with low salt content, used for human consumption, agriculture, and industry.

furrow irrigation

An irrigation system that involves cutting furrows between crop rows and filling them with water; inexpensive but loses about 1/3 of water to evaporation and runoff.

runoff

Water that flows over the soil surface and is lost from irrigation systems rather than being absorbed by plants.

salinization

The accumulation of salts in soil after groundwater evaporates, which can make soil toxic to plants over time.

spray irrigation

An irrigation system that pumps groundwater into spray nozzles across a field; more efficient than flood and furrow irrigation but more expensive and energy-intensive.

waterlogging

A condition where too much water sits in soil, raising the water table and inhibiting plants' ability to absorb oxygen through their roots.

artificial selection

The process by which organisms with traits that help them survive a particular pressure (such as pesticide exposure) are more likely to reproduce, passing those traits to offspring.

crop yields

The amount of agricultural product harvested from a given area of land.

fungicides

Chemical substances used to kill or prevent fungal diseases on plants.

genetic diversity

The variation in genes within a population, which enables the population to respond to environmental stressors.

herbicides

Chemical substances used to kill or control unwanted plants (weeds).

insecticides

Chemical substances used to kill or control insects.

pest control

Methods and strategies used to manage, reduce, or eliminate pest populations that damage crops or other resources.

resistance

The ability of organisms to survive exposure to a pest control method, typically developed through repeated exposure and artificial selection.

rodenticides

Chemical substances used to kill rodents such as rats and mice.

concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)

Large-scale industrial facilities where animals are raised in confined conditions with high population density.

desertification

The degradation of low precipitation regions toward increasingly arid conditions until they become deserts, often caused by overgrazing or other land use practices.

free-range grazing

A method of meat production where animals are allowed to roam and feed on open pasture or rangeland.

organic waste

Decomposable animal waste produced from livestock operations that can contaminate water sources or serve as fertilizer.

overgrazing

The excessive grazing of livestock on pasture land, leading to vegetation depletion and soil degradation.

aquatic systems

Water-based ecosystems including oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water where fish and other organisms live.

biodiversity

The variety of all living organisms and species within an ecosystem, region, or the entire planet.

fish species scarcity

The condition where certain fish populations become extremely rare or depleted due to overfishing.

overfishing

The removal of fish from aquatic systems at rates faster than populations can reproduce, leading to depletion of fish stocks.

coal mining

The extraction of coal from the Earth, which can involve surface or subsurface methods.

ecological impacts

Effects on natural ecosystems and organisms resulting from human activities such as mining.

economic impacts

Effects on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, including costs and benefits of mining operations.

erosion

The wearing away and removal of soil and rock by water, wind, or other natural processes, often accelerated by removal of vegetation.

groundwater contamination

The pollution of water found beneath the Earth's surface, often resulting from mining operations.

habitat destruction

The degradation or removal of natural environments where organisms live, often caused by human activities.

lower grade ores

Ores with lower concentrations of valuable minerals, requiring more processing to extract the desired material.

mining

The industrial process of extracting minerals, ores, and other valuable materials from the Earth.

mining wastes

Materials removed or left behind during mining operations, including soil, rocks, slag, and tailings.

natural resource extraction

The process of removing naturally occurring materials from the Earth for human use.

ore

Rock or mineral from which valuable metals or minerals can be extracted.

Ores

Naturally occurring minerals or rocks from which metals and other valuable substances can be extracted.

Overburden

The layer of soil and rock that must be removed to access ore deposits in surface mining operations.

Slag

Waste material that remains after minerals have been removed from ore during the mining and processing process.

Strip Mining

A type of surface mining that removes vegetation and layers of earth in strips to expose ore underneath.

Subsurface Mining

Mining that occurs underground, used when ore deposits are deep below the surface and surface mining is not feasible.

Surface Mining

A mining method that removes large portions of soil and rock from the surface to access ore deposits underneath.

Tailings

Fine waste material left after valuable minerals have been extracted from ore.

Carbon Cycle

The biogeochemical process by which carbon moves between the atmosphere, living organisms, soil, and water systems.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water in its various solid, liquid, and gaseous phases between Earth's surface and the atmosphere, powered by solar energy.

Impervious Surfaces

Human-made structures such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, and parking lots that prevent water infiltration into the soil.

Landfills

Designated areas where solid waste is disposed of and buried, which can release methane and carbon dioxide as organic matter decomposes.

Population Density

The number of people living in a given area, used to distinguish between densely populated urban centers and sparsely populated rural regions.

Saltwater Intrusion

The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers and groundwater supplies, typically caused by excessive groundwater extraction in coastal areas.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban development into surrounding rural and agricultural areas, characterized by low-density suburban growth.

Urbanization

The process of population growth and development that transforms rural areas into urban centers with increased human settlement and infrastructure.

Ecological Footprint

A measure that compares the resource demands and waste production of an individual or society to the Earth's capacity to provide those resources and absorb that waste.

Resource Demands

The amount and types of natural resources required to support the consumption and activities of an individual or society.

Waste Production

The quantity and types of waste generated by an individual or society through consumption and daily activities.

Biological Diversity

The variety of different species and ecosystems present in an environment.

Environmental Indicators

Measurable factors such as biological diversity, food production, temperature, and CO₂ concentrations that guide humans toward sustainable practices.

Renewable Resource

A natural resource that can be replenished or regenerated over time if managed sustainably.

Sustainability

The ability of humans to live on Earth and use resources without depleting them for future generations.

Sustainable Yield

The amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested or used without reducing the available supply for the future.

Mitigation

Actions taken to reduce the severity or impact of environmental problems.

Permeable Pavement

Paving material that allows water to pass through it into the soil below, reducing runoff and increasing water infiltration.

Urban Runoff

Water from precipitation that flows over urban surfaces such as pavement and roofs, carrying pollutants into water systems rather than infiltrating into the ground.

Water Infiltration

The process by which water soaks into the soil and groundwater rather than flowing across the surface as runoff.

Biocontrol

The use of biological organisms or natural enemies to control pest populations.

Crop Rotation

The practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land to reduce pest populations and maintain soil fertility.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An approach to pest control that combines multiple strategies to minimize pesticide use while reducing risks to wildlife, water supplies, human health, and the environment.

Natural Predators

Organisms that hunt and consume pest species, helping to control their populations naturally.

Pest Species

Organisms that damage crops, spread disease, or otherwise negatively impact human interests.

Wildlife

Wild animals and organisms in natural ecosystems that can be affected by pesticide use and environmental disruptions.

Contour Plowing

An agricultural technique where fields are plowed along the contours of the land to reduce water runoff and soil erosion.

Green Manure

Crops, typically legumes, that are grown and plowed back into the soil to increase nitrogen content and improve soil fertility.

Limestone

A mineral added to soil to neutralize acidity and improve soil fertility for crop production.

No-Till Agriculture

A farming practice that minimizes soil disturbance by planting crops without plowing, reducing erosion and preserving soil structure.

Perennial Crops

Plants that live for more than two years and do not require replanting annually, helping to stabilize soil.