ENSC exam 2

what do nonurban land resources do?

• provide ecosystem services

  • wildlife habitat

  • flood and erosion control

  • groundwater recharge

  • fresh water

• use them as benchmarks to determine the effect of human activity

Worldwide, which land use is used the most?

rock, ice tundra and desert at 30%

who owns most of the land in the USA?

1. private at 55%

2. federal government at 35%

3. state government at 7%

4. tribes at 3%

what was the worlds first national park, and what was its purpose?

Yellowstone, established by Ulysses Grant

• to “set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of people”

• currently 58 parks in the US system

General revision act of 1891

authorized president Roosevelt to create forest preserves. “whether of commercial value or not”

what did Roosevelt establish in 1903

the national wildlife refuge system

• pelican island was the first refuge

• it was the first time that the federal government set aside land for the sake of wildlife protection

national park system

• includes 63 parks

• land set aside for recreation, preservation

• limited development permitted such as roads

• teaches people about the natural environment management of natural resources and history

what are some threats to national parks

• destruction and vandalism

• heavy traffic

• pollution of the soil, water, and air

• resource violations (poaching/ illegal collection)

• not well funded

• wildlife imbalances

• mining

• climate change

wilderness parks

a protected area of land in which no human development is permitted HIGHEST PROTECTION

• less than 2% of the lower 48 states are designated for these parks

• 806 sites

• mostly mountainous or difficult to develop areas

• half of all U.S sites are in Alaska

wildlife refuges

most extensive network of lands and waters committed to wildlife habitat in the world

• 560 nationwide

• represents all major ecosystems found in US

• goal:

  • to preserve lands and waters for the conservation of fishes, wildlife and plants of the US

what are the differences between wilderness, national park, and wildlife refuge?

wilderness: areas left completely unaltered by humans

national park: created by congress, protected due to scenic, recreational, and inspirational, or educational value. human activity limited, must not jeopardize resources

wildlife refuges: conserve fish, wildlife, and plants. Some harvests and mineral exploitation can be allowed

what are the types of land resources

• forests

• rangelands

• agricultural lands

• wetlands

• coastal lands

• suburban and urban lands

forests

• cover 1/3 of the land on Earth

• they have an influence on climate

• they are very important in biogeochemical cycles

• carbon dioxide is converted to wood

• they stabilize soil and retain water

• house many species

• shrinking by 22 million acres each year

• LEAST PROTECTION

what activities do US national forests comprise of

• timber harvest

• livestock grazing

• water resource development (dams)

• mining

• hunting

• fishing

• ski resorts

• habitats for wildlife

plantation

a strand of single species planted in straight rows

• tree farming

• properly managed plantations can relieve pressure on forests

ecologically sustainable forest management

• environmentally balanced

• diverse trees

• prevent soil erosion

• preserve watersheds

• wildlife corridors-unlogged

old growth forest

a forest that has never been cut

• usually mixed species with some trees >300 years old

• redwoods >1000 years old

• the oldest: Methuselah tree (bristle cone pine)>4600 years old

• desirable for lumber

second growth forest

has been cut and re-grown

Del Norte titan

• largest known coast redwood

what is the least to highest protected

national forests, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, national parks, wilderness

selection cutting

considered good, leaving some good and bad trees to keep ecosystem maintained

selective cutting

considered bad, only leaving bad trees which destroy ecosystem

cities make up what percentage of the worlds total land area

3%

clear cutting

cutting down most all of trees in a forest

consequences: soil erosion

why harvest trees?

• producing timber, paper, and fuel

• 55% of harvest wood is burned as fuelwood to make charcoal

• 45% of harvest wood used for paper and wood products

deforestation and its causes

temporary or permanent clearance of large expanses of forest for agriculture or other use

• fire

• clearing for agriculture

• construction of roads

• tree harvest

• insect and disease

what are the consequences of deforestation?

• decreased soil fertility

• uncontrolled soil erosion

• silt buildup behind dams, hydroelectric problems

• loss of CO2 sink

• formation of deserts

• extinction of species

• global climate change

what are some global forestry challenges?

• over exploitation

• slash and burn

• illegal timber harvesting

• climate change

what are the causes of disappearing tropical rain forests

• subsistence agriculture

• commercial logging

• cattle ranching

• mining

• hydroelectric power

boreal forests

• worlds largest biome

  • worlds largest land reservoir of carbon

• extensive clear cutting

• the primary source of world’s industrial wood and wood fiber

• 21% of the earths forested land- but contains

  • 13% of earth’s biomass carbon

  • 43% of earths soil carbon

rangeland

land that is not intensively managed and is used for grazing livestock

land degradation

natural or human induced process that decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestock

desertification

degradation of once fertile land into a nonproductive desert

agricultural land

• US has 300 million acres of prime farmland

• threatened by suburban sprawl

  • parking lots

  • housing developments

  • shopping malls

wetlands

lands that are usually covered with water for at least part of the year

have characteristic soils and water-tolerant vegetation

benefits:

• habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife

• recharge groundwater

• reduce damage from flooding

• improve water quality

• produce many commercially important products

what human activities threaten wetlands

• draining for agriculture or mosquito control

• dredging for navigation

• channelization

• construction of dams, sea walls and levees

• filling in solid waste disposal, roads, residential/ industrial development

• conversion to aquaculture

coastlines

coastal wetlands

• provide food and habitat for many aquatic animals

• historically regarded as wasteland

What is monoculture and what are the negative consequences of monoculture in forest management?

a form of agriculture that is based on growing only one type of crop at one time on a specific field.

negatively impacts:

• biodiversity

• soil fertility

• increased use of fossil fuels and pesticides

how do forests influence the hydrologic cycle

forests act like natural sponges and filters, regulating water flow, maintaining water quality, and sustaining precipitation patterns

famine

temporary but severe shortage of food

kwashiorkor

millions of children suffer from this disease caused by severe protein deficiency

• swollen belly caused by fluid retention

should 60 pounds of grain go to 60 loaves of bread or one chicken

if 1 billion people were to eat one more chicken per year, this would consume the entire wheat crop of canada

what does consuming meat do?

we are SECONDARY consumers and have just 1% of the energy from primary producers

livestock are primary consumers that require additional resources

industrialized agriculture

modern agriculture methods that require large capital input and less land and labor

• large inputs of energy, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, hybrid seeds, and irrigation water for high yields

• training and experience are needed

• land can be degraded

• chemicals can cause pollution

subsistence agriculture

traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land

ex: shifting cultivation, slash and burn agriculture, nomadic herding, and intercropping

how does industrialized agriculture work

1. fossil fuel energy inputs at production cite

2. machines (tractors) release plant nutrient minerals

3. fertilization, seeding, irrigation occur

4. solar energy and carbon dioxide

5. to make the food yield (harvest)

how does subsistence agriculture work

provides food for the farmer only

1. energy input comes from humans and animals

2. large amounts of land are used

3. yields are low

How many different plant species do we depend on for most of our food supply?  What are the three main food crops (grains) that are consumed by humans?

depend on around 150

1. corn

2. rice

3. wheat

norman borlaug

born in 1914 and recieved PHD from univ of minnesota in 1942

• developed the high-yielding short stemmed wheat and distributed it throughout the world

• father of the green revolution

green revolution

grain production tripled from 600 to 1800 million metric tons due to the breeding of high yielding varieties of wheat and rice

genetic engineering

manipulation of genes by taking specific gene from a cell of one species and placing it into the cell of an unrelated species

used to produce GM food

ex: golden rice

transgenic

animals that have extra genes

• gene of choice is manipulated and prepared in a lab and injected into the egg of an animal which is implanted into a surrogate

ex: enviro pigs, self healing catfish, spider silk goats, featherless chickens, goats

enviropig

a transgenic animal that contains DNA from a bacterium and a mouse. These new bits
of DNA code for the production of an enzyme that helps the pig digest feed
more efficiently and particularly absorb phytic acid from grains

Why are antibiotics used for animal production and what are some adverse consequences?

• weight gains of 5% are achieved with routine feeding of antibiotics

• use of antibiotics such as cipro and baytril

• in agriculture: produces drug resistant bacteria

their waste laced with drugs can taint rivers and groundwater

some of the drugs may remain in the animal when eating

Which country produces the most genetically modified crops?

the US

bycatch

the unintended capture of non target species during commercial fishing operations

ex: dolphins, sea turtles, seabirds, etc

What is aquaculture? What types of fish are produced? What are the negative environmental effects of aquaculture?

the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants into controlled environments.

can take place in: ponds, tanks, cages, or ocean enclosures for both freshwater and marine species

• salmon, tilapia, catfish, trout, carp, sea bass, shrimp and prawns, mussels, oysters and clams

CAUSES

1. water pollution

2. habitat destruction

3. disease and parasite spread

4. genetic pollution

5. overuse of antibiotics and chemicals

what are some sustainable agricultural methods?

to reduce erosion and maintain fertility:

• minimum tillage

• contour plowing

• crop rotation

to reduce chemical use:

• introduction of predators

• nitrogen fixing crops (legume)

• crop breeding for disease resistance

• use biodegradable chemicals

what do natural predators do for crops

replace the pesticides in crops

IPM- limited use of pesticides with sustainable agricultural practices

fisheries of the world

no nation lays claim to open ocean

• resource susceptible to overuse and degradation

• many species are at a point of depletion

• 62% of the worlds fish stock are in need of management action

purse seining process

once fish are corralled, the bottom of the purse is closed preventing escape. the net is closed forming pocket of fish. a submersible pump is lowered into pocket pumping fish into a dewatering box

the atlantic dawn

the largest supertrawler in the world, biggest baddest fishing boat ever

approximately what percentage of marine organisms captured in commercial fisheries is undesirable and returned to the water as bycatch

25%

supertrawlers

most commonly known as factory trawlers, the most efficient fish-catching machines ever made

fisheries of the world- problems

ocean pollution- dumping ground for

• oil

• heavy metals

• deliberate litter dumping

• storm water run off from cities and agricultural areas

aquaculture

what is the gas composition of the atmosphere?

nitrogen- 78%

oxygen-20.95%

argon 0.93%

carbon dioxide- 0.04%

starting at earth, to the sky, what are the atmospheric levels

earth, troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

what are the functions of the atmosphere

provides ecosystem services:

• supports life by providing oxygen and carbon dioxide

• nitrogen is part of the soil/ plant atmosphere in nitrogen cycle

• part of the hydrologic cycle

atmosphere

transparent to infared and visible light which reaches the surface and warms the planet. it also traps long wave radiation (heat) emitted from the surface. this keeps the planet warm

what are 2 components in the atmosphere that are most important to humans and other organisms

carbon dioxide and oxygen

air pollution

chemicals added to the atmosphere by natural events or human activities in high enough concentrations to be harmful

primary air pollutant

harmful substance emitted DIRECTLY into the atmosphere

secondary air pollutant

harmful substance FORMED in the atmosphere when a primary air pollutant reacts with substances normally found in the atmosphere or with other air pollutants

what are some health effects of air pollution

• low level eye exposure

  • irritated eyes

  • causes inflammation of respiratory tract

• can develop into chronic respiratory diseases

particulate matter effects on health

Thousands of different solid or liquid particles suspended in air

(from industries, power plants, motor vehicles, construction, agriculture)

• respiratory illnesses, long term exposure may cause increase of bronchitis, heart disease, some organic chemicals could cause cancer and other tissue damage

nitrogen oxide effects on health

(from motor vehicles, industries, heavily fertilized farmland)

• irritate respiratory tract, asthma and chronic bronchitis

sulfur oxides effect on health

(from power plants, other industries MAIN SOURCE- COAL BURNING POWER PLANTS

• irritate respiratory tract, same as particulate matter

carbon monoxide effects on health

(from motor vehicles, industries, fireplaces)

• reduces bloods ability to transport oxygen, headache and fatigue

• lower levels- mental impairment

• higher levels-death

ozone effects on health

(found in atmosphere-secondary air pollutant)

• irritates eyes, irritates respiratory tract, chest discomfort, asthma and chronic bronchitis

children and air pollution

• greater health threat compared to adults

• can restrict lung development

• who live in high ozone areas are more likely to develop asthma

Which air pollutant is associated with slow development and permanent reduction in mental ability for young children?

lead

bad ozone

or tropospheric ozone, is also called Ground level. It is a component of photo-chemical smog that is man-made secondary pollutant.

What are the major types of air pollution that occur outdoors?

TRANSPORTATION, biomass burning, dust, agriculture, and cows

good ozone

found in the stratosphere

• it protects life on earth by absorbing most of the suns harmful ultraviolet radiation

• without this protective layer there would be higher rates of skin cancer

What is the difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide?

CO is poisonous and interferes with the blood's ability to transport oxygen. CO2 is a GHG (greenhouse gas) ; its buildup in the atmosphere is associated with global climate change.

What is smog? What are the major components of smog?

Air pollution caused by a variety of pollutants. The components of smog (from photochemical smog) are sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons

what are common types or particulates (particulate matter)

• aerosols

• dusts

• fumes

• mist or fog

• smoke, ash

• smog

photochemical smog

a type of air pollution formed when sunlight reacts with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere

forms by:

1. emissions from vehicles release NO’s and VOC’s

2. sunlight triggers a series of chemical reactions between these pollutants

3. these reactions produce ozone at ground level along with other harmful substances like peroxyacyl nitrates

When and how does smog form in Los Angeles?

During temperature inversion. The smog forms in L.A largely due to automobile exhaust.

What are the main health problems of air pollution?

Increase in respiratory symptoms in human.
Decreased lung function
premature death

Which components of air pollution have gotten better through air quality regulation? Which have gotten worse?

Lead has gotten better through air quality regulation (reduced by 98%). Primarily due to the switch from leaded to unleaded gasoline. Hydrocarbon has gotten worse.

What is a thermal inversion and how does this affect air pollution over urban areas?

periods when gases and particulate matter remain trapped in high concentrations close to the ground where people live and breathe.

• cold air near the ground is overlain by warmer air

What are the technologies used to reduce emissions from power plants?

Electrostatic precipitator, fabric filters, scrubbers.

The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants

center the atmosphere directly whereas secondary air pollutants form from other substances released into the atmosphere

what pollutants are responsible for acid rain

sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx)

which react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form:

sulfuric acid (H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3)

acid rain

precipitation that is more acidic than normal, typically with a pH below 5.6. it forms when certain air pollutants mix with water vapor in the atmosphere and it falls to the ground

what sectors are responsible for acid rain?

1. electric power generation

2. industrial manufacturing

3. transportation

4. agriculture

what are major environmental consequences of acid rain

1. soil degradation

2. damage to forests

3. aquatic ecosystem harm

4. building and monument damage

The great smog

• freak weather conditions and build up of years of pollution

• unusually chilly→ record amts of coal burned

• december brought little wind and an inversion of an anticyclone, which combined to trap filthy air in a blanket over city

• people had smog masks

carbon monoxide (CO)

is an indirect greenhouse gas