Env and Hum Exam #1

Cartography

the study and practice of making and using maps

Latitude

lines that run E to W and are measure N to S

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Equator: Think “latitude flatitude”

Longitude

lines that run N to S and are measured E to W

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Prime Meridian and International dateline

UTM (universal transverse mecrator)

precise location on a stretched projection of the globe

PLSS (public land survey system)

precise location within a local area defined by a baseline and meridian

the winkle-triple projection

minimize the distortions of area -- distance and direction

the earth is an oblate ellipsoid

Environment

the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms. the complex of social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

Environmental Science

the systematic study of our environment which is interdisciplinary and is a broad holistic study of the world around us

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* integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities

natural sciences

geology, biology, astronomy, limnology, water resources, meteorology, agronomy, world geography

Formal sciences

physics, math, chemistry

Applied Sciences

engineering, food science, and space exploration

social sciences: society and the relationships between individuals

anthropology, archaeology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management and political and communication science

the humanities: only homo sapiens (the things that make us human)

history, philosophy, and the arts

other areas of environmental science

law: the regulations, rules, and guidance’s humans need to follow and abide by

The Scientific method

started in the days of Aristotle (384 BCE)

father of the scientific method = Francis bacon 1561

• observations

• questions

• hypothesis

• predictions

• test

  • results

good science is based on reasons and good data

• deduction reasoning: based on deductions from the facts

• inductive reasoning: based on a model that is later tested

• testability and accuracy

• communication and science literacy

• probability and statistics

• experimental design

• models based on real data

How to evaluate data and other information

Good sources: .gov and .edu

ADD ENV History

The Perspectives: Pragmatic utilitarian conservation

Gordon Pinchot-- develop the land well rather then letting it be “wasted”

The Perspectives: Biocentric preservations

John Muir: no development: preserving life for its own sake

The Perspectives: moral and aesthetic preservations

Aldo Leopold-- preserving life for ethical reasons and beauty

The Perspectives: Christian Stewardship

Aldo, the Quakers-- preserving life because humanity is stamped with the Imago Dei (biblical text relationship between the world and man)

The Perspectives: Cornucopian

nature can repair damage and provide abundance

The Perspectives: global environmentalist

the basis of the United Nations stating that we all share one planet

The Perspectives: Knowledge and integrated lifestyles of native people groups

the natives knowledge of the land they inhabited is lost when they are marginalized or worse (fon du lac tribe)

Exponential Growth (J curve)

Nt = N0r^t

N= number population

R= rate of growth per time period

T= time or time steps

dN/dt= rate of chance = Nr

The rule of 70

assuming an annual growth rate of 3%

* how long will it take for a population to double
* good for small growth rates like human population

Logistic growth

a species hits the carrying capacity and naturally stops producing (its density-dependent)

* rate slows as population density increases

R-selected species

those that produce a large number of offspring and contribute few resources to each individual offspring

* plants and flowers

K-selected species

posses relatively stable populations that fluctuate near the carrying capacity of the environment

* humans and animals

Logistic growth population model

describes a populations growth when an upper growth is assumed

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dN/dt = rN (K N/K)

survivability

births, immigration, emigration, deaths, natality, mortality, and lifespan

what affects population growth?

biotics causes: density-dependent -- crowding, disease, and starvation

abiotic causes: independent of density -- fires, droughts, and floods

interspecific interactions

predation and compeition

intraspecific interations

competitions for food and establishment of territories

Population size and conservation

• small and isolated populations are vulnerable

  • genetic diversity may help a population survive -- genetic drift (darwin’s finches)

• founder effect: smaller population as a colonizing group

• demographic bottleneck: when animals are under stress and only a few mating pairs remain

• the hardy-Weinberg principal: the ration of genetic traits seems to remain constant from one generation to the next

Human population growth

ecologists are concerned that our ecological life support systems will degrade

Technology can increase carrying capacity

progress with agriculture, engineering, commerce, and medicine may make it possible to support more people

what do demographics look at?

I = PAT

I: environmental impact

P: population size

A: affluence

T: technology

SF4 and MN clean energy bill

• 55 % clean energy by 2035

• 100% clean energy by 2040

• energy production must meet two standards

  • renewable

  • carbo free

    • hydropower

    • no nuclear or incineration

BIDE

The way we calculate growth

BIDE= births + immigration - death - emigration

demography

encompasses the vital statistics about people such as births, deaths, distribution and population size

ways to describe growth

• BIDE

  • fertility rate: average number of children born to a woman (rates are falling)

• replacement fertility rate: occurs when birth rates compensate for deaths

Factors affection population growth

• development: promote demographic transition

• life expectancy

• age distribution

• social factors: family planning and birth control

Demographic transition factors

* improved standard of living, children survival rates, women status, birth control

Environmental health

focuses on external factos that cause disease

morbidity

illness

mortality

death

DALYS (disability-adjusted life years)

calculates the disease burden of a population

conservation medicine

attempts to understand how environmental changes threaten our own health and the natural communities on which we depend on for ecological services

toxicology: toxic substances

poisons

toxicology: allergens

substances that activate the immune system

toxicology: antigens

foreign, recognized by the white blood cells and stimulate the production of specific antibodies

toxicology: antibodies

proteins that recognize and bind to foreign cells or chemicals

toxicology: endocrine disruptors

chemicals that affect hormone production

toxicology: neurotoxins

a specific class of metabolic POISONS that attack nerve cells (neurons)

toxicology: mutagens

agents that damage or alter genetic material (DNA) in cells

toxicology: teratogens

cause birth defects (fetal alcohol syndrome)

toxicology: carcinogens

substances that cause cancer

toxicology: cancer

invasive and our of control cell growth that results in tumors

toxicology: poor diet

fast food and processed foods with refined sugar and flour

world food and nutrition

famines usually have political and social causes

food sources: meat

developing countries meat consumption has risen 160%

US meat consumption has risen 50%

CAFO (confined animal feeding operation)

regulated animal feed lots and associated lagoons --- large number of animals in small/confined area

Food sources: fish

seafood is our only commercial wild caught protein source

* aquaculture in China makes up for 90% of farmed fish
* trawling and longlining are the most popular methods

Food Sources; antibiotics

antibiotics are overused in intensive production

Denmark and Netherlands discontinued use of antibiotics

US is considering curtailing use

China and Russia are considering using more

Production enhancements

selective breeding, fertilizing and irrigating

GMOs: engineered for pest resistance and herbicide intolerance

* bt toxin: natural bacteria found in soil whose DNA is commonly clipped for GMOs (becoming common)
* GMO example -- broccoli

Food production policies

Govt has provided:

• land grant institutions that assist with agricultural education, research, and development projects that support irrigation systems and transportation projects

• crop insurance

  • direct subsidies

fertility rates

have declined everywhere except some countries in sub Sahara Africa

* world’s total fertility rate is 2.4%, lowest rate since WWII

what has the greatest influence on life expectancy?

• nutrition

• water

• sanitation

  • pharmaceuticals (NOT INCLUDED)

future of growth

development is seen as the main path to slower growth

migration is a potential disruptor