Cartography
the study and practice of making and using maps
Latitude
lines that run E to W and are measure N to S
Equator: Think “latitude flatitude”
Longitude
lines that run N to S and are measured E to W
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
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
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