plants and humans final

climate change

all the effects associated with the rise in greenhouse gases

global warming

increased global atmospheric temperature due to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions

greenhouse gases

gases that trap heat in the atmosphere

greenhouse effect

natural warming of the planet that allows life to exist

enhanced greenhouse effect

unnatural warming of the planet due to increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity

How do human activities contribute to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

-metabolism (cellular respiration)
-deforestation
-burning fossil fuels

How do human activities contribute to the increase of methane in the atmosphere?

-metabolism (roaming animals eating)
-anaerobic decay of manure by microbes

What are some natural sources of greenhouse gases?

1.) decay of vegetation
2.) respiration of certain bacteria
3.) thawing of permafrost

Greenhouse gas emissions by sector

1.) transportation
2.) electricity generation
3.) industry

effects of climate change

1.) greater warming at the poles
2.) warmer global temperature
3.) more precipitation/flooding
4.) melting of ice sheets and glaciers
5.) sea level rise
6.) more acidic oceans
7.) longer growing season
8.) broader range of pests

carbon dioxide removal methods

1.) photosynthesis
2.) carbon capture and storage

How can we combat climate change?

1.) use less carbon-based energy (alternative/renewable energy like solar, hydroelectric, wind, nuclear energy)
2.) use less energy (energy-efficient appliances, shade trees, eat locally grown food)
3.) green building techniques (double-paned windows to keep heat inside)
4.) 3 R's: reduce, reuse, recycle
5.) biofuels (ethanol in gas to reduce about of carbon)

How has deforestation changed the planet?

-pushed animals out of their habitat
-more stable food supply
-rise in invasive species
-more pollution

how has industrial farming changed the planet?

-more pesticide use
-affects insects
-more processed foods
-more food waste
-contributes to clothing

Goal of agriculture

feed 8 billion people

when did agriculture develop?

10,0000-12,000 years ago

prehistoric agriculture

practiced before development of writing systems

earliest grown crops

rice, maize, barley, wheat, legumes

effects of early agriculture

1. development of cities
2. writing systems
3. development of science and math
4. war
5. expeditions

types of modern agriculture

traditional farm, tree farms, orchards, ranches, hydroponic farm, organic faming, conventional farming

traditional farm

varies in size, may have different crops on one farm

tree farms

trees of one or more species

orchards

fruit and nut trees

ranches

grazeland for cattle and livestock

hydroponic farm

soilless farming

organic farming

no synthetic chemicals are used
advantages: healthier for humans, environment
disadvantages: cost

conventional farming

synthetic chemicals are used
advantage: less expensive
disadvantage: more harmful to humans, the environment

Agricultural process

1.) Preparing the land
2.) Tending the crops
3.) Harvesting the crops
4.) Caring for the land between growing seasons

Preparing the land

-What land? (previously farmed land or land that has not been)
-plowing
-water supply

tending the crops

-what crops?
-distance between the plants
-weed controls (chemicals- herbicides, physical)
-pest controls (chemicals

harvesting the crops

Depends on the texture:
-crops that are dry and hard at maturity go to the combine; ex: wheat
-crops that are grown in the ground (root) go to the digging machine; ex: potato
-crops that are soft to the touch are handpicked; ex: strawberry
-crops that are not dry enough at maturity are mowed; ex: alfalfa

caring for the land between growing seasons

MOST IMPORTANT
-overturning the soil; ex: dust bowl
-burning fields due to pests
-plant a cover crop
-allow the field to lie fallow

domestication

alter organisms; develop new varieties from wild relatives; form of artificial selection

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

organisms with DNA that has been changed using DNA technology (ex: golden rice)

transgenic organisms

organism that contains DNA from a different species

concerns about GMOs

-unknown long-term effects
-interferes with "natural" processes
-health effects to humans
-reputation of agricultural companies

plant breeding

selecting for traits that we desire in the plant

plant improvements

-amount of fruit produced
-size
-color
-texture (hard/soft)
-amount of toxins produced
-life span
-stronger roots
-resistant to drought/flooding
-durability

ways to minimize effects of agriculture

-use organic farming as much as possible relative to conventional
-plant diversity (avoid monocultures)
-use less space
-use renewable/alternative energy sources
-plant native species
-think of ways to use as much of the plants as possible (reduce waste)
-soil health (prevent erosion by tilling as little as possible, lower chemical use, use slow-release fertilizers, plant a cover crop)
-land reclamation projects

Carbohydrates

monosaccharides- glucose, fructose
disaccharides- sucrose (table sugar)
polysaccharides- starch, glycogen

complex carbohydrate digestion

gradual rise then fall (sweet potato)

simple carbohydrate digestion

sugar rush then crash (candy)

cellulose

found in plant cell walls, not able to be digested by humans (fiber)

What do leafy, green vegetables contain?

few carbohydrates, but vitamins, minerals, and fiber

The grass family

-oats, wheat, rice, sorghum, rye, millet, barley, corn
-whole grain (bran, germ, endosperm)
-refined grain (endosperm only) (white bread)

gluten

protein that gives wheat its chewiness and elasticity

two types of domesticated wheat

1.) Darum wheat (pasta)
2.) bread wheat (baked goods)

Wheat is part of the grass family

two types of domesticated rice

1.)Asia (china)- oryza satvia
2.) Africa (west)- oryza glaberrima

Rice is part of the grass family

oats

part of the grass family; lower cholesterol, source of protein, and healthy fats

barley

part of the grass family; soups, stews, cereals, and livestock feed

rye

-crackers, bread
-can be grown in areas too cold for wheat
-can be used as a cover crop

part of the grass family

corn

-multiple uses (popcorn, cornflour, corn oil, biofuel, and livestock feed)
-required human involvement to grow modern corn

Part of the grass family

potatoes

part of the starch family
-tubers (underground shoot tissue)
-"eyes" (buds/menstems)
-domesticated in South America (around 11,000 BCE)
-irish potato famine (1843-1844): crop diversity caused by a fungus

yams

-10% of the sugar found in sweet potatoes
-domesticated in Africa
-dark yellow to light pink
-part of the starch family

sweet potatoes

-high amounts of beta-carotene
-domesticated in south America
-range of colors, orange most common
-used in sweeter dishes

sugar cane

>10ft in height, part of the sugar family

sugar beets

-biennials that are treated as annuals in agriculture
-store-bought sugar
-part of the sugar family

honey

-very concentrated
-does not spoil (antimicrobial activity)
-part of the sugar family

legume family (proteins)

-Soybeans (edamame, soy flour, tofu, soy milk; soy bean seed is 40% protein and 20% oil)
-peanuts
-chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
-peas, beans
-alfalfa (food for domesticated animals/cattle)

oils and fats

-beans, coconuts, avocados, peanuts, almonds, walnuts
-flavored oils and non-flavored oils (can be chemically extracted like canola oil or a pressed berry like olive oil)

Vitamins and Minerals

-fat-soluble vitamins
-water-soluble vitamins
-antioxidants
-citrus family (vitamin C)
-rose family (anthocyanins like apples, peaches, blackberries)
-potato family (like tomatoes, chili peppers, eggplant)
-cucurbit family (butternut squash, pumpkins)
-grape family (red grapes)
-cabbage family (dark, green, leafy vegetables)
-carrot family (carrot, celery)

fat-soluble vitamins

A, D, E, K (nails, skin, eyes, bones, hair, blood)

Water-soluble vitamins

b, c (iron immune)

consequences of agriculture

-food was made more reliable
-made food more boring
-we can change the flavor of foods to make them more interesting

herbs and spices

come from leaves, roots, bark, stern, seeds

tastes

sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami/savory

what creates flavor?

smell and taste

mint family

basil, oregano, rosemary

carrot family

dill, cumin, cilantro, celery

mustard family

horseradish, wasabi

potato family

chili peppers

pepper family

peppercorns (ground black pepper + more)

ginger family

-turmeric, cardamon

vanilla

-vanilla planifolia
-native to mexico
-vanillin
-expensive

capsicum (peppers)

-bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, chili peppers
-tropical americas
-habanero, ghost pepper, carolina reaper
-burning sensation -> capsaicin (medicine, like icy hot)

cinnamon vs cassia

cinnamon:
-"true cinnamon"
-native to Sri Lanka
-soft, subtle
cassia:
-stronger flavor

Tea

a stimulating beverage
-Cammelia sinensis
-Has caffeine
-4 main types

4 main types of tea

Black - 90% of tea in the US
White - made from the buds, flowers, trichomes
Oolong - somewhat fermented (not as much as black tea)
Green - least processed form of tea

coffee

a stimulating beverage
-coffea arabica, coffea canephora, var. robusta
-contains caffeine
-coffee beans are processed (roasting, grinding)
-native to ethiopian highlands (tropical areas)
-bear fruit around 3-5 years old

colas and energy drinks

stimulating beverages
-contain caffeine
-kola nut (native to west africa) --> caffeine
-coca cola (coca from coca leaf, cola from cola nut)
-today's coke uses decaffeinated coffee as its source of caffeine

Ethanol/ethyl alcohol

depressing beverage; only alcohol that can be drank
-impaired
-sluggish
-head in the clouds
-focus/judgement
-emotional
-off-balance
-depends on level of alcohol in system

isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol

rubbing alcohol

methanol/methyl alcohol

wood alcohol (prohibition era)

beer

depressing beverage
-ferment starchy grains (barley, wheat, rice)
-yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae
-hops humulus lupulus

sake

depressing beverage
-fermented rice
-yeast aspergillus oryzae
-20ish% ethanol content
-served hot

wines

depressing beverage
-fermented fruit juices, grapes (vitis vinifera)
-easy to make (harvest grapes, crush, aging)
-climate influences the flavor of wine (number of sunny to cloudy days, rainfall, soil chemistry)

spirits

depressing beverage
-highest alcoholic content
-type of spirit depends on what is fermented
-rum, tequila, whiskeys, vodka

psychoactive plants

tobacco, marijuana, opium, peyote

tobacco

-leaves of nicotiana tobacum
-nicotine (insect repellent)
-binds to receptors in the central nervous system
-cancer (lung, oral, throat), smell, shortened life span, lung problems, cardiovascular issues
-child labor
-green tobacco sickness (nicotine poisoning)
-deforestation (carbon)
-difficult on the soil

marijuana

-resin from cannabis sativa
-separate male/female plant
-THC tetrahydrocannabinol (causes red eyes, increased appetite, relaxation)
-can be used medicinally for epilepsy, glaucoma, chemotherapy patients
-deforestation
-schedule I

opium poppy

-papaver somniferium (latex)
-afghanistan is the main producer of opium
-used to create morphine (pain reliever)
-codeine (pain reliever, cough suppressant)
-heroin (chemically converted morphine, highly addictive)
-poppy seeds may get contaminated w/opium

peyote

-Lophophora williamsii
-peyote button
-hallucinogen --> mescaline
-illegal to grow or use except for the native american church

aloe vera

can be used for burns

willow tree bark

aspirin (pain reliever)

madagascar periwinkle

can treat cancers

cinchona trees

can treat malaria (quinine)

purple foxglove

Digitoxin, digitalin - stabilize the heartbeat.

Taxol (paclitaxel)

-bark of yew tree (ovarian, head/neck cancers)

shikimic acid from star anise

precursor for tamiflu

metformin

type II diabetes, goat's rue (guanadine denative)