Envi 101 Exam 2 Review

Chronic undernutrition (hunger)

people who cannot grow or but enough food to meet their basic energy needs which threatens their ability to live healthy and productive lives

How did we discuss the comparison between overall U.S. agriculture and agriculture in Burkina Faso at the beginning of lecture?

We concluded that it is more common for western nations like the U.S. to solve issues with advanced technology such as pesticides, irrigation systems, chemicals, GMOs/GE whereas in Burkina Faso, a region in west Africa, small scale agriculture that takes the ecosystem into consideration is implemented to solve agricultural issues.

What was the Green Revolution?

The Green Revolution occurred in the 50s and 60s when agricultural western research stations try to address the issue of hunger in developing countries with the goal to develop crop varieties that can be grown in lots of different areas and increase overall yield.

Malnourishment

nutritional imbalance caused by a lack of specific dietary components (macro and micro nutrients) or an inability to absorb or utilize essential nutrients

Micronutrients

key vitamins and other minerals ie. vitamin a, zinc, iron, iodine

Famine

large scale food shortages accompanied by widespread starvation and even death and often caused by natural disasters

Food security

ability to obtain sufficient and nutritious food on a day-to-day basis

Food desert

a geographical area that lacks access to nutritious foods

What are some examples of organizations trying to address the issues of food deserts in communities?

VINES, volunteers improving neighborhood environments and the greater good grocery located on the north side of Binghamton are some examples of organizations that are trying to address the issues of food deserts.

What are some trends we see with food production and diet? How do different countries rank in production/consumption of products we went over in class?

Trends in meat production and consumption show China produces most pork and U.S. produce most beef. Overall, China produces most meat. Top consumers of meat in the U.S. Seafood production used to be gotten from wild fisheries but now aquaculture has surpassed it as the main source of production.

What is the difference between fisheries and aquaculture? What are some problems we noted with both practices? What are some innovations we discussed in class that address some of these problems?

Fisheries refers to fishing in the wild, using different techniques listed in next question. Problems with fishery techniques is that trawling destroys bottom dwelling habitats and fishes nontarget species (bycatch) as well as causes issue of overfishing. Aquaculture is in essence, the farming of fish in enclosed spaces. Aquaculture may have concerns with lack of genetic diversity and disrupts wild fishery ecosystems and presents ethical concerns of keeping them in tanks and produce a lor of waste.

Food swamp

overabundance of non-healthy food

What are three major crops grown in the U.S.?

wheat, rice, corn

What are CAFOs? What are problems associated with them?

concentrated animal feeding operations that raises ethical concerns (These massive industrial facilities not only confine animals in horrific conditions, but they are major polluters of the air and water, The overuse of antibiotics in CAFOs contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to humans through food, water, and air. )

What are examples of different fishing techniques we discussed in class?

Trawling- dragging a large net along seafloor

purse seine fishing - catch surface dwelling species

long lining- lines with baited hooks – swordfish,
tuna, sharks, halibut, cod

What are Farm subsidies? Concerns/issues with subsidies?
Soil conservation programs

Farm subsidies are government payments or other forms of support given to farmers to help them stay in business, but there are several concerns about these subsidies, including their potential to distort markets, benefit large corporations at the expense of small farmers, and contribute to environmental problems; soil conservation programs, on the other hand, aim to help farmers implement practices that protect the environment while maintaining their livelihoods

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP

Soil

complex mixture of rock pieces, particles, mineral nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms that support plant and animal life

Particles of soil examples

sand, silt, and clay (different sizes - listed largest to smallest)

How are soil textures determined?

Soil textures are determined by percentage of sand silt and clay

40 40 20 rule

40% sand 40% silt 20% clay

Loam

perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay that is well suited for plant growth and follows 40 40 20 rule

Soil Layers

Soil profile: the sequence of horizontal
layers in soil
Organic layer: partly decomposed plant material (leaves, twigs, mosses)

Topsoil: Mineral soil from the plant material and some organic
Subsoil: – inorganic matter – broken down rock – more clay
Parent material: weathered rock (sand, windblown silt, bedrock, other mineral material on which the soil is built)
Bedrock

Erosion of topsoil

Example of an external geologic process in which the movement of soil from one area to another occurs due to displacement by water and/or wind which leads to recession of soil layer

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration

nitrogen cycle

the transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. plants are able to capture nitrogen through lightning strikes and nitrogen fixing bacteria found in the soil.

phosphorous cycle

the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. phosphate rocks contain phosphate ions which are important nutrients for plant growth and often is a limiting factor in soil

What is erosion? Explain the historical context of farming and erosion that we discussed in class.

Erosion is when earthen materials are worn away and transported elsewhere. The dustbowl is a historical examples of erosion, farming, and the effects of storms.

What can happen to soil if farmers water too much?

soil salinization and/or waterlogging is caused by excessive irrigation

soil salinization

accumulation of salts in the upper soil levels

waterlogging

accumulation of water underground, raising the water table

What are pesticides?

chemicals used to kill pests

What pests do pesticides target?

insecticides kills insects, herbicides kills herbs, fungicides kills fungi, rodenticides kills rodents etc

Transgenesis

addition of genes from any species to create a new variety with desired traits

Cross breeding

combining two sexually compatible species to create a variety with the desired traits of the parents - more natural way of breeding, an example of thisis flavor varieties ie. galaxy sweet tomato

genome editing

use of an enzyme system to modify DNA directly within the cell

the plant breeder's goal

usually at the intersection of environmental, social, and economic elements

What are the ways in which one can conserve top soil and prevent soil erosion?

terracing, contour planting, strip cropping with a cover crop, alley-cropping/agroforestry

What are ways in which to restore soil fertility and maintain soil nutrients?

organic fertilizers (such as animal manure, green manure, and compost) and crop rotation

What are some alternatives to synthetic pesticides and some potential drawbacks?

Alternatives to synthetic pesticides include biological controls such as natural predators, parasites, disease causing bacteria and viruses. Benefits to this include no impact to human health nor environmental health as no chemicals are used.

What is integrated pest management?

crops and pests evaluated as part of an ecosystem; optimize pest overtaking environment - this includes biological controls, cultivation controls (Crop rotation), and eventually some pesticides/chemicals as a last resort

What are hydroponics? What are some benefits and drawbacks to this type of farming?

Hydroponics is a sustainable agricultural process in which plants grow without soil. Environmental benefits of this is that is uses less water than natural farming so water conservation, and it occurs in a closed system so there would be no worry of excess nutrient run off and it utilizes abandoned factors which is light efficiency and is usually locally sources and sold.No need for pesticides because closed system. Hydroponics might be expensive to grow and to sell crops, and lots of electricity is used.

What are aquaponics systems?

Combining hydroponics and aquaculture. It generally just refers to the adding of fish into a system.

What is organic agriculture and what are the types of practices employed in organic agriculture?

Organic agriculture refers to a production system that is managed to respond to the site-specific conditions integrating cultural biological and mechanical practices that foster the cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity. The following types of practices are not employed in organic agriculture; antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetic modifications.

What are ways you can help support sustainable agricultural practices that we went over in class?

Some ways to help support sustainable agricultural practices include buying local and participating in community supported agriculture (CSA).

What is ecological diversity?

Ecological diversity refers to the complexity in an environment with all different communities that support different species such as edge and interior core habitats.

Why should we care about biodiversity?

It is important to care about biodiversity because biodiversity provides ecosystem services such as oxygen, water, filtration of water and economic services including pharmaceuticals and drug existence value.

What are the threats to biodiversity?

invasive species and habitat loss through deforestation, destruction of habitats, fishing trawlers destroy ocean bottom environments

What is the definition of invasive species? What are different examples of invasive species we went over in class?

Invasive species refers to nonnative species that outcompete populations of many native species for food, disrupt ecosystems services, transmit diseases, and lead to economic losses. Examples we discussed in class include ember ash, spotted lantern fly, and the autumn olive.

What can be done to help address the issue of biodiversity? Specific to invasive species?

research funding, surveys, increasing inspection of imported goods, educating the public/spread awareness

What is the case study about western U.S. forests related to drought, fires, and bark beetles?

American west forest face threats of drought, fire, and bark beetles. Longer and hotter summers allow bark beetles to thrive, drought to occur, and more destructive fires to occur.

What changes do we see in forested land globally?

Global forest decline but incline in North America due to reforestation efforts

Endangered Species Act 1973

A law requiring the federal government to protect all species listed as endangered, threatened, and vulnerable regardless of the economic effect on the surrounding towns or region.

international treaties

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity goals are to reduce global rate of biodiversity loss, share use of genetic resources, control and prevent spread of invasive species

seed banks

storage environments to preserve genetic information

ecological restoration

Bringing a landscape back to a former condition. Ecological restoration involves active manipulation of nature to recreate conditions that existed before human disturbance

Why do we need forests? What are some ecosystem/economic services they provide?

We need forests because they provide many ecosystem services such as lumber, fuel, pulp to make paper, recreation, reduce soil erosion, help water retention, store atmospheric carbon, and provide habitats for wildlife.

What are different types of harvesting techniques?

1) Clearcutting

2) Shelterwood

3) Group selection

4) Single tree selection

What is causing loss in tropical rainforests?

Loss of forests is due to soybean plantations, palm oil production, cattle grazing, and logging.

Clearcutting

remove all trees in a stand which could lead to increase in soil erosion, destroy wildlife habitats, and potentially leave possibility for invasive species to move in

Shelterwood/Group selection

harvests select mature trees at relatively short intervals which opens space for light and room for growth - remaining trees provide shelter for these new growths.

Single tree selection

remove individual mature trees because diseased or if high value species

What are ways to reduce deforestation?

Deforestation can be reduced if governments can cut down on illegal logging and subsidize sustainable forest practices or third-party certification promote sustainable forestry practices.

What are subsidies? Concerns/issues with subsidies? How do soil conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program relate to subsidies and concerns tied to them?

Farm subsidies are government payments or other types of support intended to help farmers stay in business. Example of this includes soil conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program by the USDA.

Transgenesis tomato example and reasoning for development

snap dragon genes added to tomato to produce higher antioxidant levels - social purpose for consumer health.

Cross breeding tomato example and reasoning for development

galaxy sweet tomato - color/flavor varieties - social purpose for fun/preference

gene editing tomato example and reasoning for development

crispr used to increase amount of vitamin d in tomato - social purpose for customer health

How do public perceptions and policy (including labeling) relate to the different genetic modification techniques?

Public perception and policy, including labeling, relates to the different genetic modification techniques through safety concerns, cultural factors, establishment of trust, and transparency of companies.

What are the two types of fires discussed in the slides? What are characteristics of each? How are they related to each other?

1) Surface fires – burn undergrowth and leaf litter, ecological benefits in that they help prevent destructive fires, releases seeds form cones of trees, and can help control destructive insects and tree diseases.

2) Crown fires – takes place in crown of trees, more destructive and fast moving, kill wildlife, destroy vegetation, increase topsoil erosion.

What are trends we see related to small farms referencing the figure we discussed in class?

There are 500 million family farms that produce 80% of food consumed worldwide. Majority of farms in this country are small farms.

How does the wildland-urban interface relate to fire?

The wildland-urban interface is a transition zone which scattered housing and buildings encroach on forests or undeveloped land. More people living in the wildland-urban interface make their homes more susceptible to risk from fires

What is an environmental problem facing grasslands and what is a potential solution to this problem?

Grasslands are facing the problem of overgrazing, which is allowing livestock to eat so much forage that the ecosystem is degraded. A potential solution to this is rotational grazing which means moving the animals around so that no one section is depleted all at once.

What are the different U.S. land classifications, what practices in general are allowed in each, and what agency oversees each land classification?

1) National Forest System - managed by U.S. Forest Service – allows logging, livestock grazing, farming, oil/gas extraction, recreation, conservation.

2) Bureau of Land Management – manages a variety of large tracts of land for mining, oil/gas extraction, and livestock grazing.

3) National Park System – managed by National Park Service – can camp, hike, fish, boat.

4) National Wildlife Refuges – managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – meant to conserve fish, wildlife, plants; minimal recreation activities allowed such as birding, photography, fishing, and hunting.

What's a brief history of the National Park System? What are some challenges they currently face?

U.S. National Park Service established in 2016 and Stephen Mather was the first director. They started off making it attractive and comfortable to tourists by making lots of hotels and building roads near the national parks.

How can communities be involved in land protection? Be able to describe the two examples given in the slides.

1) Guanacaste National Park in Costa Rica - local farmers were paid to remove nonnative species and plant trees, citizens and students studied park's ecology, sited for ecotourism, promoted local economy - education, awareness, and involvement of communities helped to protect and restore the land.

2) Madagascar forests - community groups protected area (vanilla and marijuana cultivation site experiencing deforestation) by managing and patrolling it with support from the WWF.

What did Wangari Maathai do related to forests?

Wangari Maathai promoted tree planting in Kenya and became known for the Green Belt Movement. She was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Understand the case study on coral reefs - what are coral reefs? What is happening to them? And how are they being restored?

Restoration of coral reefs occurs through the harvesting of coral fragments and growing them in underwater nurseries or through growing coral in conditions expected to be seen in the future this is called assisted evolution.

coral bleaching

changing temperatures and acidity which causes algae to die off

Remediation

chemical, physical, or biological methods to remove pollution - mild and non-destructive methods

Rehabilitation

to rebuild a community back to a useful and functioning state but not to its original condition

What are the key components of restoration?

1) Removing chemical and physical stressors - dredging

2) Controlling invasive species

3) Replanting

4) Captive breeding/re-establishing fauna

5) Monitoring

What does restoration of degraded sites look like? What types of practices are employed?

Restoration of degraded sites employs bioremediation, which means relying on bacteria/plants to restore an area.

How are prairies being restored?

Not farming, introducing proscribed burns (wildfires), introducing wildlife

What are examples of the different restoration projects we discussed in class?

Reclamation project - Onondaga lake cleanup project

Ecosystem services provided by wetlands and streams include the following...

1) Preventing flooding

2) Biodiversity

3) Filtering pollutants

4) Cultural/recreational