land use + fishing

based on packet notes

What is clearcutting?

The practice of cutting down all the trees in a specific area at the same time.

For what two main purposes is clearcutting typically done?

1. To harvest lumber
   2. To clear land for other uses, such as agriculture.

What are the economic advantages of clearcutting?

1. Economically Efficient: It is a fast and cost-effective way to clear land.
   2. Maximizes Profit: It provides the highest short-term economic gains for companies.

How does clearcutting lead to a loss of soil stability?

Without tree roots to hold the dirt in place, the soil becomes loose and easily washes or blows away.

Why does erosion from clearcutting result in a loss of nutrients?

Erosion removes the topsoil, which contains the essential organic matter and nutrients needed for forest growth.

What is stream turbidity, and how does clearcutting cause it?

It is when water becomes cloudy due to sediments washing into streams; this can clog fish gills and block sunlight for plants.

How does clearcutting affect soil and stream temperature?

1. Loss of Shade: Direct sunlight hits the soil and water.
   2. Lower Albedo: Bare soil absorbs more heat than green leaves.

How do high stream temperatures from clearcutting impact aquatic life?

High temperatures can kill soil microorganisms and make it difficult for cold-water species like trout to survive.

Why does heavy logging machinery lead to flooding?

It causes compacted soil, which packs the dirt down and makes it harder for water to soak into the ground.

How does the removal of trees affect the soil's "holding capacity"?

Without trees to absorb water and roots to create space in the soil, more water runs off the surface instead of soaking in.

What dangerous natural disasters are more likely on slopes after clearcutting?

Flash floods and dangerous landslides due to increased water runoff.

What is a monoculture in the context of tree plantations?

An area that features only one species of fast-growing tree rather than a diverse mix.

Why do tree plantations have lower resilience compared to natural forests?

Because the ecosystem is so simple, it is more vulnerable to total collapse from diseases, pests, or droughts.

What is the "Same-Age Problem" in tree plantations?

When all trees are the same age and size, there are no dead or "snag" trees, which are vital homes for woodpeckers and insects.

How do forest leaves (stomata) provide the ecosystem service of air filtration?

They act like filters, pulling pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter out of the air.

What is carbon sequestration in forests?

The process where trees pull ( \ce{CO2} ) from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their wood and roots while releasing oxygen.

Name four major ecosystem services provided by forests.

1. Air Filtration
   2. Carbon Sequestration
   3. Habitat for biodiversity
   4. Ecotourism (recreation).

How does deforestation contribute to the release of stored carbon?

Leftover stumps and branches decompose and release stored ( \ce{CO2} ) back into the atmosphere.

What is "Slash and Burn" agriculture?

A method where trees are cut and burned to clear land for farming, releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases.

What two major greenhouse gases are released during slash and burn?

Carbon dioxide \( (\ce{CO2}) \) and nitrous oxide \( (\ce{N2O}) \).

What is the "standard" commercial forestry practice for maximum short-term profit?

Clearcutting.

What is selective or strip cutting?

A sustainable practice where only the oldest or largest trees are harvested, keeping the ecosystem intact and anchoring the soil.

How does using alternative labor (like horses) help the soil in forestry?

It prevents soil compaction caused by heavy machinery, which reduces erosion and runoff.

What is the best way to perform reforestation for biodiversity?

Replanting the same native species that were there originally to restore the natural habitat.

How does recycling and reusing wood products (like pallets) help forests?

It lowers the overall demand for new lumber, reducing the need to cut down trees.

In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), what is the purpose of removing "host trees"?

Selectively cutting down trees that are already diseased or infested to stop the spread to healthy trees.

What is "Fire Suppression"?

The practice of putting out natural forest fires (like those caused by lightning) as soon as they start.

What is a major "Con" or disadvantage of long-term fire suppression?

It allows dead biomass (leaves/branches) to build up, creating "fuel" that leads to much larger, uncontrollable fires later.

What is a "Prescribed Burn"?

Setting small, controlled fires on purpose under specific weather conditions to clear out dead biomass.

What are three "Pros" of prescribed burns?

1. Fuel Reduction
   2. Nutrient Recycling (returning minerals to soil)
   3. New Growth of healthy plants.

What is a fishery?

A population of a certain type of fish used by humans for commercial fishing.

What defines a "Fishery Collapse"?

When overfishing causes the population of a fish species to drop by 90% or more.

Why is a fishery collapse hard to fix regarding genetics?

Once the population is very small, there is low genetic diversity and a high risk of inbreeding, which leads to health problems.

What is the "Tragedy of the Commons" in fishing?

A situation where everyone catches as much as possible because there are no rules or penalties, eventually destroying the shared resource.

What is "Bottom Trawling"?

Dragging a massive net along the ocean floor to scoop up fish.

What is "Bycatch"?

The unintended capture of species like dolphins, whales, and sea turtles that get stuck in fishing nets and die.

How does bottom trawling affect the water's turbidity?

The heavy nets stir up mud and sediment from the bottom, making the water cloudy and blocking sunlight for coral.

Which fishing method causes the most direct physical destruction of coral reefs and sponges?

Bottom Trawling.

Match these fishing terms: Purse Seine, Long Line, Gill Net.

Purse Seine: Large net encircling a school of fish.
Long Line: Miles-long lines with thousands of hooks.
Gill Net: Walls of netting that trap fish by their gills.

What is "shark finning"?

The practice of catching sharks, cutting off their fins, and throwing the shark back into the water to die.

What is meant by "Fishing Down the Food Web"?

When humans overfish large predatory fish (like Tuna), they are forced to move down the food chain to catch smaller forage fish (like Sardines).

How does overfishing forage fish cause a trophic cascade regarding Zooplankton?

Forage fish prey on Zooplankton; if the fish are gone, Zooplankton explode in population and eat all the Phytoplankton, ruining the food chain base.

How does El Niño impact fishing economies?

It stops upwelling (the rise of cold, nutrient-rich water), causing fish populations to decline or move away.

What is aquaculture?

Fish farming; breeding and raising fish in controlled environments.

What are two environmental benefits of aquaculture?

1. Protects Wild Fish: Reduces pressure on wild populations.
   2. Saves Land Space: Takes place in water rather than on land like cattle farming.

How can aquaculture lead to "Eutrophication"?

Fish in high-density cages produce a lot of waste (poop), which adds too many nutrients to the water, causing algae blooms.

Why is "Escaped Fish" a concern in aquaculture?

Farmed fish can become invasive species or breed with native fish, especially if they are Genetically Modified (GMOs).

What is "Ore"?

A rock that contains a high enough concentration of a mineral to make it profitable to mine.

What is the difference between high-grade and low-grade ore?

High-grade has a lot of the desired metal; low-grade has very little and requires more energy and creates more pollution to process.

What is a "Reserve" in mining?

The known amount of a resource currently in the ground that can be mined for a profit.

What is "Overburden"?

The soil, rocks, and plants that sit on top of an ore deposit and must be moved to reach the minerals.

What are "Tailings"?

The leftover waste rock that remains after the valuable mineral has been removed from the ore.

What is "Slag"?

A liquid waste product created during the process of separating metal from rock.

What is "Smelting"?

The process of heating ore to very high temperatures to melt and separate the metal from the rock.

What are the environmental risks of smelting?

It releases heavy metals into the air and produces liquid slag that can contaminate groundwater.

What is "Mountaintop Removal"?

A type of surface mining that involves blowing up the tops of mountains, destroying habitats and burying streams.

What are the main risks of subsurface (underground) mining?

1. Tunnel collapses and explosions.
   2. Toxic gases like methane.
   3. Health risks like Black Lung from coal dust.

What does the SMCRA (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act) require?

That mining companies reclaim (restore) the land after they are finished mining.

What are the four steps of land reclamation?

1. Fill in holes/shafts.
   2. Restore original land shape.
   3. Return topsoil.
   4. Replant with native vegetation.

How is "Acid Mine Drainage" formed?

Rainwater leaks into abandoned mines and mixes with pyrite (sulfur mineral) to create sulfuric acid ( (\ce{H2SO4}) ).

What is a long-term atmospheric effect of mining?

The release of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

What is "Urbanization"?

The process of converting natural landscapes (forests/wetlands) into urban areas (cities/towns).

What is an "Impervious Surface" in a city?

Surfaces like concrete and asphalt that prevent water from soaking into the ground, leading to stormwater runoff.

What is "Saltwater Intrusion" in coastal cities?

When coastal populations pump too much fresh groundwater out, allowing saltwater from the ocean to seep in and contaminate the drinking supply.

What is "Urban Sprawl"?

The movement of people out of dense urban centers into less dense suburban areas.

What is "The Highway Loop" in urban sprawl?

A cycle where gas taxes pay for new highways, making it easier to live further away, which leads to more driving and more gas tax.

What is "Blight" in the context of urban sprawl?

When people leave a city, tax money declines, services fail, and buildings become abandoned and run-down.

What are "Urban Growth Boundaries"?

Zoning laws that set a hard limit on how far a city can expand, forcing people to use existing land.

What is "Mixed Land Use"?

Designing neighborhoods to have homes, businesses, and entertainment all in the same small area so people can walk.

What is the "Urban Heat Island" (UHI) effect?

A phenomenon where cities are hotter than surrounding rural areas due to human development.

Why do tall buildings contribute to the Urban Heat Island effect?

They reduce airflow and trap heat between them.

How do green roofs mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect?

They insulate buildings and provide cooling through vegetation.

In mining, what is a "load" (or lode)?

A deposit of valuable minerals or the "source vein" where minerals are concentrated.

What is the difference between a small load and a large load?

A small load is a small deposit that may not be profitable; a large load holds a lot of material and is worth building a mine around.