Plants and Humans Final Exam

climate change

all the effects associated with the rise in greenhouse gas emissions

global warming

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

greenhouse gases

gases that trap heat in the atmosphere

carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor

greenhouse gasses examples

greenhouse effect

the natural warming of the planet that allows life to exist

enhanced greenhouse effect

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

metabolism, deforestation, and burning of the fossil fuels

carbon dioxide (CO2)

metabolism, anaerobic decay of manure by microbes

methane

carbon dioxide & methane

human activities

decay of vegetation, respiration of certain bacteria, throwing of permafrost

natural sources of greenhouse gases

permanently frozen subsoil

permafrost

transportation, electricity generation, and industry

greenhouse gas emissions by sector

effects of climate change

greater warmer at the poles, increase in global temperature, more precipitation/flooding, glaciers and ice sheets melting, sea level rise, more acidic oceans, longer growing season, expansion of the ranges of pests

photosynthesis & carbon capture and storage

carbon dioxide removal methods

using less carbon, use less energy, green building techniques, 3 R’s, biofuels

combat climate change

based energy

using less carbon

solar, hydroelectric, wind, nuclear

alternative/renewable energy

dams, disrupts, habitats

hydroelectric

nuclear accidents, terrorism, waste storage

nuclear

energy efficient appliances, shade trees, eat locally

use less energy

grown food

eat locally

reduce, reuse, recycle

3 R’s

ethanol (corn)

biofuels

agriculture has changed our planet

dried fields, dust bowl/erosion, requires much water, deforestation, herbicide and pesticide use, domestication, greenhouse gases (machinery)

produce enough food to feed over 8 billion people

goal of agriculture

10,000-12,000 years ago

development of agriculture

prehistoric agriculture

agriculture practiced before the development of writing systems

barley, wheat, maize, rice, legumes

earliest grown crops

development of cities, writing system, development of science and math, war, and expeditions

effects of early agriculture

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

types of modern agriculture

traditional farm

varies in size, may have different crops on one farm

tree farms

trees of one or a few species

orchards

fruit and nut trees

ranches

grazeland for cattle and livestock

hydroponic farming

soilles farming

organic farming

no synthetic chemicals are used

healthier for the environment, humans

benefits of organic farming

cost

disadvantage of organic farming

conventional farming

synthetic chemicals are used

less expensive

benefits of conventional farming

more harmful to the planet, humans

disadvantages of conventional farming

preparing the land, tending the crops, harvesting the crops, caring for the land between growing seasons

agriculture process

plowing and water supply

preparing the land

distance between plants, weed control, pest control, pruning

tending the crops

chemical; physical (herbicides)

weed control

chemicals, organic-friendly options (pesticides)

pest control

depends on the crop

pruning

harvesting the crops

crops that are dry and hard at maturity, crops that are grown in the ground, crops that are soft to the touch, crops that are not dry enough at maturity

combine (wheat)

crops that are dry and hard at maturity

digging machine (potato)

crops that are grown in the ground (root)

handpicking (strawberries)

crops that are soft to the touch

mowing (alfalfa)

crops that are not dry enough at maturity

overturn the soil, burn the fields (pests), plant a cover crop, allow the field to lie fallow

caring for the land between growing seasons

plant breeding and biotechnology

domestication, genetically modified organisms, transgenic organisms

alter organisms and form of artificial selection

domestication

develop new varieties from wild relatives

alter organisms

genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)

organisms with DNA that has been changed using DNA technology

transgenic organisms

organisms that contain DNA from a different species

concerns about GMO’s

unknown- long term effects, interferes with “natural process”, health effects to humans, reputation of agriculture companies

selecting traits we desire in a plant

plant breeding

plant improvements

size, taste, color, texture, growth rate, water needs, lifespan, higher yields

ways to minimize effects of agriculture

use organic farming as much as possible relative to conventional farming, plant diversity (avoid monocultures), use less space, use renewable/alternative energy sources, plant native species, reduce waste/use as much of the plant possible, soil health, land reclamation projects

soil health

prevent erosion, chemical use, use slow release fertilizers, plant a clover crop

less tilling

prevent erosion

pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers

chemical use

monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, digestion, cellulose, leafy, green, vegetables

carbohydrates

glucose & fructose

monosaccharides

sucrose (table sugar)

disaccharides

starch & glycogen

polysaccharides

how plants store sugar

starch

animals

glycogen

sweet potato & candy

digestion

complex

sweet potato

simple

candy

cellulose

found in plant cell walls and not able to digest by humans (fiber)

few carbohydrates

leafy, green, vegetables

vitamins, minerals, fibers

leafy, green, vegetables produce

oats, wheat, rice, rye, corn, barley, millet, sorghum

the grass family

bran, germ, endosperm

whole grains

endosperm only

refined grains

wheat

gluten

gluten

protein that gives wheat its chewiness and elasticity

durum wheat & bread wheat

two types of domesticated wheat

pasta

durum wheat

baked goods

bread wheat

asia (china) & africa (west)

two types of domesticated rice

orzya stativa

asia (china)

orzya glaberrima

africa (west)

oats

lower cholesterol, source of protein and health fats

barley

soups, stews, cereals, animal feed

rye

crackers & bread, grown in areas too cold to grow wheat, can be used as a cover crop

corn

multiple uses; popcorn, corn flour, corn oil, biofuel, livestock feed/ requires human involvement to grow modern corn

potatoes

tubers, “eyes”, domesticated in south america

underground shoot tissue

tubers

buds/meristems

“eyes”

crop diversity; caused by a fungus

irish potato famine (1843-1844)

11,000 BCE

domesticated in south america

10% of sugar found in sweet potatoes

yams

africa

yams domesticated in

dark yellow to light pink

yams are what color