Unit 5 Apes Review

What is the Tragedy of the Commons?

It is when individuals use shared resources in their own self-interest, leading to degradation of those resources.

What two conditions must be met for a resource to be considered in the Tragedy of the Commons?

1. It must be a public resource (not privately owned). 2. It must be degraded, overused, or depleted.

What assumption do individuals make regarding resources in the Tragedy of the Commons?

Individuals assume that if they do not overuse the resource, others will.

Give an example of a consequence of overfishing.

Overfishing can lead to fishery collapse and loss of income for fishermen.

What is a negative externality?

Negative costs associated with human actions that are not accounted for in the price.

Name one way to solve the Tragedy of the Commons.

Turn the publicly shared resources into private land ownership.

What is a clearcutting?

Cutting down all the trees in an area for lumber or agriculture, maximizing short-term profit.

What are two direct effects of clearcutting?

Soil erosion and increased soil and stream temperatures.

Who is Norman Borlaug?

He is the one who began the Green Revolution.

What is mechanization in agriculture?

The replacement of human/animal labor with machines to increase efficiency and profits.

What is the difference between organic and synthetic fertilizers?

Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly over time, while synthetic fertilizers dump large amounts of nutrients quickly into the soil.

How can overwatering affect crops?

Overwatering can saturate the soil, preventing plants from accessing oxygen, thus stunting growth or killing crops.

What does soil salinization refer to?

The buildup of salts in soil over time, often due to irrigation.

How can agricultural practices cause environmental damage?

Through tilling, slash-and-burn farming, and the use of fertilizers.

What should be considered a major consequence of monoculture farming?

It greatly decreases biodiversity and increases soil erosion.

How does drip irrigation benefit agriculture?

Drip irrigation is highly efficient, minimizing water loss and preventing waterlogging of plants.

What are the main components of an ecological footprint?

Resource demands and waste production of an individual or a society.

What is the carbon footprint?

A measure of how much CO2 is released from an individual or group's consumption and activities.

What is one of the major issues with using synthetic pesticides?

They can wash off and harm non-target species, including pollinators like bees.

What is meant by the term 'aquifer'?

An aquifer is a usable groundwater deposit that is replenished by groundwater recharge.

What happens when an aquifer is over-pumped?

It can lead to a dropping water table, referred to as a 'cone of depression.'