BIOL 251 lecture 1 Chp 1

Biology 251 – Lecture Outline 1

Part I – Introductory Concepts – Chapter 1– Cunningham10e 2025 Release

The Scope of Environmental Science

I. “Environmental Science” What is it?

A. Multi- and Interdisciplinary

B. Ultimately, concerned with systems

C. Three major themes

1. Environmental quality

(human health, ecosystem function,

planetary sustainability, etc.)

Climate

Air

Water

2. Human well-being and populations

a. Populations

b. Hunger, nutrition, food

c. Education, Information

3.Natural Resources

a. Biodiversity

b. Forest resources

c. Marine resources

d. Energy and minerals

D. Sustainability

1. Ecosystem services

a. Provisioning

b. Supporting

c. Regulating

d. Cultural

2. Planetary Boundaries

3. Sustainable development – “meeting the needs

of the present without compromising the ability

of future generations to meet their own needs”

E. Poverty, wealth, and quality of life

1. Worldwide variation and HDI

2. Role of indigenous peoples

F. Environmental Impact

1. I=P*A*T

P=Population (#of people)

A=Affluence (resource consumption/person)

T=Technology (impact/unit resource consumed)

Impact is a matter of consumption, the impact of consumption,

and the number of people consuming.

Biology 251 – Course Outline

Part I – Introductory Concepts – Chapter 1

II. Important figures and phases in Environmental Advocacy and Environmental Science Thinking

Stewardship of Natural Resources –

Ancients and Early Modern

Justinian – 6th century – definition of seashore,

right to access, and right to clean air

King Edward the 1st. 14th century ban on

burning sea coal.

Practical resource conservation (Stage 1, Utilitarian conservation)

George Perkins Marsh –

“Man and Nature” 1864

a. National forests 1873

President Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot

Moved forest management to Dept. of Ag,

1908 White House conference on

natural resources

Ethical and aesthetic principles (Stage 2. Preservation movement)

John Muir – Preservation

National Park Service (1916)

Aldo Leopold “A Sand County Almanac” 1935

Pollution (Stage 3. Modern Environmental Movement)

Increasing realization of pollution effects

The Donora Death Fog - 1948

“The Great Smog” 1952 London

4000 deaths in 5 days

10-12 k deaths total

Rachel Carson – “Silent Spring” 1962

Comprenhensive global environmental quality –

(Stage 4. Environmental justice and social progress)

Four big ideas:

Greatest burden borne by the least advantaged

Environmental conservation creates jobs

Environmental conservation raises quality

of life for everyone

Ecosystem services and functions are globally connected

People:

Van Jones, Wangari Maathai