Unit 5 APES PTT

Unit 5 - Land Use

5.1 Tragedy of the Commons (TOC)

  • Definition: A scenario where individuals use shared/public resources in their self-interest, leading to degradation of those resources.

  • Examples of Overuse:

    • Overuse of groundwater

    • Water and air pollution

    • Overfishing

    • Overgrazing

Why Does It Happen?

  • Lack of ownership leads to disregard for resource conservation.

  • Individuals assume others will exploit resources if they don't.

  • Absence of penalties for overusing or polluting public resources.

What’s the Problem?

  • Overfishing can result in fishery collapse, leading to loss of income and starvation.

  • Air pollution from coal power plants can increase health issues like bronchitis and asthma.

  • Pesticide runoff contaminates drinking water.

How to Solve the TOC

  • Implement private land ownership strategies.

  • Charge fees or taxes for resource use (e.g., permit systems).

  • Enforce taxes, fines, or criminal charges for pollution affecting shared air, soil, and water resources.

  • Legislation Examples:

    • Clean Air Act

    • Clean Water Act

    • Safe Drinking Water Act

    • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages rangelands via fee collection and land evaluation.

Practice FRQ 5.1: Fishery Commons

  • Identify another commons and explain human activity effects. Propose a management solution.

5.2 Clearcutting

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Direct Effects of Clearcutting

  • Soil Erosion:

    • Loss of root structure increases erosion.

    • Organics and nutrients are removed, leading to sediment deposition.

  • Temperature Effects:

    • Increased soil and stream temperatures post-logging.

  • Flooding & Landslides:

    • Loss of shade causes higher temperatures and soil drying, decreasing water retention.

Tree Plantations and Their Effects

  • Reduced Biodiversity:

    • Mature forests replaced by monocultures decrease ecosystem resilience.

    • Lack of habitat diversity affects organisms.

  • Age Inequity:

    • All trees being the same age limits habitat diversity (e.g., no dead trees).

Forest Benefits

  • Air pollutant filtering through stomata that remove harmful chemicals.

  • Carbon dioxide storage which is released as oxygen, supporting biodiversity through habitat provision.

Deforestation Consequences

  • Reduces forest's ability to filter air and capture carbon.

  • Slash & burn releases greenhouse gases like CO2 and N2O into the atmosphere.

Practice FRQ 5.2

  • Describe two ecosystem services forests provide and how clear-cutting would affect them.

5.3 The Green Revolution

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Description of the Green Revolution

  • Shift to large-scale agribusiness led to increased mechanization, irrigation, and chemical usage.

  • Short-term benefits include enhanced food supply, world hunger reduction, and carrying capacity increase.

  • Negative consequences include soil erosion and biodiversity loss.

Mechanization

  • Increased use of tractors and combines enhances yield and profits but raises reliance on fossil fuels and emits GHGs.

  • Compaction of soil reduces water holding capacity and increases erosion.

High-Yield Variety (HYV) Crops

  • Hybrid and GMO crops provide higher yields and stability, beneficial in famine-prone areas.

GMOs

  • Crops are genetically modified for traits like drought resistance and pest resistance.

  • While they increase profitability, they also reduce genetic diversity and could increase disease susceptibility.

Synthetic Fertilizer

  • Shift from organic to synthetic fertilizers significantly enhances plant growth but can cause water pollution and climate change.

Irrigation

  • Essential for increasing agricultural viability in dry areas but can deplete groundwater and cause soil salinization.

Pesticides

  • Synthetic pesticides enhance yields but can cause environmental harm and toxicity in non-target organisms.

Practice FRQ 5.3

  • Describe an environmental advantage and disadvantage of GM crops.

5.4 Impact of Agricultural Practices

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Monocropping

  • Growing single species crops increases efficiency but significantly decreases biodiversity and increases soil erosion.

Tilling

  • Prepares soil for planting but increases erosion and loss of organic matter over time.

Slash & Burn

  • Clears land but leads to deforestation and increases GHG emissions.

Synthetic Fertilizers

  • Cause leaching that contaminates water supplies and promotes eutrophication.

Practice FRQ 5.4

  • Explain a disadvantage of using inorganic fertilizers.

5.5 Irrigation

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Types of Irrigation

  • Furrow Irrigation: Easy but disruptive; ~66% efficient, 33% loss.

  • Flood Irrigation: 80% efficient; risks drowning plants.

  • Spray & Drip Irrigation: More costly but highly efficient and conserves water.

Waterlogging & Salinization

  • Overwatering can harm crops and soil; solutions include drip irrigation and aeration.

Aquifers & Groundwater

  • Groundwater is crucial but can be depleted or contaminated through excessive use.

Practice FRQ 5.5

  • Describe soil salinization and propose a solution with drawbacks.

5.6 Pest Control Methods

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Pesticides

  • Target specific pests but can lead to resistance and toxic effects on ecosystems.

GMOs in Pest Control

  • GM crops can reduce pesticide use but invites some ecological risks.

Practice FRQ 5.6

  • Describe an economic advantage and disadvantage of GM crops.

5.7 Meat Production Methods

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

CAFOs & Manure Lagoons

  • Densely stocked, produce waste that contaminates surface and groundwater, and release greenhouse gases.

Free Range Grazing

  • Natural growth process with less environmental pollution but requires more land.

Overgrazing Consequences

  • Leads to erosion and ultimately desertification; rotational grazing can mitigate damage.

Efficiency of Meat Production

  • Producing meat is energy, land, and water-intensive compared to plant-based diets.

Practice FRQ 5.7

  • Discuss an environmental benefit of a plant-based diet.

5.8 Impacts of Overfishing

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Fisheries & Fishery Collapse

  • Overfishing leads to drastic population decreases, affecting biodiversity and economic stability.

Economic Impact

  • Historical data shows overfishing consequences on revenue.

Bottom Trawling Effects

  • Damages ecosystems and promotes bycatch.

Fishing Down the Food Web

  • Leads to ecological imbalances.

Practice FRQ 5.8

  • Propose solutions for fishery depletion.

5.9 Mining

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Mining Basics

  • Definitions and impacts of terms like ore, metals, reserves, tailings, and overburden.

Surface vs. Subsurface Mining

  • Surface mining causes habitat destruction and erosion; subsurface mining poses health risks.

Environmental Impacts

  • Acid mine drainage and methane release are significant contributors to environmental degradation.

Mine Reclamation

  • Restoring ecosystems after mining is essential for sustainable practices.

Practice FRQ 5.9

  • Describe the consequences of high sulfur in mining tailings and propose remedies.

5.10 Urbanization

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Urbanization Effects

  • Leads to groundwater recharge issues and increased CO2 emissions through construction and vehicle use.

Population Trends

  • Migration from rural to urban areas increases density and changes land use dynamics.

Urban Sprawl Causes & Solutions

  • Result of cheaper suburban properties; solutions include urban growth boundaries and improved public transport.

Practice FRQ 5.10

  • Suggest solutions and discuss potential economic consequences of urban sprawl measures.

5.11 Ecological Footprint

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Definition

  • Measures consumption in terms of land area required for food, materials, and waste management.

Comparison: Ecological vs. Carbon Footprint

  • Carbon footprint measures CO2 emission, while ecological footprint assesses land use.

Factors Affecting Footprint

  • Affluence and resource consumption increase footprints; renewable practices reduce them.

Global Footprints

  • Average U.S. footprint far exceeds the global footprint.

Practice FRQ 5.11

  • Analyze factors influencing U.S.-Uganda carbon footprint discrepancies.

5.12 Sustainability

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Definition & Practices

  • Consuming resources sustainably ensures future availability through maximum sustainable yield practices.

Environmental Indicators

  • Biodiversity health, food production capabilities, atmospheric conditions, and population pressures indicate sustainability.

Practice FRQ 5.12

  • Discuss indicators and their implications for future sustainability.

5.13 Reducing Urban Runoff

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Urban Runoff Consequences

  • Reduces groundwater recharge and increases pollution in waterways.

Solutions: Best Practices

  • Uses permeable pavement, rain gardens, and public transport to mitigate runoff and its adverse effects.

Practice FRQ 5.13

  • Design an investigation into trees' effects on stormwater runoff.

5.14 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

IPM Overview

  • Utilizes multiple pest control methods to minimize pesticide use and environmental impact.

Biocontrol and Crop Rotation

  • Employs natural predators and diversified cropping to control pests effectively.

Benefits & Drawbacks of IPM

  • While reducing pesticide harm, it can be cost-prohibitive and time-consuming compared to traditional methods.

Practice FRQ 5.14

  • Assess the data in support of biocontrol methods for pests.

5.15 Sustainable Agriculture

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Techniques for Erosion Prevention

  • Discusses various sustainable agricultural methods to combat soil erosion and maintain fertility.

Specific Methods

  • Techniques like contour plowing, terracing, and cover crops enhance soil retention and health.

Practice FRQ 5.15

  • Suggest soil conservation strategies for agricultural landscapes.

5.16 Aquaculture

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Advantages of Aquaculture

  • Efficient resource use, mitigates fishery collapse risks, and occupies no land area.

Drawbacks of Aquaculture

  • Waste concentration and disease risks increase in high-density systems.

Practice FRQ 5.16

  • Discuss benefits and ecological consequences of aquaculture relative to fishing.

5.17 Sustainable Forestry

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

Concept of Ecologically Sustainable Forestry

  • Methods like selective cutting preserve ecosystems and promote future growth.

Sustainable Practices

  • Practices include reforestation and utilizing recycled wood to minimize impacts on habitats.

Fire Management Techniques

  • Controlled burns reduce biomass buildup, promoting nutrient recycling and limiting large fire risks.

Practice FRQ 5.17

  • Identify forest characteristics affected by fire suppression and explain prescribed burns' benefits.