AP Environmental Science - Land Use

Unit 5 - Land Use

Introduction

• Slides created by Jordan Dischinger-Smedes (templates from slidesgo.com).

• Resources are provided for teaching AP Environmental Science.

• Encouragement to explore video lectures on YouTube and daily topic reviews on Instagram, with a request for donations.

5.1 - Tragedy of the Commons

Objectives, EKs & Skills

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.A Explain the concept of the tragedy of the commons.

• Essential Knowledge: EIN-2.A.1 The tragedy of the commons suggests that individuals will use shared resources in their own self-interest rather than in keeping with the common good, thereby depleting the resources.

• Suggested Skill: 1.B Concept Explanation, explaining environmental concepts and processes.

Examples

• Shared/public resources are used in self-interest, leading to degradation:

  • Groundwater Overuse: Public resource degradation leads to depletion.

  • Water & Air Pollution: Pollution harms shared environments.

  • Overfishing: Reduces fish populations.

  • Overgrazing: Depletes shared pastures.

Reasons for the Tragedy

• Lack of ownership leads to no direct consequences for overuse of resources (land, water, air).

• Assumption that others will overuse resources if one does not act first.

• Absence of penalties for degrading public resources.

Problems Resulting from the Tragedy

• Overfishing: Leads to fishery collapse, income loss, and starvation.

• Air Pollution: Associated health issues (bronchitis, asthma) and increased healthcare costs.

• Pesticide Runoff: Contaminates drinking water.

Solutions to the Tragedy of the Commons

• Private Land Ownership: Ensures responsibility for land management.

• Fees or Taxes for Use: Permit systems for grazing and logging.

• Regulatory Actions:

  • Clean Air Act: Regulates air quality.

  • Clean Water Act: Regulates water quality.

  • Safe Drinking Water Act: Ensures safe drinking water.

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Manages rangelands in the western US through grazing fees and land assessments.

Practice FRQ 5.1

• Prompt: Identify one other commons, explaining how human activities affect it, & propose a solution for management.

5.2 - Clearcutting

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.B Describe the effect of clearcutting on forests.

• Suggested Skill: Concept Explanation of environmental concepts and processes.

• Essential Knowledge:

  • EIN-2.B.1 Clearcutting can be economically advantageous but leads to soil erosion, increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding.

  • EIN-2.B.2 Forests absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide, with cutting and burning releasing CO2 and contributing to climate change.

Direct Effects of Clearcutting

• Soil Erosion:

  • Loss of root structure destabilizes soil.

  • Reduction in soil organic matter and nutrients.

  • Leads to sediment deposition in local streams, warming water and increasing turbidity.

• Flooding & Landslides:

  • Increased soil temperatures from loss of shade.

  • Compaction from logging machinery decreases water holding capacity, increasing flooding risk.

Tree Plantations and Biodiversity Loss

• Reduced Biodiversity:

  • Replacement of diverse forests with single-species plantations.

  • Decreased resilience and habitat diversity.

• Age Uniformity: All trees of the same age lead to further biodiversity loss.

Benefits of Forests

• Air Pollutant Filtering: Trees remove VOCs, NO2, and PM from the air.

• CO2 Storage: Trees store carbon as sugar, wood, and other tissues, releasing O2.

• Habitat Provision: Forests are essential for diverse organisms, eco-tourism and recreational activities.

Consequences of Deforestation

• Loss of air filtering and carbon storage capabilities.

• CO2 release from tree decomposition.

• Slash and burn methods release greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, and water vapor).

Practice FRQ 5.2

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

5.3 - The Green Revolution

Objectives, EKs and Skills

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.C Describe changes in agricultural practices.

• Suggested Skill: 3.B Text Analysis of author’s perspective and assumptions.

• Essential Knowledge:

  • EIN-2.C.1 The Green Revolution shifted to new agricultural strategies for increasing food production with both positive and negative results (mechanization, GMOs, fertilization, irrigation, pesticides).

  • EIN-2.C.2 Mechanization increases profits and efficiency but raises fossil fuel reliance.

Overview of The Green Revolution

• Shift from family-operated farms to large-scale agribusiness, with:

  • Economic Advantages: Increased efficiency and food supply, decreased world hunger.

  • Negative Consequences: Soil erosion, biodiversity loss, ground and surface water contamination.

Mechanization Impacts

• Increased Yield & Profits: Use of tractors and combines maximizes harvest efficiency but increases fossil fuel dependency and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Soil Compaction: Heavy machinery reduces water holding capacities and makes topsoil more prone to erosion.

High-Yield Variety (HYV) Crops

• Hybrid crops result from cross-pollination for higher yield.

  • Advantages: Increased food stability in famine-prone regions (India, Pakistan, Mexico).

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Engineered crops offering drought tolerance and pest resistance, increasing profitability but decreasing genetic diversity.

  • Example: Bt corn modified to produce insecticidal proteins.

Synthetic Fertilizer Effects

• Shift from organic to synthetic fertilizers enhances nutrients for crop growth but leads to environmental issues:

  • Eutrophication: Excess nitrates and phosphates lead to algae blooms in water.

  • Climate Change: Fossil fuel consumption during production releases CO2.

Irrigation Methods & Effects

• Irrigation Techniques: Drip, flood, furrow, and spray irrigation have varying efficiency levels and environmental impacts.

• Water Issues: Over-irrigation leads to waterlogging and salinization.

• Aquifer Depletion: Overuse can lead to severe depletion (e.g., Ogallala Aquifer).

Pesticide Use Consequences

• Increased pesticide use promotes crop yield but can harm non-target species (e.g., bees).

• Chemicals such as DDT have long-term ecological impacts (e.g., thinning bird shells).

Practice FRQ 5.3

• Identify one environmental advantage and one disadvantage of GM crops.

Practice FRQ 5.4

• Explain one disadvantage of inorganic fertilizers.

5.4 - Impact of Agricultural Practices

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.D Describe agricultural practices causing environmental damage.

• Essential Knowledge: Agricultural practices causing damage include tilling, slash-and-burn farming, and fertilizer use.

• Suggested Skill: 1.A Concept Explanation of environmental concepts and processes.

Monocropping

• The growing of single crop species leads to:

  • High efficiency in harvest but drastically reduces biodiversity.

  • Increased pest susceptibility.

  • Soil erosion due to lack of ground cover.

Tilling Effects

• Increases erosion by loosening topsoil and roots, resulting in nutrient loss.

  • Leads to air pollution from particulate matter and water turbidity.

Slash & Burn Effects

• Cutting and burning for agriculture results in:

  • Deforestation and habitat destruction.

  • CO2, CO, N2O emissions leading to climate change.

  • Increased particulate matter in the air causing health issues.

Synthetic Fertilizer Issues

• Excess nitrogen and phosphates lead to leaching into groundwater, causing:

  • Contamination for drinking sources.

  • Eutrophication of surface waters.

Practice FRQ 5.4

• Explain one disadvantage of inorganic fertilizers.

5.5 - Irrigation Practices

Objectives, EKs, and Skills

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.E Describe methods of irrigation.

• Essential Knowledge:

  • 70% of freshwater is used for irrigation.

• Types of Irrigation: Drip, flood, furrow, and spray irrigation, with varying efficiencies and drawbacks.

  • Waterlogging effects and salinization problems.

Furrow Irrigation

• Digs trenches that fill with water, claiming ~66% efficiency but losing 33% to runoff and evaporation.

Flood Irrigation

• Effective yet disruptive, flooding fields that can cause waterlogging (80% efficiency).

Spray Irrigation

• More efficient at less than 25% loss but requires energy to operate (energy costs).

Drip Irrigation

• Most efficient, with only ~5% loss but costly.

Waterlogging and Soil Salinization

• Waterlogging reduces oxygen access for roots, leading to possible crop death. Mitigation includes:

  • Drip irrigation or soil aeration.

• Salinization results from groundwater evaporation, leaving toxic salts. Solutions include:

  • Switching to freshwater or flushing with fresh water.

Groundwater and Aquifers

• Aquifer Overview: Stores water in permeable rock and sediment layers. Types of aquifers:

  • Unconfined: Recharge quickly.

  • Confined: Recharge slowly over time.

Depletion of Aquifers

• Cone of Depression: Occurs when excessive pumping lowers the water table, drying nearby wells.

• Saltwater Intrusion: Excessive pumping near coasts causes saltwater to enter freshwater supplies.

Practice FRQ 5.5

• Describe soil salinization occurrence and propose a solution, identifying one disadvantage of the solution.

5.6 - Pest Control Methods

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.G Describe benefits and drawbacks of pest control methods.

• Essential Knowledge: Resistance to pesticides through artificial selection can occur due to common pest control methods.

• Benefits: Increased crop yields.

Pesticides Types

• Broad categories include:

  • Rodenticides: Kill rodents.

  • Fungicides: Kill fungi.

  • Insecticides: Target insects.

  • Herbicides: Target unwanted vegetation.

Resistance Issues

• Overuse of pesticides leads to resistance among pest populations, raising long-term control costs necessitated by the pesticide treadmill.

GMOs in Pest Resistance

• Genetically modified crops (e.g., Bt corn) produce natural insecticides, reducing the need for additional chemical treatments.

Drawbacks of GMOs

• GMOs decrease genetic diversity, making crops susceptible to diseases. If a disease targets a GMO crop, it risks wiping out the entire crop.

Economic Considerations and Implications

• Data Analysis: Justifying solutions based on environmental effects.

Practice FRQ 5.6

• Describe one economic advantage and one economic disadvantage of using GMO crops.

5.7 - Meat Production Methods

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.H Identify different methods of meat production, emphasizing environmental impacts.

• Essential Knowledge: Distinct methods include CAFOS and free-range grazing.

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.1 Describe benefits and drawbacks of meat production methods.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

• Densely populated feeding operations raise animals quickly through grain feeding.

• Advantages:

  • Maximized land use and reduced consumer costs.

• Drawbacks:

  • Polluted runoff, increased greenhouse gas emissions from waste.

Free-Range Grazing

• Advantages include natural growth rates without antibiotics; natural waste management contributes to soil health.

• Requires more land and results in higher consumer costs.

Overgrazing Impacts

• Can lead to habitat loss, soil erosion, and desertification.

• Rotational grazing can prevent these issues by managing grazing practices more sustainably for pasture recoveries.

Inefficiency of Meat Production

• Producing meat is significantly less energy and land efficient than producing plant calories, implicating significant resource use.

• Requires substantial water for animal consumption and crop production for livestock feed.

Practice FRQ 5.7

• Explain an environmental benefit of a plant-based diet over a meat-based diet.

5.8 - Impacts of Overfishing

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.J Describe causes and problems related to overfishing.

• Essential Knowledge: Overfishing results in biodiversity loss and economic consequences.

Fisheries and Fishery Collapse

• Definition of fisheries; collapse leads to significant population declines and decreased biodiversity.

• Impacts include:

  • Economic loss for communities relying on fishing.

Economic Impact of Overfishing

• Overfishing in 1975-1985 led to sharp profit losses.

• Explains the interconnected concept of the tragedy of the commons concerning overfishing.

Bottom Trawling

• Harmful fishing method that causes significant bycatch and sediment disturbance, impacting ecological balance.

Trophic Cascade Effects

• Reduction in population of larger fish alters marine ecosystems, affecting food supply for marine mammals and birds.

Practice FRQ 5.8

• Propose a solution to address fishery depletion.

5.9 - Mining

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.K Describe natural resource extraction through mining.

• Essential Knowledge: Mining leads to resource depletion and ecological impacts.

Basics of Mining

• Definitions and processes related to ore extraction and terms such as reserves and tailings.

Surface and Subsurface Mining

• Surface Mining: Includes overburden removal, facing several environmental concerns (habitat loss, dust pollution, and increased turbidity).

• Subsurface Mining: More expensive and risky; includes health risks for workers.

Environmental Impacts of Mining

• Issues such as acid mine drainage, methane release, and particulate matter release influence local ecosystems.

• The resultant lower water pH and increased toxins make habitats less sustainable.

Mine Reclamation

• The process of restoring land post-mining, which includes filling in holes, replanting, and restoring original land contours.

Practice FRQ 5.9

• Describe an environmental impact of high sulfur content in mining waste and propose a solution.

5.10 - Urbanization

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.M Describe urbanization impacts on the environment.

• Essential Knowledge: Urbanization leads to resource depletion, carbon cycle effects, and flooding.

Urbanization Overview

• Removal of vegetation for urban development leads to decreased groundwater recharge and increased carbon emissions.

Coastal Urbanization Effects

• Groundwater depletion near coasts and increasing saltwater intrusion.

Population Movement Trends

• Urban sprawl leading from dense cities to lower-density suburban areas creates environmental challenges and urban decay.

Solutions to Urban Sprawl

• Urban growth boundaries, public transport enhancements, and mixed land-use to promote sustainability and mitigate impacts of sprawl.

Practice FRQ 5.10

• Discuss a solution to urban sprawl and an economic consequence.

5.11 - Ecological Footprint

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: EIN-2.N Explain ecological footprint variables.

• Essential Knowledge: Ecological footprints measure resource consumption and waste production.

Ecological Footprint Definition

• Measure of consumption expressed in biologically productive land area (gha).

• Factors include food production, raw materials, housing, electricity, and waste disposal.

Differences in Footprints

• Ecological vs. Carbon Footprint:

  • Ecological footprint: Area of land needed.

  • Carbon footprint: Tonnes of CO2 produced.

Factors Affecting Footprint

• Increased footprint correlation with affluence, meat consumption, and fossil fuel usage.

• Decreased footprint from renewable energy, public transportation, plant-based diets, and reduced consumption.

Consumption Trends

• Current US average footprint is 5.1 earths; global average is 1.85 earths, indicating unsustainable consumption rates.

Practice FRQ 5.11

• Explain factors causing differences in carbon footprints between countries, with resulting environmental consequences.

5.12 - Sustainability

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.A Explain sustainability.

• Essential Knowledge: Sustainability encompasses resource usage without depleting resources for future generations.

Sustainability Indicators

• Environmental indicators guiding sustainability include biodiversity, food production, carbon levels, and resource depletion rates.

Sustainable Yield Concept

• Maximum Sustainable Yield: renewable resource harvest without diminishing future availability.

Environmental Health Indicators

• Biodiversity, food production, atmosphere temperature, CO2 concentrations, human population growth.

Climate Change Impacts

• Increased CO2 levels from deforestation and fossil fuel usage adversely impact land and water resources.

Practice FRQ 5.12

• Discuss temperature range dependence for life on Earth and how ecological footprints indicate environmental status.

5.13 - Reducing Urban Runoff

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.B Describe urban runoff mitigation methods.

• Essential Knowledge: Methods such as permeable pavement and planting trees increase water infiltration.

Urban Runoff Issues

• Decreased infiltration results in increased stormwater pollution.

• Pollution sources include sediments, pesticides, oil, and fertilizers.

Mitigation Solutions

• Permeable Pavement: Allows stormwater infiltration, reducing flooding risks.

• Rain Gardens: Absorb runoff, improve local habitat and CO2 storage.

• Public Transit: Reduces vehicular pollution and runoff.

• Vertical Building Approaches: Reduces impervious surfaces in urban areas.

Practice FRQ 5.13

• Design an investigation regarding trees' impact on stormwater runoff, outline a procedure, and identify variables.

5.14 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.C Describe IPM strategies.

Overview of IPM

• Combination of methods, minimizing environmental disruption while controlling pest species.

• Includes biological, physical, and limited chemical methods (e.g., crop rotation, biocontrol).

Biocontrol Methods

• Utilizing natural predators to manage pests (e.g., ladybugs for aphids).

Crop Rotation and Intercropping

• Rotating crops disrupts pest cycles; intercropping diversifies habitats and can attract beneficial organisms.

Benefits and Drawbacks of IPM

• Reduces pesticide risks to health and ecosystems but can be more complex and costly.

Practice FRQ 5.14

• Justify the use of biocontrol methods with supporting data.

5.15 - Sustainable Agriculture

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.E Describe sustainable practices.

Soil Conservation Practices

• Techniques for preventing soil erosion, such as contour plowing and strip cropping.

Improving Soil Fertility

• Crop rotation and green manuring are vital for maintaining nutrient levels in soil.

Rotational Grazing

• Regular rotation prevents overgrazing, boosting pasture growth and ecosystem health.

Practice FRQ 5.15

• Explain soil conservation strategies to prevent erosion.

5.16 - Aquaculture

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.F Benefits and drawbacks of aquaculture.

Benefits of Aquaculture

• Space-efficient, reduces risks associated with fishery collapses, requires minimal land.

Drawbacks of Aquaculture

• Waste can contaminate water, disease risks elevated in high-density conditions, risks from non-native species escapes.

Practice FRQ 5.16

• Identify advantages of aquaculture and environmental consequences.

5.17 - Sustainable Forestry

Learning Objectives

• Learning Objective: STB-1.G Methods to mitigate forestry impacts.

Sustainable Forestry Practices

• Reforestation and ecologically sustainable methods minimize ecological damage while harvesting resources.

• Practices like selective cutting focus on ecological health.

Prescribed Burns and Monitoring

• Controlled burns manage biomass and provide nutrient recycling, preventing larger future fires.

Practice FRQ 5.17

• Identify forest characteristics developed post-fire suppression and explain how controlled burns can address them.

Unit 5 Progress Check

• Multiple Choice Questions Part A: Questions 1-21, Part B: Questions 1-18.

• Free Response Questions: Question 1 and Question 2.