Unit 5 Flashcards

Question

Global human water use

Answer 1

Industrial: power plants, metal/plastic manufacturing Municipal: households (toilet, shower, drinking water) Agriculture: water for livestock, irrigation water for crops

Answer 2

Groundwater: H2O stored in pore space of permeable rock & sediment layers Aquifers useable groundwater deposits for humans Replenished by groundwater recharge (rain water percolating down through soil into aquifer) Unconfined aquifers recharge quickly Confined aquifers recharge are longer-term water deposits that recharge more slowly

Answer 3

Saltwater Intrusion: excessive pumping near coast lowers water table pressure, allowing saltwater to seep into groundwater Cone of depression: forms when water table is lowered by excessive pumping, depleting water & drying nearby wells

Answer 4

Chemicals that are toxic to pests Rodenticides kill rodents Fungicides kill fungi Insecticides kill insects Herbicides kill plants Can cause pests to become resistant to pesticide with overuse Pesticide artificially selects for pests with resistance by killing all the non-resistant individuals, leaving only resistant ones Genetic biodiversity gives some pests resistant traits to pesticide

Answer 5

Gene for pest resistant trait is added to the plant through genetic modification Bt corn with bacteria gene that produces Bt crystals toxic to pests Roundup Ready crops are GM to be resistant to broad herbicide (Roundup) meaning roundup will kill weeds, but not crops

Answer 6

Roundup Ready crops have increased herbicide (glyphosate) use since crops can’t be harmed by it Bt corn has decreased insecticide use, since corn makes its own insecticide (Bt crystals)

Answer 7

GM crops are all genetically identical (clones) so there is no genetic diversity in the pop. If there is disease or pest that does affect the GM crops, they’re all vulnerable and there’s no chance of a genetic mutation providing an adaptive trait

Answer 8

Also called feedlots - densely crowded method where animals are fed grain (corn) to raise them to as quickly as possible Maximizes land use and profit (most meat production per/unit of area) Minimizes cost of meat for consumers Given antibiotics & growth hormones to prevent disease outbreak & speed meat production Animals produce large volume of waste which can contaminate nearby surface or groundwater Produces large amounts of CO, CH (methane), and NO (greenhouse gasses → climate change)

Answer 9

Large, open storage pits for animal waste (manure) Waste contains: ammonia (N), hormones, antibiotics, fecal coliform bacteria (e. coli) Heavy rain can flood lagoons & contaminate nearby surface and ground water with runoff Denitrification of ammonia in manure produces N,O (extremely powerful GFG) Can be emptied and buried in landfills, or turned into fertilizer pellets e. Goli → toxic to humans Ammonia (N) → eutrophication Antibiotics & growth hormones → alter endocrine (hormonal system) of humans

Answer 10

Animals (usually cows) graze on grass & grow at a datural rate without growth hormones No need for antibiotics with dispersed pop. Doesn't require production of corn to feed animals Waste is dispersed over land naturally, acting as fertilizer instead of building up in lagoons Requires more total land use/pound of meat produced More expensive to consumer Animals can graze on land too dry for most crop growth

Answer 11

Too many animals grazing an area of land can remove all the vegetation (grass) which leads to topsoil erosion Animals also compact soil, decreasing water holding capacity more erosion Desertification can occur if plants are killed by overgrazing & soil is compacted so much that it can't hold enough water anymore Rotational grazing (moving animals periodically) can prevent overgrazing Can even increase growth of grass by distributing manure (natural fertilizer) & clipping grass back to size where growth is most rapid

Answer 12

Producing meat for humans to eat is far less efficient than producing plants in terms of energy, land and water use Energy: all of the energy needed to plant, grow, harvest plants to feed to animals PLUS: energy needed to bring water to animals energy needed to house animals energy needed to slaughter & package Land; all of the energy needed to grow plants to feed animals PLUS room the animals take up Water: all of the water for crops that animals eat PLUS the water the animals drink

Answer 13

Fisheries: populations of fish used for commercial fishing Fishery collapse: when overfishing causes 90% population decline in a fishery Pop. may never recover from fishery collapse due to: decreased biodiversity, inability to find mates, inbreeding depression Decreases genetic biodiversity of fish populations & species biodiversity of ocean ecosystems if species are lost from ecosystem Economic consequences: lost income for fishermen, lost tourism dollars for communities

Answer 14

Overfishing in period of 1975-1985 leads to sharp loss of profits from 1985- 2018 Tragedy of the Commons: no incentive or penalty to prevent overfishing from 75'-85'

Answer 15

Especially harmful fishing method that involves draggin a large net along ocean floar Bycatch: unintended species like dolphins, whales, turtles caught in nets Stirs up ocean sediment (turbidity) & destroys coral reef structure Decreases biodiv. by killing non-target species & removing coral reef habitat

Answer 16

As we deplete large, predatory fisheries, we move down to smaller fish species Depletion of smaller fish pop. limits fishery recovery and decreases food supply of marine mammals & seabirds

Answer 17

Mining Basics Ore: commercially valuable deposits of concentrated minerals that can be harvested and used as raw materials Metals: elements that conduct electricity, heat, and have structural properties for building (found within ores) Reserve: The known amount of a resource left that can be mined. Usually measured in years left of extraction. Overburden: Soil, vegetation, & rocks that are removed to get to an ore deposit below Tailings & slag: leftover waste material separated from the valuable metal or mineral within ore (often stored in ponds mine site)

Answer 18

Removal of overburden to access ore near surface Different types: open pit, strip, mountaintop removal, placer Mnt. top removal = esp. damaging to landscape & habitats, streams nearby Removal of vegetation & soil Topsoil erosion Habitat loss Increased stream turb. Increase PM in aiг As ore near surface becomes more scarce, mining moves deeper underground to subsurface mining (more dangerous & expensive)

Answer 19

More expensive due to higher insurance & health care costs for workers Subs Risks: poor ventilation leading to toxic gas exposure, mine shaft collapse, injury from falling rock, lung cancer, asbestos, fires, explosions Vertical "shaft" drilled down into ground Elevator to carry down workers & transport out resource o Often used for coal Increasingly used as surface coal deposits are depleted

Answer 20

Rainwater carrier sulfuric acid into nearby streams, or infiltrates ground water Lowers pH of water, making toxic metals like mercury & aluminum more soluble in water sources (killing aquatic org.) Methane Release; coal mining releases methane gas (CH) from rock around coal Vented out of mine to prevent explosion & continues seeping out after mine closes GHG-climate change Topsoil erosion, habitat loss, increased stream turb. PM Release: coal mining especially, releases lots of soot and other particulates that can irritate human & animal lungs Acid mine drainage: rainwater leaks into abandoned mine tunnels & mixes with pyrite, forming sulfuric acid

Answer 21

Process of restoring land to original state after mining has finished Includes: 1. Filling of empty mine shafts/hole 2. Restoring original contours of land 3. Returning topsoil, with acids, metals, and tailings removed 4. Replanting of native plants to restore community to as close to original state as possible

Answer 22

Removing of vegetation to convert natural landscape to city (urban) Replaces soil, vegetation, wetlands, with impervious surfaces (concrete, asphalt, cement) which don't allow water to infiltrate into the ground CO, emissionS Cement production Construction machinery Deforestation (loss of future carbon sequestration decomposition of cut trees) Landfills needed for disposing trash from large pop. Urbanization prevents groundwater recharge, causing precipitation to runoff into local bodies of water

Answer 23

Population growth in coastal cities can lead to saltwater intrusion due to: Excessive groundwater withdrawal near coast lowering water table pressure, allowing saltwater to seep into groundwater Sea level rise due to warming of ocean (thermal expansion) and melting of ice caps (increasing ocean volume) can contaminate fresh groundwater with salt

Answer 24

People move from rural → urban areas for jobs, entertainment, cultural attractions Urban areas are more densely populated, minimizing driving & land use per person (decreases env. Impact per person) Highest growth currently is suburban population Overall trend in US & many other nations is away from less dense rural (country) areas and toward more urban (city) areas Suburbs less dense areas surrounding urban areas Ex: Kentwood Forest Hills

Answer 25

Pop. movement out of dense, urban centers to less dense suburban areas surrounding the city (GR → Kentwood, Wyoming, F. Hills, ect.) Causes: Cheaper property in suburbs than in cities (larger home for same price) . Cars make it easy to still get from the suburbs into the city for work, entertainment, cultural attractions Domino effect (neighbors leave, so you leave) Fewer residents in cities leads to decline in tax revenue for city (decrease in city services) Residents leave, so businesses follow Abandoned homes + businesses create blight (unsightly, rundown infrastructure) so more people leave

Answer 26

Expanded highway system makes travel eas increases driving . Increase in driving increases fuel tax revenu is used to build more highways Highway expansion makes it easier and eas commute from suburbs into urban areas Solutions Urban growth boundaries: zoning laws set by cities preventing development beyond a certain boundary Public transport & walkable city design that attract residents to stay Mixed land use; residential, business, and entertainment buildings all located in the same area of a city Enables walkability & sense of place

Answer 27

Measure of how much a person/group consumes, expressed in area of land Factors (Land required for): food production Raw materlals (wood, metal, plastic) Housing Electricity production *Coal, Natural gas, solar, wind, etc. Disposing waste produced (landfill space)

Answer 28

Ecological Footprint: Measured in land (gha - global hectare) which is a biologically productive hectare (2.47 acres) Carbon Footprint: Measured in tonnes of CO produced per year All CO₂ released from an individual or groups consumption & activities Material goods Food production Energy use (gasoline, heat, electricity)

Answer 29

Increase Footprint Affluence (wealth) increases carbon & ecological footprint Larger houses More travel (gas) More resources needed for material goods (cars, etc.) Meat consumption more land, more water, more energy Fossil fuel usage (heating, electricity, travel, plastic) . Decrease Footprint Renewable energy use (wind, solar, hydroelectric) Public transportation (less gas) Plant-based diet Less consumption, less travel, less energy use

Answer 30

Ecological footprint can also be expressed in "number of earths" required if the entire world consumed same level of resources as a given Individual or groud Current average US footprint is 5.1 earths o 5.1 earth's worth of resources needed if the entire world consumed resources of avg. American 0 Current global footprint is 1.85 earths Meaning each year humanity consumes 1.85 x what the Earth can produce in a year

Answer 31

SUSTAINABILITY Consuming a resource or using'a space in a way that does not deplete or degrade it for future generations Ex using compost (renewable) over synthetic fertilizer (fossil fuel dependent) MAXIMUM SUSTAINABLE Yield The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without reducing or depleting the resource for future use Roughly ½ carrying capacity. Maximizes yield (resource harvest) and regeneration rate of population

Answer 32

Factors that help us determine the health of the environment and guide us towards sustainable use of earth's resources BIODIVERSITY Genetic, species, and ecosystem Higher biodiv. = healthier ecosystems Declining biodiv. can indicate pollution, habitat destruction, climate change Global extinction rate = strong env. indicator since species extinction decreases species richness of earth

Answer 33

Indicates ability of earth's soil, water, and climate to support ag. Major threats to food prod. = Climate change, soil degradation (desertification, topsoil erosion), groundwater depletion Increasing meat consumption = further strain on food prod. (takes away water and land from grain production) Global grain production per capita has leveled off & sown signs of decline recently

Answer 34

Life on earth depends on very narrow temperature range CO, is a GHG (traps infrared radiation & warms earth's atm.) * Increased CO, = increased temp. 2 Deforestation (loss of CO, sequestration) & combustion of FF (emission of CO) increase atm. CO₂ Increasing CO, = unsustainable (Dries out arable (farmable) land, destroys habitats, worsense storm intensity) 2

Answer 35

As human pop. grows, resource depletion grows Resources are harvested unsustainably from natural ecosystems & degrade ecosystem health More paper (lumber) = deforestation More food = soil erosion, deforestation, groundwater depletion More travel = FF mining = air, water, soil pollution, habitat destruction

Answer 36

Decreased infiltration (groundwater recharge) Rain washes pollutants into storm drains & into local surface waters: ollutants & effects Salt (plant & insect death) Sediment (turbidity) Fertilizer (eutrophication) Pesticides (kill non target species) Oil & gasoline (suffocate fish/kill aq. insects)

Answer 37

Specially designed to allow stormwater to infiltrate & recharge ground water Decreases runoff, decreasing pollutants carried into storm drains & into local surface water Decreases likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall More costly than traditional pavement

Answer 38

Creates hab. for pollinators, sense of place & stores CO₂

Answer 39

More cars on the road = more pollutants on streets to runoff into storm drains & local waters Motor Oil Gasoline . Tire pieces Antifreeze More cars = more lanes & parking lots (impervious surfaces) & more stormwater runoff Public transit decreases urban runoff, pollutants on road, CO emissions & even traffic! 2

Answer 40

Building vertically decreases impervious surfaces (decreasing urban runoff)

Answer 41

Using a variety of pest contral methods that minimize env. disruption and pesticide use o Researching & monitoring pests and targeting methods to specific pest life cycles Biocontrol (Bringing in a natural predator or parasite to control the pest) Crop rotation Intercropping

Answer 42

Introducing a natural predator, parasite, or competitor to control the pest population Can include actually purchasing & spreading the control organisms in fields, or building homes for them/planting habitat they need to attract them naturally o Ladybugs for aphids Spiders for many pest insects o Parasitic wasps for caterpillars

Answer 43

Many pests prefer one specifie crop or crop family. They lay eggs in the soil, so when larvae hatch, they have preferred food source Rotating crops (planting a different crop each season) can prevent pests from becoming established since it disrupts their preferred food choice Also disrupts weed growth since diff. crops can be planted at different times, preventing bare soil from being taken over by weeds

Answer 44

"Push-pull system can be used "Push plants emit volatile chemicals that naturally repel pests away from crop "Pull plants emit chemicals that attract moths to lay eggs in them, instead of crop Can provide habitat, or pull plants that emit chemicals that attract natural pest predators

Answer 45

Positive Reduces death & mutation of non-target species from + Ex: intersex frogs (atrazine) Eagle death (DDT) Bee die offs (glyphosate) Reduces effects on human consumers of produce + Ex many pesticides are carcinogens (cause cancer) Reduces contamination of surface & ground water by agricultural runoff with pesticides Negatives Can be more time consuming & cost than just crop dusting pesticides Ex researching specific pests & planting numerous species of crops

Answer 46

Agricultural techniques that minimize erosion (US is losing topsoil to erosion 10x faster than it forms) Prevents loss of: Nutrients in topsoil Soil moisture Decomposers in topsoil Organic matter that traps soil moisture

Answer 47

Contour lowing Plowing parallel to natural slopes of the land instead of down slopes prevents water runoff & soll erosion Forms mini terraces that catch water running off, conserving soil & water Terracing Cutting flat "platforms" of soil into a steep slope Flatness of terraces catches water & prevents it from becoming runoff and eroding soil Perennial Crops Crops that live year round and are harvested numerous times Longer, more established roots & prevention of bare soil between harvest

Answer 48

. Windbreaks Using trees or other plants to block the force of the wind from eroding topsoil Can be used as a source of firewood, fruit (income) Can provide habitat for pollinators & other species . No Tall Leaving leftover crop remains in soil instead of tilling under Adds org. matter to soll (nutrients, soil cover, moisture Prevents erosion from loosened soil . Strip Crepping Another name for intercropping Alternating rows of dense crops (hay, wheat) with rows of less dense crops (corn, soy, cotton) to prevent runoff from eroding soil from less dense rows of crops

Answer 49

Methods of restoring nutrient levels in the soil (N, P, Ca, Mg) Crop Rotation Replanting same crops continuously depletes soil of the same nutrients Crop rotation can allow soil to recover from nitrogen-demanding crops like corn Peas/beans (legumes) have nitrogen fixing bacteria in their root nodules that can return nitrogen to the soil Green Manure . Green manure is leftover plant matter from a cover crop - a crop planted in the offseason. between harvest & replanting of main crop Cover crop roots stabilize soil limiting topsoil erosion Remains of cover crops (green manure) left on field breakdown to release nutrients into the soil Limestone Limestone releases calcium carbonate (base) which neutralizes acidic soil Acidic soil has high H+ ion concentration, which displaces + charge nutrients from soil (leeching them out) Acidic soil also makes toxic metals (aluminum) more soluble in soil Calcium is a needed plant nutrient as well Regular rotation of livestock to different pastures to prevent overgrazing Overgrazing can kill plants, compact soil, and lead to erosion of topsoil Rotational grazing can actually promote pasture growth at faster than normal rate * Clips grass back to length where growth is fastest & encourages deeper root growth

Answer 50

Raising fish, or other aquatic species in cages/enclosures underwater Requires only small amount of water, space, and fuel Reduces risk of Fishery collapse (90% population decline in a fishery) Doesn't take up any land space (compared to beef, pork, chicken)

Answer 51

High density produces high concentration of waste (e. coli & eutrophication risks) High density increases disease risk, which can be transmitted to wild populations as well May introduce non-native species or GMOs to local ecosystem if captive fish escape Fish are fed antibiotics which can contaminate water via their waste

Unit 5 Flashcards

(75 cards)