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The environmentalist's paradox is the idea that human well-being has…
The environmentalist's paradox is the idea that human well-being has increased despite a decline in ecosystem services.
The scientific method is an approach that helps researchers investigate phenomena, gather data, and draw conclusions. ex: Hypothesis, conclusion, question, etc.
Researchers are collecting empirical data on several variables related to fish in a river system. Specifically, they are gathering:
Fish Size: Measurements of the length and/or weight of the fish, which can provide insights into growth patterns and health.
Garrett Hardin
Background: An American ecologist and philosopher, Hardin is best known for his work on population control and environmental ethics.
Development of a hypothesis. In this context, the researchers are forming a hypothesis based on:
Site Information: Observations and data specific to the river system being studied.
The hypothesis here is that fish tissue will have high levels of PCB due to the proximity of an industrial plant upstream. This hypothesis is testable, as it can be evaluated through data collection and analysis, allowing researchers to determine if their expectations align with actual findings.
Aldo Leopold
Background: An American ecologist, forester, and environmentalist, Leopold is often regarded as the father of wildlife management and the science of ecology.
Theodore Roosevelt
Background: The 26th President of the United States (1901–1909) and a key figure in the early conservation movement.
8 hierarchical levels
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Definition: A large area characterized by specific climate conditions, plants, and animals.
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Focus: Global patterns, climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and large-scale ecological phenomena.
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Focus: Study of behavior, physiology, and interactions with the environment.
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Focus: Dynamics such as population size, density, distribution, and reproduction.
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Focus: Interactions among species (e.g., predation, competition, symbiosis).
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Focus: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, and the relationships between biotic and abiotic components.
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Order of taxa
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Three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
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Examples: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista
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BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC
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Interactions (predation, competition, symbiosis)
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Climate (temperature, precipitation)
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Water (availability, quality)
Sunlight (light intensity, duration)
Air (composition, quality)
SPHERES
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Key Components: Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor.
Functions: Provides air for respiration, regulates climate, protects from solar radiation.
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Definition: The solid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.
Key Components: Rocks, soil, minerals.
Functions: Provides habitat for organisms, resources for human use, supports plant growth.
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Definition: All water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
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Functions: Essential for life, regulates temperature, shapes landscapes through erosion.
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Key Components: All living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms).
Functions: Supports biodiversity, interacts with the other spheres (e.g., organisms depend on the atmosphere for air, lithosphere for nutrients, and hydrosphere for water).
Chemical Reactions
Relation: In photosynthesis, light energy is converted into chemical energy (glucose). In cellular respiration, chemical energy is converted into usable energy (ATP).
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Process: Organisms convert glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP).
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- First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Energy Conservation)
Description: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
- Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy)
Description: In any energy transfer, some energy becomes unavailable for work, increasing entropy in the universe.
Relation: Photosynthesis decreases entropy locally (forming organized glucose), but the overall process (including respiration) leads to an increase in entropy as energy is lost as heat.
EUTROPHICATION
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Definition: Eutrophication is the excessive growth of algae in water bodies due to nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus.
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Stormwater: Urban areas contribute nutrients from roads and buildings, leading to runoff that carries pollutants.
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Manure from farms can enter waterways, increasing nutrient levels.
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ECOSYSTEM!
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Ecosystem Services
Definition: Intangible benefits provided by ecosystems that support ecological processes and human life.
Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA): A systematic approach used to evaluate the economic pros and cons of a decision, project, or policy by comparing the total expected costs against the total expected benefits.
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Food: Fruits, vegetables, fish, and livestock.
Raw Materials: Timber, fibers, and medicinal plants.
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Ecosystem Goods and Services: The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, which include tangible products (goods) and intangible benefits (services) that support life and enhance well-being.
INTRA AND INTER
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Example: Different bird species competing for the same food sources, such as seeds or insects.
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CURVES
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- Logistic Growth Curve (S-Curve)
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- Exponential Growth Curve (J-Curve)
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DDT
Discovery: Synthesized in 1874, but its insecticidal properties were discovered in the 1930s.
WWII Use: Widely used to control disease-carrying mosquitoes (malaria and typhus).
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Definition: The total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period (usually annually).
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Gross National Product (GNP)
Definition: The total monetary value of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country, regardless of where the production occurs.
Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)
Definition: An alternative measure that accounts for the economic, social, and environmental aspects of well-being.
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Reforestation Projects: Initiatives where communities or organizations plant trees to restore degraded lands and improve local ecosystems reflect a commitment to caring for the environment.
Sound Science
Definition: Research that is methodologically rigorous, reproducible, and subject to peer review. It adheres to scientific principles and contributes valid, reliable knowledge. (RELIABLE SCIENCE)
Persistence: DDT is highly persistent in the environment, leading to the buildup of chemicals in an organism over time in the food chain.
Produced capital
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Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, and buildings.
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Intangible
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Human Capital: Skills, education, and health of the workforce.
Social Capital: Trust, networks, and relationships that facilitate cooperation.
Intellectual Property: Patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
Examples:
Reforestation Projects: Initiatives where communities or organizations plant trees to restore degraded lands and improve local ecosystems reflect a commitment to caring for the environment.
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Sustainable Transportation: Initiatives like bike-sharing programs and electric public transit systems help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lowering emissions and improving air quality.
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Junk Science
Definition: Claims or studies presented as scientific but lack rigorous methodology, peer review, or reproducibility. These often stem from biases, lack of proper data, or misinterpreting results. (FALSE SCIENCE)
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Urban Agriculture: Community gardens and rooftop farms promote local food production, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting food while enhancing community resilience.
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Climate Research: Scientists use long-term climate data and models to understand trends in global warming, which informs international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement.
Biodiversity Monitoring: The use of satellite imagery and field studies to track changes in forest cover and species populations helps identify areas at risk of extinction.
Government:
Legislative Branch
Definition: Composed of the U.S. Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate).
Executive Branch
Definition: Headed by the President, includes the federal agencies (e.g., the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA).
Judicial Branch
Definition: Composed of the court system, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.
Congress can pass new environmental laws, but the President must enforce them.
Environmental Laws:
Regulation of Pollutants
Standards for Emissions: Laws often set limits on the amount of pollutants that can be released into the air, water, and soil.
Assessment Requirement: Before undertaking major projects (e.g., construction, mining), organizations must conduct EIAs to evaluate potential environmental impacts.
Protection of Natural Resources
Conservation Measures: Laws may require conservation practices for wildlife, forests, and water bodies, including habitat protection and restoration.
Environmental laws impose various requirements aimed at protecting human health and the environment. These include regulating pollutants, conducting environmental assessments, promoting sustainable resource management, ensuring public involvement, and enforcing compliance through monitoring and penalties. Understanding these requirements is essential for organizations and individuals to navigate the regulatory landscape and contribute to environmental protection.
Market based strategies
Cap-and-Trade Programs: Sets a limit on total emissions; companies can buy and sell allowances (e.g., EU Emissions Trading System).
Carbon Pricing: Taxes or fees on carbon emissions to incentivize reductions (e.g., British Columbia’s carbon tax). : : :
Market-Based Strategies
Definition: Economic incentives used to encourage compliance with environmental goals, relying on market mechanisms rather than direct regulation.
Centrally Planned Economy
Definition: An economic system where the government makes all decisions regarding the production and distribution of goods and services.
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Soviet Union: Government controlled production and distribution of goods.
North Korea: State manages the economy with strict control over resources.
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Free Market Economy
Definition: An economic system where decisions about production and consumption are guided by the interactions of citizens and businesses in the marketplace.
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United States: Predominantly market-driven economy with limited government intervention.
Singapore: Market economy with a focus on free trade and business competitiveness.
Wangari Maathai
Background: A Kenyan environmental activist and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (2004).
Muhammad Yunus
Background: A Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and economist, known for his work in microfinance.
Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) was an American marine biologist, conservationist, and author. Her pivotal work, Silent Spring (1962), raised public awareness about the dangers of pesticide use, particularly DDT.
Impact on Policy: Silent Spring sparked a nationwide environmental movement, leading to increased scrutiny of pesticide regulations and ultimately contributing to the eventual ban of DDT in the U.S. in 1972.
Command and Control
Command and Control Strategies
Definition: Regulatory approaches where the government sets specific standards and limits that must be followed, with enforcement mechanisms in place.
Clean Air Act: Establishes national air quality standards and regulates emissions from sources.
Water Quality Standards: Specifies allowable pollutant levels in water bodies.
NGOs
Ex:
Amnesty International: Advocates for human rights and seeks to protect individuals from human rights abuses.
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Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières): Provides medical assistance in conflict zones and areas affected by disasters.
Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs): Independent, nonprofit organizations that operate outside of government control to address social, environmental, or political issues.
Limits of Tolerance:
Limits of Tolerance
Definition: The range of environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, salinity) within which a species can survive, grow, and reproduce.
Zones of Stress
Definition: Areas within the limits of tolerance where organisms experience physiological stress and may struggle to survive, grow, or reproduce.
Concept: Homeostasis
Definition: The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism, essential for optimal functioning.
Natural Capita:
Definition: The world’s stocks of natural assets, including geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.
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Forests: Provide timber, habitat, and carbon storage.
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Mineral Resources: Such as coal, oil, and metals.
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