1. Science and the Environment
Chapter 1
Ms. Cuthrell
Ecology
1st Period

2. What is Ecology? Ecology These are known as Ecosystems
The study of the relationship between organisms (living things) and their environment (nonliving things).
Scientists typically study communities of living things and their environment
These are known as Ecosystems
If you specifically look at how humans interact with their environment, that is called Environmental Science

3. What is Ecology?
For the last 200 years scientists specialized in a specific area
It's now realized that things are way too complicated for people to specialize in 1 subject
Ecology is a type of biology, but it also uses knowledge of Zoology, Botany, Geology, Atmospheric Sciences, Hydrology, and many more

4. History of Our Environment
Wherever humans go, we change the environment
300 years ago Manhattan was a beautiful green oasis,
Now its paved, congested, and overpriced

5. History of Our Environment
Hunter-Gatherers
Got food by collecting plants or hunting animals
Humans were in this stage for most of history
Still found today in remote parts of the jungle
How did they affect the environment?
Native Americans who hunted buffalo would burn the prairie to stop trees from growing
This made sure that they to keep hunting

6. History of Our Environment
Agricultural Revolution
Raise plants and animals for food
First signs seen ~10,000 years ago
Allows an area to support up to 500 times as many people
How did this affect the environment?
Stress the land
Destroy habitats

7. History of Our Environment
Industrial Revolution
Started in the mid 1700s
Change from animal and water energy to fossil fuels
What did this do?
Large-scale production of everything
Need less people to do the same amount of work
Improved the quality of life
Caused most of the Environmental Problems we have today

8. History of Our Environment
The Modern World
Pesticides and fertilizers
Everything we use can be thrown away
But it hurts the environment when we put it into the landfills
As life has become easier the human population has grown
The world population is 10 times bigger than it was 400 years ago
More people mean that small problems become big ones

9. Big Environmental Problems
Resource depletion
Pollution
Loss of biodiversity

10. Big Environmental Problems
Resource Depletion
As the population grows we use more resources to support ourselves
Currently we use resources faster that they can be created
What can we do to fix it?
Use less resources
Use resources that can be created faster

11. Big Environmental Problems
Pollution
The Industrial Revolution created all kinds of pollution
What types of pollution did it create?
In Air?
In Water?
In Soil?

12. Big Environmental Problems
Loss of Biodiversity
As we destroy were animals live, we start to kill them off
This leads to entire species being killed off
If extinctions are a part of nature, why should we worry about losing species?

13. Tragedy of the Commons Essay by ecologist Garrett Hardin, 1968
The basis of the modern environmental movement
Conflict between short-term interests and long- term welfare of society
What is going to make you lots of money right now vs. what is better for everyone in the long run

14. Tragedy of the Commons

15. Tragedy of the Commons
People will overuse public land, because they don't have to take care of it
But people will take care of their own land, because it is their responsibility
What are some examples?

16. Population and Consumption
As populations increase natural resources are replaced at a slower rate
Developed nations use ~75% of the worlds natural resources
But make up only 20% of the population

17. Population and Consumption
Ecological Footprint
Shows the area needed to support one person
US= 30 acres
Britain= 16 acres
Mexico= 7 acres India= 3 acres
Sustainability
When human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely

18. Resources