1. Human impact on the Biosphere
Hunting and Gathering… Early history
All materials necessary for survival is taken from the local ecosystem
Forces evolution or extinction of prey species
Still practiced in indigenous tribes

2. Agriculture
Practice began ~11,000 years ago with wheat, rice and potatoes
Quickly expanded into raising animals: goats, pigs, cows, and horses
Allowed for the formation of larger communities… civilization
Practice expanded dramatically in the 1800s and 1900s with plows and specialized equipment for the processing of materials… commerce
Monoculture practice ensues… growing a single type of crop on a field

3. Green Revolution
The green revolution… Despite the practice of monoculture farming and the development of specialized equipment, there were obvious food shortages in the mid 20th century
Fertilizers were introduced that increased crop yields dramatically
Burbank and such introduced hybrid varieties that were heartier and produced larger individual fruits

4. Limitations & Challenges faced by the Green Revolution
Ecological impact
Practice of monoculture has led to the evolution and rapid growth of the insect population leading to increased insecticide use
Increased fertilization leads to eutrophication of ponds and lakes
Both practices endanger the water supply
Irrigation of arid land leads to saltification of the soil as minerals dissolve
Irrigation of fields leads to loss of ground water needed for our communities
Supplies expected to dry up in 15-20yrs

5. Industrial Revolution
Movement created convenience and dependence on fossil fuels
Grew faster than our understanding of the environment
Early practices included simply dumping waste into the environment
Created the need for a waste disposal system
Concentrates waste into toxic proportions
Although there have been many advances, many ecologists are concerned that continued urban sprawl reduces farmable land and increases water use and pollution concentration