Environmental Science: Resources and Impact

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason for the Tragedy of the Commons?

  • Limited resources are shared but managed collectively.
  • Individuals act from self-interest for short-term gain. (correct)
  • The government controls all shared resources.
  • People are generally cooperative in resource management.

How is ecological footprint measured?

  • In kilometers of water used per year.
  • In square meters of surface area required.
  • In biologically productive land in hectares (ha). (correct)
  • In percentages of land area needed.

What is a significant drawback of clear-cutting in forestry?

  • Increased carbon storage in forests.
  • Habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. (correct)
  • Improved soil nutrient availability.
  • Enhanced forest growth due to sunlight exposure.

How does clear-cutting contribute to sediment pollution?

<p>It causes soil to run off into water bodies. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant issue caused by excessive withdrawal of water from aquifers for irrigation?

<p>Soil salinization and aquifer depletion. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of no-till farming?

<p>Preservation of soil structure and fertility. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following irrigation types involves directing water down furrows between crop rows?

<p>Furrow irrigation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which irrigation method is characterized by delivering water directly to the plant roots in a controlled way?

<p>Drip (trickle) irrigation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major drawback of using flood irrigation?

<p>It can lead to waterlogging and soil salinization. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using synthetic fertilizers?

<p>Improves soil biodiversity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)?

<p>They increase greenhouse gas emissions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does antibiotic resistance develop in bacteria?

<p>Some bacteria survive and multiply after treatment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a drawback of urbanization?

<p>Urban heat island effect and habitat fragmentation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What potential problem can arise from using genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

<p>New food allergies may develop. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which farming practice preserves soil health and reduces erosion?

<p>No-till farming. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of using pesticides in agriculture?

<p>Persistent residue can harm beneficial organisms. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of buying free-range livestock?

<p>Feed on natural vegetation without supplements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a main concern associated with aquaculture?

<p>Destruction of coastal habitats. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Tragedy of the Commons

When shared resources are overused due to individuals acting in their own self-interest.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of the land and water required to produce resources and process waste for an individual, population, or activity.

Clear-cutting

A method of logging that removes all trees in an area, leading to significant environmental consequences.

Sediment Pollution

The process where soil is displaced and carried away by water due to a lack of vegetation, often resulting in water pollution.

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Consequences of Over-pumping Aquifers

The overuse of groundwater for irrigation can lead to depletion, salinization, and waterlogging.

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No-till Farming

A farming technique that avoids soil tillage, leaving crop residues on the land.

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Types of Irrigation

Flood irrigation involves flooding the entire field with water. Furrow irrigation uses trenches to channel water. Spray irrigation uses sprinklers to distribute water. Drip irrigation slowly releases water directly to the roots.

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Soil Salinization

High levels of salt in the soil, often due to excessive irrigation. It reduces crop yield and can ultimately harm the land.

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Flood Irrigation

A method of irrigation that involves flooding a field with water and allowing it to soak in. It is simple and fast, but uses a lot of water, can lead to soil salinization, waterlogging, and evaporative water loss.

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Furrow Irrigation

A method of irrigation that involves laying out channels or trenches and filling them with water. It's quick, inexpensive, and requires low labor once set up, but requires high initial labor for preparation and suffers from evaporative water loss and runoff.

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Spray Irrigation

A method of irrigation that involves pumping water into spray nozzles to distribute it over a field. It's more efficient than flood or furrow irrigation due to lower water loss through evaporation, but it's expensive and relies on fossil fuels.

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Drip Irrigation

A method of irrigation that uses perforated hoses to release small amounts of water directly to the roots of plants. It's the most efficient method, but it's costly and makes plowing difficult.

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Drawbacks of GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic material has been altered to introduce desirable traits. This practice can lead to monoculture, loss of genetic diversity, potential escape of GMOs into the wild, and the development of new food allergies.

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Drawbacks of Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests, but they can persist in the environment, harm unintended organisms, pollute water sources, and pose risks to human health. They can also lead to the 'pesticide treadmill effect', where increasing pesticide use is required to achieve the same results.

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Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics. This happens when antibiotics are overused, leading to the selection and multiplication of resistant bacteria.

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Advantages of Synthetic Fertilizers

Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured from mined minerals and contain concentrated nutrients. They offer advantages such as ease of application, better nutrient targeting, and rapid absorption, but can also cause environmental problems.

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CAFOs

A concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is a large-scale industrial facility for raising livestock. It offers advantages such as lower consumer costs, increased efficiency, higher farmer profits, and reduced land use, but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, antibiotic resistance, waste disposal issues, and risks of disease.

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Benefits of Free-Range Livestock

Free-range livestock are raised on pastureland where they can roam freely, consuming natural vegetation and producing nutrient-rich products. They typically do not receive antibiotics or growth hormones, and their manure acts as fertilizer and contributes to soil health.

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Study Notes

Tragedy of the Commons

  • Shared resources, like the atmosphere, fresh water, forests, and oceans, can be depleted due to individual self-interest.

Ecological Footprint

  • Measures the land and water needed to produce resources consumed and process waste generated by an individual, population, or activity.
  • Expressed in hectares (ha).
  • Shows human impact on the environment.
  • Individuals who eat meat generally have a higher footprint.

Clear-Cutting Drawbacks

  • Increased soil erosion
  • Increased sediment runoff
  • Reduced transpiration
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Loss of biodiversity

Sediment Pollution from Clear-Cutting

  • Removal of trees exposes soil, leading to runoff into water bodies, causing turbidity.
  • Reduced photosynthesis due to cloudiness.

Aquifer Withdrawal Drawbacks

  • Soil salinization
  • Waterlogging
  • Aquifer depletion
  • Saltwater intrusion

No-Till Farming Advantages

  • Reduces topsoil erosion
  • Prevents soil degradation
  • Allows natural soil regeneration
  • Reduces CO2 emissions due to reduced machinery use.

Irrigation Types

  • Flood: Flooding fields; Simple and fast, but high water use, soil salinization, waterlogging, and evaporation.
  • Furrow: Channels filled with water; Quick and inexpensive, but requires preparation and has evaporation and runoff.
  • Spray: Pumping water into spray nozzles; More efficient than flood/furrow, but expensive and reliant on fossil fuels.
  • Drip (Trickle): Small amounts of water directly to roots; Most efficient, but expensive and can hinder plowing.

GMO Drawbacks

  • Monoculture leads to loss of genetic diversity.
  • Potential for escaped GMOs to interbreed with wild plants.
  • Potential for new food allergies.

Pesticide Drawbacks

  • Persistent pesticides remain in the environment.
  • Harm beneficial organisms (unintended targets).
  • Runoff or wind dispersal can harm or alter biodiversity.
  • Human health risks.
  • Pesticide treadmill (continuous use and higher doses).

Antibiotic Resistance

  • Antibiotics used to kill bacterial infections.
  • Some bacteria are naturally resistant.
  • Resistant bacteria multiply, leading to widespread resistance.

Synthetic Fertilizer Advantages

  • Concentrated nutrients
  • Precise nutrient delivery
  • Easy application
  • Quick absorption

CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) Benefits

  • Low consumer costs
  • Increased efficiency
  • Higher profits for farmers
  • Reduced land use

CAFO Drawbacks

  • Increased greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
  • Increased antibiotic resistance.
  • Waste disposal issues (runoff, eutrophication).
  • Fecal coliform and disease risk.

Free-Range Livestock Benefits

  • Animals feed on natural vegetation.
  • No antibiotics or growth hormones.
  • Manure acts as fertilizer (spread over wide areas).
  • Higher nutrient content in meat/animal products.

Sustainable Agriculture Goals

  • Increase biodiversity
  • Improve soil health and reduce erosion
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Reduce irrigation
  • Reduce chemical fertilizer and pesticide use

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

  • Polyculture
  • Cover crops
  • Intercropping/strip cropping
  • Agroforestry/alley cropping
  • No-till farming
  • Organic fertilizers/compost
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Contour farming
  • Terrace farming
  • Sustainable greenhouses
  • Vertical farming
  • Urban farming
  • Rooftop gardens

Aquaculture Drawbacks

  • Coastal area destruction
  • Wastewater contamination (feces, antibiotics, pathogens).
  • Increased disease risk.
  • Potential for escaped fish to interbreed.

Aquaculture Advantages

  • Efficient and cost-effective (little fuel/space).
  • Can meet protein demand.
  • Allow wild populations to recover.

Urbanization Drawbacks

  • Urban blight
  • Habitat loss/fragmentation
  • Impact on carbon and water cycles
  • Urban heat island effect

Urbanization Solutions for Water Cycle

  • Planting more vegetation
  • Using porous materials for water infiltration
  • Desalination of saltwater

Urbanization Advantages

  • Compact design
  • Mass transit reduces carbon footprint
  • Lower per capita resource use
  • Reduced travel distances = more walking, lower carbon footprint

Acid Mine Drainage

  • Sulfide minerals in ore react with air and water creating sulfuric acid.
  • Runoff from mine sites leaches metals into water bodies.

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