Week.docx

Week1 Definition of Science: Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology (Scientific Method) based on evidence. Biology: Biology is the scientific study of life, with several unifying themes that tie it tog...

Week1 Definition of Science: Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology (Scientific Method) based on evidence. Biology: Biology is the scientific study of life, with several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. Chemistry: Chemistry is the branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, their properties and reactions, and the formation of new substances. Physics: Physics is the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy, including mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of atoms. Geology: Geology is the science that deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth, their history, and the processes that act on them. Technology: Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, and it deals with engineering or applied sciences. Energy and Matter: The lecture discusses the motion of particles and the changes in energy that occur when a change of state occurs in matter. It also defines energy as the ability to do work and explains the law of conservation of matter and the different forms of energy, including heat, chemical, electromagnetic, nuclear, and mechanical energy. Organic and Inorganic Compounds: The lecture distinguishes between organic and inorganic compounds. Energy Flow in the Ecosystem: The lecture explains how solar energy powers life on earth, with plants converting sunlight energy into chemical energy stored in sugars, which is then consumed by animals, leading to the flow of energy through the food chain. Conclusion: The lecture concludes by highlighting the constant amount of energy in the universe, the cycling of matter as nutrients, and the flow of energy through the food chain. Week2 Definition of Environment and Sustainability: The environment is defined as the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act upon an organism or an ecological community. Sustainability is the capability of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage. Sustainable development is emphasized as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs . Resources and Energy: The lectures discuss the distinction between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Nonrenewable resources, such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, and nuclear energy, are highlighted for their limited availability. In contrast, renewable resources, including solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and water energy, are emphasized for their replenishable nature . Ecosystems and Energy Flow: The lectures cover the definition of an ecosystem as a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. The flow of energy through the food chain and the constant amount of energy in the universe are also discussed . Organic and Inorganic Compounds: The distinction between organic and inorganic compounds is explained. Organic compounds are highlighted as containing carbon and hydrogen, often associated with living organisms, while inorganic compounds are noted for their lack of carbon-hydrogen bonds . Week3 Ecology: The study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment, including abiotic and biotic factors. Biosphere: The combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including land, water, and atmosphere. Community Ecology: The study of the organization and functioning of communities, which are assemblages of interacting populations of species living within a particular area or habitat. Energy: The constant supply of energy that living organisms need, with almost all of Earth's energy coming from the Sun. Trophic Terms: Definitions of autotrophs, heterotrophs, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and examples of food chains and webs. Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things, including the diversity of genes, number of species, and ecosystems. Evolution: The morphological or genetic change in species over time, including microevolution and macroevolution. Value of Biodiversity: The benefits that biodiversity provides, such as oxygen, food, clean water, medicine, aesthetics, and ideas. Threats to Biodiversity: Including habitat destruction, pollution, species introductions, global climate change, and overexploitation. Conservation of Biodiversity: The need to preserve intact sections of tropical forests and the role of the Endangered Species Act. Week4 Devastation of Soil: Sludge pits, storage tanks, fuel tank leaks, and waste products from oil and gas production can devastate the soil's ability to grow crops. Pipeline right-of-ways and blowouts can also impact land use. Air Pollution: Burning petroleum products produces significant air pollution, leading to smog, human illnesses, crop failures, and acid rain. Acid Rain: Acid rain poses a threat to agriculture by depleting calcium in the soil, which can harm plant growth and lead to plant die-offs. It can also result in the absorption of heavy metals by plants, potentially leading to diminished growth rates and plant die-offs. Fossil Fuels and Global Warming: The burning of fossil fuels produces excessive greenhouse gases, such as CO2, which contributes to global warming. The document highlights the link between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, emphasizing the impact on biodiversity and agriculture. Solutions: The document suggests two main solutions to address these environmental problems: reducing the use of fossil fuels, which would decrease extraction and alleviate pollution, and increasing the efficiency of fossil fuel use to reduce emissions. Week5 Rate of Climate Change: Climate change in the current era is expected to be extremely rapid compared to transitions in and out of past ice ages. Ecosystems are more vulnerable to changes that happen rapidly. Compounding Factors: Human activities have many effects on ecosystems, which compound the effects of climate change, making it more difficult for ecosystems to adapt. These effects include pollution, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, overfishing, manipulation of water sources, and more. Improving the Outlook (Solutions): Changes in activities at the personal, community, and national levels can affect the rate of future climate change and species’ abilities to adapt. Some areas where changes in human activities could help species adapt include approaches to agriculture, water management practices, energy sources and use, transportation, pollution remediation, and biological conservation. Week6 How Many People Can the Earth Support? The earth's carrying capacity for humans is unknown, and population growth in developing countries is increasing nine times faster than in developed countries. The world's population will likely reach 7.5-10.8 billion by 2050. Carrying capacity is the maximum population that a given area can sustain. Human Population Growth Continues but It Is Unevenly Distributed Reasons for human population increase include movement into new habitats and climate zones, early and modern agriculture methods, and control of infectious diseases through sanitation systems, antibiotics, vaccines, and health care. Most population growth occurred over the last 100 years due to a drop in death rates. Projecting Population Change The range of 7.8-10.8 billion for 2050 is due to the many factors that need to be considered. Demographers must determine the reliability of current estimates, make assumptions about fertility trends, and deal with different databases and sets of assumptions. Natural Capital Degradation Population size increases because of births and immigration, and decreases through deaths and emigration. The average number of children born to women in a population (total fertility rate) is the key factor that determines population size. What Factors Influence the Size of the Human Population? Factors that influence the size of the human population include births (fertility), deaths (mortality), and migration. Population change is calculated as (births + immigration) - (deaths + emigration). The Human Population Can Grow, Decline, or Remain Fairly Stable Women are having fewer babies but not few enough to stabilize the world's population. The fertility rate, which is the number of children born to a woman during her lifetime, is a crucial factor in determining population size. Factors that affect birth and fertility rates Several factors affect birth rates and fertility rates, including children as part of the labor force, cost of raising and educating children, availability of private and public pension, urbanization, educational and employment opportunities for women, average age of a woman at birth of first child, availability of legal abortions, availability of reliable birth control methods, religious beliefs, traditions, and cultural norms. Migration Migration is the movement of people into (immigration) and out of (emigration) specific geographic areas. People migrate for many reasons, such as economic improvement, religious freedom, political freedom, wars, and environmental refugees. A Population’s Age Structure Helps Us Make Projections A population's age structure, which includes the numbers or percentages of males and females in young, middle, and older age groups in a population, helps us make projections about population growth and decline. Consequences of a large aging population A large aging population can lead to slow decline, manageable rapid decline, or severe economic problems. Populations made up of mostly older people can decline rapidly, leading to labor shortages and severe social problems. Some Problems with Rapid Population Decline Rapid population decline can lead to severe economic problems, and we can slow human population growth by reducing poverty, elevating the status of women, and encouraging family planning. Demographic transition As countries become industrialized and economically developed, first death rates decline, then birth rates decline. This transition takes place in four stages: preindustrial, transitional, industrial, and postindustrial. Environmental Impacts of population growth Population growth has various environmental impacts, including resource limits, deforestation, water scarcity, energy consumption, biodiversity loss, global warming, and damage to the earth's essential ecology. Our ‘Commons’ are in Danger The earth's commons, including the atmosphere, water, land, and nonrenewable natural resources, are in danger due to population growth and increasing affluence. Impacts Developed and developing countries have different impacts, and as a population grows, resources need to be available to meet the needs of the people. Detailed explicit information and understanding of what is occurring, alternate technologies that mitigate and eliminate deleterious effects, and sustainable development are crucial in addressing the impacts of population growth. family planning Family planning helps couples choose how many children to have and when to have them. It involves educating men and women, birth spacing, birth control, health care for women and infants, and reducing the number of pregnancies and abortions. Lack of access to services hinders family planning efforts.