Ecology: Study of How Humans Impact the Environment
Ecology: Study of How Humans
Impact the Environment
Introduction
Our Environment
The sum or total of our surroundings
Includes biotic and abiotic factors
Ecology – study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
Environmental Science – Study of how humans interact and impact the environment, and how our environment affects us
GOAL: 1.) Understand and solve environmental problems 2.) Understand how our interactions alter our environment
History/Humans and Environment and
Change
Environmental change going on since time began
1.) Hunter-Gathers (majority of human history)
2.) Agricultural Revolution (growing food-crops, domestication of animals, human population grew at a faster rate)
3.) Industrial Revolution (switch in energy source of animal “muscle” to fossil fuels, improved quality of life like medicines, machines, etc., has negative impact = pollution, habitat loss, and artificial substances)
Ecological Footprint
Expresses the environmental impact of an individual or population and the amount of land and water required to support that individual or population
The amount of Earth’s surface that is “used”
We are depleting our resources about 30% faster than they are being replenished or replaced
Our Main Environmental Problems:
1.) Resource depletion
2.) Pollution
3.) Loss of Biodiversity
4.) Energy
Nature of Environmental Science
People vary in their perception of environmental problems
A person’s age, gender, class, race, nationality, ethics-(both personal and environmental), employment, and background (personal and educational) can have an affect on their view of an environmental problem
Goal for the Future:
Sustainability – living within our resources or the planets means so that the Earth’s resources can sustain us in the future
Things That Affect The Environment
A.) Actions of Humans (clearing forests for farming, overuse of land and animals)
B.) Population Growth (can exceed supply of resources causing habitat loss, extinction, starvation, disease, death)
C.) Unequal Distribution of Wealth and Resources
(developed countries use more resources and create more waste and pollution vs developing and underdeveloped countries)
Environmental Science
Is an interdisciplinary science involving many fields including:
Ecology
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Earth Science
Social Sciences
