Hunter-Gatherers

Introduction to Environmental
Science

What is Environmental Science?



Environmental Science is a relatively new field of
science that examines the impact of humans on the
environment.


Give some examples of how humans can impact their
environment.


Is all impact bad?


Do you think Environmental Science’s goal is to eliminate or
minimize human impact on the environment?



Environmental Science is different than

Ecology, the study of how living things

interact with each other and with their e

e
nvironment



Goals


One of the primary goals of environmental science
is to solve environmental problems. In order to do
this, scientists focus on:



How we use our natural resources



How our actions change our environment



In order to do this, information is gathered from a
variety of sources

Fields of Study that Contribute to
Environmental Science


Biology
–

Study of Living Organisms


Zoology
–

Animals


Botany
–

Plants


Microbiology
–

Microorganisms


Ecology
–

interactions of organisms and environment



Earth Science
–

Study of Earth’s Living and Non
-
Living systems, and the Earth as a Whole


Geology
–

Earth’s surface, interior processes, history


Paleontology
–

Fossils and ancient life


Climatology
–

Atmosphere and climate


Hydrology
–

Water resources


Fields of study
–

Cont’d


Physics
–

Study of Matter and Energy


Engineering
–

Application of physics in structures, machines,
and products



Chemistry
–

Study of chemicals and how they
interact


Biochemistry
–

Chemistry of living things


Geochemistry
–

Chemistry of materials like rocks, soil, water


Fields of Study
–

Cont’d



Social
Sciences
–

Study of Human
Populations


Geography
–

relationship between populations and Earth’s
features


Anthropology
–

interactions of biological, cultural,
geographical and historical aspects of humankinds


Sociology
–

human population dynamics


Discussion Point



Discuss with your partner the two main types of
interactions studied by environmental scientists.



Why is it necessary to involve numerous fields of
study in the study of environmental science?

Current Environmental Issues


Climate change

—

Global warming

•

Global dimming

•

Fossil fuels

•

Sea level rise

•

Greenhouse gas

•

Ocean acidification

•

Shutdown of
thermohaline

circulation

•

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Urban Heat Islands


Conservation

—

Species extinction

•

Pollinator decline

•

Coral bleaching

•

Holocene extinction

•

Invasive
species

•

Poaching

•

Endangered species


Energy

—

Energy conservation

•

Renewable energy

•

Efficient energy use

•

Renewable energy commercialization

•

Environmental impact
of the coal industry

•

Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing


Environmental degradation

—

Eutrophication

•

Habitat destruction

•

Invasive species


Environmental health

—

Air quality

•

Asthma

•

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Electromagnetic fields

•

Electromagnetic
radiation and health

•

Indoor air quality

•

Lead poisoning

•

Sick Building Syndrome

•

Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing


Genetic engineering

—

Genetic pollution

•

Genetically modified food controversies


Intensive farming

—

Overgrazing

•

Irrigation

•

Monoculture

•

Environmental effects of meat production

•

Slash and burn

•

Pesticide
drift

•

Plasticulture


Land degradation

—

Land pollution

•

Desertification


Soil

—

Soil conservation

•

Soil erosion

•

Soil contamination

•

Soil
salination
Land

use

—

Urban sprawl

•

Habitat fragmentation

•

Habitat
destruction


Nanotechnology

—

Nanotoxicology

•

Nanopollution


Nuclear issues

—

Nuclear fallout

•

Nuclear meltdown

•

Nuclear power

•

Nuclear weapons

•

Nuclear and radiation accidents

•

Nuclear
safety

•

High
-
level radioactive waste management


Overpopulation

—

Burial

•

Water crisis

•

Overpopulation in companion animals

•

Tragedy of the commons

•

Gender Imbalance in
Developing Countries

•

Sub
-
replacement fertility levels in developed countries


Ozone depletion

—

CFC

•

Biological effects of UV exposure


Pollution

—

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Nonpoint source pollution

•

Point source pollution

•

Light pollution

•

Noise
pollution

•

Visual pollution


Water pollution

—

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Acid rain

•

Eutrophication

•

Marine pollution

•

Ocean dumping

•

Oil
spills

•

Thermal pollution

•

Urban runoff

•

Water crisis

•

Marine debris

•

Microplastics

•

Ocean acidification

•

Ship
pollution

•

Wastewater

•

Fish kill

•

Algal bloom

•

Mercury in fish

•

Environmental impact of hydraulic
fracturing
Air

pollution

—

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Smog

•

Tropospheric ozone

•

Indoor air quality

•

Volatile organic compound

•

Atmospheric
particulate matter
•

Environmental impact of hydraulic
fracturing
Reservoirs

—

Environmental impacts of reservoirs


Resource depletion

—

Exploitation of natural resources

•

Overdrafting


Consumerism

—

Consumer capitalism

•

Planned obsolescence

•

Over
-
consumption
Fishing

—

Blast fishing

•

Bottom trawling

•

Cyanide
fishing

•

Ghost nets

•

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

•

Overfishing

•

Shark finning

•

Whaling
Logging

—

Clearcutting

•

Deforestation

•

Illegal
logging
Mining

—

Acid mine drainage

•

Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

•

Mountaintop
removal mining

•

Slurry
impoundments
Toxins

—

Chlorofluorocarbons

•

DDT

•

Endocrine disruptors

•

Dioxin

•

Toxic heavy
metals

•

Environmental impact of the coal industry

•

Herbicides

•

Pesticides

•

Toxic
waste

•

PCB

•

Bioaccumulation

•

Biomagnification
•
Environmental

impact of hydraulic fracturing


Waste

—

Electronic waste

•

Litter

•

Waste disposal incidents

•

Marine debris

•

Medical waste

•

Landfill

•

Leachate

•

Environmental impact
of the coal industry

•

Incineration

•

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

•

Exporting of hazardous waste
•

Environmental impact of hydraulic
fracturing




Historical Factors in Environmental Science


It is impossible for humans to inhabit the Earth
without them impacting the environment.



Some historical factors:


Hunter
-
Gatherers
: People who get their food by hunting
wild animals, scavenging for animal remains, or gathering
plants and seeds
–

often they move from place to place as
different types of food become available in different places


How can this affect the environment?


Historical Factors, Cont’d


Agricultural
Revolution



Marked a shift from
hunting/gathering to
farming


Largely caused by
hunter/gatherers collecting
seeds and growing them, as
well as domesticating
animals.


These resources were used
for food, shelter, clothing,
transportation



What environmental impact
can this have?



Historical Factors, Cont’d


Industrial Revolution



Marked a change from using power produced by humans or
animals or moving water, to using power produced by fossil
fuels



What are the benefits of this shift?



What environmental impacts might

this have caused?


Main Environmental Concerns



Population growth is the source of many
environmental problems. The Earth’s population
has grown much faster since the Agricultural and
Industrial Revolutions than it had before. This
results in a higher demand for food, which results in
a higher production of waste, more pollution from
fossil fuels and pesticides

Main Concerns, Cont’d


Resource Depletion
–

When resources are used at a
rate quicker than they can be replaced, they are said
to be non
-
renewable.



Depletion occurs when a large fraction of

the resource has been used up.


Once depletion occurs, it can take

millions of years to replenish


This occurs mostly with minerals and

fossil fuels

Main Concerns, Cont’d



Pollution
–

Occurs as wastes build up faster than
they can be disposed of


Human activities produce wastes: Burning of fossil fuels
pollutes the air, pesticide use pollutes the water


Biodegradable pollutants can be broken down by natural
processes (sewage). Non
-
degradable pollutants do not break
down.




Main Concerns, Cont’d



Loss of Biodiversity
–

Loss of species to extinction


While this is a normal process, it is a problem because we
depend on other species for food, clothing, etc.





In an essay written by ecologist Garret Hardin, it was
argued that resources shared by a community (large
or small) are likely to be overused and depleted
because each individual is only concerned with
himself. A community resource must have
somebody to oversee it.

Tragedy of the Commons


Tragedy of the Commons


For example, a parcel of land belonged to a village,
and they could graze as many animals as they liked.
Eventually, there was no grass left for any animals to
graze. However, if they had their own land, they
were careful not to graze too many animals at once,
and to move them to other areas periodically.


Tragedy of the Commons


Move to your lab area



Each one of you represents the head of a family that is starving.


In
order for your family to survive, you must catch enough fish for them
to eat.


The only food source is a small local lake which can hold up to
16 fish
.

Once
a year you will get a chance to fish and each time you
fish you may take 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 fish from the lake.


It is your choice
how many fish you take, however, if you only take one fish, your
family will starve.


If you take more than 2 fish, you can sell them for
a profit.


The fish in your lake will reproduce once a year.


Keep the
fish that you “catch” in front of you. (You will be able to eat them
later
)



You cannot speak to each other while fishing




Homework Assignment


Read “Lake Washington” on p. 12
-
13



Summarize as follows:


A. What was the environmental issue and what was its cause?


B. Who were the people and organizations involved in helping
to solve it, and what role did each play?


C. What was the solution?


D. Was the solution successful?


E. Can you think of another way to solve it, or how it could
have been prevented?