Ecological Integrity of EarthThe Earth Systems - ecosystem services

• Those natural processes and systems that sustain life on earth

• Life support systems

Ecological Integrity - Earth’s resources

<--What??

<--Do you mean. .

we could run

out??WaterAirSpeciesSoilEnergy EarthMinerals

Natural processes and cycles

• Life on earth is dependent on:– One way flow of energy from the sun

– Cycling of nutrients

Natural processes and cycles

• Earth’s cycles:– Nutrient cycling

includes:• Carbon cycle• Nitrogen cycle

– Photosynthesis– Soil formation

How are we dependent on trees and other producers?

Natural processes and cycles

• Earth’s cycles:• Hydrologic

cycle– Ground water– Surface water

How long can we consumers survive without water?

Natural processes and cycles

• Earth’s atmosphere– Green house Effect - a

natural “heat trap”

– GHGs

– Is this GHE “bad”?– Ozone Layer - filters

out harmful ultraviolet (u.v.) light

Earth’s Biodiversity

• Earth’s incredible genetic library - Biosphere

• Biodiversity includes:– Species diversity

– Genetic diversity

– Ecological diversityHow long will we last in a

biologically impoverished world?

Earth’s Biodiversity

• Classified/Describes 1.4 million species on Earth• Scientists estimate possibly 30 to 50 million species

on Earth• Greatest diversity in tropical regions

Earth’s Biodiversity

• Current extinction rate is 1 to 100 species per day

• Greatest extinction rate in the history of the Earth

Human Systems

• Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago

• Human systems change the Earth forever

Human Population

• Consumption of resources grows

• Environmental degradation becomes a global problem

Human population

• Human population expands

• Hunter-gatherer societies to Industrial Revolution

Human Population

• Impacts on resources of highly developed versus less developed countries

Earth’s carrying capacity

• Humans as a part of nature . . to apart from nature

• Movement from rural to urban societies

Cultural Change Activity

• H-G (HUNTER- GATHERERS)

• AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

• INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

ENERGY USE

EARTH WISDOM

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

HUNTER-GATHERERS• EARTH WISDOM- EXPERT

KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL SURROUNDINGS: KNEW HOW TO GATHER PLANTS AND ANIMALS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICINE.

• ENERGY SOURCES FROM SUN, FIRE, MUSCLE POWER

• MORE ADVANCED, GREATER IMPACT BUT EXPLOITED TO SURVIVE

• IMPACT LIMITED, LOCAL

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

• LESS EARTH WISDOM THAN H-G BUT EARLY ONES STILL HAD GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL SURROUNDINGS

• SLASH/BURN, SHIFTING CULTIVATION, SUBSISTENCE

• METAL PLOW• INCREASED E USE, BR &

MATERIAL GOODS INCREASE• MORE DESTRUCTION OF

HABITATS

INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES• NOT MUCH EARTH WISDOM• SHIFT FROM RENEWABLE TO

NON-RENEWABLE (COAL 1ST)• MID ~1700’S; HUGE CHANGE--

GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

• INCREASE E CONSUMPTION • FACTORIES, MANY RESOURCE

AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS