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
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