Unit 5 APES Flashcards
Tragedy of the Commons
Suggests that individuals will use shared resources in their own self interest rather than in keeping with the common good, thereby depleting resources.
Clearcutting Effects
Can be economically advantageous but leads to soil erosion, increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding
Clearcutting Effects - Environmental
Forests contain trees that absorb pollutants and sore carbon dioxide. The cutting and burning of trees releases carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change.
Green Revolution
It started a shift to new agricultural strategies and practices in order to increase food production, with both positive and negative results. Some of these strategies and methods are mechanization, genetically modified organisms, fertilization, irrigation, and the use of pesticides.
What did the Green Revolution contribute?
Mechanization of farming can increase profits and efficiency for farms. It can also increase reliance on fossil fuels.
Environmental damage caused by agricultural practices
These practices include tilling, slash and burn farming, and the use of fertilizers.
What is the largest human use of freshwater?
Irrigation
Types of Irrigation
Drip, furrow, flood, and spray
Benefits and drawbacks: Flood irrigation
Benefit: Easier; 80% efficient, 20% loss
Drawback: More disruptive, can waterlog soil
Benefits and Drawbacks: Furrow Irrigation
Benefit: Easy and inexpensive, water seeps slowly into soil; 66% efficient, 33% soil runoff
Drawback: requires digging trenches.
Benefits and Drawbacks: Drip Irrigation
Benefit: Most efficient, over 95%. Avoids waterlogging and conserves water.
Drawback: Most costly of all irrigation methods.
Benefits and Drawbacks: Spray Irrigation
Benefit: More efficient and less water loss
Drawback: more expensive as it requires water to be pumped.
What is waterlogging?
Occurs when too much water is left to sit in the soil which raises the water table of groundwater and inhibits plants ability to absorb ozygen through their roots.
What is soil salinization?
Occurs when salts in groundwater remain in the soil after water evaporates. Over time it can make soil toxic to plants.
What is a danger in using aquifers in irrigation?
They can be severely depleted
A consequence of using pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and insecticides is that organisms can become resistant to them through artificial selection.
Drawbacks of common pest control methods.
GMO Drawbacks?
Using genetically engineered crops in planting or other ways can lead to loss of genetic diversity of that particular crop.
What are the two different methods of meat production?
CAFOS and Free Range Grazing
How much less efficient is meat production compared to farming?
It takes approximately 20 times more land to produce the same amount of calories in plants.
What are CAFOs and why are they not environmentally optimal
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations are used as a way to quickly get livestock ready for slaughter. They tend to be crowded and are fed grains or feed that are not as suitable as grass. Additionally, feedlots generate a large amount of organic waste which can contaminate ground and surface water.
Why are CAFOs used
It is a less expensive way to produce meat, which allows costs for consumers to be lower.
Why is Free Range grazing more optimal?
Animals are allowed to graze on grass during their entire life cycle. Meat from these animals tends to be free from antibiotics and other chemicals used in feedlots. Organic waste from these animals acts as a fertilizer.
What is the negative part of Free Grazing?
A lot of land is required, making it a more expensive way to produce meat for both producers and consumers.
What is Overgrazing?
Occurs when too many animals feed on a particular area of land. This can cause loss of vegetation, leading to soil erosion, as well as desertification.
