+AP Environmental Science

“The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.”

+About AP Environmental Science

1) It is an applied science. 2) It is interdisciplinary: biology, chemistry, physics, geology, ecology, economics, political science, math. 3) It is both theoretical and practical. 4) It has a relevant lab component.

+Themes

1) Science is a process. 2) Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. 3) The earth itself is one interconnected system. 4) Humans alter natural systems. 5) Environmental problems have a cultural and social context. 6) Human survival depends on sustainability.

+AP Student Characteristics

> Highly motivated > Skilled reader > Critical thinker > Problem solver > Interested in learning > Willing to work

+ The AP Exam n  Objective Questions – 60% of the grade

n  100 multiple choice questions in 90 minutes

n  FRQ (Free Response Questions) – 40% of grade n  4 FRQ’s in 90 minutes (22.5 min. per FRQ) n  Four types: 1 Data Set, 1 DBQ (Document-Based Question), 2 Synthesis; 1

Evaluation n  10 pts. maximum given per question

n  FRQ GENERAL TIPS: + The test readers are looking for key content. Spelling and grammar do not have to be perfect. + If the readers can’t read it, it will get a zero. + Prose response does not mean a bulleted or numbered list. + Use single-line cross outs; no white-out, no huge scribbles or erasures. + If they ask for 2 pieces of info and the student gives 4, the first two of which are wrong and the last two are right, they will not get points. The reader will stop at the first two asked for. + Answer the questions as asked. Be specific. No generalizations. State the obvious. In discussions,

give examples and details. + Label essay answers like the questions are set up: a), b), c)… + Answer as many parts of a multi-point question as you can. + Always write something. Don’t ever leave essays blank.

+Justifications for Preserving the Environment

Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter #1

+Assignment

– READ –

Case Study About Mangroves, and Pickup Trucks: Local and Global Connections Reveal Major Environmental Concerns

Page 2

+ Placing a Value on the Environment

n  How do we place a value on any aspect of our environment?

n  The value of the environment is based on eight justifications: aesthetic, creative, recreational, inspirational, moral, cultural, ecological, and utilitarian.

+ Mangrove Trees

+Utilitarian Justification

n Sees some aspect of the environment as valuable because it benefits individuals economically or is directly necessary to human survival.

n Example n Mangrove swamps provide a nursery for

shrimp that are the basis of the livelihood for the shrimp fisherman.

+Ecological Justification

n An ecosystem is necessary for the survival of some species of interest to us, or that the system itself provides some benefit.

n Example n Mangrove Swamps provide habitat for

marine fish, and although we do not eat Mangrove Trees, we may eat the fish that depend on them.

+ Aesthetic Justification

n Our appreciation of the beauty of nature.

n  We save nature because it makes us feel good to see it.

+ Recreational Justification

n People use wilderness for recreation.

n Example n White water rafting, fishing, camping and hiking

+Inspirational Justification

Conservation of nature can be based on its

benefits to the human spirit.

+Creative Justification

n  Nature is an aid to human creativity.

n  Example n  Artists, poets and others

find a source of their creativity in their contact with nature.

+Moral Justification

n  Has to do with the belief that various aspects of the environment have a right to exist and that it is our moral obligation to allow them to continue or help them to persist.

n  Species have a moral right to exist.

+Do Trees Have Rights?

The United Nations General Assembly World Charter for Nature, signed in 1982, states that species have a moral right to exist.

+The Big Question DO we have a moral obligation to future generations? to leave the environment in good condition

for our descendants,

OR

Are we at liberty to use environmental resources to the

point of depletion within our own lifetime?

+Major Themes of Environmental

Science

Human Population Growth n In AD 1, about 100 Million people n In 1960, 3 Billion people n Today, 7 Billion people n Projected, 10 Billion by 2040 n It took human population almost 2000

years to get to 3 billion, only 40+ years to add 3 billion more

+Problem?

n The Earth has not grown any larger and the abundance of its resources has not increased

n Can the Earth SUSTAIN all these people?

n What is the maximum number of people that Earth can support? (remember: Easter Island)

+World Population

n How many people the Earth can sustain depends on science and values and is also a question about people and nature.

n What quality of life are people willing to accept?

n The poorer that quality, the greater the number of people that can be squeezed onto the Earth’s surface.

+Human Population Growth

John Eli Miller Family

n Of 7 children born to John Miller, 5 survived him

n Of 63 grandchildren, 61 survived him

n Of the 341 great-grandchildren (born to 55 married grandchildren- an average of slightly more than 6 children per parent- 338 survived him)

John Eli Miller Family

+Modern Population Explosion

n Major factors in population: n Supply of Food n Supply of Clothing n Shelter n Decreased death rates (medical

improvement) n As a result, the human population has

increased greatly, threatening the environment

World Population

+Consequences of Rapid Population Growth

n FAMINE is one of the things that happen when a human population exceeds its environmental resources.

n In 1970’s, following a drought in the Sahel Region, 500,000 Africans starved to death and several million more were permanently affected by malnutrition.

FAMINE

n In 1980’s as many as 22 African nations suffered catastrophic food shortages and 150 million Africans faced starvation

n There is a continuing food crisis in Southern Africa (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe)

+Reasons for Famine?

n Drought

n Size of population affected by drought- competing for resources

n Changing climate-partly because of human activities?

n Poor farming practices-erosion of soil

n Deforestation

+We are forced to confront a choice

n Which is more important, the survival of people alive today or conservation of the environment, on which future food production and human life depend?

An Urban World

n With economic development, comes URBANIZATION

n Urbanization = people move from farms to cities and then perhaps to suburbs

n Cities and towns increase in size

n Cities are commonly located near rivers and coastlines

+Destroying Wetlands

n Urban sprawl often overtakes good agricultural land of river floodplains as well as coastal wetlands, which are important habitats for many rare and endangered species.

n As urban areas expand, wetlands are filled in, forests are cut, and soils covered over with pavement and buildings

+Urban Sprawl

n In developed countries, 75% of the population live in urban areas, with 25% in rural areas

n In developing countries, only 40% of the people are city dwellers

n It is estimated that by 2025 almost two-thirds of the population (5 billion people) will live in cities

Largest Cities n In 1999, Tokyo, Japan was the world’s largest city

n In 2015, Tokyo will still be the world’s largest city with an estimated population of 28.9 million

n Is this correct?? Page 8 of your text? Verify using your chromebook …

n Megacities-at least 8 million people

n Increased from 2 (NY and London) in 1950 to 23 in 1995

+Megacities

n Most Megacities-17-are in the developing world.

n It is estimated that by 2015- the world will have 36 Megacities, 23 of them will be in Asia…

n Verify this….

n Environmental issues have always focused on non-urban issues (wildlife, etc.) but needs to shift to urban issues

+Sustainability n What is sustainability?

Refers to resources and their environment Sustainable Resource Harvest- the same

quantity of that resource can be harvested each year for an unlimited or specified length of time without decreasing the ability of that resource to continue to produce the same harvest level

+Sustainable Ecosystem

n An ecosystem that is still able to maintain its essential functions and properties even though we are harvesting one of its resources

+Sustainable Development

n A society can continue to develop its economy and social interactions and also maintain its environment for an indefinite time

+Carrying Capacity

n Related to sustainability

n The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be sustained by an environment to sustain that same amount in the future

n Question: What is the maximum number of people that the Earth can sustain?

+People and Nature

n People and nature are intimately integrated-each affects the other

n We depend on nature for our lives

n We depend on nature for beauty and recreation

n We affect nature

+Gaia Hypothesis

n Originated by British chemist James Lovelock and American biologist Lynn Margulis.

n Proposes that the environment at a global level has been profoundly changed by life over the history of life on Earth and that these changes have tended to improve the chances for the continuation of life.

Gaia Hypothesis (start at 8:40)

+Placing a Value on the Environment

n  How do we place a value on any aspect of our environment?

n  The value of the environment is based on eight justifications: aesthetic, creative, recreational, inspirational, moral, cultural, ecological, and utilitarian

+Utilitarian Justification

n  Sees some aspect of the environment as valuable because it benefits individuals economically or is directly necessary to human survival

n  Example: Mangrove Swamps provide shrimp that are the basis of the livelihood of the fisherman

+Ecological Justification

n  An ecosystem is necessary for the survival of some species of interest to us, or that the system itself provides some benefit.

n  Example: Mangrove Swamps provide habitat for marine fish, and although we do not eat Mangrove Trees, we may eat the fish that depend on them.

+Aesthetic Justification

n  Our appreciation of the beauty of nature

n  Example: When people grieve following the death of a loved one, they typically seek out places with grass, trees and flowers and thus we decorate our graveyards

+Recreational Justification

n  People use wilderness for recreation

n  Example: White water rafting, fishing, and hiking

+Inspirational Justification

n  Conservation of nature can be based on its benefits to the human spirit

Example: Religious Retreats

+Creative Justification

n  Nature is an aid to human creativity

n  Example: Artists, poets and others find a source of their creativity in their contact with nature

+Moral Justification

n  Has to do with the belief that various aspects of the environment have a right to exist and that it is our moral obligation to allow them to continue or help them to persist.

n  Example: Species have a moral right to exist

+Do Rocks Have Rights?

n  The United Nations General Assembly World Charter for Nature, signed in 1982, states that species have a moral right to exist.

+The Big Question

n  DO we have a moral obligation to future generations? to leave the environment in good condition for our descendants, OR

Are we at liberty to use environmental resources to the point of depletion within our own lifetime?

+ Chapter 1 Learning Objectives Certain themes are basic to environmental science. After reading this chapter, you should understand: 

n That people and nature are intimately connected.

n Why rapid human population growth is the fundamental environmental issue.

n Why we must learn to sustain our environmental resources.

n How human beings affect the environment of the entire planet.

n Why urban environments need attention.

n Why solutions to environmental problems involve making value judgments based on scientific knowledge.