Unit 5 - "Land, Water, and Food Resources"
In this unit, we will consider many of the fundamental resources that humanity relies on such as food, soil, forests, fresh water, fisheries, and minerals. We will examine
how the natural systems that provide these resources work, how humans manage these resources, and how humans are impacting them.
Essential Questions:
1.
2.
3.
What are the primary resources humanity gets from the land and water, and how do we rely upon them?
How do we access these resources, and what environmental impacts do production & consumption have?
How can we reduce environmental impacts from resource use and sustainably manage them in the future?
Learning Targets – I CAN . . .
Chapter 8: Earth Systems
1.
Describe the formation of Earth and the distribution of critical elements on Earth
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Define the theory of plate tectonics and discuss its importance in environmental science
a.
b.
c.
3.
Draw and identify key components of the rock cycle, the three basic rock types & explain the formation of the three basic rock types
Compare and contrast weathering with erosion
Identify the significance of weathering and erosion
Explain how soil forms and describe its characteristics
a.
b.
c.
5.
Describe the theory of plate tectonics
List environmental consequences of the tectonic cycle
Explain the origins of earthquakes and volcanoes
Describe the rock cycle and discuss its importance in environmental science
a.
b.
c.
4.
Describe the formation of Earth
Distinguish the composition of the different layers of the Earth
Explain how Earth’s cooling after its formation, affected where resources are currently found
Explain factors that need to be considered when assess Earth’s resources
Describe the process of soil formation
Identify the function of soil in ecosystems
Explain how the soil’s physical and chemical characteristics influence plant growth
Explain how elements and minerals are extracted for human use
a.
b.
c.
d.
Compare and contrast the distribution of mineral resources on Earth
List and explain different surface mining methods
Compare and contrast consequences of surface and subsurface mining
Cite legislation that focuses on the effects of mining
Chapter 9: Water Resources
1.
Identify Earth’s natural sources of water.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
2.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Define a levee, its purpose and its effect on the surrounding environment
Define a dike and its purpose
Describe the financial, societal, and environmental costs of dams
Define an aqueduct, its purpose and the environmental costs
List the steps involved in the two types of desalination and the pros and cons of each
Identify the percentage of water used for irrigation, industrial, and household use
Compare the amount of water needed to produce the same mass of beef and wheat
Identify the pros and cons of each type of irrigation and know their efficiency relative to each other
i. Furrow
iii. Spray
ii. Flood
iv. Drip
Define hydroponic agriculture and the benefits and drawbacks
Identify the types of industry that requires water
Compare per capita use of household water in developed countries and developing countries and identify the reasons for this disparity
Identify the percentage of indoor water use in U.S. households
Identify the number of people worldwide who lack access to clean water and the number who die annually due to diseases related to contaminated water
Identify the factors that will affect the future availability of water.
a.
b.
Make an argument for or against allowing market forces to determine the price of water and allowing individuals and corporations to buy and sell water rights.
Summarize the measures taken with appliances recently to reduce household water use
Chapter 10: Land, Public and Private
1.
Describe the concepts of the tragedy of the commons and maximum sustainable yield, and explain how they pertain to land use.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
2.
Define tragedy of the commons
Define externality and give examples of positive and negative externalities
List the methods given to deal with tragedy of the commons
Define maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
What is the ideal size for a population in order to maintain MSY
Identify the difficulties in calculating MSY
Describe the function, operation, and efficacy of the four major public land management agencies in the United States.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
3.
Eutrophic
Describe the major human uses of water.
a.
b.
c.
4.
iii.
Discuss the ways in which humans manage water.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
3.
Identify the percentage of water that is saltwater versus freshwater
Identify the percentage of freshwater that is found in ice & glaciers, belowground water, water bodies, & atmospheric water
Identify & describe the basic steps of the water cycle . . . Define groundwater recharge and how it differs with aquifers
Explain saltwater intrusion and what causes it to form
Define floodplain and connect it to agriculture
Identify the productivity, nutrient levels, and oxygen levels of the following lake types
i. Oligotrophic
ii. Mesotrophic
Explain why different lakes have different oxygen levels and what effect this has on the community of organisms
Describe the connection between drought and topsoil and the economic and environmental consequences
Define impermeable surfaces and their effect on urban and suburban water levels
Identify the percentage of the earth’s land area is protected in one way or another
Identify the six categories of protected public lands
List the uses of National Parks
Identify the unique characteristics of Habitat/Species Management Areas compared to other public lands
Compare Habitat/Species Management Areas with Strict Nature Reserves and Wilderness Areas
Define resource conservation ethic
Differentiate between multiple-use lands and protected lands
Identify the four federal agencies that manage federal lands & for each federal agency, list the type of public land that falls under their jurisdiction
Understand the causes and consequences of urban sprawl.
a.
Differentiate between urban, suburban, and exurban
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
4.
Describe the trend in U.S. population in relation to urban, suburban, and rural population size over the last 50 years
Define Urban Sprawl
Identify the characteristics of urban sprawl and the environmental consequences of these characteristics
Describe fully how the following have all contributed to urban sprawl
i. Automobiles and Highway Construction
iii.
ii. Living Costs
iv.
Define Smart Growth & explain the 10 basic principles of Smart Growth
Urban Blight
Government Policies
Describe approaches and policies that promote sustainable land use.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Describe rangelands, what they are used for primarily, and how they can be regulated to maintain their health
Explain the relationship between national forests and the logging industry
Explain how clear cutting a forest works and the pros and cons, economically and/or environmentally, associated with it
Explain how selective cutting works and the environmental pros and cons associated with it
Describe how ecologically sustainable forestry is different than all other methods
Describe the benefits and drawbacks of tree plantations
Define prescribed burn and defend the choice by the USFS to do prescribed burns and to let other fires burn
Explain what the National Environmental Policy Act and the role environmental impact statements and environmental mitigation plans play.
Chapter 11: Feeding the World
1.
Describe human nutritional needs and the challenges of overcoming hunger and malnutrition.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
2.
Explain the development of modern industrial agriculture, the role played by inputs such as irrigation water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and the environmental
consequences of modern farming methods.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
3.
Identify the three general benefits that can be seen from genetically modified organisms
List and explain two examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) increasing crop yield and quality
Explain what scientists have done to crops to change the way pesticides are used in agriculture
Identify the difference between the United States and Europe on GMOs
Explain how GMOs might affect biodiversity in a community
Describe alternatives to industrial farming methods.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
5.
Define industrial agriculture, or agribusiness
Define energy subsidy and be able to read and understand Figure 11.4
Identify the most common energy subsidy in modern agriculture and explain what the consequence of this fact could be on humans
Summarize the Green Revolution
Explain Economies of Scale and its connection to small and large farms
Explain waterlogging and its possible consequences
Explain salinization and its possible consequences
Compare and contrast organic and inorganic (synthetic fertilizers)
Define monocropping and its benefits and drawbacks
Define pesticides, and differentiate between herbicide and insecticide
Differentiate between broad-spectrum and selective pesticides
Differentiate between persistent and nonpersistent pesticides
Define bioaccumulation and explain its effects on a community of organisms
Explain the pesticide treadmill and why it is an example of a positive feedback loop
Identify the benefits and costs of using genetically modified organisms in agriculture.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
4.
Identify the time when agriculture became prevalent and its effect on the human population
Differentiate between the following terms
i. Undernutrition
iv. Food Security
ii. Malnourished
v. Food Insecurity
iii. Overnutrition
vi. Famine
Identify the percentage of grains, meat, and fish in the human diet
Identify the primary reason for undernutrition and malnutrition & why it is more complex than just lack of food
Identify the major use of grain and what issue results in energy due to this use
Explain why we observe the current trends in total and per capita grain production worldwide over the past 60 years
Define shifting agriculture and why “slash-and-burn” can have immediate benefits but long term costs
Define sustainable agriculture and explain the role of each of these terms plays in it
i. Intercropping
ii. Crop rotation
Explain the purpose of plowing and tilling and the benefits and drawbacks of no-till agriculture
Summarize Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Identify the basic principles of organic agriculture
iii.
iv.
Agroforestry
Contour plowing
Explain the environmental impacts of various approaches to raising and harvesting meat and fish.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Define Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs), its purpose, and its environmental costs
Compare Free Range beef and chicken with CAFO beef and chicken with regards to the environment and cost to consumer
Define fisheries and compare wild-caught to aquaculture fish contributions to global fish production over the past 20 years (figure 11.20)
Define bycatch and its connection to fisheries and endangered species
Define aquaculture and explain its benefits and drawbacks
Module List and Reading Schedule:
Chapter
Chapter 8 - Earth Systems
Chapter 9 - Water Resources
Mod
24
25
Pages
259 - 273
274 - 285 + WTS
Topic(s)
Geological Systems & Processes
Soil Science and Mining
Due Date
10/17
10/18
26
27
293 - 301
302 - 307 + SA4
Chapter 8 Quiz - Earth System & Resources
Availability of Water
Human Alteration of Availability of Water
10/19
10/20
10/21
28
308 - 315 + WTS
Human Use of Water - Now and Future
10/24
Chapter 9 Quiz - Water
Chapter 10 - Land, Public & Private
29
30a
329 - 337
338 - 344
Land Use Concepts & Classifications
Land Management Practices - Rangelands, Forests
Chapter 11 - Feeding the World
31
32
357 - 362 + WTS
363 - 374
Human Nutritional Needs
Modern Large-Scale Farming
33
374 - 383 + SA5
Alternatives to Industrial Farming
Chapter 10 Quiz - Land Use
10/25
10/26
10/27
10/28
10/31
11/1
11/2
Unit 5 Exam
11/4