BIO 116 – Introduction to Environmental Science
S. Dockstader, Instructor
Spring 2007
Lecture Guide –Freshwater Resources Part I
Session
Lecture 1, Week 10
Textbook Readings
Chapter 15 (Pgs. 432-451)
Lecture Theme
One of the greatest challenges of the new century is ensuring adequate quantity and quality of
freshwater for us and for the planet’s ecosystems.
Lecture Objectives
• Delineate freshwater distribution on the earth
• Describe major types of freshwater ecosystems
• Discuss how we use water and alter freshwater ecosystems
• Assess problems of water supply and propose solutions to address freshwater depletion
Lecture Outline
Describing Freshwater
ƒ Distribution of Freshwater (Figure 15.1)
ƒ Sources of Freshwater
ƒ Available Freshwater Resources
o Data interpretation activity (Figure 15.7b)
How We Use Water
ƒ Agriculture
ƒ Groundwater Extraction
ƒ Surface Diversion
ƒ Flood Control
ƒ Dams
o Benefits and Costs
Depletion Solutions
Desalinization
Economic Approaches
Reducing Demand
Review Activities
1. Review the major concepts from lecture by reading your textbook chapter and clarifying your
lecture notes
2. Write down your own definition for each of the key terms from lecture (purple type words)
3. Practice interpreting graphs and data
4. Answer the Testing Your Comprehension Questions Pg. 463, #1-5
Data Interpretation Exercise
Figure 15.7b Global Freshwater Resources
Note: Water “per capita” is a measurement of how much water is available for each person. It is
essentially the total divided by the size of the population to which the total applies.
1. Which continent has the highest ratio of available fresh water to population size?
2. True or false: Fresh water available per capita should remain stable over the next 50 years.
3. Which continents currently have sufficient water to meet the needs of their populations? (You
will need additional information to answer this question)
Page 2 of 2