Lecture 12

November 10, 2008

1. Handback assignments with comments

comments on reading and discussion # 3

• for R&D#4 please see specific instructions
• reference and attribution
• need to be clear about what ideas are yours
  • strengthen your argument by referring to other people
  • vs. get credit for your thoughts
• use scientific language and constructs
  • must = law, whos law?
  • should
  • statement of a claim, testable

 

comments on short paper #1

• grading (10 points - see the split)
  • shouldn't have 3 paragraphs for the def of each point and then one short par for the interactions
  • analysis should build on the points you made
• this assignment was hard - not just a multiple choice quiz
• you should know the difference between natural capital and ecosystem services

2. Discussions for today:

a. What are the positive and negative effects of the agricultural "green revolution"? How were these results achieved and what were the tradeoffs?

Describe the differences between industrial agriculture and high intensity ag?

b. What are the main environmental impacts of agriculture?

one is - loss of soil and degradation of natural capital

Quiz review - remember the 5 types of questions

3. Major Concepts from Chapter 13

• forms of agriculture being employed (industrial, shifting, planation, nomatic, intensive/traditional)
• methods and benefits from the agricultural "green" revolution (genetics, irrigation, fertilization, higher yields)
• food production, processing and distribution in theUS (in particular, energy costs)
• soil erosion and loss as "degradation of natural capital" (example: the US dust bowl)
• desertification (see also sidebar on Wangari Maathai on page 214)
• salinization
• soil conservation techniques
• food production (total and per capita)
• environmental impact of agriculture (biodiversity, soil, air pollution, water, human health)
• The "green revolution" and "GMO"s
• rangeland (be critical here - not just "cows are bad") (examine figure 14-22 about the amount of energy in meat)
• fishing as a form of industrial food production
• subsidization of fishing fleets
• ideas for transition to more sustainable agriculture
• pesticides
  
• integrated pest management - ecological view

4. Major concepts in Chapter 14 on Water Resources

• hydrologic cycle - review from chap 3
• distribution of freshwater between surface and groundwater
• watersheds and rivers
• groundwater recharge
  • mining of aquifers at faster than renewable rates
  • advantages/disadvantages (Table 14-7)
  • groundwater overdrafts Figure 14-8
• dams and reservoirs
  • advantages and disadvantatges
  • dam removal - what are the issues (not the answers)
• water transfers
  • California aqueduct -
  • Aral Sea
• other potential big water projects (desal)
• ways to save water
  • agriculture - drip irrigation
    
  • industry - recycling (polluting water is a large "take")
  • domestic use - pollution or high water demand landscaping
• water resources
  • watersheds with rain or snow as a source in the context of global climate change
  • pollution as a major loss of usable water
  • pollution as a source of human diseases