Environmental Science Course Work
Two examples of how humans have (* Unintentionally *) influenced natural selection in species
In Guam, non-native brown tree snakes were introduced by accident from a military cargo shipment into the environment and ecosystem. The snakes killed and ate several species of birds to extinction from the Guam mainland. Only a few in captivity or on nearby islands that don't have the brown tree snake present are surviving. The birds didn't have enough time to evolve traits necessary to escape the snakes.
Humans have produced enough pollution to darken trees in some areas. Many insects such as beetles have evolved with darker colors so predators can't see them as well. Once coevolution takes hold, predators with the best eyesight will eventually see darker beetles. Those who can't have a less chance to survive.
human byproduct evolution
Human byproduct evolution
Human byproduct extinction
Manage Discussion Entry
Item
Packaging:
Raw resources
Energy
Waste generated
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Why purchased:
Summary:
I admire that you are so concerned with environmental issues and are doing more than your part. I wonder how we can ever educate others to share our concerns. How do you convince others of our planet's crisis when there are those that still believe that global warming is a myth?
yes it takes people like you, to stand up and truly try to full abilities to better self and world you need to live, . good positive action.
It always frustrates me when I get something and there's tons of unnecessary packaging. Especially when I order something online and it comes in a box 10 times the necessary size stuffed with styrofoam peanuts or something. That would be epic if companies came up with a system to send back the packaging and pamphlets that you don't need so they could reuse them. Or would that just create more waste with the transportation involved?
David, that's an excellent point that sending the packaging back to the manufacturer via a truck possibly thousands of miles away for recycling may be about as eco friendly as driving 60 miles to cut down a christmas tree to avoid buying a plastic one down the street.
general operational principles of wind power production
Positive feedback loops
Negative feedback loops
Positive feedback loop example:
Negative feedback loop example:
95% greater
Summary of the Debate about Food Production
local production vs. global production and trade-
based products that are transported many miles to the consumer.)
My favorite Processed Food: Luna & Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss Vanilla Island Non-Dairy Frozen Yogurt
INGREDIENTS: Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water, Organic Guar Gum), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Vanilla Beans
The main ingredient is organic coconut. There are no ingredients listed that I have no idea what they are. However I didn't know what guar gum is definitely used for in this product, so upon researching the company's website, it's used for smoothing the texture.
Coconuts are grown in over 80 countries. I was unable to locate specific “organic” coconut farms or plantations, however the coconuts for this product are shipped form an organic grower in Thailand. The only places in the U.S. coconuts are grown and reproduced outdoors without irrigation are in southern Florida, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Coconuts are generally grown in a sustainable manner and under fair trade. No synthetic fertilizers or the use of chemical pesticides are used for growing organic coconuts. Certified farms and plantations grow trees which yield organic coconuts. Source: TheCoconutSite.com and wikipedia.org Coconut milk is produced from coconut milk from simple cold pressing without using heat which would kill some nutrients.
Coconuts are typically brought to the U.S. by sea vessel. Since the ones in my chosen product ingredients are from Thailand, that would be about 8,300 miles to Los Angeles according to any major mapping service on the web such as a few Google provides. This would likely be more sustainable than if it were brought by truck from Florida to California as diesel semi trucks utilize far more resources to haul goods per mile than typical sea cargo vessels do.
The materials used for the packaging include paper that is bleached without chlorine and non toxic ink. The container is fully recyclable locally. The container should be rinsed before recycling. The container is better recycled than composted as the time it takes to compost is not practical and this type of container is not desirable for composting purposes.
The company is Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss in Eugene, Oregon. The main message of their environmental public relation materials at their website include all of their products being “USDA Organic” and Non GMO Project Verified”. It is consistent with what I have learned about the product. The website focuses far more on health than environmental concerns. Nonetheless, coconut milk is a more environmentally friendly alternative to dairy milk. Source: SFGate.com
The production cycle of cow's milk includes soil fertilizer, livestock feed, deforestation, manure management and methane emissions from the cows. Conversely, coconut farming will possibly sequester carbon into the soil as well as offset carbon dioxide production into the atmosphere. Source: the Philippine Coconut Authority
unfccc.int
Subsistence farming: 48%
Commercial agriculture: 32%
Logging: 14%
Fuel wood: 5%
Salmon's Impact on Ecosystems
food webs
biodiversity
keystone species
Mary F. Willson and Karl C. Halupka. 1995. Anadromous fish as a keystone species in vertebrate communities.
Conservation Biology
9(3):489-497
Oct 18, 2013
Wolves!
Anthropocentric
The Wedge Pack wolves should be killed off
Biocentric
the Wedge Pack wolves should be relocated
Ecocentric
the Wedge Pack wolves should be relocated
exponential growth
biotic
logistical growth
carrying capacity
limiting factor
Ecosystem services
Ecosystem goods
Ecological goods and services
EG&S
Simulated population growth in the United States
Independent Variable: FoodVariables chosen: One person, apartment, unknown composition, $25/mo electric, no meat, no dairy, mostly local food, little clothing or bedding, never new appliances, infrequent electronics, rarely books, often recycle, 1-50 miles a week in car only, highest mpg, never fly. Prediction of Change of Dependent Variables: Twice as much for every variable.Original results of being vegan, local unpackaged:3.3 planets, 15.9 acres, 16 tones of CO2, 15% foodNew results of most extreme meat eater, distant, packaged food: The same.
Location Effects
need new clothes in the same essence as kids. As kids grow older, especially males, their food consumption is ridiculous. There's also medical bills, schooling...etc
peer reviews
hypothesis
inferences
empirical evidence
cause-and-effect relationship
hypothesis
peer-reviewed
hypothesis
theory