Scientific American Environmental Science for a Changing World

1736 Pages·2021·187.614 MB·English

by  Susan Karr, Anne Houtman, Jeneen Interlandi

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
For a Changing World
FOURTH EDITION
Susan Karr
Carson-Newman University
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BRIEF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Environmental, Science, and Information Literacy
Module 1.1 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
LESSONS FROM A VANISHED SOCIETY
Module 1.2 The Process of Science
FUNGAL ATTACKER THREATENS BATS
CHAPTER 2 Ecology
Module 2.1 Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling
ENGINEERING EARTH
Module 2.2 Population Ecology
GRAY WOLVES RETURN TO YELLOWSTONE
Module 2.3 Community Ecology
THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES: A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS
CHAPTER 3 Evolution and Biodiversity
Module 3.1 Evolution and Extinction
A TROPICAL MURDER MYSTERY
Module 3.2 Biodiversity
OIL PALM PLANTATIONS THREATEN TROPICAL FORESTS
ONLINE MODULE 3.3 Preserving Biodiversity
A FOREST WITHOUT ELEPHANTS
CHAPTER 4 Human Populations and Environmental Health
Module 4.1 Human Populations
THE KERALA MODEL
Module 4.2 Urbanization and Sustainable Communities
CREATING GREEN CITIES
Module 4.3 Environmental Health And Toxicology
ERADICATING A PARASITIC NIGHTMARE
CHAPTER 5 Managing Resources: Environmental Economics and Policy
Module 5.1 Ecological Economics and Consumption
WALL TO WALL, CRADLE TO CRADLE
Module 5.2 Environmental Policy
THE WORLD TACKLES OZONE DEPLETION
Module 5.3 Managing Solid Waste
MICROPLASTICS
CHAPTER 6 Water Resources
Module 6.1 Freshwater Resources
WATER WARS
Module 6.2 Water Pollution
SUFFOCATING THE GULF
ONLINE MODULE 6.3 Marine Ecosystems
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: THE “OTHER” CO PROBLEM
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CHAPTER 7 Geological and Land Resources
Module 7.1 Mineral Resources
LITHIUM: THE NEW PETROLEUM?
Module 7.2 Forest Resources
RETURNING TREES TO HAITI
ONLINE MODULE 7.3 Grasslands
RESTORING THE RANGE
CHAPTER 8 Food Resources
Module 8.1 Feeding the World
BANKING ON SEEDS
Module 8.2 Sustainable Agriculture: Raising Crops
FARMING LIKE AN ECOSYSTEM
ONLINE MODULE 8.3 Sustainable Agriculture: Raising Livestock
CAN A SUSTAINABLE DIET INCLUDE MEAT?
ONLINE MODULE 8.4 Fisheries and Aquaculture
FISH IN A WAREHOUSE?
CHAPTER 9 Conventional Energy: Fossil Fuels
Module 9.1 Coal
BRINGING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
Module 9.2 Oil and Natural Gas
THE BAKKEN OIL BOOM
CHAPTER 10 Air Quality and Climate Change
Module 10.1 Air Pollution
THE YOUNGEST SCIENTISTS
Module 10.2 Climate Change
CLIMATE REFUGEES
CHAPTER 11 Alternatives to Fossil Fuels
Module 11.1 Nuclear Power
THE FUTURE OF FUKUSHIMA
Module 11.2 Sustainable Energy: Stationary Sources
MOVING TOWARD A RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE
ONLINE MODULE 11.3 Sustainable Energy: Mobile Sources
GAS FROM GRASS
APPENDIX 1 BASIC MATH SKILLS
APPENDIX 2 DATA-HANDLING AND GRAPHING SKILLS
APPENDIX 3 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
GLOSSARY
ONLINE SOURCES
INDEX

DETAILED CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Environmental, Science, and Information Literacy
Module 1.1 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
LESSONS FROM A VANISHED SOCIETY
What can we learn about sustainability from a vanished Viking society?
1. Environmental Science
2. Empirical and Applied Science
3. Environmental Issues as “Wicked Problems”
4. Sustainable Development
5. Human Impact May Be Surpassing Planetary Boundaries
6. The Characteristics of a Sustainable Ecosystem
7. Nature as a Model for Sustainable Actions
8. Challenges to Solving Environmental Problems
9. Worldviews and Environmental Ethics
Module 1.2 The Process of Science
FUNGAL ATTACKER THREATENS BATS
Unraveling the mystery behind bat deaths
1. The Nature of Science and the Scientific Method
2. Certainty in Science: From Hypothesis to Theory
3. Observational and Experimental Studies
4. Evaluating Scientific Evidence: Correlation versus Causation
5. Information and Media Literacy
6. Information Literacy: Critical Thinking and Logical Fallacies
CHAPTER 2 Ecology
Module 2.1 Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling
ENGINEERING EARTH
An ambitious attempt to replicate Earth’s life support systems falls short
1. The Ecological Hierarchy: From Biosphere to Individual
2. Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
3. Biomes
4. Range of Tolerance and Its Impact on Species Distribution
5. The Carbon Cycle
6. The Nitrogen Cycle
7. The Phosphorus Cycle
Module 2.2 Population Ecology
GRAY WOLVES RETURN TO YELLOWSTONE
Endangered gray wolves return to the American West
1. Population Dynamics
2. Population Distributions
3. Population Size and Density
4. Exponential Population Growth
5. Logistic Population Growth
6. Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Growth Factors