BIOL 101- Environmental Science
- Page ID
- 175713
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Bolded text. Key terms are bolded throughout the text. Student are encouraged to learn the definition of each of these terms as a foundation for understanding environmental science principles. Figure and table numbers are also bolded throughout the text.
- Front Matter
- This page outlines the LibreTexts Project, which promotes free educational resources via an open platform aimed at improving accessibility and lowering student costs. It encourages collaborative development of openly licensed materials and incorporates advanced technologies to enhance learning. The initiative is supported by several educational organizations, including the National Science Foundation.
- 1: Introduction to Environmental Science
- This chapter emphasizes the significance of science and mathematics in contemporary life, focusing on their role in unbiased information evaluation. It defines the scientific process and distinguishes between basic science for knowledge expansion and applied science for practical problem-solving. An overview of environmental science is included, preparing readers for the book's forthcoming topics.
- 2: Humans and the Environment
- This chapter explores how environmental ethics, environmental justice, sustainability, and environmental policy help people understand and address environmental challenges while supporting healthy ecosystems, communities, and future generations. Image by Erin Rempala redrawn from Herman Daly's Nested Dependencies model.
- 3: Ecology
- Ecology explores how living organisms interact with each other and their environment. In this chapter, you'll examine populations, communities, ecosystems, and energy flow.
- 4: Evolution
- This chapter outlines the mechanisms and evidence of evolution, focusing on natural selection driven by population variations, heritability, and competition for resources. It highlights factors like mutations, genetic drift, and selective pressures that affect allele frequency, as well as the role of relative fitness in population evolution.
- 5: Biodiversity
- Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, from genes and species to entire ecosystems. In this chapter, you'll explore how biodiversity arises through evolution, why it is essential for healthy ecosystems, and the challenges it faces in a changing world. Image: fungal diversity: Sasata, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
- 5.1: The Value of Biodiversity
- 5.2: The Importance of Biodiversity to Human Life
- 5.3: Levels of Biodiversity
- 5.4: The Biodiversity Crisis
- 5.5: Threats to Biodiversity
- 5.6: Extinction
- 5.7: Measuring Biodiversity Loss
- 5.8: Preserving Biodiversity
- 5.9: Policies Protecting Biodiversity
- 5.10: Data Dive- Threats to Biodiversity
- 6: Human Population Growth
- This chapter discusses the success of Homo sapiens in various environments through cooperation and innovation, while highlighting the significant ecological impacts of this success. It emphasizes the need for sustainability and the study of human population dynamics, including growth factors and their effects on ecosystems. Additionally, it addresses demographic changes and the ethical considerations necessary for managing resource use and population growth responsibly.
- 7: The Energy System
- Energy powers modern society and shapes how we interact with the environment. In this chapter, you'll compare fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, and nuclear energy (fission and fusion), examining how each generates electricity, their benefits and limitations, and their impacts on ecosystems, climate, and sustainability.A Plasma ball photographed from above. © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
- 8: Atmospheric Pollution
- Air Pollution affects human health, ecosystems, and Earth's atmosphere on local and global scales. In this chapter, you'll investigate traditional air pollutants, acid deposition, and ozone depletion, exploring their causes, environmental impacts, and the strategies used to reduce air pollution and protect environmental health.
- 9: Global Climate Change
- Global Climate Change is altering Earth's climate system through rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and increasing extreme events. In this chapter, you'll explore the causes and consequences of climate change, examine evidence from across the globe, and evaluate strategies for mitigation and adaptation in a changing world.
- 9.1: Weather, Climate, and Climate Change
- 9.2: Earth's Energy Balance and Radiation
- 9.3: The Greenhouse Effect
- 9.4: Evidence and Causes of Climate Change
- 9.5: Impacts of Climate Change
- 9.6: Ocean Acidification- The Other Carbon Problem
- 9.7: Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change
- 9.8: Data Dive- Flooding in Venice Italy
- 10: The Water System
- The Water System is essential for life, connecting Earth's freshwater resources through the hydrologic cycle. In this chapter, you'll explore how water moves through the environment, how humans use and manage freshwater supplies, the challenges of water scarcity, and the causes, impacts, and solutions to water pollution. Through real-world examples, you'll examine the importance of protecting water resources for both people and ecosystems.
- 10.1: The Hydrologic Cycle and Freshwater Distribution
- 10.2: Water Usage
- 10.3: Water Scarcity and Sustainable Water Management
- 10.4: Case Study - The Salton Sea
- 10.5: Water Pollution
- 10.6: Water Treatment- Protecting Drinking Water and Treating Wastewater
- 10.7: Preventing Water Pollution and Restoring Watersheds
- 11: Waste, Materials, and the Circular Economy
- Waste does not disappear when it leaves our homes. This chapter examines how solid waste affects ecosystems and communities and explores how recycling, composting, waste reduction, and circular-economy strategies can help create more sustainable material systems.
- 12: Environmental Health and Toxicology
- Environmental Health and Toxicology explores how environmental factors influence human health and well-being. In this chapter, you'll investigate environmental hazards, the spread of infectious diseases, principles of epidemiology, and the effects of toxic substances on living organisms. You'll also examine real-world case studies and strategies for reducing environmental risks to protect both human populations and ecosystems.
- 13: The Agricultural System
- The Agricultural System provides the food and resources that sustain human societies while shaping ecosystems around the world. In this chapter, you'll explore food security, industrial agriculture, soil formation and degradation, agricultural biotechnology, and sustainable farming practices. By examining the environmental impacts and benefits of different agricultural approaches, you'll gain insight into the challenge of producing enough food for future generations while protecting nature.
- Back Matter
- Image: back of book, Pexels (CC0).https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-books-159866/