Understanding Our Environment Section 1.1

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Understanding Our EnvironmentSection 1.1

• Objectives
• Identify the influence of human population,
  technology, and cultural and industrial changes
  on the environment.

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Define Environmental Science

• How do you think environmental problems are
  identified?
• How long ago do you think environmental
  problems started?
• Rachel Carsons Silent Spring
• New York City and Manhattan
• The Fall of Troy
• Large mammal extinction

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Our Environment Through Time
Hunter-Gatherers The Agricultural Revolution The Industrial Revolution
Characteristics
Effects on the Environment
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Hunter-Gatherers

• Obtain food by ______________.
• Small groups migrated from place to place,
  following game and crops.
• Still exist in New Guinea and Amazon rain forests
  of South America
• How do they affect the environment?
• Spread plants
• Animal extinction
• Destruction of land (i.e., burning prairies)

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The Agricultural Revolution

• Collect seeds of plants gathered and domesticate
  animals.
• More people in smaller areas.
• What effects would this have?
• Slash-and-burn to convert land to farmland.
• What happens when forests are cleared like this?

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The Industrial Revolution

• Mid-1700s
• Energy use shifted from animal muscle and water
  power to fossil fuels to power machines.
• Even more people in smaller areas.
• Effects? (Think both positive and negative.)
• Population Growth p.13

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Our Main Environmental Problems

• Pollution
• Biodegradable
• Nondegradable
• Resource depletion
• Natural resource
• Renewable resources - examples
• Non-renewable resources - examples
• Loss of biodiversity