Manuel Molles, Brendan Borrell

Environment: Science, Issues, Solutions

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Written by bestselling author Manuel Molles and acclaimed science journalist Brendan Borrell, this new textbook gives non-major students the scientific foundation they need to understand environmental issues and think critically about possible solutions.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Macmillan Learning
• 1st ed. 2016
• Seitenzahl: 528
• Erscheinungstermin: 10. Januar 2016
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 274mm x 231mm x 20mm
• Gewicht: 1176g
• ISBN-13: 9780716761877
• ISBN-10: 0716761874
• Artikelnr.: 44680543

Autorenporträt

Manuel Molles; Brendan Borrell

Inhaltsangabe

Chapter 1: Introduction
Science
Environment is everything
Science uses a formal method to gather evidence about how nature works
Scientific evidence can reduce uncertainty about natural phenomena
The integrity of science depends on following a strict code of ethical
conduct
Issues
Human impact and environmental awareness began long ago
Human impact on the environment has become a global issue
Solutions
Environmental ethics extends moral responsibilities to the environment
Sustainability as a pragmatic solution to environmental woes
Environmental science provides a comprehensive framework for addressing
environmental issues
Chapter 2: Ecosystems and Economic Systems
Science
2.1 Ecosystems and economic systems are built on matter
2.2 Energy makes matter move
2.3 Energy flows through ecosystems, while matter recycles
2.4 Economic systems and their currencies take several forms
Issues
2.5 Energy fuels, and limits, the economy
2.6 How we represent economic systems can have environmental consequences
2.7 Unregulated use of resources can lead to a "Tragedy of the Commons"
Solutions
2.8 Economics should include environmental costs and benefits
2.9 Property rights can lead to environmental preservation
2.10 Alternative paths to sustainability: Tragedy of the Commons revisited
Chapter 3: Conservation of Endangered Species
Science
3.1 Genetic diversity is essential to the evolution and survival of
populations
3.2 Distribution and abundance are key indicators of population security
3.3 Populations change
3.4 The life history of a species influences its capacity to recover from
disturbance
3.5 Species interactions define biological communities
Issues
3.6 Habitat destruction and alteration are the most serious threats to
biodiversity
3.7 Invasive species threaten native species
3.8 Plant and wildlife trafficking are growing dangers to species
3.9 Pest and predator control have pushed species to the brink of
extinction
Solutions
3.10 National laws and international treaties protect endangered species
3.11 Banning of a toxin and captive breeding brought peregrine falcons back
from the brink of extinction
3.12 Population ecology provides a conceptual foundation for wolf
restoration
3.13 Restoration of North American gray wolves has required working through
conflict
3.14 Wild populations are sources of significant economic benefits
Chapter 4: Species and Ecosystem Diversity
Science
4.1 Species and ecosystem diversity are key elements of biodiversity
4.2 Geographic patterns and processes influence biodiversity
4.3 Some species influence biodiversity much more than others
4.4 Ecological succession affects community composition and diversity
4.5 Global species richness results from a balance between speciation and
extinction
Issues
4.6 Habitat fragmentation reduces biodiversity
4.7 Valuable services of ecosystems are threatened
4.8 Many invasive species harm ecosystems
Solutions
4.9 The number of protected areas has grown rapidly
4.10 Nongovernmental conservation complements governmental programs
4.11 Sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services requires active
management
4.12 Integrating conservation with local communities can help sustain
protected areas
Chapter 5: Human Populations
Science
5.1 Human population density varies significantly across Earth
5.2 The global population will grow into the middle of this century
5.3 The age structure of a population gives clues to its growth or decline
Issues
5.4 Fertility ranges greatly among countries and regions
5.5 Development varies widely among countries
5.6 Population growth and development generally increase environmental
impact
5.7 Developmental differences between populations create migration
pressures
Solutions
5.8 Most nations have national policies aimed at managing population growth
5.9 Human development is associated with lower fertility and reduced
emigration
5.10 The challenge: Achieve high development and sustainable resource use
Chapter 6: Sustaining Water Supplies
Science
6.1 The hydrologic cycle moves water around Earth
6.2 The El Niño Southern Oscillation causes periods of dry years and wet
years
Issues
6.3 Access to adequate water supplies as a human right
6.4 Humans already use most of the world's accessible freshwater supplies
6.5 Groundwater is being depleted faster than it is replenished
6.6 Managing water for human use threatens aquatic biodiversity
Solutions
6.7 Water conservation can increase water use efficiency substantially
6.8 Reclamation and recycling are saving water throughout the world
6.9 Desalination taps Earth's largest reservoir of water
6.10 Conservation and restoration can protect aquatic ecosystems and
biodiversity
Chapter 7: Sustaining Terrestrial Resources
Science
7.1 Climate, biodiversity, and nutrients influence terrestrial primary
production
7.2 Agriculture, forestry, and grazing systems are built on the natural
biomes
7.3 Soil structure and fertility result from dynamic processes
Issues
7.4 Industrial agriculture, which increased production, came with
environmental impacts
7.5 Common farming, grazing, and forestry practices deplete soils
7.6 Deforestation and some forestry management practices deplete soils and
increase flooding danger
7.7 Irrigation can damage soils
7.8 Intensive agriculture can cause pollution and promote pesticide
resistance
7.9 Genetically modified crops are sources of controversy and agricultural
potential
Solutions
7.10 Investing in local farmers, while increasing genetic and crop
diversity may be a sustainable approach to feeding our growing population
7.11 Sustainable farming, forestry, and ranching practices can reduce soil
losses and improve soil fertility
7.12 Sustainable irrigation requires careful management of water and salts
7.13 Integrated approaches to pest control can reduce pesticide pollution
and evolution of pesticide resistance
Chapter 8: Sustaining Aquatic Resources
Science
8.1 Commercial fish populations are heavily harvested and actively managed
8.2 Nutrient availability influences primary production in marine
environments
8.3 El Niño and other large-scale climatic systems affect fisheries
Issues
8.4 Tragedy of the commons: intensive harvesting has resulted in
overexploitation of many commercially important marine populations
8.5 Dams and river regulation have decimated migratory fish populations
8.6 Aquaculture can pollute aquatic environments and threaten wild fish
populations
Solutions
8.7 Saving global fish stocks requires careful management and strong
incentives
8.8 Biodiversity contributes to the productivity and stability of fisheries
8.9 River restoration may be a key to restoring decimated salmon
populations
8.10 Aquaculture can provide high-quality protein with low environmental
impact
Chapter 9: Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power
Science
9.1 Fossil fuels provide energy in chemical form
9.2 Power plants and vehicles burn fossil fuels to generate electricity and
movement
9.3 Nuclear energy is released by atomic fission and fusion
Issues
9.4 Global energy use grows as energy shortages loom
9.5 Fossil fuel extraction and use can harm the environment
9.6 Nuclear power development comes with environmental costs
Solutions
9.7 New laws and technology are cleaning oil industry
9.8 Ecosystem restoration can mitigate the environmental impacts of fossil
fuel extraction
9.9 Advances in nuclear power plant operation and design are aimed at
improving safety
Chapter 10: Renewable Energy
Science
10.1 Solar energy can be used as a heat source and to generate electricity
10.2 Wind, water, and geothermal energy add to the renewable energy
portfolio
10.3 Biomass fuels represent stored chemical energy
Issues
10.4 Solar power remains costly and can damage the environment
10.5 Wind turbines and transmission lines kill birds and bats
10.6 Hydroelectric development can have multiple environmental and social
impacts
10.7 Biofuel development can reduce food supplies and harm the environment
Solutions
10.8 Smart solutions to issues associated with solar power are under
development
10.9 Less damaging wind-generation strategies are under development
10.10 Downsizing can mitigate the impacts of hydroelectric development
10.11 Less damaging, more efficient biofuels are under development as
alternatives to oil-based fuels
Chapter 11: Environmental Health, Risk, and Toxicology
Science
11.1 Chemical hazards include toxic substances and pollutants.
11.2 Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are spread through the environment
Issues
11.3 Toxic substances move through in the environment and can accumulate in
large concentrations
11.4 Exposure to endocrine disruptors can affect the health of humans and
other organisms
11.5 Misuse and overuse have promoted resistance to antibiotics and
insecticides
11.6 Evolution challenges efforts to control malaria
Solutions
11.7 We assess risk both qualitatively and quantitatively
11.8 Risk management involves reducing environmental hazards and
controlling disease
Chapter 12: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Science
12.1 The "waste" generated by economic systems does not occur in ecosystems
12.2 Waste has diverse sources, properties, and varies with level of
economic development
Issues
12.3 Municipal solid waste management is a growing problem
12.4 Hazardous waste generation is increasing and is often handled unsafely
12.5 Safe nuclear waste disposal requires long-term security
12.6 Improperly handled hazardous wastes have contaminated many areas
Solutions
12.7 Modern municipal solid waste management emphasizes reduced disposal
12.8 Carefully managed sanitary landfills are essential to managing solid
waste
12.9 Careful handling and disposal of hazardous waste can reduce
contamination
12.10 Long-term storage systems for radioactive waste are under
construction
Chapter 13: Pollution: Air, Water, and Soil
Science
13.1 Sulfur: essential element and serious pollutant
13.2 The sources of pollution and properties of pollutants are diverse
13.3 Atmospheric and aquatic transport eventually move pollutants around
the planet.
Issues
13.4 Organic matter and nutrient pollution can disrupt local and distant
ecosystems
13.5 Acid rain is a major source of damage to aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems.
13.6 Soil and sediment pollution damages ecosystems and threatens human
health
13.7 Air pollution exacts major health-related and economic costs
Solutions
13.8 Environmental legislation and international treaties have played
important roles in reducing pollution in North America
13.9 There are many ways to reduce organic and nutrient pollution
13.10 Control measures have reduced emissions of pollutants and acid rain
13.11 Soils and sediments contaminated by hazardous wastes can be cleaned
using a variety of techniques.
13.12 Reducing air pollution can bring substantial health and economic
benefits
Chapter 14: Global Climate Change
Science
14.1 The atmosphere exerts key controls on planetary temperatures
14.2 Scientists began building the basis for understanding the greenhouse
effect more than 200 years ago
14.3 Global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have varied
cyclically
14.4 Atmospheric CO2 appears to be the thermostat controlling global
temperatures
Issues
14.5 Precise measurements reveal that fossil fuel burning is the main cause
of increased atmospheric CO2 levels
14.6 As CO2 levels have risen in modern times, global temperatures have
increased significantly
14.7 Rising temperatures have been accompanied by diverse changes in the
Earth system
14.8 Climate change can lead to a wide range of societal costs
Solutions
14.9 Developing a road map to reduce carbon emissions
14.10 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions provides new economic opportunities
14.11 Restoring and enhancing carbon sinks could help balance the carbon
budget