Natural Resources. Natural Resources. Concerns. Land

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1 Natural Resources Renewable/Non-Renewable Resources Sustainability Biodiversity Conservation Objectives: 1) Provide examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources. How do they differ? 2) What are the positives and negatives of using coal and natural gas? 3) List 3 ways that humans might have hurt biodiversity. 4) Describe two ways that humans have helped to restore biodiversity. Natural Resources Renewable Resources Can be replaced in reasonable amount of time Water, soil, air, and wildlife Anything made by nature and needed by living organisms. Ex. Land, water, air, coal, oil, natural gas Nonrenewable Resources Cannot replace rapidly or in fixed quantities Minerals and fossil fuels Concern for conserving natural resources: Concerns Population increases Resources are consumed in greater quantities Environment degrades as result of use Demand for resources is major threat to biodiversity Used for a variety of purposes: Farming Housing Mining Recreation Land 1

2 Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink! Of ALL the water on Earth... Only 2.8% is freshwater Only.7% is not in glaciers or ice caps Only.01% is surface water Only.003%. is potable (drinkable)! Air 50% of air pollutants in the US come from transportation 28% from burning fuels for electric and heat. Fossil Fuels Derived from plants that died millions of years ago, thus NON-RENEWABLE Includes coal, oil and natural gas. The most abundant fossil fuel. Burned to produce electricity and for heating. 70% of coal burned in US is to create electricity. (Rest is used in manufacturing) 2/3 of coal mined in US is through surface mining, or strip mining. Destroys surface. In US, companies now required to restore land. ($$) Air pollution is a major concern. 70% of sulfur dioxide emissions come from burning coal. Many other air pollutants, including carbon dioxide are also released. Carbon dioxide has been linked to the greenhouse effect

3 Underground or Tunnel mining has an impact, too. Acids and chemicals pollute waterways. Abandoned mines collapse leading to land subsidence. Oil 63% of oil used in the US is for transportation. 25% industry 9% heating homes and businesses 3% generating electricity Over 6,000 products come from oil: Plastics Fertilizers Pesticides Medicines Waxes Asphalt Natural gas Gasoline Geoumwelt Bild 2 g,property=default.jpg Oil Drilling occurs on land and in the ocean. Spills can occur during the drilling process, while pumping it from the ground, and during transportation. Hazardous waste: toxic chemicals, can burn, smothers organisms Crude oil comes from the ground. It is then refined through fractional distillation Natural Gas Methane and other gasses, including butane and propane. 41% of natural gas used in the US is for heating residences and businesses. 15% generates electricity 3% transportation Heated Vaporized Cooled Separated Natural Gas Much less air pollution than coal and oil. Burns hotter. Easier to transport and use. Least abundant of the fossil fuels. Biodiversity Richness and diversity of life on Earth Certain species might be resources to humans Use for agriculturea griculture, medicine, science, and enjoyment 3

4 Extinction Complete loss of species of organism from Earth 5 major mass extinctions 65 million years ago wiped out dinosaurs Believed caused by catastrophic natural disasters Belief that humans are causing sixth mass extinction Result of: Habitat destruction Commercial hunting Introduction of invasive species Environmental degradation As population increases, more land needed for: Industry, housing, transportation, and agriculture Volcanic eruptions Outbreak of disease Asteroid impacts Changes in climate Introduction of Invasive Species Exotic or alien species introduced Where not normally found Cause destruction of ecosystems Populations grow rapidly Spread from lack of natural enemies Plants, animals, fish, insects, and fungi (Chestnut Blight Zebra Mussels) Emerald Ash Borer Larva Pollution of air, water, and soil Destroys and depletes habitats Industrial processes and consumption of natural resources Production of energy Only chance of survival for some species captivity captivity The Endangered Species Act Designed to protect endangered or threatened species Endangered species Organisms whose population has decreased Immediate danger of becoming extinct Threatened species Numbers are declining Saved if steps taken to protect 4

5 Wildlife Management Planned use, protection,, and control of wildlife Specialists Require very specific habitat requirements Most susceptible (Pandas eat only specific type bamboo found in mountains of China) Techniques Habitat improvement Establishing wildlife refuges & wilderness areas Protected ecosystem Contain only native species Controlled hunting and fisheries management Regulating seasons Limits on size & number species harvested Restocking Protection of breeding grounds Think About recycling? reusing? refusing (reducing)? Why must we protect the Earth s s animal and plant species and resources? 5