Final Exam

Diana Barlow

Final Exam

Question 2

5/19/10

Discuss what you think are the 3 biggest components of our ecological footprint (i.e. what are the 3 areas we have the largest impacts on the environment) and what you think we can do to change to more sustainable practices. Be sure to use specific examples and evidence to back up your claims

We live in a planet that we usually tend to take for granted. Everything we do has an effect on Earth's delicate balance and the lives of the many species it houses. But out of all the ecological footprints we stampede the Earth with, I believe thatfossil fuel consumption, food industries, and deforestation have the three largest effects on our planet.

As a fact, the “largest source of CO2 emissions globally is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas in power plants, automobiles, industrial facilities and other sources” (EPA). Between 2000 and 2008, scientists report a 20% increase in the global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels alone. The use of coal as a fossil fuel is now more common then oil and developing countries are now emitting more greenhouse gases then developed countries, with ¼ of their emissions due to increased trade with the West (Science Daily). In the U.S. we use fossil fuels to generate more than 2/3 of our electricity, 51% of that is generated with coal, but the average coal-fired power plant is only 1/3 efficient, meaning that it loses 2/3 of the energy, and is wasted in result. The problem with fossil fuels is that its non renewable, meaning we can't use it over and over again, and mining for such fuels leads to irreversible damage to the environment because it destroys natural habitats and displaces thousands of species. A better way for energy means having to use alternative renewable energy sources and begin accommodating our country to match its new needs. The five most often used renewable sources are, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar. When renewable energy sources are used, the demand for fossil fuels are reduced, and unlike fossil fuels, renewable sources do not directly emit greenhouse gases. The reason we don't completely convert from fossil fuels to renewables is because we live in a country ran by fossil fuels. The process of changing our system to fit the new renewables, would initially be expensive, but would be cost efficient in the long run.

Another large impact on our environment would be the food industries and the human consumerism behind them. Every step in our food industry system, whether it be food production, processing, transportation, storage, distribution and marketing, has some kind of effect on the environment. The food industry is one of the largest manufacturers in the United States, with the second highest value of shipments compared to all industry sectors. The food industry is also growing, with shipment prices raising from $309 billion in 1986 to $431 billion in 1994. In 1991, the typical US household devoted 15 percent of after-tax income to the purchase of food and beverage products (ACEEE). The food industry also creates a lot of waste in different quality and quantities, which is not properly treated, could lead to increasing disposal problems and severe pollution problems. If that wasn't enough, according to Food Inc., the average food product travels about 1,500 miles to get to your nearest grocery store. Transporting the food accounts for 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Large portions of land are being taken over and used for farming, factory buildings, and corporations. A ton of energy is put into the vast amounts of harvesting animals and the production of the meat products we consume. Plus, worldwidelivestock farming creates 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A way we could solve this problem would to buy locally produced organic food. The planet benefits when the meals we buy don't have to travel so far to get to our plates because it supports local farms instead of large food corporations. Scientists from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, estimate that if every American lowered meat consumption by just 20%, it would lower greenhouse gasses as much as if everyone in the country switched to driving Toyota Priuses.

The third impact on our environment is deforestation. There are many reasons why forests are cut down, but the main ones are related to money, urban sprawl, or the needs of the people and their conveniences. The biggest reason of deforestation is agriculture. Trees are very important because not only do they stand as a home for 50% - 90% of all organisms, 90% of primates, and 50 million creatures that can live no place but rich rainforests, but they also improve the quality of the air that we breath by trapping carbon and other particles produced by pollution. Trees are natural syncs, they take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. We burn fossil fuels during the process of cutting down the trees, and we “slash and burn” which lets out tons of carbon dioxide back into our atmosphere. The immediate and long-term consequences of global deforestation is jeopardizing biodiversity, including the human population. Consequences include, the extinction of species, the destruction of natural environments, and climate change (National Geographic). The way we can help stop this problem is simple. It's recycling. Buying used things, reusing old things, it all adds up and contributes to saving the environment.

I've chosen fossil fuel consumption, food industries, and deforestation to have the three largest effects on our planet because they are the ones I see the most aware of, and experienced in.

Sources

"Carbon Dioxide - Human-Related Sources and Sinks of Carbon Dioxide | Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions | U.S. EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA, 03 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. .

University of East Anglia. "Fossil Fuel Carbon Dioxide Emissions Up by 29 Percent Since 2000." ScienceDaily 17 November 2009. 19 May 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091117133504.htm>.

Okos, Martin, Nishant Rao, Sara Drecher, Mary Rode, and Jeannie Kozak. "Energy Usage in the Food Industry." ENERGY USAGE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. ACEEE - American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Oct. 1998. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.aceee.org/pubs/ie981.htm>.

"Deforestation Facts, Deforestation Information, Effects of Deforestation - National Geographic." Environment Facts, Environment Science, Global Warming, Natural Disasters, Ecosystems, Green Living - National Geographic. Web. 20 May 2010. .

Diana Barlow

Final Exam

Question 8

5/19/10

How does food consumerism positively and negatively affect the health of the people, the environment, and food industries of America?

Consumerism is the way of life for people in advanced civilizations worldwide. Consumerism can either be an advantage or disadvantage to the people and their health, a positive or negative effect on the environment, and the motivation or degradation of food industries.

A good thing about being a consumer in the U.S. is that there is practically unlimited access to healthy food in many locations. Consumerism makes things easier and convenient for us. Because of consumerism, there is motivation for companies to produce more things. However, some cons are that healthy food is expensive thus making cheap junk food as a popular choice at the grocery store, and as time progresses, more consumers regard health as a primary concern when buying food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 76 million Americans are sickened, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die each year from food borne illnesses. We used to have methods of preventing illnesses from hurting people. “In 1998, the USDA implemented microbial testing for salmonella and E. coli 0157h7 so that if a plant repeatedly failed these tests, the USDA could shut down the plant. After being taken to court by the meat and poultry associations, the USDA no longer has that power” (Food Inc). We don't have that sort of protection anymore. Human's health is steadily inclining with 1 in 3 Americans born after the year 2000 contracting early onset diabetes, and among minorities, the rate will be 1 in 2 (Food Inc). E. Coli and Salmonella pose as a common threat to the consumers who are theones fueling the profits of the Industries who are hurting them.

There really aren't any consumerism pros when it comes down to how it effects the environment. The only thing I can think of is that nowadays some people are trying to 'go green' so they try to buy organic fruits, vegetables, and meat which is good for the environment. But besides that, due to the rise of human population and the overconsumption of energy, there is a huge strain on Earth’s natural resources. According to Food Inc, the average food product travels about 1,500 miles to get from where it originated to the grocery store, and transporting food accounts for 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. If that wasn't bad enough, even factories and slaughterhouses are emitting tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Every procedure in the food processing business has an effect on the environment.

Consumerism is the heart of the food industry. The more customers that buy their products, the more money they make. So companies want all the customers they can get, thus forcing them to accommodate and change their ways to suit customer preferences. That could mean healthier and better food products for the consumers, if they want it. But thats the problem,customers don't realize what they're eating. “There is this deliberate veil, this curtain that's drawn between us and where our food is coming from. The industry doesn't want you to know the truth about what you're eating because if you knew, you might not want to eat it” (Food Inc). Since changing the way a company works to match customer preferences can be very expensive, some companies just choose not to change, and not be safe and healthy – because it's cheaper. “When there's a financial interest involved, these (food industry) companies would rather make the money and be sued then correct it” (food inc). Minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables obviously aren't where food companies look for profits. The money come from turning government-subsidized common crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans, into junk food. High-profit products derived from these crops are usually high in calories and low in nutritional value.

Diana Barlow

Final Exam

Question 6

5/20/10

Using terms and concepts from both the carbon cycle and climate change, describe in detail what global warming is and how we as humans can have both positive and negative effects towards climate change?

Global warming is an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in result changes in climate. Climate change is known as the long term average of a region's weather and it has become a problem that is affecting people and the environment. Changes in climate means big changes for the species who live in certain areas of the world. Plants and animals have the ability to adapt, but the problem is, they can not adapt fast enough to match the changes in the climate.The changes force them to migrate, lose their main sources of food, or even die out. Its a huge deal because it puts our biodiversity at risk. Climate change happens when greenhouse gases trap heat and light from sun in the Earth's atmosphere. When the sun's light hits the planet, some of its rays are absorbed int the Earth, some are bounced back into space, and some are bounced off the Earth but remain in its atmosphere. Global warming keeps the rays that are supposed to bounce back into space in the atmosphere creating a greenhouse effect. A big contributer to global warming is CO2, luckily we have the carbon cycle to recycle it and put that CO2 to good use.

The Earth maintains a natural carbon balance and when concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are high, it upsets the natural balance. The readjustment works slowly compared to the fast rate at which humans are moving carbon into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Natural syncs such as the oceans and trees can't remove the carbon in the air fast enough so the CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere increases which effects the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is a cycle in which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. It is important because it allows for carbon to be recycled and reused throughout the biosphere and all of its organisms.

We are the reason we have to deal with the whole global warming problem anyways. One of our negative effects includeburning fossil fuels such as coal because it emits a ton of CO2 into our atmosphere when burned. Another cause of global warming is deforestation because the process of cutting down trees lets out CO2, and trees are one of our natural syncs. Another negative effect humans have on global warming is the large amounts of wasted electricity we produce. Whenever we leave computers on sleep mode, or keep a bunch of things plugged in, we're exposing our atmosphere to electrical pollution. However, humans are beginning to realize the negative impacts they have on the environment and are now trying to improve. Ways that humans have a positive effect on the planet in attempts to slow down or turn around global warming would be carpooling! By using less cars on the road, there are less greenhouse gasses emitting into the air. Humans are also now more conscientious about wasting electricity, food scraps that could be composted, and recyclables. They are now making an effort to have as little waste as possible and buying eco-friendly products. Humans are also planting trees and preserving large areas of land in order to protect habitats. The government helped too by creating the Clean Air Act so that there would be less pollution. It meant that many companies had to change their products to decrease air pollution, and car companies had to change car designs so that they would emit less CO2 too.

Diana Barlow

Final Exam

Question 4

5/20/10

There are many ways we can have both direct and indirect impacts on our environment through the disposal of our waste; describe how we as humans can deal with our waste and make specific suggestions for how we can decrease our impacts.

When people avoid making garbage in the first place, they don't have to worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later.The key to reducing waste, is to change our habits. That means thinking differently about the way we shop, work, and live.

As humans, we have many direct and indirect impacts on the environment. When we have a direct impact on the environment, it means that we are purposely doing things that we know is hurting our planet. That ranges from deforestation, to throwing trash away, to burning fossil fuels. We also have an indirect impact on the environment meaning that we do things that don't seem like we're hurting the planet, but in reality we are. That happens when we buy products because it still took energy to make them, when we throw trash away, because the trash still emits methane into the atmosphere.

Most of our waste comes from our home. A good portion of what people throw in the garbage every day is paper, and most of that comes from the mail. The average American household receives more than 500 pieces of advertising mail each year.Recycling the junk mail is alright, but reducing the flow of junk mail will conserve natural resources and save our limited landfill space. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 27 percent of the nation's total food supply — 97 billion pounds — went to waste in 1995. Food is wasted in many ways, such as preparing too much, letting fresh food go bad and buying more then needed. Food waste is the third largest component of generated waste (after yard waste and corrugated boxes) and second largest component of discarded waste, after yard waste. “The amount of food waste generated in the waste stream has increased by 1.2 million tons in the last 25 years, this is one of the lowest increases on a percentage basis of any component of the waste stream” (Reducing Waste at Home). But a way we can fix that is by creating compost piles with our food scraps to fertilize our gardens. Other ways we can decrease our impacts would be like buying canteens instead of buying water bottles because North Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.

"Global Warming." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. 2002. Web. 21 May 2010. <http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/global_warming.htm>.

"Reducing Waste at Home." Www.reduce.org | Reduce Waste: If Not You, Who? Web. 21 May 2010. .

Fresh Pesto with Basil and Arugula Tossed Over Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:

4-6 cups of basil and arugula leaves (equal portions)
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons garlic
1 cup of olive oil
1 cup of parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Method:

1. Blanche the basil and arugula leaves in a sieve over boiling water for 10-15 seconds, add a little lemon juice while blanching

2. Plunge leaves in ice water bath.

3. While leaves are cooling, toast pine nuts over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

4. Squeeze water out of pesto leaves, roll leaves in tea tools or paper towels to dry, then chop the leaves.

5. Add leaves, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, 3/4 cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to food processor, and blend.

6. Add remaining olive oil to warm pan, then cooked pasta to pan for 1 minute.

7. Toss pasta in the pan with pesto, add parmesan cheese.

8. Serve on warm plate!

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explain how ethanol should be the main energy provider for the United States instead of other alternative fuels due to its proficiencies in job creation, energy security, and environmental benefits. In 2008, The U.S. ethanol industry added an additional 240,000 jobs, bringing the employment attributable to ethanol to almost a half a million. Switching from petroleum to ethanol would give the U.S. more control over our own fuel security and future because we would be in control of our own fuel supplies. The production and use of nine billion gallons of ethanol in the U.S. reduced CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 14 million tons, the equivalent of removing more than 2.1 million cars from America's roadways. What this means for the future is that by switching our alternative fuels from coal or propane to ethanol, citizens get jobs, the economy rises once again, the U.S. has more control over our fuel sources, and we benefit our environment by not emitting as much carbon dioxide and green house gasses as other options.

However, with every alternative fuel source, there are pros and cons that should not be overlooked. As a word of caution, if ethanol became the main energy provider, corn farmlands would exponentially take over most arable land. Ethanol also has a negative net gain, meaning that it doesn't provide as much energy when compared to the amount of energy used to make it.

Pull Quotes

“By finding replacements of hundreds of millions of barrels of imported oil, domestically produced ethanol would produce billions of dollars to invest in domestic renewable energy technologies” (Renewable Fuels Association).

“Ethanol is a good alternative fuel because it is clean burning and renewable. It burns cleaner than gasoline because it consists of 35% oxygen, adding oxygen to fuels reduces harmful tailpipe emissions and displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene, a carcinogen” (Barlow 2010).

Food Inc. Reflection

Food Inc has been the most eye opening and perspective changing movie I have seen in years. The part that struck out the most to me, regarded the mother and the loss of her son Kevin. I was shocked because after his death, she just wanted food corporations to change their ways to prevent any future accidents, but instead, they decided against it.

This movie made me wonder that if the government is supposed to protect the health of their people, why have they not created and or enforced laws to take drastic measures in the food industry? If there was pressure imposed on food corporations that applied to the living conditions of the animals, the health and safety conditions of the workers, the sanitary conditions of the meat, any of that, corporations would feel obligated and pressured to change their ways in fear of losing their customers. It frustrates me how the only motivation companies can have to begin taking safety precautions, is money instead of morality. I always wonder if there would ever be a change or if that's the only mentality our species is doomed to have.

Another thing that struck out to me was the living conditions of the animals before they died. That form of cruelty and malnourishment was astonishing. I was so surprised that food industries would go through such lengths to satisfy their thirst of supply and demand.

Senior Project Rough Draft Essay #2

Diana Barlow

Environmental Science

15 March 2010

Senior Project Rough Draft Essay #2

Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, (CH₃CH₂OH) is a renewable fuel made from biomass. Although ethanol production goes as far back as the Industrial Revolution, we still continue to develop new forms of technology for ethanol based fuel today. With concerns over our country outsourcing the majority of our fuel, and the impact these fuels have on our atmosphere, it is concluded that another energy source is needed. A new qualified biofuel has to provide a positive net energy gain, have environmental benefits, be economically competitive, and be producible in large quantities without reducing food supplies (Hill 2006). I argue that the United States should use ethanol as our main energy provider instead of alternative fuels due its applications such as job creation, energy security, and environmental benefits.

We are currently going through “America's Second Great Depression”, with the worst wave of bankruptcies, job losses and financial crisis in history. However with Ethanol, our future is looking brighter then ever. The growing ethanol industry alone, provides a significant contribution to the American economy, creating new high-paying jobs, increasing market opportunities for farmers, generating additional household income and tax revenues, and stimulating capital investment (American Coalition for Ethanol). In “2008, The U.S. ethanol industry last year added an additional 240,000 jobs, bringing the employment attributable to ethanol to almost a half a million” (Renewable Fuels Association). The process itself of creating and distributing corn based ethanol is done by American workers because it is currently only produced in the U.S. The American Coalition of Ethanol claims that “with an approximate cost of $60 million for one year of construction, an ethanol plant expands the local economic base by $110 million each year”. Those are new jobs created due to the increase in ethanol production. “In 2008, ethanol contributed $65 billion to GDP, added $20 billion to household income, and displaced the need for 321 million barrels of oil.” These are only the beginning effects ethanol production can have on our country and the lives of our citizens.

The U.S. imports 65% its petroleum needs today and two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves are located in the volatile Middle East. The U.S. Is increasingly depended on imported forms of energy to supply our needs. The production of ethanol allows the U.S. To become less dependent on foreign energy since it is domestically produced here (Renewable Fuels Association). That would allow the U.S., more control over our own security and future because we would be in control of our fuel supplies. “By displacing hundreds of millions of barrels of imported oil, the increasing reliance on domestically-produced ethanol is making available billions of dollars for investment in domestic renewable energy technologies” (Renewable Fuels Association).

In the graph it is clearly seen that as the years go by domestic forms of oil decrease while there is a rise in the amount of barrels we import from around the world a day.

Ethanol is an environmentally friendly renewable resource that burns cleaner than gasoline because it consists of 35% oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuels reduces harmful tailpipe emissions and displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene, a carcinogen. Ethanol is non-toxic, water soluble and highly biodegradable (American Coalition for Ethanol). Ethanol is produced from plants unlike petroleum based fossil fuels that have a limited supply and is a major contributer of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses. Because Ethanol is made from renewable, plant-based feedstocks, the carbon dioxide released during a vehicle's fuel combustion is "recycled" by the plant as it grows. “Using ethanol in place of gasoline helps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 29% given today's technology” (American Coalition for Ethanol), and in 2008, the production and use of nine billion gallons of ethanol in the U.S. reduced CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 14 million tons, the equivalent of removing more than 2.1 million cars from America's roadways (Morgon 2008). Ethanol has made a drastic impact on the environment by cutting down on the CO2 emissions and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 12% (Hill 2006).

Even with all the benefits we receive with ethanol, the main concern has been questioned whether ethanol will really be an advantage to the economy or not. A problem is that ethanol cannot travel in pipelines like conventional gasoline because it picks up moisture and other impurities in the pipeline. Ethanol can only be transported by trucks, trains, or barges which are more expansive and complicated than using pipelines. This significantly increases transportation costs and as ethanol production increases, the result will be higher ethanol prices (Morgon 2008). Another predicament is that the U.S., does not have the infrastructure to accommodate the widespread ethanol use, which means that we have based our country upon coal and other fossil fuels and the adjustments would be expensive. The Net Energy Balance (NEB) is the biofuel energy content versus the fossil fuel energy inputs. The NEB for corn grain ethanol is small, providing approximately 25% more energy than required for its production.

This chart regards the NEB of corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel production. “Energy inputs and outputs are expressed per unit energy of the biofuel. All nine input categories are consistently ordered in each set of inputs, as in the legend, but some are so small as to be nearly indistinguishable. Individual inputs and outputs of ≥0.05 are labeled; values <0.05>Left) and for the biofuel only (Right)” (Hill 2006).

Biodiesel is a renewable, promising alternative fuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. The National Biodiesel Board reports that the production of biodiesel is highly efficient: 3.2 units of fuel energy from diesel are created from one unit of fossil energy used in production. Biodiesel is environmentally friendly because it burns cleaner because of the presence of oxygen in the fuel, resulting in fewer toxic emissions that reduce air quality. The National Biodiesel Board also states the numerous economic benefits, including $24 billion added to the U.S., economy by 2015, and resulting in 39,102 new jobs. However, biodiesel's largest problem is producing meaningful quantities of the fuel. Biodiesel certainly looks to be better for the environment, but from an economic standpoint it has several disadvantages over petroleum diesel.

A fuel cell is an “electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity with water and heat as its byproduct” (Department of Energy). The benefits that come along with fuel cells are that it would cut the U.S., dependence from the oil producing countries, be extremely reliable and efficient, have a 30% greenhouse gas reduction, emit small amounts of CO2, and provide more energy from the same amount of fuel that current conventions use (Bloomer 2003). As nice as that all sounds, there are some faults that come along with the idea. Similar to the other new fuels, a transition from a hydrogen and coal fueled economy to fuel cells would be extremely expensive. Another problem is which to develop first; the fuel or the end use applications. This is beginning to greatly interfere with production of this new technology. Investments will only come if there appears to be a large ROI and ROI only will come once consumers believe that this technology is effective and efficient (Department of Energy).

When compared to other forms of energy such as biodiesel or fuel cells, ethanol surpasses them all. Ethanol is the renewable fuel that benefits our country in so many ways. Citizens can get jobs, the economy rises once again, the U.S., has more control over our fuel sources, and we benefit our environment by not emitting as much carbon dioxide and green house gasses. "America's dependence on oil is one of the most serious threats that our nation has faced. It bankrolls dictators, pays for nuclear proliferation, and funds both sides of our struggle against terrorism. It puts the American people at the mercy of shifting gas prices, stifles innovation and sets back our ability to compete." said by President Barack Obama, January 26, 2009.

References

"American Coalition for Ethanol." ACE. 15 Apr. 2008 .

"RFA - Resource Center - Ethanol Facts." RFA - Renewable Fuels Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2010. .

Hill, Jason, Erik Nelson, David Tilman, Stephen Polasky, and Douglas Tiffany. "Environmental, Economic, and Energetic Costs and Benefits of Biodiesel and Ethanol Biofuels." PNAS 103.30 (2006). Print.

Paul, Winters. "Industrial Biotechnology Is Revolutionizing the Production of Ethanol Transportation Fuel." Biotechnology Industry Organization (2008). Web. Feb. 2010.

Morgon, John, William Nickley, Megan Monaco, and Eric Miller. "Alternative Fuel Sources and Their Economic and Environmental Impacts." Dicke College of Business Administration (2008). Print.

Department of Energy. (2006). Fuel Cells. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from US. Department Of Energy Website.<>.

Bloomer, Michael. (2003). Fuel Cell Report to Congress. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from

U.S. Department of Energy .

Why Biodiversity is Important Questions.

1. The argument is that biodiversity is the idea that humans are part of nature.
2. The anthropocentric belief is that human beings are the sole bearers of intrinsic value or possess greater intrinsic value than non-human nature.
3. The Noah's principle discusses that the usefulness of a species is not considered when discussing its conversation, but rather its very presence in the long history of evolution is sufficient to warrant its preservation.
4. I believe it is true because humans had a connection with nature from the beginning of time whether it was with plants or animals. And that connection is pretty natural for us humans to have.
5. Domesticated agricultural crops, medicines and the clothes we wear.
6. Air and water purification, climate regulation, and the generation of moisture and oxygen.
7. Because even a gram of soil still inhabits life.
8. There is a bias towards the protection of species and ecosystems that have attributable economic value and this perspective may also lead to the conclusion that ecosystems that are not directly benefitting humans are worth more to humans developed than undeveloped.
9. Because aesthetic value doesn't necessarily hold a lot of biodiversity when its for looks, but this is an argument relevant only to the minority of wealthy citizens in developed countries and holds little to do with the majority of the world's population.
10. Because a lot of stuff is still unknown. All our goods, spices and medicines have been discovered “accidently” from biodiversity.

Futuristic Energy

While I was in class working, I tried to find sources for my brand new essay topic which is future forms of photosynthesis and energy.

Sassen, Saskia. "THE ECOLOGY OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC POWER: CHANGING INVESTMENT PRACTICES TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY." Journal of International Affairs 58.2 (2005): 11 - 23. History Study Center. Web. 4 Mar. 2010.

http://www.historystudycenter.com.sdplproxy.sandiego.gov/search/displayJournalPqProxyAsciiItemById.do?UseMapping=JournalPqProxyAscii&fromPage=toc&QueryName=journal&UniqueIdField=PQID&format=TG&cacheImages=true&collectionsTag=&journalID=6&ItemID=1382721381&PQID=1382721381

I didn't get very far in my attempts of finding lots of sources because both articles took a long time to read through.

Biodiversity - Science Articles

Consequences of Changing Biodiversity

Interesting Quotes

“Fossil-fuel combustion and deforestation have increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by 30% in the past three centuries (with more than half of this increase occurring in the past 40 years).”

“We have more than doubled the concentration of methane and increased concentrations of other gases that contribute to climate warming.”

“In the next century these greenhouse rate as a consequence of human activities. Already we have caused the extinction of 5–20% of the species in many groups of organisms and current rates of extinction are estimated to be 100 1,000 times greater than pre-human rates.”

“In the absence of major changes in policy and human behavior, our effects on the environment will continue to alter biodiversity.”

What the Article is About

The article included many informing graphs, such a a graph on the global number of species of birds, mammals, fish and plants that are currently threatened with extinction. Other included graphs showed the ecosystem and societal consequences of change in biodiversity over time.The article is also about how the human impact on the world and how it has triggered the sixth major extinction event in the history, causing so many disruptions in the natural environment. These changes in the biodiversity affected the ecosystems and led to many consequences for the free services we get from nature. We need to preserve our biodiversity for future global environmental problems.

Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Priorities

Interesting Quotes

“The 25 hotspots contain the remaining habitats of 133,149 plant species (44% of all plant species world-wide; Table 1) and 9,645 vertebrate species (35%; Table 2). These endemics are confined to an aggregate expanse of 2.1 million square kilometres, or 1.4% of the Earth's land surface. They formerly occupied 17.4 million square kilometres or 11.8% of the Earth's land surface. They are so threatened that, having already lost an aggregate of 88% of their primary vegetation, they all seem likely, in the absence of greatly increased conservation efforts, to lose much if not most of their remaining primary vegetation within the foreseeable future.”

“We could go far towards safeguarding the hotspots and thus a large proportion of all species at risk for an average of $20 million per hotspot per year over the next five years, or $500 million annually. Although this is 12.5 times the annual average of the $400 million spent on hotspots over the past decade, it is still only twice the cost of a single Pathfinder mission to Mars, which has been justified largely on biodiversity grounds (the search for extraterres-trial life). The $500 million annually is to be compared, moreover, with a recent estimate47 for a comprehensive conservation programme to protect biodiversity world-wide costing $300 billion annuallyÐa total that should, in turn, be compared with subsidies of various sorts that degrade environments and economies alike, amounting to $1.5 trillion annually world-wide.”

What the Article is About

This article was on 'biodiversity hotspots'. Conservationists can not assist all the species under a treat only due to lack of funding, which is why they mapped out the 'biodiversity hotspots' where concentrations of species are going through a large loss of habitat. The idea is to support the most species, at the least cost. As many as 44% of all species of vascular plants and 35% of all species in four vertebrate groups are confined to 25 hotspots comprising only 1.4% of the land surface of the Earth.

Citing My Sources

Chapin III, Stuart, Erika Zavaleta, Michelle Mack, Sandra Díaz, Valerie Eviner, Rosamond Naylor, Peter Vitousek, Heather Reynolds, David Hooper, Sandra Lavorel, Osvaldo Sala, and Sarah Hobbie. "Consequences of changing biodiversity ." Insightreview Articles 11 May 2000: 234-242. Print.

Myers, Norman, Russell Mittermeierē, Cristina Mittermeierē, Gustavo Fonsecaģ, and Jennifer Kent. "Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities ." Nature Feb. 2000: 1-6. Print.

Nathan Lewis Presentation Responce

In the attempts to go about our daily lives, we find ourselves in the midsts of a dying planet. What this means for us, is that our whole existence relies on our planet and all the biodiversity it offers. The problem is trying to figure out an eco-friendly and cheap way to get energy to satisfy the needs of the people. About 85 percent of all energy consumption (including the generation of electricity) comes from oil, gas and coal, with the world consuming about 13 trillion watts of energy every day. All which have let out tremendous amounts of CO2 into our atmosphere over the years. “Fossil energy is the lowest-cost energy we have on the planet today,” Lewis said. “Using the axis of optimization based on cost, it’s pretty clear cost optimization will lead us to rely almost exclusively on fossil energy for decades to come.”

By the 2050, the human population is expected to rise up to 10 billion people, which in hence, would double the demands for energy. What will this mean for the planet? “We won’t know until we open the door in 2050,” Lewis said. “We know at the rate we are going, assuming we conserve energy like never before, and if we have a pure natural gas economy, the carbon dioxide levels within our lifetime will be at least twice as high as anything that has been on our planet in the last million years.” We are at a point where we have to put money aside and do what is right for our planet for a change.

Climate and Biodiversity Senior Project Brainstorm

At first, I was interested in showing how negatively the world would be effected if the plants and animals we take for granted became extinct. But now, I feel like I can go much deeper with that idea by tracing it back to the cause of their extinction known as climate change, to the raised levels of C02, and all the way to humanity. I feel that it would be interesting to show how people can effect mother nature and change the natural courses of our planet. “As the climate continues to warm, major changes may occur in ecosystem structure and function, species’ ecological interactions, and species’ geographic ranges, with predominantly negative consequences for biodiversity.”

Climate change has an effect on every aspect of our planet. A few degree change can mean consequences for our biodiversity. We are endangering the lives of many plants and animals because we are changing their natural habitat at such a fast rate, biodiversity does not have enough time to adapt. Climate change does not only hurt us, plants, and animals, but along with our water resources, natural disasters, and energy as well. “Human societies depend on ecosystems for the natural, cultural, spiritual, recreational and aesthetic resources they provide.”

In one of the articles I read, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reviewed relevant published studies of biological systems and found out that 20 %to 30% of species assessed may be at risk of extinction from climate change impacts within this century if global mean temperatures exceed 2-3 °C (3.6-5.4 °F) relative to pre-industrial levels. With the levels of CO2 rising, it is our duty to bring it back down and fix the mistakes we have made in the past. We have so many natural resources such as plants and animals that we take for granted and put at stake.“By 2100 ecosystems will be exposed to atmospheric CO2 levels substantially higher than in the past 650,000 years, and global temperatures at least among the highest as those experienced in the past 740,000 years. This will alter the structure, reduce biodiversity and perturb functioning of most ecosystems, and compromise the services they currently provide.”

In the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” Al Gore presents his ideas across in a manner that I found highly affective. I have already began to brainstorm ideas for my senior project using similar tactics seen in the movie. I want to create my own documentary that is entertaining, insightful, informative, and inspiring. I want to show the public exactly what they are doing to our environment and take off the ignorant blind fold that our nation has covered our eyes with for so long. I feel that it is the right of the people to know why climate change this is a big issue, how it will affect our lives and the lives of other human beings, and what we can do to prevent it from getting worse.

Cites and Annotated Resources

Article 1

"Frequent Questions - Effects | Climate Change | U.S. EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. N.p., 8 Sept. 2009. Web. 9 Feb. 2010. .

Good Quotes

“As the climate continues to warm, major changes may occur in ecosystem structure and function, species’ ecological interactions, and species’ geographic ranges, with predominantly negative consequences for biodiversity.”

What the Article was About

Climate change has an effect on every aspect of our planet. A few degree change can mean consequences for our biodiversity. We are endangering the lives of many plants and animals because we are changing their natural habitat at such a fast rate, biodiversity does not have enough time to adapt. Climate change does not only hurt us, plants, and animals, but along with our water resources, natural disasters, and energy as well.

Article 2

"Ecosystems and Biodiversity | Climate Change - Health and Environmental Effects | U.S. EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. N.p., 8 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. .

Good Quotes

“Climate change is a factor that has the potential to alter ecosystems and the many resources and services they provide to each other and to society.”

“Human societies depend on ecosystems for the natural, cultural, spiritual, recreational and aesthetic resources they provide.”

“Climate is an integral part of ecosystems and organisms have adapted to their regional climate over time.”

“By 2100 ecosystems will be exposed to atmospheric CO2 levels substantially higher than in the past 650,000 years, and global temperatures at least among the highest as those experienced in the past 740,000 years. This will alter the structure, reduce biodiversity and perturb functioning of most ecosystems, and compromise the services they currently provide.”

What the Article was About

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reviewed relevant published studies of biological systems and found out that 20 %to 30% of species assessed may be at risk of extinction from climate change impacts within this century if global mean temperatures exceed 2-3 °C (3.6-5.4 °F) relative to pre-industrial levels. Biodiversity has such a huge impact on humanity because we depend on it for everything. With the levels of CO2 rising, it is our duty to bring it back down and fix the mistakes we have made in the past. We have so many natural resources such as plants and animals that we take for granted and put at stake.

Article 3

ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/01/090121091239.htm

Interesting Quotes

“The critical thing is to protect the forests surrounding the mountain, so that the lowland species are able to reach the cooler conditions that they may need,”

What the Article was About

Three undergraduates who studied moths on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, initialized the new research that discovered that on average, the species had moved uphill by about 67 meters over the years to cope with changes in climate. That was the first demonstration that “climate change is affecting the distributions of tropical insects, the most numerous group of animals on Earth, thus representing a major threat to global biodiversity”. As the moths migrate higher up the mountain, they have less space and suitable habitats to thrive, resulting in the deaths of many moths.

Plant Write Up

I want to grow the Daylily flower.

• Daylilies are rugged, adaptable, vigorous perennials that endure in a garden for many years with little or no care. Daylilies adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions. They establish quickly, grow vigorously, and survive winters with little or no injury.
• Daylilies can be planted almost any time the soil can be worked. Works in well-rooted manure or compost to increase organic matter. Fertilizer needs to be applied depending on a soil test. We have to dig a hole large enough for the roots without bending or crowding them.
• The best time to transplant or divide plants is early spring. Plants divided in the spring may not bloom the same summer. Divisions should have two to three stems or fans of leaves with all roots attached. Divisions are made by digging the entire plant and gently pulling the fans apart, cutting the foliage back, and leaving only five or six inches. Once the plant is placed in the soil, its important to make sure that the crown (the portion where the stem and root meets) is one inch below the ground line. It need to be watered after planting. A winter mulch of straw or shredded leaves helps ensure against winter injury for unestablished plants.
• Daylilies should be spaced no less than 18 to 24 inches apart on each side.
• Daylilies can do well over a relatively wide soil pH range and adjustment of pH need only be considered if the plants appear to be doing poorly. A soil test as recommended and should always be conducted before amending with sulfur or lime.
• Although daylilies are adaptable to most soils, they do best in a slightly acidic, moist soil that is high in organic matter and well drained.
• Although daylilies tolerate drought, they perform best in moist, but well-drained soils. One inch of water weekly is ideal, more frequent watering may be necessary on sandy soils.
• The genus Hemerocallis is native to Asia. Since the early 1930s, hybridizers in the United States and England have made great improvements in daylilies. Originally, the only colors were yellow, orange, and red. Today, we have colors ranging from near-whites, pastels, yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, crimson, purple, nearly true-blue, and pretty blends. Many people are familiar with only the common yellow or orange daylilies which are often seen along roadsides. These daylilies are cultivated forms of the wild types of daylilies which have "escaped" and are growing as if they are wild. All the modern daylilies have been developed through a complicated history of hybridization among these and other wild types.

My Sources
http://www.daylilies.org/AHSfaq1.html#origin
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1106.html

Biodiversity – Senior Project Ideas

I am considering to focus on biodiversity as my senior project because it is what entangles us humans and our planet in the circle of life. The extinction or domination of a certain type of plant or animal can throw off the entire balance of our world as we know it, and it comes with many consequences. “Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.” Every animal and plant has a purpose, and if we destroy one, we will all follow suit.

A healthy biodiversity offers many natural conveniences for us and our planet. Benefits such as food, medicine and pharmaceutical drugs, wood products, and clothing. If we lost these free benefits, replacing them would be extremely expensive. “At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change”. The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on Biodiversity web site. Therefore, the obvious and economically wise choice is to maintain a clean, stable, and diverse environment. Species need the variety of genes to ensure a successful survival. As for my senior project, I plan to show the shocking statistics that people don't realize. I want to remind the public of how dependent we are on our environment.

Humans are responsible for the drastic decline in biodiversity because they have destroyed animal's natural habitats and transported animals from one part of the world to another. Our invasion of wilderness regions, rainforest, and wetlands, along with our industry impact, has had a huge influence on the survival of many threatened animals and plants. “Almost a quarter of the world's mammals face extinction within 30 years” - United Nations report on the state of the global environment. In total, we have around 11,000 endangered animal and plant species in danger. If we lose these endangered species, we would throw off natures delicate balance. For my senior project, I would want to include the specific examples and evidence of how we damage our environment. I would include visuals and ideas of how we could help our planet, and how our planet would look like if we continued to ignore it.

Experts and scientists both agree on the fact that humans are hurting themselves. With our mass consumption of natural products, we are ruining everything that the world has given us. "Biodiversity includes all living things that we depend on for our economies and our lives," explained Brooks Yeager, vice president of global programs at the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. "It's the forests, the oceans, the coral reefs, the marine fish, the algae, the insects that make up the living world around us and which we couldn't do without," We do not realize how vitally important it is to maintain our plants, animals, and planet alive.

For my senior project, I am interested in showing how negatively the world would be effected if the plants and animals we take for granted become extinct. I would show that due to the loss of bees, we no longer have honey. Plants that relied on their pollination died, animals that relied on those plants decreased in numbers, and soon that cycle will reach us and there wouldn't be anything else we could do about it. Showing examples such as that is what I am interested in doing.

Cited Sources and Annotations

Shah, Anup. "Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? Global Issues." Global Issues : social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all Global Issues. N.p., 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Good Quotes
“At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change”.
The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on Biodiversity web site.

“Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.”
“Humankind needs to act quickly to ensure that the ancient pact between flowers and pollinators stays intact, to safeguard our food supply and to protect our environment for generations to come. These efforts will ensure that bees continue to provide pollination and that our diets remain rich in the fruits and vegetables we now take for granted”.
Diana Cox-Foster and Dennis van Engelsdorp, Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Bees, Scientific American, April 2009

What the article was about
Biodiversity is essential because we are all entangled together in the circle of life. The extinction or domination of a certain type of plant or animal can throw off the entire balance of life as we know it, and come with many consequences.
A healthy biodiversity offers many natural conveniences for us and our planet. Benefits such as food, medicine and pharmaceutical drugs, wood products, and clothing. If we lost these free benefits, replacing them would be extremely expensive. Therefore, the obvious and economically wise choice is to maintain a clean, stable, and diverse environment. Species need the variety of genes to ensure a successful survival.

Podger, Corinne. " BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Quarter of mammals 'face extinction'." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. N.p., 21 May 2002. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Good Quotes
“Almost a quarter of the world's mammals face extinction within 30 years” - United Nations report on the state of the global environment.
11,000 endangered animal and plant species
“One in eight bird species is also in danger of extinction, and more than 5,000 different plants”.

What the article was about
Humans are responsible for the drastic decline in biodiversity because they have destroyed animal's natural habitats and transported animals from one part of the world to another. Our invasion of wilderness regions, rainforest, and wetlands, along with out industry impact, has had a huge influence on the survival of many threatened animals and plants. If we lose these endangered species, we would throw off natures delicate balance.

CNN, Gary Strieker. "CNN.com - Scientists agree world faces mass extinction - August 23, 2002." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. N.p., 23 Aug. 2002. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Good Quotes
"Biodiversity includes all living things that we depend on for our economies and our lives," explained Brooks Yeager, vice president of global programs at the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. "It's the forests, the oceans, the coral reefs, the marine fish, the algae, the insects that make up the living world around us and which we couldn't do without,"

What the article was about
Experts and scientists agree on the fact that humans are hurting themselves. With our mass consumption of natural products, we are ruining everything that the world has given us. We do not realize how vitally important it is to maintain our plants, animals, and planet alive.