Unit 1

1. Imagine you are a U.S congressional representative from a western state and a new wilderness area is being proposed for your district. Who might contact you to influence your decision? What course of action would you take? Why?

2. How do you weigh in on the issue of jobs or the environment? What limits do you set on economic growth? Environmental protection?

3. Imagine you are an environmentalist in your area who is interested in local environmental issues. What kinds of issues might these be?

4. Imagine that you lived in the urban East and that you were an advocate of wilderness preservation. What disagreements might you have with residents of the wilderness North or the arid west? How would you justify your interest in wilderness preservation to these residents?

5. You are the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and want to move to an ecosystem approach change the current park? How would you present your ideas to surrounding landowners?

6. Look at the issue of global warming from several different disciplinary perspectives-economics, climatology, sociology, political science, agronomy. What might be some questions that each discipline could contribute to our understanding of global warming?

Unit 2

1. If you were a regulatory official, what kind of information would you require to make a decision about whether a certain chemical was “safe” or not? What level of risk would you deem acceptable for society? For yourself and your family?

2. Why do you suppose some carcinogenic agents, such as those in cigarettes, are so difficult to regulate?

3. Imagine you were assessing the risk of a new chemical plant being built along the Mississippi River in Louisiana . Identify some of the risks that you would want to assess. What kinds of data would you need to assess whether or not the risk was acceptable? Do you think that some risks are harder to quantify than others? Why?

4. Granting polluting industries or countries the right to buy and sell emissions permits is a controversial idea. Some argue that trade in permits allows polluting industries to continue to pollute and concentrates that pollution. What do you think?

5. Imagine you are an independent economist who is conduction a cost-benefit analysis of a hydroelectric project. What might be the costs of this project? The benefits? How would you quantify the costs of the project? The benefits? What kinds of costs and benefits might be hard to quantify or might be too tangential to the project to figure into the official estimates?

6. Do you think environmentalists should not stretch traditional cost-benefit analysis to include how development impacts the environment? What are the benefits to this? The risks?

7. Looking at your own life, what kinds of risks do you take? What kinds are you unwilling to take? What criteria do you use to make a decision about acceptable and unacceptable risk?

8. Is current worldwide growth and development sustainable? If there were less growth, what would be the effect on developing countries? How could we achieve a just distribution of resources and still limit growth?

9. Should our policies reflect an interest in preserving resources for future generations? If so, what level of resources should be preserved? What would you be willing to do without in order to save for the future?

Unit 3

1. Ecologists and political scientists look at habitat destruction differently. Consider the environmental Close-Up about habitat conservation plans and the political, economic, and scientific issues that surround conservation plans, identify some perspectives each discipline has to contribute to our understanding of habitat destruction. What values does each place on the ideas of the other discipline? What do you think about the issue of creating conservation plans? Protecting habitat from destruction? Why?

2. Even before humans entered the scene, many species of plants and animals were extinct and new ones had developed. Why are we even concerned about endangered species, given the fact that species have always come and gone?

3. Concentrations of industrial chemicals are high in some species of fish, high enough to call for an advisory to limit the number of fish a person should eat within a given period of time. Many of these chemicals are thought to cause cancer, but cancer is an effect that is often not felt for decades after exposure. How do scientists decide evidence would convince you that there is danger? How could you tell?

4. You notice that after using pesticides on your farm field that the number of insects declines for a year. The next year, though, they come back and you need to reapply the pesticide. This time, though, there is less of an effect on the insect population. A third application in another year has even less of an effect. What is you hypothesis about what is happening here? Design an experiment that tests your hypothesis.

5. Does the concept of a ‘climax community” make sense? Why or why not?

6. What do you think about restoring ecosystems that have been degraded by human activity? Should it be done or not? Why? Who should pay for this reconstruction?

7. Imagine you are a conservation biologist who is being asked by local residents what the likely environmental outcomes of development would be in the tropical rainforest in which they live. What would you tell them? Why do you give them this evaluation? What evidence can you cite for your claims?

8. The test says that 90 percent of the old-growth temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest has been logged. What to do with the remaining 10 percent is still a question. Some say it should be logged, and others say it should be preserved. What values, beliefs, and perspectives are held by each side? What is your ethic regarding logging old-growth in this area? What values, beliefs, and perspectives do you hold regarding this issue?

9. Much of the old-growth forest in the United States has been logged, economic gains have been realized, and second-growth forests have become established. This is not the case in the tropical rainforests, although they are being lost at alarming rates. Should developed countries, which have already “cashed in” on their resources, have anything to say about what is happening in developing countries? Why do you think the way you do?

Unit 4

1. Do you think it is appropriate for developed countries to persuade less-developed countries to limit their population growth? What would be appropriate and inappropriate interventions, according to your ethics? Now imagine you are a citizen of a less-developed country. What might be your reply to those who live in more-developed countries? Why?

2. China 's government has been very involved in regulating that country's population growth. What do you think about this kind of government intervention in China 's population problem? What values, beliefs, and perspectives do you hold that lead you to think the way you do?

3. Population growth cause many environmental problems. Identify some of these problems. What role do you think technology will play in solving these problems? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about these problems being solved through technology? Why?

4. Do you think that demographic transition will be a viable option for world development? What evidence leads you to your conclusions? What role should the developed countries play in the current demographic transition of developing countries? Why?

5. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, immigration will account for 50 percent of the population growth in the United States . What values and perspectives should guide our immigration policy? Why?

6. Imagine a debate between an American and a Sudanese about human population and the scarcity of resources. What perspectives do you think the American might bring to the debate? What perspectives do you think the Sudanese would bring? What might be their points of common ground? On what might they differ?

7. Many people in developing countries hope to achieve the standard of living of those in the developed world. What might be the effect of this pressure on the environment in developing countries? On the political relationship between developing countries and already developed countries? What ethical perspective do you think should guide this changing relationship?

8. The demographic changes occurring in Mexico have an influence on the United States . What problems does Mexico face regarding its demographics? Should the United States be involved in Mexican population policy?

Unit 5

1. Perhaps 97 percent to 99 percent of all species that have ever existed are extinct. Nearly all went extinct long before humans arrived on the scene. Why should we be concerned about extinction of organisms today?

2. Would you support clearing of forests and plowing of grasslands that are ecologically important in order to support agriculture in countries that have significant hunger? Where do you draw the line between preserving ecosystems and human interest?

3. A Pacific Northwest Native American tribe has been permitted to hunt an endangered whale species to preserve its traditional culture and uphold its treaty rights. Now there is fear that other countries will hunt the whales, too. Do you think the tribe should be denied its rights? Why or why not?

4. Pharmaceutical companies are helping some developing countries preserve their rainforests so these companies can look for organisms with possible pharmacological value. How do you feel about these arrangements? What limits, if any, would you place on the pharmaceutical companies? Why?

Unit 6

1. Minimum tillage soil conservation often uses greater amounts of herbicides to control weeds. What do you think about this practice? Why?

2. As populations grow, should we try to bring more land into food production, or should we use technology to aid in producing more food on the land we already have in production of fook? What are the trade-offs?

3. Given what you know about soil formation, how might you explain the presence of a thick A horizon in soils in the North American Midwest?

4. Why should non-farmers be interested in soil conservation?

5. Imagine that you are a scientist hired to consult on a project to evaluate land-use practices at the edge of a small city. The area in question has deep ravines and hills. What kinds of agricultural, commercial, and logging practices would you recommend in this area to help preserve the environment?

6. Look at your own community. Can you see examples of improper land use (urban or rural)? What are the consequences of these land-use practices? What recommendations would you make to improve land use?

Unit 7

1. Leakage from freshwater distribution systems accounts for significant losses. Is water so valuable that governments should require systems that minimize leakage to preserve the resource? Under what conditions would you change your evaluation?

2. Do non-farmers have an interest in how water is used for irrigation? Under what conditions should the general public be involved in making these decisions along with the farmers who are directly involved?

3. Should the United States allow Mexico to have water from the Rio-Grande and the Colorado River, both of which originate in the United States and flow to Mexico ?

4. Do you believe that large-scale hydroelectric power plants should be promoted as a renewable alternative to power plants that burn fossil fuels? What criteria do you use for this decision?

5. What are the costs and the benefits of the proposed Garrison Diversion Unit? What do you think should happen with this project?

6. How might you be able to help save freshwater in your daily life? Would the savings be worth the costs?

7. Look at the hydrologic cycle in figure 16.3. If global warming increases the worldwide temperature, how should increased temperature directly affect the hydrologic cycle?

8. After reading the Issues-Analysis concerning the California Water Plan, do you believe water should be diverted from northern California to southern California ?

Unit 8

1. What could you do to limit the air pollution you create?

2. Do you agree with a ban on smoking, as in California , that includes all indoor public places, even privately owned restaurants and bars? Why or why not?

3. Some developing countries argue that they should be exempt from limits on the production of greenhouse gases and that developed countries should bear the brunt of the changes that appear to be necessary to curb global climate change. What values, beliefs, and perspectives underlie this argument? What do you think about this argument?

4. As a nation, the United States provides many subsidies to make energy cheap because policy makers feel that economic development depends on cheap energy. If these subsidies were withdrawn or taxes on energy were added, what effect would this have on your own energy consumption? Would you be willing to support high gasoline prices, in the ＄ 3- to ＄ 4-a-gallon range as in many European countries, if it would cut greenhouse gas emissions?

5. Why do you think air pollutions are you exposed to? What can you do to limit this exposure?

6. What common indoor air pollutants are you exposed to? What can you do to limit this exposure?

7. What kinds of noise pollution do you encounter? How important is noise pollution to you? What can you do to reduce noise pollution? How can we make cities quieter?

8. Is it possible to have zero emissions of pollutants? What level of risk are you willing to live with?

Unit 9

1. How can you help solve the solid waste problem?

2. Given that you have only so much time, should you spend your time acting locally, as a recycling coordinator, for example, or advocating for larger political and economic changes at the national level, changes that would solve the waste problems? Why? Or should you do nothing? Why?

3. How does your school or city deal with solid waste? Can solid waste production be limited at your institution or city? How? What barriers exist that might make it difficult to limit solid waste production?

4. It is possible to have a high standard of living, as in North America and Western Europe , and not produce large amounts of solid waste. How?

5. Incineration of solid waste is controversial. Do you support solid waste incineration in general? Would you support an incineration facility in your neighborhood?

Review Questions

Unit 1

1. Describe why finding solutions to environmental problems is so difficult. Do you think it has always been as complicated?

2. Describe what is meant by an ecosystem approach to environmental problem solving. Is this the right approach?

3. List two key environmental issues for each of the following regions: the wilderness north, the agricultural middle, the forested West, the dry West, the Great Lakes and industrial Northeast, and the South. How are the issues changing?

4. Define environment and ecosystem and provide examples of these terms from your region.

5. Describe how environmental conflicts are resolved.

6. Select a local environmental issue and write a short essay presenting all sides of the question. Is there a solution to this problem?

Unit 2

1. How is risk assessment used in environmental decision making?
2. What is incorporated in a cost-benefit analysis? Develop a cost-benefit analysis for a local issue.
3. What are some of the concerns about the use of cost-benefit analysis in environmental decision making?
4. What concerns are associated with sustainable development?
5. What are some examples of external environmental costs?
6. Define what is meant by pollution-prevention costs.
7. Define the problem of common property resource ownership. Provide some examples.
8. Describe the concept of debt-for-nature exchanges.
9. Give examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
10. What kinds of risks are willingly accepted by people?
11. Give examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
12. Why are environmental costs often deferred costs?

Unit 3

1. Define environment.
2. Describe, in detail, the niche of a human.
3. How is natural selection related to the concept of niche?
4. List five predators and their prey organisms.
5. How is an ecosystem different from a community?
6. Humans raising cattle for food is what kind of relationship?
7. Give examples of organisms that are herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
8. What are some different trophic levels in an ecosystem?
9. Describe the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle.
10. Analyze an aquarium as an ecosystem. Identify the major abiotic and biotic factors. List members of the producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, and decomposer trophic levels.
11. Describe the process of succession. How does primary succession differ from secondary succession?
12. How does a climax community differ from a successional community?
13. List three characteristics typical of each of the following biomes: tropical rainforest, desert, taiga, savanna, Mediterranean shrublands, tropical dry forest, grassland, and temperate deciduous forest.
14. What two primary factors determine the kind of terrestrial biome that will develop in an area?
15. How does height above sea level affect the kind of biome present?
16. What areas of the ocean are the most productive?
17. How does the nature of the substrate affect the kinds of organisms found at the shore?
18. What is the role of each of the following organisms in a marine ecosystem: phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, coral animals, and fish?
19. List three differences between freshwater and marine ecosystems.
20. What is an estuary? Why are estuaries important?

Unit 4

1. What is demography?
2. What is demographic transition? What is it based on?
3. What is a baby boom?
4. What does the age distribution of a population mean?
5. List 10 differences between your standard of living and that of someone in a less-developed country.
6. Why do people who live in overpopulated countries use plants as their main source of food?
7. Although predicting the future is difficult, describe what you think your life will be like in 10 years. Why?
8. List five changes you might anticipate if world population were to double in the next 50 years.
9. Which three areas of the world have the highest population growth rate? Which three areas of the world have the lowest standard of living?
10. How many children per woman would lead to a stable U.S. population?
11. What role does the status of women play in determining population growth rates?
12. Describe three reasons why women in the less-developed world might desire more than two children?

Unit 5

1. Name three way s humans directly alter ecosystems.
2. Why is the impact of humans greater today than at any time in the past?
3. Describe three factors that influence the genetic diversity of a population.
4. Describe three major courses of the loss of biodiversity.
5. What are the major causes of biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems?
6. List three problems associated with forest exploitation.
7. What is desertification? What causes it?
8. List three key components of the Convention on Biological Diversity (biodiversity treaty).
9. List six techniques utilized by wildlife managers.
10. What special problems are associated with waterfowl management?
11. What is extinction, and why does it occur?
12. List three examples of ecosystem services provided by biological resources.
13. List three actions that can be taken to prevent extinctions.

Unit 6

1. How are soil and land different?
2. Name the five major components of soil.
3. Describe the process of soil formation.
4. Name five physical and chemical processes that break parent material into smaller pieces.
5. In addition to fertility, what other characteristics determine the usefulness of soil?
6. How does soil particle size affect texture and drainage?
7. Describe a soil profile.
8. Define erosion.
9. Describe three soil conservation practices that help to reduce soil erosion.
10. Besides cropland, what are other possible uses of soil?

Unit 7

1. Describe the hydrologic cycle.
2. Distinguish between withdrawal and consumption of water.
3. What are the similarities between domestic and industrial water use? How are they different from in-stream use?
4. How is land use related to water quality and quantity? Can you provide focal examples?
5. What is biochemical oxygen demand? How is it related to water quality?
6. How can the addition of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates result in a reduction of the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water?
7. Differentiate between point and nonpoint sources of water pollution.
8. How are most industrial wastes disposed of? How has this changed over the past 25 years?
9. What is thermal pollution? How can it be controlled?
10. Describe primary, secondary, and tertiary sewage treatment.
11. What are the types of wastes associated with agriculture?12. Why is stormwater management more of a problem in an urban area than in a rural area?
13. Define groundwater mining.
14. How does irrigation increase salinity?
15. What are the three major water services provided by metropolitan areas?

Unit 8

1. List the five primary air pollutants commonly released into the atmosphere and their sources.
2. List the six criteria air pollutants and their sources.
3. Define Secondary air pollutants and give an example.
4. List three health effects of air pollution.
5. Why is air pollution such a large problem in urban areas?
6. What is photochemical smog? What causes it?
7. Describe three actions that can be taken to control air pollution.
8. What causes acid rain? List three probable detrimental consequences of acid rain.
9. Why is carbon dioxide (a nontoxic normal component of the atmosphere) called a “greenhouse gas”?
10. What would the consequences be if the ozone layer surrounding the Earth were destroyed?
11. How does energy conservation influence air quality?

Unit 9

1. How is lifestyle related to the quantity of municipal solid waste generated?
2. What conditions favor incineration over landfills?
3. Describe some of the problems associated with modern landfills.
4. What are four concerns associated with incineration?
5. Describe examples of source reduction.
6. Describe the importance of recycling household solid wastes.
7. Name several strategies that would help to encourage the growth of recycling.
8. Describe the various types of composting and the role of composting in solid waste management.