The environmental resources were not diverse but they were plentiful.
What was the condition of the Easter Island environment
when the Polynesians arrived in about 400 AD?
100
An area that collects small streams into a major river and ultimately leads to the sea.
What is a Watershed?
100
A cooling process in which water from the soil is absorbed by roots, transported through plants, and then evaporated from their leaves and stems.
What is transpiration?
100
The ability to meet the current human need for natural resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
What is Environmental Sustainability?
100
(Water) Vapor
What phase is water in after it has evaporated?
200
The population was shrinking and unhealthy because the environment was wretched.
What was the condition of the Easter Island population and the environment when the Dutch arrived in the 1700s?
200
The upper surface of the saturated zone of groundwater.
What is the water table?
200
When this happens, topsoil loses its anchor and 4-5 feet of earth may be washed away.
What can happen to topsoil when trees are cut down and it's roots die?
200
Those parts of our environment available to everyone but for which no single individual has responsibility.”
What is a Commons?
200
The combination of transpiration by trees and evaporation.
What is evapotranspiration?
300
Many trees were cut down to move these.
What are the massive stone statues that are all over the Island?
300
The global circulation of water from the environment to living organisms and back to the environment.
What is the water cycle?
300
These reduce evaporation from the ground and eventually turn into topsoil.
What are fallen leaves from trees and other plants?
300
Resources that nature may replace in a few decades or less (if we don’t intervene).
What are Renewable Resouces?
300
It means the same thing as infiltration.
What is percolation?
400
It was ironic, because they had cut down all the trees.
Why couldn't the Polynesians build boats to leave Easter Island?
400
When water changes from a gas phase to a liquid phase.
What is condensation?
400
This process is carried out plants and some bacteria and is powered by sunlight. The conversion of water and carbon dioxide into stored energy (carbohydrates), oxygen, and water.
What is Photosynthesis?
400
Resources that are renewed on a geologic pace
What are Non-Renewable Resources?
400
To build shelters, cook, and move the big statues
What are some reasons why the Polynesians cut down all the trees on Easter Island?
500
Because both Easter Island and the Earth have limited resources that are not always used sustainably and because there may be no means of escape.
How might the stories of Easter Island and Earth turn out to be similar?
500
When clouds release snow or rain.
What is precipitation?
500
Because the natives cut down trees faster than they could naturally be replaced.
What is the reason that the trees on Easter Island disappeared and the environment became wretched?
500
Fertile soil, fresh water, & biological diversity
What are examples of resources for which no single person has responsibility (they are a commons), and they are also renewable resources?
500
When water lands on the ground and doesn't soak-in.