Ecological Footprints and Biocapacity
Ecological Reserves and Deficits
Tragedy of the Commons
"Let's Go Fishing"
100
True or false:
An ecological footprint is how many organisms a person eats every year.
False
100
If a country has an ecological deficit, it means that the people are using resources _________ than the land/sea can reproduce the resources.
faster
100
What is a commons?
A place or resource that everyone has access to.
100
In the "Let's Go Fishing" lab, why is the ocean considered a "commons"?
Everyone had free access to the fish.
200
Which country would have a larger biocapacity?
A. A country that is mostly desert with a few big cities.
B. A country that is mostly forest and undeveloped land.
B!
200
True or false:
If a country has a biocapacity that is higher than its ecological footprint, then it has an ecological deficit.
False
200
Provide 2 examples of "commons."
Multiple correct answers.
200
In the "Let's Go Fishing" lab, some communities took fish out of the ocean faster than they reproduced. What term describes this type of situation?
Ecological deficit
300
True or False:
The world's biocapacity is steadily increasing.
False.
300
Examine the picture! It shows the relationship between the ecological footprint and biocapacity for the world.
Right now, does the world have an ecological reserve or an ecological deficit?
An ecological deficit.
300
What is 1 of the 2 missing ideas from this definition?
A Tragedy of the Commons occurs when a resource is used too fast by selfish people.
1. The resource is free/accessible to everyone.
2. In the end, no one is able to use the resource anymore.
300
In the "Let's Go Fishing" lab, some groups were able to simulate an "ecological reserve." Describe what this term means in this situation.
The community of fisherpeople took fish out slower than they reproduced, so they ended up with more fish at the end of the year than the beginning.
400
Does a person who rides the bus have a bigger or smaller ecological footprint than a person who drives the same distance alone in a car?
Smaller
400
Which is better to have - an ecological deficit or an ecological reserve? Why?
An ecological reserve, because it means that people are using resources slowly and they have extra leftover. (An ecological deficit means that people are using too much and are running out!)
400
____________ is a possible solution to a Tragedy of the Commons because when someone owns the "commons," the person will take care of it.
Privatization
400
In the "Let's Go Fishing" lab, some groups had no fish at the end of the activity. What is a "governmental regulation" that would prevent this from occurring?
Be specific. "Take less fish out" is not specific enough.
Multiple answers can be correct (but not all answers are correct!)
500
Name one way you can reduce (decrease) your ecological footprint
Multiple correct responses
500
Examine the picture! It shows the relationship between the ecological footprint and biocapacity for the country of Chile.
Did Chile have an ecological deficit or ecological reserve in 1970? EXPLAIN your answer!
Chile had an ecological reserve, because its biocapacity was bigger than its ecological footprint. This means that the people used their resources more slowly than the resources were produced. (This is a good thing!)
500
Describe an example of a governmental regulation that would reduce deforestation (deforestation is humans cutting down trees in a forest).
Multiple answers can be correct (but not all answers are correct!)
500
How does privatization help prevent a community's population of fish from depleting?
When someone owns a piece of land/water, they will want to take care of it in order to continue to profit off of it. They will make and enforce their own rules to ensure its sustainability.