Green Revolution
What was the Green Revolution?
The advent of multiple technological advances in farming, as well as monocropping.
Large logging operations in tropical rain forests is economic gain, rather than sustainability.
Is this the tragedy of the commons? Yes or No?
Yes!
What does "maximum sustained yield" mean?
The maximum possible harvest that is sustainable for future harvests.
What is a drawback to flood irrigation?
High water tables.
What is a way that we currently use to reduce overfishing.
Size limits and catch quantity limits.
What started the Green Revolution in 1961?
The creation of drought and disease-resistant crops through selective breeding.
Give an example of an industrial practice that contributes to the tragedy of the commons.
Burning of fossil fuels, destruction of wetlands, polluting common waterways.
What environmental damage results from slash-and-burn in the rainforest?
Depletes available nutrients for future growth
Which agricultural practice contributes to soil degradation and erosion?
Tilling
What is one way to reduce bycatch?
Use of gill nets or long line fishing.
What is the name for the modern technique used for creating a better crop?
Related the tragedy of the commons to overfishing.
Water is often a shared resource, and without limits, fish can be depleted.
What is an economic consequence of clearcutting?
-Decreased taxes from tourism
What is an advantage and disadvantage of drip irrigation?
Advantage: efficient delivery of water, less waste, less evaporation
Disadvantage: costs more, requires difficult installation
What type of meat uses the most land and water in order to produce it?
Beef
The use of irrigation helped farmers significantly. What unintended consequence resulted from large-scale use of aquifers.
The water use was greater than the replenish rate, leading to a low water table.
Explain the tragedy of the commons and how it applies to public rangelands.
Tragedy of the commons states that when individuals share resources and act according to their own best interests, the resource is quickly depleted and everyone suffers. This applies to public rangelands because ranchers tend to overgraze any land that they do not personally own. This lowers the total amount of available range land.
The removal of trees from the water's edge can have what effect on water quality?
Increase in water temperature
(no shade)
What is the main drawback of synthetic fertilizers vs organic fertilizers?
No organic matter is being added to the soil
What are two benefits and two drawbacks to fish farms? (There are many!)
Benefits - reliable protein source, sustainable if managed properly, reduces pressure on wild fish populations, energy efficient, makes fishing more accessible and increases jobs.
Drawbacks - expensive, antibiotic use required to fight pandemic fish disease, large amounts of water pollution/waste, farm raised fish sometimes escape and spread disease, high population density is bad for fish health, low genetic diversity.