Scientific American Environmental Science for a Changing World

Description

Available for the first time with Macmillan's new online learning tool, Achieve, Susan Karr’s Environmental Science for a Changing World 4e uses an engaging, journalistic approach—real stories about real people—to show students how science works and how to think critically about environmental issues. Each module reads like a single, integrated Scientific American-style article with clear explanations of essential processes and concepts enhanced with beautifully designed infographics. Chapter 1 Introduction to Environmental, Science, and Information Literacy Module 1.1 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability: Lessons from a Vanished Society 1 Environmental Science 2 Empirical and Applied Science 3 Environmental Issues as “Wicked Problems” 4 Sustainable Development 5 Human Impact May be Surpassing Planetary Boundaries 6 The Characteristics of a Sustainable Ecosystem 7 Nature as a Model for Sustainable Actions 8 Challenges to Solving Environmental Problems 9 Worldviews and Environmental Ethics End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Societal Collapse Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 1.2 The Process of Science: Fungal Attacker Threatens Bats 1 The Nature of Science and the Scientific Method 2 Certainty in Science: From Hypothesis to Theory 3 Observational and Experimental Studies 4 Evaluating Scientific Evidence: Correlation Versus Causation 5 Information and Media Literacy 6 Information Literacy: Critical Thinking and Logical Fallacies End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Fungal Invaders Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 2 Ecology Module 2.1 Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling: Engineering Earth 1 The Ecological Hierarchy: From Biosphere to Individual 2 Energy and Matter in Ecosystems 3 Biomes 4 Range of Tolerance and Its Impact on Species Distribution 5 The Carbon Cycle 6 The Nitrogen Cycle 7 The Phosphorus Cycle End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Biomes Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 2.2 Population Ecology: Gray Wolves Return to Yellowstone 1 Population Dynamics 2 Population Distributions 3 Population Size and Density 4 Exponential Population Growth 5 Logistic Population Growth 6 Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Growth Factors 7 Life-History Strategies: r- and k-Species 8 Top-Down and Bottom-Up Regulation End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Population Growth Patterns Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 2.3 Community Ecology: The Florida Everglades: A Community in Crisis 1 Community Ecology 2 The Food Web 3 The Trophic Pyramid 4 Species Diversity 5 Habitat Structure: Edge and Core Regions 6 Keystone Species 7 Species Interactions 8 Restoration Ecology 9 Ecological Succession End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Keystone Species Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 3 Evolution and Biodiversity Module 3.1 Evolution and Extinction: A Tropical Murder Mystery 1 Natural Selection as a Mechanism for Evolution 2 Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection 3 Coevolution 4 Random Events and Evolution 5 Artificial Selection 6 The Pace of Evolution and Extinction 7 Mass Extinctions: Past and Present End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Invasive Species Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 3.2 Biodiversity: Oil Palm Plantations Threaten Tropical Forests 1 Biodiversity: The Variety of Life 2 The Value of Biodiversity 3 Types of Biodiversity: Genetic, Species, and Ecological 4 Biodiversity Hotspots 5 Isolation and Extinction Risk 6 Threats to Biodiversity End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Biodiversity Hotspots Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 3.3 Preserving Biodiversity: A Forest Without Elephants 1 Conservation Biology 2 Single-Species Conservation Programs 3 Ecosystem-Based Conservation Programs 4 Conservation Genetics 5 Legal Protections 6 Protected Areas 7 Community and Consumer Contributions to Conservation End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Endangered Species Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 4 Human Populations and Environmental Health Module 4.1 Human Populations: The Kerala Model 1 Human Population: Past, Present, and Future 2 Human Population: Size and Distribution 3 Factors that Affect Population Growth 4 Age Structure and Population Momentum 5 Addressing Population Growth: The Demographic Transition 6 Addressing Population Growth: Social Justice 7 How Many People Can Earth Support? End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Fungal Invaders Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 4.2 Urbanization and Sustainable Communities: Creating Green Cities 1 Global Urbanization Patterns 2 The Trade-Offs of Urban Living 3 Environmental Justice Issues 4 Suburban Sprawl 5 The Value of Green Space 6 Green Cities and Smart Growth 7 Green Building End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Fungal Invaders Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 4.3 Environmental Health and Toxicology: Eradicating A Parasitic Nightmare 1 Environmental Hazards 2 Biological Hazards 3 Public Health Programs 4 Chemical Hazards 5 Factors that Affect Toxicity 6 Studying Toxic Substances 7 Addressing Environmentally Mediated Health Problems End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Societal Collapse Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 5 Managing Resources: Environmental Economics and Policy Module 5.1 Environmental Economics and Consumption: Wall to Wall, Cradle to Cradle 1 Economics and the Environment 2 Measuring Our Impact: The Ecological Footprint 3 Factors that Affect Our Ecological Footprint: The IPAT Equation 4 Natural Resources as Capital and Interest 5 True Cost Accounting 6 Environmental Economics Versus Mainstream Economics 7 Sustainable Practices: The Role of the Consumer End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Fungal Invaders Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 5.2 Environmental Policy: The World Tackles Ozone Depletion 1 The Issue: Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 2 Environmental Policy: Purpose and Scope 3 U.S. Environmental Policy 4 The Policy Cycle: Development and Administration Of Policies 5 Factors that Influence Policy Formulation 6 Implementation and Enforcement of Policies 7 International Environmental Policy 8 Responding to Ozone Depletion: The Montréal Protocol End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Fungal Invaders Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 5.3 Managing Solid Waste: Microplastics 1 Waste: A Human Invention 2 Municipal Solid Waste 3 Impacts of Mismanaged Solid Waste 4 Disposal Methods: Open Dumps and Sanitary Landfills 5 Disposal Methods: Waste Incinerators 6 Household Hazardous Waste 7 Reducing Solid Waste: Composting 8 Reducing Solid Waste: Consumers and The 4 Rs End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Societal Collapse Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 6 Water Resources Module 6.1 Freshwater Resources: Water Wars 1 Freshwater Distribution and Sources 2 The Water Cycle 3 Freshwater Supplies: Surface and Groundwater 4 Global Water Use and Scarcity Concerns 5 U.S. Water Supplies 6 Wastewater Treatment 7 Addressing Water Shortages with Technology 8 Addressing Water Shortages with Conservation End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Water Wars Bring it Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 6.2 Water Pollution: Suffocating the Gulf 1 Water Pollution: Types and Causes 2 Eutrophication 3 The Watershed Concept 4 Assessing Water Quality 5 Legal Protection: The Clean Water Act 6 Watershed Management 7 Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution 8 Holistic Strategies to Protect and Restore Aquatic Habitats End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Water Pollution Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 6.3 Marine Ecosystems: Ocean Acidification: The “Other” CO2 Problem 1 Ocean Acidification 2 The Chemistry and Effects of Ocean Acidification 3 The Ecology of Marine Ecosystems 4 Coral Reef Communities 5 Coral Biology and Bleaching 6 Other Threats to Ocean Ecosystems 7 Reducing the Threats End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Oceans in Jeopardy Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 7 Geological and Land Resources Module 7.1 Mineral Resources: Lithium: The New Petroleum? 1 Mineral Resources in Modern Society 2 Geological Forces Shape Earth 3 Geological Hazards 4 The Rock Cycle 5 Mineral Resource Mining and Processing 6 Impacts of Acquiring Mineral Resources 7 Reducing the Impact of Mineral Resource Use End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Mining “Superlatives” Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 7.2 Forest Resources: Returning Trees to Haiti 1 Forest Biomes 2 Forest Structure 3 Ecosystem Services of Forests 4 Threats to Forests 5 Timber Harvesting: Sustainable Options 6 Sustainable Forest Management End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Forests of the World Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 7.3 Grasslands: Restoring the Range 1 Grasslands of the World 2 The Ecosystem Services of Grasslands 3 Threats to Grasslands 4 Lessons from Nature: Wild Versus Domestic Grazers 5 Undergrazing Also Damages Grasslands 6 Sustainable Grazing 7 Protecting Grasslands End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Grasslands of the World Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 8 Food Resources Module 8.1 Feeding the World: Banking on Seeds 1 World Hunger 2 Malnutrition 3 The Green Revolution 4 Industrial Agriculture 5 Synthetic Fertilizers and Pesticides 6 The Gene Revolution: Genetically Engineered Crops 7 Food Self-Sufficiency and Sovereignty End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Feeding the World Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 8.2 Sustainable Agriculture: Raising Crops: Farming Like an Ecosystem 1 Sustainable Agriculture 2 The Importance of Soil 3 Agroecology 4 Managing Pests 5 Traditional Farming Methods 6 The Role of Consumers 7 Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World? End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Sustainable Agriculture Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 8.3 Sustainable Agriculture: Raising Livestock: Can a Sustainable Diet Include Meat? 1 Affluence and Diet 2 Environmental and Ethical Concerns of Meat Production 3 Converting Feed and Water Into Meat and Dairy 4 Reducing the Environmental Impact of Livestock 5 Agricultural Policies 6 Consumer Choices End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: New Directions for Protein Production Bring It Home: Personal choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 8.4 Fisheries and Aquaculture: Fish in a Warehouse? 1 Modern Industrial Fishing 2 Industrial Fishing and the Tragedy of the Commons 3 Fishing Disrupts Ocean Food Chains 4 Current Status of Global Fisheries 5 Protections for Fisheries 6 Aquaculture: Traditional Outdoor Methods 7 Alternatives to Traditional Aquaculture End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Sustainable Fisheries Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 9 Conventional Energy: Fossil Fuels Module 9.1 Coal: Bringing Down the Mountain 1 Energy Sources 2 Generating Electricity from Coal 3 Coal Deposits: Formation and Distribution 4 Coal Mining: Surface Techniques 5 Coal Mining: Subsurface Techniques 6 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Coal 7 Reducing the Impact of Burning Coal 8 Mine Reclamation End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Coal Mining: A Dangerous Occupation Bring it Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 9.2 Oil and Natural Gas: The Bakken Oil Boom 1 Fossil Fuels: Oil and Natural Gas 2 Oil and Natural Gas Reserves 3 Extraction of Conventional Oil and Natural Gas 4 The Trade-Offs of Oil and Natural Gas 5 Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas 6 The Trade-Offs of Unconventional Fossil Fuels 7 Fossil Fuels and the Future Of Energy End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Consequences of Oil and Natural Gas Extraction Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 10 Air Quality and Climate Change Module 10.1 Air Pollution: The Youngest Scientists 1 Global Air Pollution 2 Outdoor Air Pollution: Types and Sources 3 Consequences of Air Pollution 4 Acidification 5 The Clean Air Act 6 Indoor Air Pollution 7 Reducing Outdoor Air Pollution End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Air Pollution in the United States Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 10.2 Climate Change: Climate Refugees 1 Climate and Climate Change 2 Evidence for Climate Change 3 Climate Forcers: The Greenhouse Effect and Human Impact 4 Temperature and CO2: Collecting and Interpreting the Data 5 Climate Forcers Other Than Greenhouse Gases 6 Attribution: Human Versus Natural Causes 7 Impacts of Climate Change 8 Responses to Climate Change End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Climate Change Impacts Bring It Home: Personal Choices that Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Chapter 11 Alternatives to Fossil Fuels Module 11.1 Nuclear Power: The Future of Fukushima 1 Nuclear-Powered Fuel: Radioactive Isotopes 2 Production of Nuclear Fuel 3 Generating Electricity with Nuclear Energy 4 Types of Radiation 5 Radioactive Decay 6 Nuclear Waste 7 Nuclear Industry Accidents 8 The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Nuclear Power in the United States Bring It Home: Personal Choices That Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Module 11.2 Sustainable Energy: Stationary Sources: Moving Toward a Renewable Energy Future 1 Characteristics of Sustainable Energy Sources 2 Current and Projected Use of Sustainable Energy Sources 3 Wind Power 4 Solar Power 5 Geothermal Power 6 Hydropower 7 The Role of Conservation and Energy Efficiency 8 The Way Forward: Meeting Energy Needs Sustainably End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Green Energy Bring It Home: Personal Choices That Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Online Module 11.3 Sustainable Energy: Mobile Sources: Gas From Grass 1 Biofuels: A Renewable Alternative to Fossil Fuels 2 Sources and Types of Biofuels 3 The Trade-Offs of Biofuels 4 Biofuels Made from Cellulosic Crops 5 Biofuel Production: Bioethanol 6 Biofuel Production: Biodiesel 7 Conservation and Energy Efficiency End of Module Resources Global Case Studies: Alternative Vehicle Fuels Bring It Home: Personal Choices That Help Revisit the Concepts Environmental Literacy Understanding the Issue Science Literacy Working with Data Information Literacy Evaluating Information Appendix 1: Basic Math Skills Appendix 2: Data-Handling and Graphing Skills Appendix 3: Statistical Analysis Glossary Sources Index Answers to the Environmental Literacy: Understanding the Issue Questions Back Cover