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Summary Ggh 1503 Study guide
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CONTENTSStudy unit Page
Introduction iv
1 Environmental problems and their causes, and sustainability 1
2 Science, matter, energy and systems 10
3 Ecosystems: What are they and how do they work? 17
4 Biodiversity and evolution 25
5 The ecology of biological communities 31
6 Humankind: The ultimate consumer 43
7 Fresh water: The Earth's most precious resource 55
8 Energy drives it all 62
9 The air we breathe 75
10 Destroying the Earth with waste 85
11 In for the kill 93
12 For those who come after us 103
GGH1503/1/2012±2018 iii
, Introduction
The critical importance of environmental studies cannot be disputed. As a student of
environmental management, you are certainly aware of environmental issues such as
climate change, the loss of biodiversity, pollution, solid waste disposal, soil erosion and
deforestation. The environment is indeed one of the major problem complexes
humankind faces in the 21st century. Global environmental threats are so serious that,
in 1989 already, the General Assembly of the United Nations called for the formation
of a global partnership to address the environmental problems arising from imbalanced
development (Agenda 21 1998). This resulted in the largest international summits ever
held, namely the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Kyoto Conference in
Japan in 1997 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in
2002. At these summits, the leaders of more than 160 nations gathered to debate
many important, long-term environmental issues. No citizen of the Earth can afford to
be ignorant of environmental problems since no-one is unaffected by them.
Our planet has existed for more than four billion years, but never before has one
species dominated the Earth and all other species so completely (McKinney & Schoch
2003). Because of humankind's technological capabilities and the amount of energy it
can harness, the natural environment has been significantly impacted and changed. This
is true for all parts of the globe (Seager 1995), including South Africa. Over the past
century, the environmental face of South Africa has changed dramatically (Moosa
1999). Agriculture and forestry have replaced large areas of South Africa's natural
vegetation, while mining has changed entire landscapes; significant portions of the
country are now covered by rapidly growing urban conglomerations.
The environmental changes that result from human actions are accelerating and
extending to previously untouched regions. Paul Ehrling, Professor of Population
Studies at Stanford University in California, said: ``We're waging a war on the
environment, a very successful one'' (in Engel 2004:30). In the future, the Earth could
be a very different place indeed. In all likelihood, the next few decades will mean drastic
changes on the Earth for its inhabitants (McKinney & Schoch 2003). Humankind now
stands at a unique crossroads and critical choices have to be made (Lean et al 1990). It
is up to us ± as individuals ± to try to influence decisions and the outcomes of these
changes sustainably so that the welfare of both humankind and the environment is best
ser ved. This brings us to the central theme of this module: sustainability. Sustainability
can be described as the ability of the Earth's various natural systems and human
cultural systems and economies to sur vive and adapt to changing environmental
conditions indefinitely (Miller & Spoolman 2011).
The aim of this module
This module (Our living Earth) was specifically developed for the BA degree in
Environmental Management and is aimed at strengthening the scientific base of this
learning programme. In this module, you will learn how nature works, how things in
nature are interconnected, how to deal with environmental problems and how to live
iv
,more sustainably. All natural processes are driven by energy and governed by physical
or natural laws, and all life on Earth depends on certain chemical compounds. In order
to understand the environmental issues of our time and the effect of human actions on
our natural environment, you have to have some knowledge of the energy, the scientific
laws and the life-sustaining chemical compounds that govern our environment. These
basic, scientific fundamentals usually form part of most courses in the natural and life
sciences, but not of courses in the human and social sciences. This module
(GGH1503) was developed to fill this gap.
This module is like the third member of non-identical triplets. The other two modules
of these triplets are GGH1501 and GGH1502. Some of the topics and issues that are
dealt with in the other two modules are also addressed in this module, but there are
some marked and important differences between the approaches of the three modules.
In modules GGH1501 and GGH1502, spatiality and anthropocentrism (human-
centeredness) are paramount; in module GGH1503, basic science and nature are
paramount. For example, module GGH1501 focuses on the spatial distribution of
wealth in the world and the inequality of global economic development. These issues
are also relevant in module GGH1503, but in this module the focus is on the
environmental effects of unequal and imbalanced development. In both modules
GGH1502 and GGH1503, air pollution is important; however, in the latter module the
focus is on the chemistry involved and how it can affect life on Earth.
Students in the human and social sciences often get a fright when chemistry, physics
and biology are mentioned. They regard these areas as `'difficult'' or `'hard''. Rest
assured that there is nothing difficult or hard about this module. The chemistry, physics
and biology that we teach in this module are very elementary and are taught within the
context of the natural environment and life processes. You will not even know that you
are learning chemistry, physics or biology. The scientific knowledge that you acquire in
this module will deepen your understanding of the environmental issues which are the
main concern of environmental scientists and managers.
As in modules GGH1501 and GGH1502, we deliberately adopt a global perspective in
this module. The entire living Earth is the focus not only a specific part of it of this
module. However, in your prescribed book, the focus is firmly placed on the United
States. This is not really a drawback since the United States not only has the biggest
economy in the world, but is also the biggest consumer of fossil fuel energy, the biggest
producer of greenhouse gases, the biggest producer of solid waste, and a major player
in the global economy and international politics. When you have studied all the study
units, you will know that the global environment is to a large degree at the mercy of the
United States and increasingly China.
The learning outcomes of this module
At the end of this module, you should be able to
. explain what our most serious environmental problems are, how they were
caused and how they might be solved
. define sustainability and discuss its importance in terms of addressing
environmental problems
. explain what science is and what scientists do
v GGH1503/1
, . explain the importance of systems and scientific laws
. explain what ecosystems are, how they function and why life on Earth is so
diverse
. distinguish between life on land and life in the water, and explain how both can
be conser ved
. explain the ecology of biological communities
. explain why the production of food for the world's population is a serious
environmental problem
. explain why clean fresh water is the Earth's most precious resource
. distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy resources, and
describe the environmental impacts of energy use
. discuss the different types of air pollution and explain how air pollution can be
reduced and prevented
. explain the effects of chemicals and pathogens on life
. discuss the problem of solid waste
. explain the extinction crisis
. collect, process, represent and interpret data on the environment and
environmental issues
The study package
The study material for this module consists of the following:
. The prescribed book: Miller, GT & Spoolman, S. 2011. Our living Earth .
Custom edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
This prescribed book contains the material that you have to study. You have to
obtain your own copy of the book because you will work from it the entire
academic semester. Do not even consider relying on a copy from Unisa's librar y.
. Although this study guide will guide you through the prescribed book, it
contains ver y little of the material you have to study.
. A thick A4 notepad, scribbler or exercise book, which you can buy from a
stationer. You have to use this to make notes and write down the answers to
questions.
. Tutorial letters, which you will receive from Unisa during the academic year.
The structure of this study guide
This study guide contains 12 study units. Each study unit deals with a specific topic
and refers to a specific part of the study material. The study material as such appears in
your prescribed book. The topics are organised more or less in accordance with your
prescribed book. This makes it easier for you because you will start at the beginning of
the prescribed book and, by and large, work your way to the back. Hopping about in
the book is therefore minimised. Do not skip a study unit because it will disrupt the
logic flow according to which the topics are organised. Study the units in sequence and
complete each study unit before you start on the next one.
The content and structure of the study units
The study units contain a minimum of study material but refer you to the relevant
chapter(s) or sections that you should study in the prescribed book. Each study unit has
a number of sections.
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