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Student Edition
Instructor Edition
Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships, 9/e

Eldon Enger, Delta College
Brad Smith, Western Washington University

ISBN: 0072919876
Copyright year: 2004

Table of Contents



Preface xiii
Guided Tour xviii
About the Authors xxiv

PART i
Interrelatedness   2
Deer Hunting Within the City of Brotherly Love?   3

CHAPTER 1
Environmental Interrelationships   4

The Field of Environmental Science   5
The Interrelated Nature of Environmental Problems   5

Environmental Close-Up: Science Versus Policy   6

Global Perspective: Fish, Seals, and Jobs   8
An Ecosystem Approach   8
Regional Environmental Concerns   8

Environmental Close-Up: Headwaters Forest   9

The Wilderness North   10
The Agricultural Middle   11

Environmental Close-Up: The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem   12

The Dry West   12
The Forested West   13
The Great Lakes and Industrial Northeast   13
The Diverse South   15

New for Chapter 1
• expanded coverage on sustainable development and Agenda   21

CHAPTER 2
Environmental Ethics   19

Views of Nature   20
Environmental Ethics   21
Environmental Attitudes   22

Environmental Close-Up: Naturalist Philosophers   23

Societal Environmental Ethics   24

Environmental Close-Up: Environmental Philosophy   25

Corporate Environmental Ethics   25

Global Perspective: Chico Mendes and Extractive Reserves   27

Environmental Justice   28
Individual Environmental Ethics   29
Do We Consume Too Much?   29

Global Perspective: International Trade in Endangered Species   30

Food   31
Nature   31
Oil   31
Water   31
The Unknown   31

Global Perspective: The Gray Whales of Neah Bay   32

Global Environmental Ethics   33

Issues—Analysis: Antarctica—Resource or Refuge?   35

New for Chapter 2
• new section — "Do we consume too much?"
• more information on the Global Reporting Initiative
• new Global Perspective reading on the gray whales of Neah Bay

CHAPTER 3
Risk and Cost: Elements of Decision Making   38

Measuring Risk   39

Risk Assessment   39

Environmental Close-Up: What’s in a Number?   41

Risk Management   41
True and Perceived Risks   41

Economics and the Environment   44

Economic Concepts   44
Market-Based Instruments   44

Global Perspective: Wombats and the Australian Stock Exchange   47

Environmental Close-Up: Georgia-Pacific Corporation: Recycled Urban Wood—A Case Study in Extended Product Responsibility   48

Extended Product Responsibility   49
Cost-Benefit Analysis   50
Concerns about the Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis   51
Economics and Sustainable Development   51

Environmental Close-Up: "Green" Advertising Claims—Points to Consider   52

External Costs   54
Common Property Resource Problems   54

Global Perspective: Pollution Prevention Pays!   55

Economic Decision Making and the Biophysical World   56

Environmental Close-Up: Placing a Value on Ecosystem Services   57

Global Perspective: Costa Rican Forests Yield Tourists and Medicines   58

Economics, Environment, and Developing Nations   58
The Tragedy of the Commons   59
Lightening the Load   59

Issues—Analysis: Shrimp, Turtles, and Turtle Excluder Devices   60

New for Chapter 3
• expanded section on public perceptions of environmental risks
• more information on extended product responsibility

PART ii
Ecological Principles and Their Application   64
"Fixing" Nature?: Restoration and the Florida Everglades   65

CHAPTER 4
Interrelated Scientific Principles: Matter, Energy, and Environment   66

Scientific Thinking   67

The Scientific Method   67
Observation   67
Questioning and Exploring   67
Constructing Hypotheses   68
Testing Hypothesis   69
The Development of Theories and Laws   69

Environmental Close-Up: Typical Household Chemicals   70

Limitations of Science   70
The Structure of Matter   71

Atomic Structure   71
The Molecular Nature of Matter   71
Acids, Bases, and pH   72
Inorganic and Organic Matter   73
Chemical Reactions   73
Chemical Reactions in Living Things   74

Energy Principles   75

Kinds of Energy   75
States of Matter   75
First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics   76
Environmental Implications of Energy Flow   77

Issues—Analysis: Improvements in Lighting Efficiency   79

New for Chapter 4
• rewritten section on the scientific method
• additional material and an illustration on isotopes
• new section on the molecular nature of matter
• clarification usage of the words molecule, compound, ions
• new material on endothermic and exothermic reactions
• new content on chemical reactions for photosynthesis and respiration

CHAPTER 5
Interactions: Environment and Organisms   82

Ecological Concepts   83

Environment   83
Limiting Factors   84
Habitat and Niche   84

The Role of Natural Selection and Evolution   86

Genes, Populations, and Species   86

Environmental Close-Up: Habitat Conservation Plans: Tool or Token?   87

Natural Selection   88
Evolutionary Patterns 88

Kinds of Organism Interactions   90

Predation   90
Competition   91
Symbiotic Relationships   92
Some Relationships Are Difficult to Categorize   93

Environmental Close-Up: Human Interaction–A Different Look   94

Community and Ecosystem Interactions   94

Major Roles of Organisms in Ecosystems   95
Keystone Species   96
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems   96
Food Chains and Food Webs   97

Environmental Close-Up: Contaminants in the Food Chain of Fish from the Great Lakes   99

Nutrient Cycles in Ecosystems—Biogeochemical Cycles   99
Human Impact on Nutrient Cycles   103

Issues—Analysis: Reintroducing Wolves to the Yellowstone Ecosystem   104

New for Chapter 5
• new section — Genes, Populations, and Species
• new herbicide resistance illustration
• new section on polyploidy
• biogeochemical cycles now in nutrient cycles section
• new material on the operation of the carbon cycle in aquatic systems

CHAPTER 6
Kinds of Ecosystems and Communities   108

Succession   109

Primary Succession   109
Secondary Succession   112
Modern Concepts of Succession and Climax   112

Biomass: Major Types of Terrestrial Climax Communities   114

The Effect of Elevation on Climate and Vegetation   115
Desert   115
Grassland   116

Environmental Close-Up: Grassland Succession   118

Savanna   118
Mediterranean Shrublands   119
Tropical Dry Forest   119

Global Perspective: Tropical Rainforests—A Special Case?   121

Tropical Rainforest   122

Environmental Close-Up: Forest Canopy Studies   123

Temperate Deciduous Forest   123
Taiga, Northern Coniferous Forest, or Boreal Forest   124
Tundra   125

Major Aquatic Ecosystems   126

Marine Ecosystems   126
Freshwater Ecosystems   130

Issues—Analysis: Protecting Old-Growth Temperate Rainforests of the Pacific Northwest   132

New for Chapter 6
• new content on ways that humans affect the process of succession
• new sections on mediterranean shrublands (chaparral) and tropical dry forests

CHAPTER 7
Population Principles   135

Population Characteristics   136

Natality and Mortality   136
Sex Ratio and Age Distribution   136
Population Density and Spatial Distribution   138
Summary of Factors That Influence Population Growth Rates   139

A Population Growth Curve   139
Carrying Capacity   141

Environmental Close-Up: Population Growth of Invading Species   142

Reproductive Strategies and Population Fluctuations   144
Human Population Growth   144

Available Raw Materials   145

Global Perspective: Managing Elephant Populations—Harvest or Birth Control?   146

Available Energy   147
Waste Disposal   147
Interaction with Other Organisms   147
Social Factors Influence Human Population   147

Issues—Analysis: Wolves and Moose on Isle Royale   148

Ultimate Size Limitation   148

New for Chapter 7
• updated human population information
• more explanation on how the population growth rate is calculated
• new illustration on survivorship curves
• revised material on age distribution
• updated Issues—Analysis reading on wolves and moose on Isle Royale

CHAPTER 8
Human Population Issues   152

Human Population Trends and Implications   153

Global Perspective: Thomas Malthus and His Essay on Population   154

Factors That Influence Population Growth   154

Biological Factors   154
Social Factors   155

Environmental Close-Up: Control of Births   156

Political Factors   158

Population Growth and Standard of Living   159
Population and Poverty—A Vicious Cycle?   160
Hunger, Food Production, and Environmental Degradation   161
The Demographic Transition Concept   163

Global Perspective: The Urbanization of the World’s Population   164

The U.S. Population Picture   164
Anticipated Changes with Continued Population Growth   166

Global Perspective: North America—Population Comparisons   167

Issues—Analysis: The Impact of AIDS on Populations   168

New for Chapter 8
• updated information on human population issues
• new table on population characteristics of the 20 most populous countries
• revised section on population growth and standard of living
• more information from the 2000 census
• updated material on AIDS

PART iii
Energy   172
Skull Valley: A Reservation for Disaster?   173

CHAPTER 9
Energy and Civilization: Patterns of Consumption   174

History of Energy Consumption   175

Biological Energy Sources   175
Increased Use of Wood   175
Fossil Fuels and the Industrial Revolution   176

Energy and Economics   177

Economic Growth and Energy Consumption   177
The Role of the Automobile   178
Gasoline Prices and Government Policy   178

Global Perspective: Five Ways to Curb Traffic   179

How Energy is Used   180

Residential and Commercial Energy Use   180
Industrial Energy Use   180
Transportation Energy Use   180

Environmental Close-Up: Hybrid Electric Vehicles   182

The Variability of Gasoline Prices   183

Electrical Energy   183
Energy Consumption Trends   185

Environmental Close-Up: Alternative-Fuel Vehicles   187

Global Perspective: Energy Development in China   189

Global Perspective: Potential World Petroleum Resources   190

OPEC   191

New for Chapter 9
• revised coverage of variations in yearly gasoline prices
• new table on sources of U.S. imported oil
• expanded section on the instability of global oil production
• new figure — What We Pay For in a Gallon of Regular Gasoline
• new table on drive time
• updated statistics on oil consumption by the world
• new figure — World Oil Market Chronology: 1970–2000

CHAPTER 10
Energy Sources   194

Energy Sources   195
Resources and Reserves   195
Fossil-Fuel Formation   197

Coal   197
Oil and Natural Gas   197

Issues Related to the Use of Fossil Fuels   198

Coal Use   200
Oil Use   201
Natural Gas Use   203

Renewable Sources of Energy   204

Hydroelectric Power   204

Global Perspective: Hydroelectric Sites   207

Tidal Power   207

Global Perspective: The Three Gorges Dam    208

Geothermal Power   209
Wind Power   211
Solar Energy   212
Biomass Conversion   215
Fuelwood   216
Solid Waste   217

Global Perspective: Are Fuel Cells the Future?   218

Energy Conservation   218

Issues—Analysis: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Oil   220

New for Chapter 10
• new coverage on wind, tidal, and hydropower
• updated information on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• updated material on gasoline price swings
• new Global Perspective reading on hydrogen fuel cells

CHAPTER 11
Nuclear Energy: Benefits and Risks   224

The Nature of Nuclear Energy   225
The History of Nuclear Energy Development   226
Nuclear Reactors   226

Plans for New Reactors Worldwide   228
Plant Life Extension   229

Breeder Reactors   231
Nuclear Fusion   231
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle   232
Nuclear Material and Weapons Production   232
Nuclear Power Concerns   233

Reactor Safety: The Effects of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl   234
Exposure to Radiation   236
Thermal Pollution   238
Decommissioning Costs   238
Radioactive Waste Disposal   240

Global Perspective: The Nuclear Legacy of the Soviet Union   241

Environmental Close-Up: The Hanford Facility: A Legacy of Contamination   243

New for Chapter 11
• new Environmental Close-up reading on the Hanford Facility
• updated text on Chernobyl and worldwide nuclear power plants
• expanded section on decommissioning policies for nuclear facilities
• more information about nuclear terrorism

PART iv
Human Influences on Ecosystems   246
Salton, A Sea of Controversy   247

CHAPTER 12
Human Impact on Resources and Ecosystems   248

The Changing Role of Human Impact   249
Historical Basis of Pollution   249
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources   250
Costs Associated with Resource Utilization   251
Mineral Resources   251

Steps in Mineral Utilization   252
Recycling of Mineral Materials   252

Utilization and Modification of Terrestrial Ecosystems   253

Impact of Agriculture on Natural Ecosystems   254

Managing Forest Ecosystems   254

Economic and Energy Costs of Utilizing Forest Ecosystems   254
Environmental Costs of Utilizing Forest Ecosystems   254
Environmental Implications of Various Harvesting Methods 255
Plantation Forestry   256

Environmental Close-Up: The Northern Spotted Owl   257

Special Concerns About Tropical Deforestation   257

Managing Rangeland Ecosystems   258

Environmental Costs of Utilizing Rangelands   258

Areas with Minimal Human Impact–Wilderness and Remote Areas   259
Managing Aquatic Ecosystems   259

Environmental Costs Associated with Utilizing Marine Ecosystems   260

Global Perspective: The History of the Bison   261

Environmental Costs Associated with Utilizing Freshwater Ecosystems   262
Aquaculture   265

Environmental Close-Up: Farming, Fish Kills, and Pfiesteria piscicida   266

Managing Ecosystems for Wildlife   266

Habitat Analysis and Management   266
Population Assessment and Management   267

Environmental Close-Up: Native American Fishing Rights   268

Predator and Competitor Control   269
Special Issues with Migratory Waterfowl Management   269

Extinction and Loss of Biodiversity   270

Human-Accelerated Extinction   271
Why Worry About Extinction?   272

What Is Being Done to Prevent Extinction and Protect Biodiversity?   273

Environmental Close-Up: The California Condor   276

Issues—Analysis: Fire As a Forest Management Tool   277

New for Chapter 12
• rewritten section on plantation forestry
• clarified definitions of marine, brackish, and freshwater
• updated figure on forms of pollution
• new figure on change in forest areas
• new figure on trends in world fish production, including capture and aquaculture
• rewritten section on aquaculture
• new material on the African Eurasian waterbird agreement
• new coverage on the role of keystone species and how their elimination alters ecosystems
• updated references to President Bush’s administrative policy

CHAPTER 13
Land-Use Planning   280

The Need for Planning   281
Historical Forces That Shaped Land Use in North America     281

The Importance of Waterways   281
The Rural-to-Urban Shift   281

Global Perspective: Urbanization in the Developing World   283

Migration from the Central City to the Suburbs   283
Factors That Contribute to Sprawl   283

Lifestyle Factors   285
Economic Factors   285
Planning and Policy Factors   286

Problems Associated with Unplanned Urban Growth   286

Transportation Problems   286
Air Pollution   286
Low Energy Efficiency   287
Loss of Sense of Community   287
Death of the Central City   287
Higher Infrastructure Costs   287
Loss of Open Space   287
Loss of Farmland   287
Water Pollution Problems   287
Floodplain Problems   287
Wetlands Misuse   288

Environmental Close-Up: Wetlands Loss in Louisiana   289

Other Land-Use Considerations   290

Land-Use Planning Principles   290

Environmental Close-Up: Computer Tools Aid Decision Making—Growing Smarter to Protect Habitats   291

Mechanisms for Implementing Land-Use Plans   292

Establishing State or Regional Planning Agencies   292
Purchasing Land or Use Rights   293
Regulating Use   293

Special Urban Planning Issues   294

Urban Transportation Planning   294

Environmental Close-Up: Land-Use Planning and Aesthetic Pollution   295

Urban Recreation Planning   296
Redevelopment of Inner-City Areas   296
Smart Growth   297

Federal Government Land-Use Issues   298

Issues—Analysis: Decision Making in Land-Use Planning—The Malling of America   300

New for Chapter 13
• new section on smart growth
• new table on state comprehensive growth legislation

CHAPTER 14
Soil and Its Uses   303

Geologic Processes   304
Soil and Land   306
Soil Formation   306
Soil Properties   308
Soil Profile   309
Soil Erosion   311
Soil Conservation Practices   314

Contour Farming   315
Strip Farming   316
Terracing   316
Waterways   316
Windbreaks   316

Conventional Versus Conservation Tillage   317

Environmental Close-Up: Land Capability Classes   320

Global Perspective: Worldwide Soil Degradation   322

Protecting Soil on Nonfarm Land   323

Issues—Analysis: Soil Erosion in Virginia   324

New for Chapter 14
• table 14.1, Percentage of Land Suitable for Agriculture, has been updated
• information on land degradation has been expanded

CHAPTER 15
Agricultural Methods and Pest Management   326

Different Approaches to Agriculture   327
Fossil Fuel Versus Muscle Power   329
The Impact of Fertilizer   329
Agricultural Chemical Use   330

Environmental Close-Up: DDT—A Historical Perspective   331

Insecticides   331
Herbicides   332
Fungicides and Rodenticides   333

Environmental Close-Up: A New Generation of Insecticides   334

Other Agricultural Chemicals   334

Problems with Pesticide Use   335

Persistence   335
Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification   335
Pesticide Resistance   337
Effects on Nontarget Organisms  337

Global Perspective: China’s Ravenous Appetite   338

Global Perspective: Contaminated Soils in the Former Soviet Union   339

Human Health Concerns   339

Why Are Pesticides So Widely Used?   340
Alternatives to Conventional Agriculture   340

Environmental Close-Up: Industrial Production of Livestock   341
Environmental Close-Up: Food Additives   342

Techniques for Protecting Soil and Water Resources   342
Integrated Pest Management   343

Issues—Analysis: Herring Gulls As Indicators of Contamination in the Great Lakes   347

New for Chapter 15
• new Environmental Close-Up reading on industrial livestock production
• reorganization of section on integrated pest management
• updated information on genetically modified organisms

CHAPTER 16
Water Management   350

The Water Issue   351
The Hydrologic Cycle   352
Human Influences on the Hydrologic Cycle   354
Kinds of Water Use   355

Domestic Use of Water   355
Agricultural Use of Water   357
Industrial Use of Water   358
In-Stream Use of Water   359

Global Perspective: Comparing Water Use and Pollution in Industrialized and Developing Countries   360

Kinds and Sources of Water Pollution   361

Environmental Close-Up: Is It Safe to Drink the Water?   362

Municipal Water Pollution   364

Global Perspective: The Cleanup of the Holy Ganges   365

Agricultural Water Pollution   366
Industrial Water Pollution   366
Thermal Pollution   367
Marine Oil Pollution   367
Groundwater Pollution   368

Water-Use Planning Issues   369

Water Diversion   370
Wastewater Treatment   371

Environmental Close-Up: Restoring the Everglades   373

Salinization   374
Groundwater Mining   375
Preserving Scenic Water Areas and Wildlife Habitats   376

Global Perspective: Death of a Sea   377

Global Perspective: The Death Zone of the Gulf of Mexico   379

Issues—Analysis: The California Water Plan   380

New for Chapter 16
• new Global Perspective reading on the dead zone of the Gulf of Mexico
• expanded coverage on global water issues
• more information on water treatment in the Salina Valley, California
• expanded material on chemicals entering drinking water sources
• more discussion of the New York City water supply
• additional text on water diversions and extractions
• expanded material on wetlands
• new table on the population of the world’s ten largest watersheds
• new table on international water disputes
• new coverage of the National Research Council’s report on Envisioning the Agenda for Water Resource Research in the 21st Century

PART v
Pollution and Policy   384
Environmental Policy: Pragmatic or Polluted?   385

CHAPTER 17
Air Quality Issues   386

The Atmosphere   387
Categories of Air Pollutants   388

Carbon Monoxide   389
Volatile Organic Compounds   390
Particulate Matter   390

Global Perspective: Air Pollution in Mexico City   391

Sulfur Dioxide   391
Nitrogen Dioxide   392
Lead   392
Ground-Level Ozone and Photochemical Smog   392
Hazardous Air Pollutants   394

Control of Air Pollution   395

Control of Motor Vehicle Emissions   395
Control of Particulate Matter Emissions   396
Control of Power Plant Emissions   397
Clean Air Act   397

Acid Deposition   398
Ozone Depletion   400

Environmental Close-Up: Secondhand Smoke   401

Global Warming and Climate Change   402

Causes of Global Warming and Climate Change   402
Potential Consequences of Global Warming and Climate Change   405

Addressing Climate Change   408

Global Perspective: The Kyoto Protocol on Greenhouse Gases   410

Indoor Air Pollution   410

Environmental Close-Up: Radon   412

Environmental Close-Up: Noise Pollution   414

Issues—Analysis: International Air Pollution   415

New for Chapter 17
• fully reorganized chapter
• text now includes material on the six criteria air pollutants
• two new figures on photochemical smog
• new figure on thermal inversion
• new data on emissions and air quality
• new data on average global temperature
• new table on categories of air pollutants

CHAPTER 18
Solid Waste Management and Disposal   418

Introduction to Waste Management   419
The Nature of the Problem   419

The Disposable Decades   419
Current Trends   419

Methods of Waste Disposal   420

Landfills   422
Incineration   424

Environmental Close-Up: Resins Used in Consumer Packaging   425

Composting   426
Source Reduction   427

Environmental Close-Up: What You Can Do to Reduce Waste and Save Money   430

Recycling   430

Environmental Close-Up: Recycling Is Big Business   431

Environmental Close-Up: Recyclables Market Basket   433

Issues—Analysis: Corporate Response to Environmental Concerns   434

New for Chapter 18
• new material on mining, manufacturing, and agricultural solid waste
• updated information about Fresh Kills landfill
• revised material on kinds of composting

CHAPTER 19
Regulating Hazardous Materials   436

Hazardous and Toxic Materials in Our Environment   437
Hazardous and Toxic Substances—Some Definitions   437
Defining Hazardous Waste   438
Issues Involved in Setting Regulations   439

Environmental Close-Up: Determining Toxicity   440

Identification of Hazardous and Toxic Materials   440
Setting Exposure Limits   440
Acute and Chronic Toxicity   441
Synergism   441
Persistent and Nonpersistent Pollutants   441

Global Perspective: Lead and Mercury Poisoning   442

Environmental Problems Caused by Hazardous Wastes   442
Health Risks Associated with Hazardous Wastes   443
Hazardous-Waste Dumps—A Legacy of Abuse   444

Environmental Close-Up: Computers—A Hazardous Waste   445

Toxic Chemical Release   446

Hazardous-Waste Management Choices   446

Reducing the Amount of Waste at the Source   447
Recycling of Wastes   448
Treatment of Wastes   448
Disposal Methods   448

International Trade in Hazardous Wastes   449

Global Perspective: Hazardous Wastes and Toxic Materials in China   450

Hazardous-Waste Management Program    450

Issues—Analysis: Love Canal   457

New for Chapter 19
• new information on the different agencies that set regulations
• additional coverage on the success of Superfund
• updated tables on hazardous substances and wastes
• new figure on toxic releases
• new figure on pollution-prevention hierarchy

CHAPTER 20
Environmental Policy and Decision Making   454

New Challenges for a New Century   455
Learning from the Past   456
Thinking about the Future   457
Defining the Future   458
The Development of Environmental Policy in the United States   458

Environmental Backlash—The Wise Use Movement   460
The Changing Nature of Environmental Policy   461

Environmental Close-Up: Shaping U.S. Environmental Policy as the New Century Begins   462

Environmental Policy and Regulation   463
The Greening of Geopolitics   464

Environmental Close-Up: Changing the Nature of Environmental Regulation—The Safe Drinking Water Act   466

Terrorism and the Environment   467
International Environmental Policy   470

Global Perspective: Earth Summit on Environment and Development   471

Global Perspective: Overview of an International Organization—The International Whaling Commission   472

Global Perspective: Eco-Labels   473

Environmental Policy and the European Union   474
New International Instruments   475

It All Comes Back to You   475

New for Chapter 20
• new section on biological, chemical, and eco-terrorism
• updated table on U.S. environmental and resource conservation legislation
• new Environmental Close-Up reading on United States environmental policy

Appendix 1:

Critical Thinking A-1

Appendix 2:

The Periodic Table of the Elements A-2

Glossary G-1
Credits C-1
Index I-1


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