APES Final Review Vocabulary

Average residence time

time it takes for a given part of the total reservoir of a particular material to by cycled through the system

Gaia

Greek goddess Mother Earth

Sustainability

the ability to meet humanity's current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Lag time

time between a stimulus and the response of a system

Volatile Organic Compounds

a variety of organic compounds used as solvents in industrial processes

Positive feedback

when a change in some conditions triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition

negative feedback

when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition

true cost/external costs

harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product's cost

First law of thermodynamics

energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another

second law of thermodynamics

when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy

Ionizing radiation

radiation with enough energy to free electrons from atoms forming ions, may cause cancer

High Quality Energy

organized & concentrated, can perform useful work

Low Quality Energy

disorganized, dispersed

Natural radioactive decay

unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles

half-life

the time it takes for half the mass of a radioisotope to decay. A radioactive isotope must be stored for approximately 10 half-lives until it decays to a safe level

nuclear fission

nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons

nuclear fusion

2 isotopes of light elements forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus. Happens in Sun, very difficult to accomplish on Earth, prohibitively expensive

10 half lives

estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level

ore

a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine

mineral reserve

identified deposits currently profitable to extract

surface mining

cheaper, can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers

organic fertilizer

slow acting long lasting because the organic remains need time to decompose

silviculture

professional growing of trees

shelterwood-cutting

cutting dead and less desirable trees first and after cutting more mature trees

seed-tree cutting

removes all but a few seed trees to promote regeneration

selective cutting

individual trees are marked and cut

humus

organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms

leaching

removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards through soil

illuviation

deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (B)

Conservation

allows use of resources in a responsible manner

Preservation

setting aside areas & protecting them from human activities

loam

perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, clay

soil conservation methods

conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers

soil salinization

in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind (ex. Fertile crescent, southwestern US)

water logging

water completely saturates soil, starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots

Hydrologic cycle components

evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration

watershed

all of the land that drains into a body of water

aquifer

underground layers of porous rock allow water to move slowly

cone of depression

lowering of the water table around a pumping well

salt water intrusion

near the coast, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into aquifer

adaptive radiation

occurs when a species enters a new habitat that has unoccupied niches and evolves into a group of new species, each adapted to one of these niches

alpha particle

one of the major types of nuclear radiation, consisting of two protons and two neutrons

beta particle

one of three kinds of nuclear radiation; electrons that are emitted when one of the protons or neutrons in the nucleus of an isotope spontaneously changes

gamma rays

one of three kinds of nuclear radiation; type of EM radiation emitted from the isotope similar to X gays but more energetic and penetrating

ENSO

El Nino Southern Oscillation, trade winds weaken & warm, surface water moves toward South America. Diminished fisheries off S. America, drought in W. Pacific, increased precipitation in southwestern N. America, fewer Atlantic hurricanes

During an El Nino Year

trade winds weaken & warm water sloshed back to S. America

During non El Nino year

Easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the West coast of S. America

effects of el nino

upwelling decreases disrupting food chains, N. US has mild winters, SW US has increased rainfall, lass Atlantic hurricanes

La Nina

Normal" year, easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the W. Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off West coast of S. America

nitrogen fixation

because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must be first converted to ammonia by bacteria

ammonification

decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia

nitrification

ammonia is converted to nitrate ions

assimilation

inorganic N is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins

denitrification

bacteria convert ammonia back into N

phosphorus

does not exist as a gas; released by weathering of phosphate rocks, it is a major limiting factor for plant growth. Phosphorus cycle is slow, and not atmospheric

excess phosphorus

added to aquatic ecosystems by runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, sewage discharge

photosynthesis

plants convert CO2 into complex carbs (glucose)

aerobic respiration

oxygen consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert C back into CO2

largest reservoirs of Carbon

carbonate rocks first, oceans second

biotic

the living components of an ecosystem

abiotic

the nonliving components of an ecosystem

producer/autotroph

organisms that make their own food--- photosynthetic life

fecal coliform

indicator of sewage contamination

chlorine

good= disinfection of water, bad= forms trihalomethanes

obligate symbiont

relationship between two organisms in which neither by themselves can exist without the other

rangeland

provides food for grazing and browsing animals w/o plowing and planting

pasture

plowed, planted, and harvested to provide forage for animals

igneous rock

formed from solidification of magma

metamorphic rock

formed by heat & pressure

sedimentary rock

formed by weathering & erosion

OAEBCR

soil horizon layers

contour plowing

land is plowed perpendicular to the slopes and as horizontally as possible

no-till agriculture

involves not plowing the land, using herbicides and integrated pest management to keep down weeds, and allowing some weeds to grow

eutrophication

a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients, causes increase in algae, organisms below deprived of light, large die off, decompose, DO lowers

oligotrophic

referring to bodies of water having low concentration of chemical elements required for life

photodissociation

solar radiation breaks down chemical bonds

trophic levels

producers> primary consumer> secondary consumer> tertiary consumer

energy flow through food web

10% of all usable energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Reason: usable energy lost as heat (2nd law of thermodynamics), not all biomass is digested & absorbed, predators expend energy to catch prey

primary succession

development of communities in a lifeless area not recently inhabited by life

secondary succession

life progresses where soil remains

mutualism

symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

commensalism

symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits & the other is unaffected

parasitism

relationship in which one organism obtains nutrients at the expense of the host

carrying capacity

the # of individuals that can be sustained in an area

r-strategist

reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce early, bear many small, unprotected offspring (insects, mice)

K-strategist

reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce late, bear few, carerd for offspring (humans, elephants)

wetland

shallow depression that seasonally holds water

natural selection

organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation

thomas malthus

human population cannot continue to increase. Consequences will be war, famine, and pestilence (disease)

doubling time

(rule of 70) doubling time equals 70 divided by percent growth rate.

replacement level fertility

number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (averages 2.1 in more developed nations, 2.7 in less developed nations)

world population

a little over 6 billion

US population

290 million

Kwashiorkor

lack of sufficient protein in diet, leads to failure of neural development in infants and therefore learning disabilities

marasmus

progressive emaciation caused by lack of protein and calories

undernourishment

lack of calories

preindustrial stage

demographic transitional model stage, birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high

transitional stage

demographic transitional model stage, death rate (infant mortality) lower, birth rate remains high, better health care, population grows fast

industrial stage

demographic transitional model stage, decline in birth rate, population growth slows

postindustrial stage

demographic transitional model stage, low birth & death rates

general fertility rate

number of live births expected in a year per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years

total fertility rate

average number of children expected to be born to a woman throughout her childbearing years

incidence rate

number of people contracting a disease during a time period

phosphorus

cycle which does not have a gaseous phase

genetic drift

changes in frequency of a gene in a population due not to mutation, selection, or migration but to chance

age structure diagrams

broad base --> rapid growth; narrow base --> negative growth; uniform shape --> zero growth

most populous nations

1. China, 2. India, 3. US, 4, Indonesia

low status of women

most important factor keeping population growth rates high

methods to decrease birth rates

family planning, contraception, economic rewards & penalties

composition of water on earth

97.5% seawater, 2.5% freshwater

overdraft

groundwater withdrawal when the amount pumped from wells exceeds natural rate of replenishment

ways to conserve water

drip/trickle irrigation, recycling, use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures

aquaculture

farming aquatic species, commonly salmon, shrimp, tilapia, oysters

point source

source from specific location such as pipe or smokestack

non-point source

source spread over an area such as agricultural/feedlot runoff, urban runoff, traffic

primary sewage treatment

first step of sewage treatment; eliminates most particulate material from raw sewage using grates, screens, and gravity (settling)

secondary sewage treatment

second step of sewage treatment; bacteria breakdown organic waste, aeration accelerates process

activated sludge

mass of living bacterial organisms feeding on waste material that has settled, is recycled to aeration tank

BOD

Biological Oxygen Demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials

Eutrophication

rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrogen & phosphorus, blocks sunlight, causing the death/decomposition of aquatic plants, decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO), suffocating fish

malnourishment

lack of specific components of food (proteins or vitamins)

hypoxia

water with very low dissolved oxygen levels, the end result of eutrophication

Minimata disease

mental impairments caused by mercury

CAFE standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards enacted into law in 1975, established fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The Fuel economy ratings for a manufacturer's entire line of passenger cars must currently average at least 27.5

primary air pollutants

produced by humans & nature (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, hydrocarbons, particulates)

secondary air pollutants

formed by reaction of primary pollutants

particulate matter

sources include burning fossil fuels and car exhaust. Effects include reduced visibility, respiratory irritation. Mothods of reduction include filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy

nitrogen oxides

major source is auto exhaust. Primary and secondary effects include acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone. Reduced using catalytic converters

ozone

secondary pollutant. Causes respiratory irritation and plant damage. Reduced by reducing NO emissions and VOCs

Sultur oxides

primary source is coal burning. Primaryu and secondary effects include acid deposition, respiratory irritation, plant damage. Reduction methods include scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel

Carbon dioxide

Sources include the combustion of fossil fuels. EEffects: greenhouse gas-contributes to global warming. Reduction accomplished by increased fuel efficiency, mass transit

Carbon Monoxide

Sources include incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Effects: binds to hemoglobin reducing blood's ability to carry O2. Reduction accomplished by catalytic converters, oxygenated fuel, mass transit

Radon

radioactive gas, formed from the decay of Uranium, causes lung cancer

photochemical smog

formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight

acid deposition

caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters

acid precipitation

condensed ot frozen water vapor that includes acid rain, acid fog, and acid snow. pH below 5.5. Cause: anthropogenic release of pollutants like SO2 & nitrogen oxides

greenhouse gases

most significant- H2O, CO2, CH4, CFCs. Trap outgoing infrared energy causing Earth to warm

greenhouse effect

a vital process, required for life to exist on Earth. Gases trap outgoing infrared energy causing Earth to warm. If accelerated, bad, leads to global warming

Effects of global warming

rising sea level (due to thermal expansion not melting ice), extreme weather, droughts (famine), and extinctions

Ozone depletion caused by

CFCs, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide all of which attack stratospheric ozone

effects of ozone depletion

Negative effects include increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, and decreased plant growth

municipal solid wate

paper and mostly put into landfills

sanitary landfill

problems include leachate, which is solved using a liner with a collection system; methane gas, which may be collected and burned; and the volume of garbage, which may be compacted and/or reduced

incineration advantages

volume of wate reduced by 90% and waste heat can be used

incineration disadvantages

toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride, dioxin), scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators needed, ash disposal

reduce amount of waste at the source

best solution for waste problem

brownfield

abandoned industrial sites

keystone species

species whose role in an ecosystem is more important than others

indicator species

species that serve as early warnings than an ecosystem is being damaged

In natural ecosystems

50-90% of pest species are kept under control by: predators, diseases, parasites

3 major insecticide groups

chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT), organophosphates (malathion), carbamates (aldicarb)

integrated pest management

uses a combination of methods, including bological control, certain chemical pesticides, and some methods of planting crops

esticie pros

saves lives from insect transmitted diseases, increases food supply, and increases profits for farmers

pesticide cons

genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biological magnification

natural pest control

better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plans, natural enemies, and biopesticides, sex attractants

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

new organisms created by altering the genetic material (DNA) of existing organisms; usually in an attempt to remove undesirable or create desirable characteristics in the new organisms

conservation and increase efficiency

best solution to energy shortage

electricity is generated by

steam, from water boiled, by fossil fuels or nuclear energy, or falling water is used to turn a generator

petroleum formation

microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat and pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons

petroleum pros

cheap, easily transported, high quality energy

Petroleum cons

reserves depleted soon, pollution during drilling, transport and refining, land subsidence, burning oil produces CO2

coal formation

prehistoric plants buried un-decomposed in oxygen-depleted water of swamps/bogs converted by heat and pressure

ranks of coal

peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite

cogeneration

using waste heat to make electricity

nuclear reactor parts

consists of a core, control rods, moderator, steam generator, turbine, containment building

2 most serious nuclear accidents

Chernobyl, Ukraine, & Three Mile Island, PA

alternate energy sources

wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells

remediation

return a contaminated area to its original state

LD-50

amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population

ED-50

amount of a chemical that causes an effect in 50% of the animals in a test population

TD-50

dose that is toxic to 50% of a population

body burden

amount of concentration of a toxic chemical in an individual

threshold

level below which no effect occurs and above which effects begin to occur

acute effect

occurs soon after exposure

chronic effect

takes place over a long period, often as a result of exposure to low levels of a pollutant

persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

are now banned, DDT, PCBs (liquid insulators in electric transformers), and dioxins(byproduct of herbicide production)

troposphere

first layer of atmosphere 0-10 miles above Earth's surface. Contains weather, greenhouse gases (bad ozone)

stratosphere

second layer of atmosphere 10-30 miles above the Earth's surface. Contains protective ozone layer (good ozone)

inversion layer (temperature inversion)

warm layer of air above a cooler layer traps pollutants close to the Earth's surface

mutagen

substances that cause changes in DNA; may result in hereditary changes

teratogen

substances that cause fetus deformities (birth defects)

carcinogen

substances that cause cancer

dioxin

one of the most toxic human-made chemicals. Stable, long-lived, by-product of herbicide production, enters environment as fallout from incineration of municipal and medical waste and persists for many years

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

stable, long-lived, carcinogenic chlorinated hydrocarbons. Produced by electronics industry

multiple use public lands

National Forest & National Resource lands

Moderately Restricted Use Public Lands

National Wildlife Refuges

Restricted Use Public Lands

National Parks & National Wilderness Preservation System

Divergent Plate Boundaries

tectonic plates spreading apart, new crust being formed (ex. mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys)

convergent plate boundaries

tectonic plates with the oldest crustal material on Earth moving together, one moving under another (ex. mid-ocean trenches). Mineral deposits and volcanoes are most abundant at convergent plate boundaries

transform fault

tectonic plates sliding past one another (San Andres)

most endangered species

have a small range, require large territory, have long generations, have a very specialized niche, or live on an island

atlantic salmon

interbreeding with and competition from escaped farm-raised salmon from the aquaculture industry threaten the wild salmon population

california condor

reasons for decline include shootings, poisoning, lead poisoning, collisions with power lines, egg collecting, pesticides, habitat loss, and decline of large and medium-size native mammals due to encroachments of agriculture and urbanization

delhi sands flower-loving fly

a 1-inch long insect currently restricted to only 12 known populations in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Estimated 98% of its habitat has been converted to residential, agricultural, and commercial use

florida panther

hunting and development that resulted in habitat loss and fragmentation

gray wolf

subject of predator eradication programs sponsored by the Federal government. Prior to Endangered Species Act(1973), exterminated from lower 48 states except for a few hundred inhabiting extreme northeastern Minnesota and a small number on Isle Royale, Mi

Grizzly Bear

conflict with humans and development that resulted in habitat loss and framentation

Piping plover

predation and human disturbance are thought to be main causes of plover's decline. Listed as endangered in Great Lakes region and as threatened in the Great Plains and on the Atlantic Coast

manatee

initial population decreases resulted from overharvesting for meat, oil, and leather. Today, heavy mortality occurs from accidental collisions with boats and barges, and from canal lock operations

whooping crane

drainage of wetlands, conversion of grasslands to agriculture, and hunting for feathers

American alligator

overhunting and destruction of habitat cuased original listing, removed from list of endangered species by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1987

bald eagle

ingested DDt by eating contaminated fish. DDT caused shells of the bird's eggs to thin and resulted in nesting failures. Loss of nesting habitat and hunting for feathers also contributed to the population decline. Reclassified from endangered to threatene

peregrine falcon

ingested DDt by eating smaller birds, which had eaten contaminated prey. The presticide caused the shells of the bird's eggs to thin and resulted in nesting failures. Removed from the list of endangered species by the Fish and Wildlife Service in August 1

Gray whale

eastern North Pacific stock of gray whale has the distinction of being the first population of a marine mammal species to be removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species

biome

large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants & animals

tropical rain forests

characterized by the greatest diversity of species, believed to include many undiscovered species. Occur near the equator. Soils tend to be low in nutrients. Distinct seasonality: winter is absent, and only two seasons are present (rainy and dry)

temperate forests

occur in eastern North America, Japan, northeatern Asia, and western and central Europe. Dominated by tall deciduous trees. Well-defined seaons include a distinct winter. Logged extensively, only scattered remnants of original temperate forests remain

boreal forests or Taiga

represent the largest terrestrial biome. Dominated by needleleaf, coniferous trees. Found in the cold climates of Eurasia and North America: two-thirds in Siberia with the rest in Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada. Seasons are divided into short, moist, and

temperate shrub lands

occurs along the coast of Southern California and the Mediterranean region. Characterized by areas of Chaparral-miniature woodlands dominated by dense stands of shrubs

savannas

grassland with scattered individual trees. Cover almost half the surface of Africa and large areas of Australia, South America, and India. Warm or hot climates where the annual rainfall is 20-50 inches per year. The rainfall is concentrated in six or eigh

temperate grasslands

dominated by grasses, trees and large shrubs are absent. Temperatures vary more from summer to winter, and the amount of rainfall is less than in savannas. Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold iwnters. Occur in South Africa, Hungary, Argentina,

deserts

covers about 1/5 of Earth's surface and occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year. Most deserts occur at low latitudesm have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation, as well as specialized animals. Soils have abundant nutrients, need only water

tundra

treeless plains that are the coldest of all the biomes. Occur in the arctic and Antarctica. Dominated by lichens, mosses, sedges, and dwarfed shrubs. Characterized by extremely cold climate, permanently frozen grounnd (permafrost) low biotic diversity, si

wetlands

areas of standing water wet all or most of the year that support aquatic plants including marshes, swamps, and bogs. Species diversity is very high. Includes bogs, swamps, sloughs, and marshes

fresh water

defined as having a low salt concentration (less than 1%). Plants and animals are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration ( ex. ocean). There are different types of freshwater regions: ponds an

oceans

the largest of all the ecosystems. The ocean regions are separated into separate zones: intertidal, pelagic, abyssal, and benthic. All four zones have a great diversity of species

chernobyl, Ukraine

April 26, 1986, unauthorized safety test, leads to fire and explosion at nuclear power plant--- millions exposed to unsafe levels of radiation

Three-Mile Island, Pennsylvania

March 29, 1979, nuclear power plant loses cooling water, 50% of core melts, radioactgive materials escape into atmosphere, near meltdown

Yucca Mountain, Nevada

controversial as proposed site for permanent storage of high-level nuclear waste, 70-miles northwest of Las Vegas, near volcano and earthquake faults

Aral Sea, Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan

large inland sea is drying up as a result of water diversion

love canal, NY

chemicals buried in old canal, school and homes built over it led to birth defectrs and cancers

aswan high dam, Egypt

the silt that made the Nile region fertile fills the reservoir. Lack of irrigation controls causes waterlogging and salinization. The parasitic disease schistosomiasis thrives in the stagnant water of the reservoir.

Three Gorges Dam, China

world's largest dam on Yangtze River. Will drown ecosystems, cities, archeological sites, fragment habitats, and displace 2 million people

ogallala aquifer

world's largest aquifer; under part of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Holds enough water to cover the US with 1.5 feet of water. Being depleted for agricultural and urban use

Minimata, Japan

mental impairments, birth defects, and deaths were caused by mercury dumped in Minimata Bay by factory. Mercury entered humans through their diet

Bhopal, India

December 2, 1984m methyl isocyanate released accidentally by Union Carbide pesticide plant kills over 5,000

Valdez, Alaska

March 24, 1989, tanker Exxon Valdez hits submerged rocks in Prince William Sound- worst oil spill in US waters

surface mining control & reclamation act

requires coal strip mines to reclaim land

madrid protocol

moratorium on mineral exploration for 50 years in Antarctica

Safe drinking water act

set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants that may have adverse effects on human health

Clean Water Act

set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways...aim to make surface waters swimmable and fishable

Water Quality Act

attempt to reduce non-point source pollution

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge & industrial waste in the ocean

Clean Air Act

set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants

Kyoto Protocol

controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries

Montreal Protocol

phaseout of ozone deleting substances

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act

controls hazardous waste with a cradle to grave system

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act

designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites

low level radioactive policy act

all states must have facilities to handle low level radioactive wastes

Nuclear Waste policy Act

US government must develop a high level nuclear waste site by 2015 (Yucca Mountain)

Endangered Species Act

identifies threatened and endangered species in the US, and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

lists species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act

regulates effectiveness of pesticides

Food Quality Protection Act

set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine effects

national environmental policy act

Environmental Impact Statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands can be started

National wild and scenic rivers Act

protects rivers with due to aesthetic, recreational, wildlife, historical, or cultural reasons

US Marine Mammal Protection Act

prohibits taking marine mammals in US wasters and by US citizens, and the importing of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the US

Rachel Carson

published Silent Spring in 1962; documented the environmental damage done by DDT and other pesticides. Heightened public awareness at start of the modern environmental movement

John Muir

founded Sierra Club in 1892; fought unsuccessfully to prevent the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park

Gifford Pinchot

first chief of the US Forest Service; advocated managing resources for multiple use using principles of sustainable yield

Garret Hardin

published "The Tragedy of the Commons" in the journal Science in 1968; argued that rational people will exploit shared resources

Aldo Leopold

wrote A Sand County Almanac published a year after his death in 1948; promoted a "Land Ethic" in which humans are ethically responsible for serving as the protectors of nature

Sherwood Rowland & Mario Molina

in 1974, determined that CFCs destroy stratospheric ozone