The first area that I found most important about this class was Unit 3 – Ecosystems, Biomes, and Biodiversity. I found learning more about this to be more important in realizing the enormous amounts of human impacts on our surrounding ecosystems. From deforestation to overpopulation, and the burning of fossil fuels, humans have imposed significant threats to our environment, atmosphere, and ecosystems. At the rate we are going through these resources, it could get to a point where fossil fuels are depleted, ecosystems and biomes will continue to be threatened by human impact, and the biodiversity among us would become more threatened. In my opinion, the rate of deforestation among the Amazon rainforest is substantially higher than it needs to be. It is mostly due to overpopulation and greed by big companies that are using the rainforest as dump sites and wastelands, thus completely destroying habits for plants, animals, and the indigenous people that still call it home.

The next area I found to be especially important in this class was in Unit 5 – Earth’s Climate System. Growing up I always heard climate change and global warming referenced but did not really know or care to learn much about it. When looking at all the statistics provided and understanding that climate change is caused by the entire human population, was rather alarming and eye-opening for me. After learning so much more about this issue, I feel it is especially important that the world stop relying on burning fossil-fuels for almost everything. Though the number of carbon emissions has gotten better collectively over the past few years, the number is still fairly high, and I feel that government intervention and more involvement could have a much more significant impact than it currently has.

Personally, the biggest environmental challenge I think we are facing is the melting of all the ice and glaciers. Some of the issues that climate change has caused will have significant effects on certain ecosystems. For example, I did not realize that so much of the Arctic Sea Ice has melted and that polar bears are now threatened with extinction. Not only does the loss of the sea ice affect just the polar bears, since they are a keystone species it also impacts much of the ecosystem. The polar bears are not able to forage for the food they normally survive off of, so the animals they are now relying on for food takes away food sources from other smaller animals (Clay et al, 2018). The rate of sea ice melting is now approximately 13.1% per decade (climate.nasa.gov).

One particular plan I will implement this year, and will make a diligent effort going forward, to help with my carbon footprint is to plant a bigger garden. Last year I planted a fairly small garden since it is only me that eats the majority of vegetables in our household but looking at the statistics of how much energy is wasted in producing food products makes me want to do better. For example, my favorite vegetable is broccoli, and it is the one vegetable I always keep on hand. I live in Virginia and the climate is not that great for producing broccoli unless you plant it very early in the season, so I almost always just eat frozen broccoli instead. Last year I hesitated and ended up starting the garden late, so the majority of all my vegetables did not produce anything which means I bought all my vegetables from the grocery store. Gardening is one thing I can be more diligent about instead of relying on store-bought produce that has been transported to the grocery store from all over the place.

References

Clay et al, 2018. ‘Introduction to Environmental Science.’; Laureate Inc. Accessed on 14 December, 2020.

NASA Global Climate Change. (2020, 7). Arctic Sea ice minimum | NASA global climate change. Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/

Reta Cartrette

RE: Week 6 Discussion – Agents of Change in a Changing World!

While taking this course this term, I found a few things interesting I wanted to discuss. In Week One, we discussed land and resource management, and with this, what caught my attention was the deforestation that even took place way back when. In the Mayan civilization, deforestation was crucial. The Mayans wanted more of a luxury life, and so they ignored the soil in which they farmed. Just like today, deforestation back then was being cut for population growth. I heard a realtor say this week that in Horry County, where I am from, 160 families are moving in a day; wow, many people in a day. This made the forest bare in the Mayans’ time, and since wood was their main source, it became less and less. In fact, Easter Island faced the same challenges of deforestation, which puts a strain on the wildlife and their food resources (Clay et al., 2018).

REFLECTIONS AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Over the duration of this course you have developed a foundational understanding of ecology and have investigated many of the challenges facing the natural functioning of healthy ecosystems. In our final Discussion, reflect on your learning and consider the big ideas that you will take with you after you leave the course. Think about the challenges facing our species and others and consider some of the possibilities that can lead to a brighter future for life in the ecosphere.

With these thoughts in mind, complete the following:

Primary Research-based Post (45 points):

BY DAY 4

Post: a four or more paragraph research based post in which you:

1. Summarize and reflect on some of the lessons in this course that you found most important.
2. Describe in more detail one environmental challenge that you found particularly compelling, urgent, or concerning.
3. Reflect on a political or economic policy, individual action, or other solution to an environmental challenge that you would either advocate for or plan to implement personally.
4. Please use the subject line of your post to draw readership.
5. Please cite at least two authoritative reference sources from beyond the course text.