Environmental Science 15th Edition

Book Preface

For Instructors

We wrote this book to help instructors achieve three important goals: first, to explain to their students the basics of environmental science; second, to help their students in using this scientific foundation to understand the environmental problems that we face and to evaluate possible solutions to them; and third, to inspire their students to make a difference in how we treat the earth on which our lives and economies depend, and thus in how we treat ourselves and our descendants.

We view environmental problems and possible solutions to them through the lens of sustainability—the integrating theme of this book. We believe that most people will still be able to live comfortable and fulfilling lives, and that societies will be more prosperous and peaceful, when sustainability becomes one of the chief measures by which personal choices and public policies are made. We consistently challenge students to work toward attaining such a future.

For this reason, we are happy to be working with the National Geographic Society in the production of this book. This partnership has allowed us to include many stunning and informative photographs, numerous maps, and many new stories of National Geographic Explorers and other researchers who have received funding from National Geographic—people who are making a positive difference in the world. With these new tools, we continue to tell of the good news from various fields of environmental science, hoping to inspire young people to commit themselves to making our world a more sustainable place to live for their own and future generations.

BRIEF CONTENTS

Detailed Contents vi
Preface for Instructors xiv
Note to Students xxiii
HUMANS AND SUSTAINABILITY: AN OVERVIEW
1 Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 2
ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
2 Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems 24
3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? 40
4 Biodiversity and Evolution 62
5 Species Interactions, Ecological Succession, and Population Control 82
6 The Human Population and Urbanization 100
7 Climate and Biodiversity 128
SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY
8 Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species and Ecosystem Services 160
9 Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services 184
SUSTAINING RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
10 Food Production and the Environment 214
11 Water Resources and Water Pollution 248
12 Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources 288
13 Energy Resources 312
14 Environmental Hazards and Human Health 358
15 Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion 386
16 Solid and Hazardous Waste 428
SUSTAINING HUMAN SOCIETIES
17 Environmental Economics, Politics, and Worldviews 452
Supplements S1
Glossary G1
Index I1