Agriculture & EnvironmentWhat is AgricultureCultivation of plants and animals for human useRemove certain species to focus nutrients, light and water on other species.weed them, eradicate animals, etcMost of the world works as farmersHumans are an Evolutionary ForceArtificial Selection (versus Natural Selection)Creates interdependenceWe not only are influenced by evolution but we are also involved in influencing the factors of evolution; we are affected and we effectdirect, indirect ways we influence evolutionWhy?Aesthetic purposes (flowers, etc)For our livelihoodSelf-protectionDomestication is a Gradual, Unplanned ProcessHunting  Selective Hunting  Herding  Selective Breeding  (Genetic Modification?)Plant DomesticationMost of the World’s food is, directly and indirectly, provided by: 14 cropsIn order of importance: Wheat, Rice, Maize, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Manioc, Sugarcane, Sugar Beet, Common Beans, Soybeans, Barley, Sorghum, Coconuts and BananasThe Origins & Diffusion of AgricultureThe Neolithic RevolutionBegins around 10,000 B.P. (8000 BC)Appears in several independent locationsindigenous crops that were able to be cultivatedSouthwest Asia (8500 B.C)Wheat, barley, pea, lentil, chickpea, etcFertile CrescentIran, IraqIndependent originChina (7500 BC)Millet, Rice, Soybean, Pig, Silk WormMillet grows in drier environmentsIndependent OriginIndus Valley (7000 BC not independent)Pakistan (modern-day)Sesame, Eggplant, Humped Camel, PigsAgriculture diffused from the Fertile CrescentEgypt (6000 BC, not independent)Fig, Cat, DonkeyWestern Europe (6000-3500 BC)oats, poppy, ryenot independentAgriculture from Fertile Crescent  EgyptMeso-America (3500 BC)Corns, Beans, Squash, TurkeyColumbian Exchange  CornAndes & Amazonia (3500 BC)Potatoes, Manioc, Llama, Guinea PigNew Guinea (7000 BC)Sugarcane, BananaSahelian Africa (5000 BC)SorghumEthiopiaCoffee, TeffWest Africa (3000 BC)African Yams, Oil Pams, etcEastern North America (2500 BC)Goosefoot, Sunflowers“Grain – Legume Complexes”Found in Major Centers of DomesticationLegumes act as "Nitrogen Fixers"Bacteria Nodules on RootsLegumes tend to have bacteria and live in a symbiotic relationship where the waste product is nitrogen.Plants need nitrogen in order to live.Serves Two Functions:(1) Maintain Soil Fertility(2) Provide Carbohydrates & ProteinIn our three main sources of crops, each had grain legume complexesChina?rice – main cropsoybeans – legumeThe Fertile Crescent?Wheat (Carbohydrate) and Peas (Protein)HummusThe Americas?Beans (Protein) and Corn (Carbohydrate)Why did Hunter & Gathering People turn to Agriculture?In a Resource Rich Environment . . .Hunting and Gathering (Produces 50 kcal of NRG per 1kcal expendedAgriculture Produces 17kcal of NRG per 1kcal expendedWhat is the incentive to switch to agriculture?Population Growth – best reasonDemographic Hypotheses!Agriculture provides more NRG per Unit of Land!Hunting Technology  Increasing Population  Less Resources  Reduced Mobility --? Agriculture & Intensification of Land UseAgriculture is an “Auto-Catalytic” ProcessAgriculture potentially reorganized societyA process that re-perpetuated itselfAgriculture creates a hierarchy↑ population  ↑ Intensification of AgricultureHierarchy  ↑ Intensification of AgricultureLoss of Hunting & Gathering Knowledge --> DependencyFarmland and People (2000)Location: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia , WorldAsia – intensive, more laborNorth America - extensive use of the land“The Green Revolution”Not an environmental revolutionAgricultural Innovations from mid 1940s to 1970sNormal Borlang (1914-2009)Led to dramatically increased Food Yields n the Developing World (India, Philippines, Mexico, etc)Involved . . .High Yielding Varieties (HYVs)FertilizersNew Management PracticesNew forms of InputsMechanization of agriculture in the developing world large food increase in the developing world, food productionCritiquesIndustrialized AgricultureFossil FuelsWorsened environmental problemsBenefited Wealthy FarmersExacerbated Wealth GapGenetic Modification (GM Crops)Safety?Ethics?Ownership?Global Consumption of Meat rising rapidlyDomesticated Animals Rising7.2 BillionRapid Growth in Developing CountriesShould We Eat Lower on the Food Chain? The Ecological Case for VegetarianismOur Good Choices = Resource Use ChoicesTrophic HierarchyAbout 90% of Energy is lost to cellular respiration as energy is passed up to the next Trophic LevelOne kg of … protein requires … of Land, … of H20Beef …. 245m^2 …750kgMilk ... 23.5 m^2 .. 250 kgPork … 90m^2 … 175kgEgg … 22m^2 … 15kgChicken .. 14m^2 ... 50 kgEnvironmental Impacts of Agriculture(1) Soil ErosionWind & WaterAir QualityPlowing  soil erosionSlash & Burning  soil erosionOvergrazingDesertification can be exacerbated in Arid environmentsStream Bank TramplingDust BowlSome Strategies to Mitigate Soil ErosionContour PlowingStrip Cropping – mixing different crops with one anothertechnique used to reduce soil erosionTerracing – traditional techniqueNot used in N. AmericaRiparian BuffersNo-Till AgricultureStems and roots are left to bold soil and help replenish fertilityNo-Till Increasing 7% (1991)  30% (2001)Week 6 Lecture 10 - Energy← Agriculture & Environment←← What is Agriculture- Cultivation of plants and animals for human use- Remove certain species to focus nutrients, light and water on other species. oweed them, eradicate animals, etc - Most of the world works as farmers - Humans are an Evolutionary ForceoArtificial Selection (versus Natural Selection)oCreates interdependenceoWe not only are influenced by evolution but we are also involved in influencing the factors of evolution; we are affected and we effectodirect, indirect ways we influence evolution- Why?oAesthetic purposes (flowers, etc)oFor our livelihood oSelf-protection ←← Domestication is a Gradual, Unplanned Process- Hunting  Selective Hunting  Herding  Selective Breeding  (Genetic Modification?) ←← Plant Domestication- Most of the World’s food is, directly and indirectly, provided by: 14 cropsoIn order of importance: Wheat, Rice, Maize, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Manioc, Sugarcane, Sugar Beet, Common Beans, Soybeans, Barley, Sorghum, Coconuts and Bananas ←← The Origins & Diffusion of Agriculture- The Neolithic Revolution- Begins around 10,000 B.P. (8000 BC)- Appears in several independent