Unit 5

1. Unit and Chapter pages-  There are 10 total  units, starting with Unit 0.  Each consists of 2-3 chapters.  

   • Each unit page should have sub-links to chapters (Ex:  APES>Unit 0 >>Chapter 1)

   • Each chapter page should include

     • CHAPTER SUMMARY:  This brief summary/reflection should be more than 5 sentences, less than 10, in your own words.  Focus on what you took away from the chapter’s big ideas/concepts.  

     • LINK TO TEXT:  A link to the chapter pdf  

     • CHAPTER FOLDER:  A private link to your chapter subfolder (carefully set these permissions so that only you and Ms. Stewart have access to the folder and docs!).  In this folder, you should have your:

       • chapter outline (Follow Chapter Outline Guidelines)

       • chapter vocabulary (optional, but helpful!)

       • chapter review questions (optional, but helpful!)

       • labs or activities from the chapter. 

     • Useful Media: Videos, articles, etc.

Study Artifacts: Links to any study materials that you found helpful when preparing for the chapter test.

Module 25: The Green Revolution led to increased food production through improved agricultural techniques and high yield crop varieties. However, it also resulted in environmental degradation and a shift from small farms to large industrial operations, relying more on mechanization and fossil fuels. The Green Revolution promoted techniques like mechanization, fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides and monocropping to increase crop yields. While these methods have benefits, they also have negative consequences such as soil depletion, reliance on fossil fuels, and adverse effects from irrigation and pesticides. GMOs offer benefits such as increased crop yield, pest resistance, and potential for pharmaceutical production. However concerns exist regarding their impact on genetic diversity and potential harm to humans, though evidence is limited. 

Module 26: Plowing and tilling are agricultural practices that disturb the soil, modifying its structure and composition. These methods can disrupt natural ecosystems by reducing biodiversity, burying plants, and altering soil horizons. The impacts of agriculture include soil compaction, decreased soil productivity, sit pollution, and global climate change. Land overuse due to population pressure prevents full recovery of the soil, especially in warm climates with nutrient poor soils. 

Module 27: Agriculture uses the most water globally, with 70% of US freshwater going to irrigation, which relies heavily on groundwater. Aquifers are crucial freshwater sources, recharged at varying rates, and their rapid depletion, raises concerns about future water availability, prompting scientists to advocate for demand reduction. Agriculture uses a lot of fresh water, so it's important to find ways to conserve water through different irrigation techniques. The four main methods are furrow, floor, spray, and drip irrigation, each with varying levels of efficiency and costs. Irrigation can lead to waterlogged soil and salinization, while the Ogallala Aquifer is heavily used for various purposes. Pest control increases crop yields but poses environmental problems, with pesticides potentially harming non-target organisms and having varying long term impacts. 

Module 28: As the demand for grain and agricultural crops increased, so did the demand for meat, leading to the implementation of methods promoting faster animal growth. These methods, while increasing production efficiceny, often involve ethical concerns, environmental impacts, and the diversion of agricultural resources from direct human consumption. Fish consumption is crucial for billions, yet over fishing and competition lead to declining fish population, harming aquatic biodiversity and the livelihoods of those dependent on fishing, International cooperation is essential due to fish migration across borders, and current fishing methods exacerbate the problem with large scale high tech approaches damaging ocean habitats. 

Link to folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15bLR6wM7yh0PLS8t-E-h_c9AoB3X1QOu