Unit 01 Life Science

Sustainability of Ecosystems

Sustainability and Changing Paradigms

In this lesson you will:

– define sustainability

– define paradigm

– describe an example to illustrate a paradigm shift

– examine the attitudes and practices of our forefathers in terms of the taking of natural resources in relation to the concept of sustainability

– discuss how attitudes toward our forests have changed with respect to commercial usage, residential usage, and replanting programs

– discuss the conditions necessary for a sustainable fishery

• How much do we value clean water?

• How much do we value the forest?

• Paradigm - The way that humans view the world

– "The earth and all things on it exist for the sole benefit of humans" was an old world paradigm.

– This paradigm was the reason that western civilization was created on the premise of unlimited exploitation of the earth!

– Today it is clearly understood by most people that the early views were wrong.

– The old paradigms have been replaced by new paradigms

• For centuries, mankind knew all there was to know about the shape of the Earth. It was a flat planet, shaped roughly like a circle, with lots of pointy things hanging down from the underside. On the comparatively smooth topside, Europe sat in the middle of the circle, with the other continents scattered about the fringes, and parts of Africa hanging over the edge. The oceans lapped against the sides of the Earth, and in places ran over, creating currents that would pull over the edge ships that ventured too far out to sea. The space beyond the edge of the world was a dark realm inhabited by all sorts of unholy beasts. Fire and brimstone billowed up from the very depths of hell itself and curled 'round the cliffs whose infinite length jutted straight down to the darkest depths . . . .

For Example:

• Then, in the year of our Lord fourteen-hundred and ninety-two, it all changed. For decades a small band of self-proclaimed "enlightened" individuals had been spouting their heretical nonsense that the Earth was in fact round. Citing "proof" based on nothing more than assumptions, half-truths and blind guesses, they dazzled the populace with their " . . . undeniable mathematical and scientific evidence . . . that the world is shaped not like a pancake, but an orange!"

• Rightly wishing to dispel notions regarding the alleged citrus-like shape of our planet, the Church was able to either silence or execute nearly all the fanatics. But a small handful remained, continuing to spread their blasphemous speeches and to promote their heretical ideals involving the very center of the universe. One of their number, who called himself Grigori Efimovich, would later be known to the rest of the world as Christopher Columbus. Using an elaborate setup involving hundreds of mirrors and a few burlap sacks, he was able to create an illusion so convincing that it was actually believed he had sailed around the entire planet and landed in the West Indies. As we now know, he did not. What Efimovich actually did was sail across the Atlantic Ocean to a previously undiscovered continent, North America, and even then only to a small island off the coast. It took him several years more even to "discover" his blunder and claim it as a " . . . new world". But the damage had already been done, and mankind entered into what we now call its "Dark Ages" . . . .

• Paradigm Shifts - Changes in paradigms

– Humans no longer regard the Earth as the centre of the universe.

• Humans now recognize that the Earth is a sphere rather than flat.

– The Earth's resources are not in endless supply for our plunder. We are the caretakers of this world and we must take responsibility for its sustainability.

These are all examples of paradigm shifts. The paradigms of modern man differ from the paradigms of our forefathers.

• The modern paradigm views the Earth as a sustainable system provided that renewable resources are not used at a faster rate than they are replaced or recycled.

• The term sustainability means that the system can meet the needs not only of our present human population, but also those of the future.

Natural Resources– Materials that can be obtained from nature

1. Renewable resources• Resources that can be replenished naturallyEx:

2. Non-renewable resources• Resources that become depleted (disappear) when they are

usedEx:

• Earth as a closed system– the earth is for the most part, a closed

system.

• The materials that make up the biosphere are not limitless as was once believed.

• These materials are recycled. • Even the life forms found on Earth are made of

the same materials that are found in the land, water, and air. These materials too are recycled.

Portfolio Activity 1.1: The Fishery

Then Now

Paradigm Questions

• Portfolio Activity 1.2

Review

• Portfolio Activity 1.3

Read 4.9 Case Study: Managing Fish Populations, on pages 150-151. Answer all questions, a-j from within the case study, and questions 1-2 from "Understanding Concepts" on page 151.