WHAT IS LIFE

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WHAT IS LIFE? I. Characteristics II. Scales of
Biological Organization III. The Living Planet
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WHAT IS LIFE? I. Characteristics II. Scales of
Biological Organization III. The Living Planet
A. The Earth System
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A. The Earth System
INPUTS
BOUNDARY
OUTPUTS
MATTER
ENERGY
ENERGY
First and second laws????
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• WHAT PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH MIGHT WE USE TO
  FIGURE OUT HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS???

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...reductionism... define, describe, and
understand the subsystems
INPUTS
BOUNDARY
OUTPUTS
MATTER
ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY
ENERGY
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
First and second laws????
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A. The Earth System 1. Lithosphere crust -
dynamic mobile tectonic plates vulcanism upper
mantle
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A. The Earth System 2. Atmosphere 78
Nitrogen Gas (N2) 21 Oxygen Gas (O2) 1
traces of Noble Gases Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) Hydrogen Gas (H2) Methane
(CH4) water vapor (H2O)

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A. The Earth System 3. Hydrosphere - 98 liquid
water
- Ocean 97 (1.35 billion km3) 3.5
dissolved salts by volume - Freshwater 3 (48
million km3) Ice 2/3 (33 million
km3) Groundwater 1/3 (15.3 km3) Soil trace
(122,000 km3) Rivers/Lakes trace (40,000
km3) Air trace (13,000 km3)
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• WHAT OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH COULD WE USE TO
  DETERMINE WHETHER THE EARTH SYSTEM IS "TYPICAL"?

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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars
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Atmospheric Composition
Venus and Mars are fairly similar. But where
did all Earth's CO2 go? And where did all the
O2 come from????
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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars 1. Liquid water has changed our
planet - takes CO2 out of atmosphere
(dissolution) - erodes lithosphere the two
things put carbon and mineral nutrients into
solution, where they can react with one another,
and be taken up by....
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Carbon-Based Life Forms!!
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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars 2. LIFE CHANGES OUR PLANET -
increases rates of flux between other
subsystems (evapotranspiration, nutrient
uptake, respiration) - Changes the composition
of subsystems - Life transports CO2 from the
atmosphere to living tissues or its products
(Calcium Carbonate shells), which settle in
sedimentary strata of carbonaceous rocks
(limestone and derivatives) and fossil deposits
(oil, gas).
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White cliffs of Dover
Coccolith - a phytoplankton
Omaha Beach, Normandy...
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red, purple, blue and yellow - existing or
ancient coral reef.
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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars 2. LIFE CHANGES OUR PLANET -
increases rates of flux between other
subsystems (evapotranspiration, nutrient
uptake, respiration)
Carbon
Water
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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars 2. LIFE CHANGES OUR PLANET -
increases rates of flux between other
subsystems (evapotranspiration, nutrient
uptake, respiration) - Changes the composition
of subsystems - Life transports CO2 from the
atmosphere to living tissue or its products
(shells), which settles in sedimentary strata of
carbonaceous rocks (limestone and derivatives)
and fossil deposits (oil, gas). -
Photosynthesis releases O2. That is where ALL of
the Earth's oxygen gas has come from.
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A. The Earth System 3. Interactions (fluxes)
among Abiotic Subsystems
Evaporation
ATMOSPHERE
Volcanic gases, Particulates
Precipitation
Sedimentation
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
Erosion
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A. The Earth System - The biosphere INCREASES
the rates of exchange
Evaporation
ATMOSPHERE
Volcanic gases, Particulates
Precipitation
BIOSPHERE
Sedimentation
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
Erosion
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III. The Living Planet B. Comparing Earth,
Venus, and Mars 4. Conclusion The Earth is
the "way it is" because of LIFE. Currently, these
conditions support human life and
culture. However, if we change the system - and
affect the biosphere or other subsystems in
significant ways, there is no guarantee that the
new conditions will do so.
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WHAT IS LIFE? I. Characteristics II. Scales of
Biological Organization III. The Living Planet
A. The Earth System B. Comparisons with Venus
and Mars C. Effects on Humans
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WHAT IS LIFE? I. Characteristics II. Scales of
Biological Organization III. The Living Planet
A. The Earth System C. Effects on Humans -
The environment supports human life -
Environment affects human culture. the
BIOSPHERE IS CRITICAL HERE.
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WHAT IS LIFE? I. Characteristics II. Scales of
Biological Organization III. The Living Planet
A. The Earth System C. Effects on Humans 1.
The Transition from Hunter-Gathering to
Horticulture a. When? occurred 10,000 ybp,
around the world
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b. Where
Fertile Crescent
Eastern U. S.
China
Sahel?
New Guinea
Mesoamerica
Amazon?
West Africa?
Ethiopia?
Andes
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c. why? (Guns, Germs, and Steel, J.
Diamond) Why here? - Domesticatible
plants There are over 200,000 species of plants
Human use lt 1000
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- Domesticatable plants only 12 account for
80 of the tonnage of all crops Wheat, corn,
rice, barley, sorghum (later oats) Cereals
annuals grow fast (crop in months) high yield
(r-selected plants) store well (dry, wind
dispersed seeds) high in calories
(carbohydrates) ½ calories today low in protein
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- Domesticatable plants only 12 account for
80 of the tonnage of all crops Wheat, corn,
rice, barley, sorghum (later oats) soybeans Leg
umes grow fast high yield 25 protein (38
in soybeans) balanced diet
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- Domesticatable plants only 12 account for
80 of the tonnage of all crops Wheat, corn,
rice, barley, sorghum (later oats) soybeans pot
ato, manioc (yuca), sweet potato Tubers grow
fast high yield carbo source
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- Domesticatable plants only 12 account for
80 of the tonnage of all crops Wheat, corn,
rice, barley, sorghum (later oats) soybeans pot
ato, manioc (yuca), sweet potato sugar cane,
sugar beet Source of sugar
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- Domesticatable plants only 12 account for
80 of the tonnage of all crops Wheat, corn,
rice, barley, sorghum (later oats) soybeans pot
ato, manioc (yuca), sweet potato sugar cane,
sugar beet banana Source of sugar, nutrients
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c. why? (Guns, Germs, and Steel, J. Diamond) -
Domesticatible plants - Obviously,
horticulturalism could only prosper where there
were the appropriate plants. The fact that there
have been no NEWLY DOMESTICATED PLANTS that have
contributed significantly to the human diet in
modern times suggests that this was an EXTREMELY
LIMITING VARIABLE.
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture - When? About 6000
ybp, the scratch plow was invented in
Mesopotamia. Coupled with the use of domesticated
animals and iron smelting, this allowed for large
scale intensive cultivation.
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture   - Where, and why?
The Fertile Crescent around 4000 bce (thats a
short list)
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture Why here? -
Mediterranean Climate Hot summers and cool
winters select for annual grasses (cereals).
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture Why here? -
Mediterranean Climate annual grasses
(cereals). - Largest Mediterranean Region on
Earth
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- Largest Mediterranean Region on Earth
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture Why here? -
Mediterranean Climate annual grasses
(cereals). - Largest Mediterranean Region on
Earth - greatest habitat variability lowest
place on Earth (Dead Sea) to mountains 18,000 ft
tall. Rich, fertile river valleys. Selects for
species diversity, and crops with different
growing seasons.
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- large area, large habitat variation, greater
species diversity

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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture Why here? -
Mediterranean Climate annual grasses
(cereals). - Largest Med. Region greatest
species diversity - Animals candidates for
domestication There are only 150 large mammals
suitable for domestication worldwide
(terrestrial, primarily herbivorous, and greater
than 100 lbs in weight).
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- Animals candidates for domestication
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- Animals candidates for domestication Only
5 (5!) are used all around the world cow,
sheep, goat, pig, horse
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- Animals candidates for domestication Only
5 (5!) are used all around the world cow,
sheep, goat, pig, horse All had wild ancestors
in Eurasia or northern Africa
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- Animals candidates for domestication Only
5 (5!) are used all around the world cow,
sheep, goat, pig, horse All had wild ancestors
in Eurasia or northern Africa Only nine
other species are used locally.
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- Animals candidates for domestication Only
5 (5!) are used all around the world cow,
sheep, goat, pig, horse All had wild ancestors
in Eurasia or northern Africa Only nine
other species are used locally. Apparently,
domestication of animals is not easy. The
fertile crescent and neighboring regions were the
global center for animals that could be
domesticated.
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Changing Human Systems II. A History of the
Anthroposphere C. Agriculture  4. Where,
when, and why? Why here? - Mediterranean
Climate annual grasses (cereals). - Largest
Med. Region greatest crop diversity -
Domestication of Animals for labor and warfare
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - eventually,
large agricultural societies flourished in other
areas China, Mexico, the Andes, etc. - However,
the pace of technological change was fastest, and
ultimately greatest, in the west. Why?
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION -
Ultimate Factors (Diamonds Argument)
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION -
Ultimate Factors (Diamonds Argument) Trade is
more useful in the same latitudinal zone
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION -
Ultimate Factors (Diamonds Argument) Trade is
more useful in the same latitudinal zone - same
growing season - plants may still grow - same
climate similar artifacts useful
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION -
Ultimate Factors (Diamonds Argument) Trade is
more useful in the same latitudinal zone - same
growing season - plants may still grow - same
climate similar artifacts useful Continental
Shape as an ultimate factor?
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Continental Shape (Diamond)
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Case Studies Fertile Crescent
Before 7000 bce
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Case Studies Fertile Crescent
7000 - 6000 bce
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Case Studies Fertile Crescent
6000 - 5000 bce
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Case Studies Fertile Crescent
5000 - 3800 bce
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Case Studies Fertile Crescent crop migration
3800 - 2500 bce
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Case Studies Southeast Asia crop migration -
rapid spread of banana, taro, yams, chickens,
pigs, and dogs (and most of this is a tropical
belt, so the idea of a temperate bias affecting
tendency to trade and migrate wont work)
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Case Studies Africa
Perpendicular axis Agriculture evolved in the
fertile crescent and Sahel (Northern Africa), but
there was no agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
until European colonization. Why? Crops WILL
grow Trade routes blocked by different habitat
types (Sahara Desert and Congo Rain Forest).
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Case Studies Africa
Perpendicular axis Agriculture evolved in the
fertile crescent and Sahel (Northern Africa), but
there was no agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
until European colonization. Why? Crops WILL
grow No domesticated animals until cattle
introduced about 200 AD. Europe had BIG head
start on technology.
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Case Studies Americas
Perpendicular axis Agriculture arose three
times, in eastern U.S., in Central America
(Ulmec, Mayans, Aztecs), and in Andes (Inca), but
no meaningful exchange between regions, except
corn (north from Mexico around 900 AD).
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Case Studies Americas
- 5000 years after the Inca had domesticated
llamas, the Aztecs remained without a beast of
burden.
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Case Studies Americas
- 5000 years after the Inca had domesticated
llamas, the Aztecs remained without a beast of
burden. - The highlands of Mexico would have
been perfect for potatoes, but the Aztecs never
got them.
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Case Studies Americas
- 5000 years after the Inca had domesticated
llamas, the Aztecs remained without a beast of
burden. - The highlands of Mexico would have
been perfect for potatoes, but the Aztecs never
got them. - Separated by thickest rainforest on
Earth (Panama)
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Case Studies - Cultural spread The Wheel -
Invented in southwest Asia about 5000 ybp.
Spreads west across Europe in a few hundred
years.
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Case Studies - Cultural spread The Wheel -
Invented in southwest Asia about 3000 bce.
Spreads west across Europe in a few hundred
years. - Also invented by the Aztecs, but the
Inca, who had a domesticated beast of burden and
could have used it, never got it.
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Case Studies - Cultural spread Writing -
Alphabetic writing arose in S. W. Asia by 1500
bce, and spread west to carthage and east to
India in 1000 years.
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• Case Studies
• - Cultural spread Writing
• Alphabetic writing arose in S. W. Asia by 3500
  bp, and spread west to carthage and east to India
  in 1000 years.
• Writing in Mesoamerica flourished for 2000
  years, and never reached the Andes.

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Case Studies China - Isolated themselves from
trade with the west during the classical period.
As technology blossomed in the west, China was
not included because trade routes had been cut
off for political reasons.
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Case Studies China - Isolated themselves from
trade with the west during the classical period.
As technology blossomed in the west, China was
not included because trace routes had been cut
off for political reasons. - Surely, geographic
barriers to trade could have as profound an
effect as political barriers to trade.
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? - Proximate
Factor TRADE and CULTURAL DIFFUSION -
Ultimate Factors (Diamonds Argument) Geography
and biological resources important
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? 4. Contact and
Conquest Why the West Won?
Pizarro pulling the Inca Atahualpa from his
perch
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? 4. Contact and
Conquest Why the West Won? - Technological
superiority - ships, steel swords, guns
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? 4. Contact and
Conquest Why the West Won? - -
Technological superiority - ships, steel
swords, guns - Demand for resources. Large
populations, depleted local resources
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? 4. Contact and
Conquest Why the West Won? - -
Technological superiority - ships, steel
swords, guns - Demand for resources -
motivation - Germs
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- Germs
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- Germs smallpox (haemorrhagic) -
Hispaniola 8 million to 0 from 1492-1535
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- Germs - Hispaniola 8 million to 0
1492-1535 - Aztecs 20 million to 1.6
million 1519-1618
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- Germs - Hispaniola 8 million to 0
1492-1535 - Aztecs 20 million to 1.6
million 1519-1618 - Inca smallpox infection
in 1526 by 1531 when Pizarro invaded, the
King was dead and the nation was in civil
war
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- Germs - Hispaniola 8 million to 0
1492-1535 - Aztecs 20 million to 1.6
million 1519-1618 - Inca smallpox infection
in 1526 by 1531 when Pizarro invaded, the
King was dead and the nation was in civil
war - North America In one Mandan village,
2000 to 40 in 2 weeks. U. S. soldiers
purposefully gave Native Americans
contaminated blankets as gifts.
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- Germs - Hispaniola 8 million to 0
1492-1535 - Aztecs 20 million to 1.6
million 1519-1618 - Inca smallpox infection
in 1526 by 1531 when Pizarro invaded, the
King was dead and the nation was in civil
war - North America In one Mandan village,
2000 to 40 in 2 weeks. U. S. soldiers
purposefully gave Native Americans
contaminated blankets as gifts. Some estimate
that 95 of indigenous Americans died during
and soon after European colonization.
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- Germs - Pacific Islanders, Australian
Aborigines, Hottentotts of South Africa had
mortality rates of 50-100 after European
colonization.
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B. Effects on Humans 1. The Transition from
Hunter-Gathering to Horticulture 2. The
Transition to Agriculture 3. The Growth of
Technology why Western Europe? 4. Contact and
Conquest Why the West Won? 5. Summary The
environment has mattered, and has influenced some
of the major steps of our cultural evolution.
(Mind you I said "influenced"...not "solely
determined".... I'm no biological determinist!
But I accept the evidence that the environment
has contributed to some of these changes...)
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C. Effects on Humans D. The Effect of Humans on
the Environment
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - 1 billion about 1850 (all
of human history)
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - 1 billion about 1850 (all
of human history) - 2 billion about 1928 (78
years to add a billion)
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - 1 billion about 1850 (all
of human history) - 2 billion about 1928 (78
years to add a billion) - 3 billion about 1960
(32 years to add a billion)
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - 1 billion about 1850 (all
of human history) - 2 billion about 1928 (78
years to add a billion) - 3 billion about 1960
(32 years to add a billion) - 5 billion 1987
(27 years to add 2 billion)
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - 1 billion about 1850 (all
of human history) - 2 billion about 1928 (78
years to add a billion) - 3 billion about 1960
(32 years to add a billion) - 5 billion 1987
(27 years to add 2 billion) - currently 6.6
billion - adding about 80 million people each
year
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Born 1928 (3X) (4 billion added)
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Born 1928 (3X) (4 billion added) Born 1960
(2X) (3 billion added)
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Born 1928 (3X) Born 1960 (2X) Born 1987
(25) (1.6 billion added)
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D. The Effect of Humans on the Environment 1.
Population Growth - Future Estimates
- The growth rate is slowing
- UN medium estimate 8.9
billion in 2050. entire net increase is in
developing countries.
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B. Effects 1. Agriculture - 35 of land
area of Earth used for crops and pasture
(additional amounts used as grazing land). Most
of the rest is not arable (desert or short
growing season).
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B. Effects 1. Agriculture - 95 of land
where rice, wheat, or corn can grow is currently
under human influence.
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B. Effects 1. Agriculture - Water humans
use 50 of the freshwater on the planet (70 for
agriculture, 20 for industry, 10 personal use).
Water use has tripled since 1950 (faster than
population growth).
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B. Effects 1. Agriculture - Per Capita
Food Production has declined this decade
reversing a 50 year trend (the Green Revolution).
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B. Effects 2. Fishing - From 1900 to
1982, fish catch increased 10X, while population
increased 3X.
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B. Effects 2. Fishing - From 1900 to 1982,
fish catch increased 10X, while population
increased 3X. - Since 1982, world fish catch
has declined by 17, although EFFORT has
increased.
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B. Effects 2. Fishing - From 1900 to
1982, fish catch increased 10X, while population
increased 3X. - Since 1982, world fish catch
has declined by 17, although EFFORT has
increased. - Why?
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B. Effects 2. Fishing - Why? There are
fewer fish. - The world's dominant commercial
fisheries have declined by over 90 (Nature
2003).
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B. Effects 3. Global Warming - CO2
concentrations in the atmosphere have increased
by 25 since the industrial revolution.
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B. Effects C. Ecological Impact - Humans
currently use 40 of the Net Primary Productivity
produced on the planet.  - Due to competitive
exclusion and environmental change, recent
research (2004) suggests that 17-35 of Earth's
species will go extinct by 2050.
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B. Effects C. Ecological Impact - Humans
currently use 40 of the Net Primary Productivity
produced on the planet.  - Due to competitive
exclusion and environmental change, recent
research (2004) suggests that 17-35 of Earth's
species will go extinct by 2050. D.
Solutions How do we stop this destruction?
(Which, due to our dependencies on these systems,
is ultimately SELF-destruction?
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D. Solutions 1. recognize the market value of
these ecosystem services in our economy.
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Costanza et al. (1997) gas regulation pollinatio
n climate regulation biological control of
pests disturbance mediation refugia (for
migrants) water regulation (flow) raw
materials water supply (retention) genetic
resources (unique products) erosion
control recreation soil formation cultural
(aesthetic, educational, spiritual,
scientific) nutrient cycling waste treatment
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D. Solutions 1. recognize the market value of
these ecosystem services in our economy. In
1997, ecosystem function and ecosystem services
were valued at 33 trillion. (the total GNP of
the world is 18 trillion). We dont have enough
productivity to REPLACE the services nature
provides for free.
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D. Solutions 1. recognize the market value of
these ecosystem services in our economy. In
1997, ecosystem function and ecosystem services
were valued at 33 trillion. (the total GNP of
the world is 18 trillion). We dont have enough
productivity to REPLACE the services nature
provides for free. 2. Add these values and
costs to the market. What are the benefits and
costs of this approach? (see readings.....)