Research Project Part 2

Although chicken sounds like a good idea for dinner tonight, eating chicken causes more harm than good to us and the planet because animal agriculture accounts for most of the water consumed in this country, emits two-thirds of the world’s acid-rain-causing ammonia and is the world’s largest source of water pollution.

References

Bristow, E., (2011).  Global Climate Change and the industrial animal agriculture link:  The construction of risk.  Society & Animals, 19(3), 205-224.  doi:  10.1163/156853011×578893.

Deemer, D. and Lobao, L. (2011).  Public concern with farm-animal welfare:  Religion, politics, and human disadvantage in the food sector.  Rural Sociology, 76(2), 167-196.  doi:  10.1111/j.1549-0831.2010.00044.x

Fahrenkrug, S.C., Blake, A., Carlson, D.F., Doran, T., Van Eenennaam, A., Faber, D., Galli, C., Gao, Q., Hackett, P.B., Li, N., Maga, E.A., Muir, W.M., Murray, J.D., Shi, D., Stotish, R., Sullivan, E., Tay1or, J.F., Walton, M., Wheeler, M., Whitelaw, B., (2010).  Precision genetics for complex objectives in animal agriculture.  Journal of Animal Science, 88(7), 2530-2539.  doi:  10.2527/jas.2010-2847

Frank, D.N., (2011).  Growth and development symposium:  Promoting healthier humans through healthier livestock:  Animal agriculture enters the metagenomics era.  Journal of Animal Science, 89(3), 835-844. doi:  10.2527/jas.2010-3392.

Frasier, D., (2001).  The “new perception” of animal agriculture:  legless cows, featherless chickens, and a need for genuine analysis.  Journal of animal science, 79(3), 634-641.  Retrieved from http://www.animal-science.org/content/79/3/634.full.pdf+html

Humphreys, J., (2008).  Nutrient issues on Irish farms and solutions to lower losses.  International Journal of Dairy Technology, 61(1), 36-42.  doi:  10.1111/j.1471-0307.2008.00372.x.

Maga, E.A., Murray, J.D., (2010).  Welfare applications of genetically engineered animals for use in agriculture.  Journal of Animal Science, 88(4), 1588-1591.  doi:  10.252/jas.2010-2828

McEwen, S. (2006). Antibiotic use in animal agriculture:  What have we learned and where are we going? Animal Biotechnology, 17(2), 239-250.  doi:  10.1080/10495390600957233.

Mueller-Harvey, I., (2009).  ‘Holy hay’ – re-inventing a traditional animal feed.  Biologist, 56(1), 22-27.  Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ff8a6e1f-891a-4f8a-afc5-cca76d8caac3%40sessionmgr4&vid=12&hid=17

Natural Resources Defense Council, the Earth’s Best Defense. (2011).  Environmental Issues.  Facts About Pollution from Livestock Farms.  Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/ffarms.asp

Ni, J., Heber, Albert J., Sutton, A. L., Kelly, D. T., Patterson, J. A., Kim, S., (2010).  Effects of swine manure dilution on ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide releases.  Science of the Total Environment, 408(23), 5917-5923.  doi:  10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.08.031

Parris, Kevin (2011).  Impact of agriculture on water pollution in OECD countries:  Recent trends and future prospects.  International journal of water resources development, 27(1), 33-52.  doi:  10.1080/07900627.2010.531898

Schipanski, M. E. And Bennett, E. M. (2012).  The influence of agricultural trade and livestock production on the global phosphorus Cycle.  Ecosystems, 15(2), 256-268.  doi:  10.1007/s10021-011- 9507-x

Stein, R.A., (2011).  Antibiotic Resistance:  A global, interdisciplinary concern.  American Biology teacher, 73(6), 314-321.  doi:  10.1525/abt.2011.73.6.3

Walsh, B., (2009). Getting real about the high price of cheap food (Eds.), Time Magazine Health.  Retrieved from https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_1466397_1&displayName=Walsh%2C+Brian.+%22Getting+Real+About+the+High+Price+of+Cheap+Food%22&course_id=_103307_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fhealth%2Farticle%2F0%2C8599%2C1917458-1%2C00.html

Woods, A. (2012).  From cruelty to welfare:  the emergence of farm animal welfare in Britain, 1964-71.  Endeavour, 36(1), 14-22.  doi:  10.1016/j.endeavour.2011.10.003.

Research Part 2: References

Although there are many choices in a grocery store, organic foods should be seriously considered over inorganic produced foods because organic farming reduces chemical pollutions, animal pollutants, and preserves our lands and plants species.

References

Araújo, A. S. F. de, Melo, W. J. de..  (2010, November).  Soil microbial biomass in organic farming system.  Biomassa microbiana do solo em sistemas orgânicos.  Ciência Rural, 40(11), 2419-2426.

Balezentiene, L..  (2011).  Alpha-Diversity of Differently Managed Agro-Ecosystems Assessed at a Habitat Scale.  Polish Journal of Environmental Studies,  20(6), 1387-1394.

Broad, R., Cavanagh, J..  (2012).  CAN DANILO ATILANO FEED THE WORLD?   Earth Island Journal, 26(4), 56-60.

Cohen, A. M..  (2010, November/December).  Diet for a Healthier Planet. Futurist, Nov/Dec2010, 44(6), 9-11.

Gomiero, T., Pimentel, D., Paoletti, M. G..  (2011, January-April).  Environmental Impact of Different Agricultural Management Practices: Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture.  Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 30(1/2), 95-124.

Hunter, D., Foster, M., McArthur, J. O., Ojha, R., Petocz, P., Samman, S..  (2011, July).  Evaluation of the Micronutrient Composition of Plant Foods Produced by Organic and Conventional Agricultural Methods.. Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition, 51(6), 571-582.

Jing C., Michel Jr., F. C., Sreevatsan, S., Morrison, M., Zhongtang Y..  (2010, October). Occurrence and Persistence of Erythromycin Resistance Genes ( erm) and Tetracycline Resistance Genes ( tet) in Waste Treatment Systems on Swine Farms. Microbial Ecology, 60(3), 479-486.

Kehinde, T., Samways, M. J.. (2012, January).  Endemic pollinator response to organic vs. conventional farming and landscape context in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot.  Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 146(1), 162-167.

Lavigne, C., Klein, E. K., Mari, J-F., Ber, F. Le, Adamczyk, K., Monod, H., Angevin, F..  (2008, August).  How do genetically modified (GM) crops contribute to background levels of GM pollen in an agricultural landscape?  Journal of Applied Ecology, 45(4), 1104-1113.

Mansour, S. A., Belal, M. H., Abou-Arab, A. A. K., Ashour, H. M., Gad, M. F.. (2009, March).  Evaluation of some pollutant levels in conventionally and organically farmed potato tubers and their risks to human health. Food & Chemical Toxicology, 47(3), 615-624.

Molinero, J., Burke, R. A..  (2009, November).  Effects of land use on dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry in piedmont headwater streams of the Southeastern United States.   Hydrobiologia, 635(1), 289-308.

Santos, V. B., Araújo, A. S.F., Leite, L. F.C., Nunes, L. A.P.L., Melo, W. J..  (2012, January).  Soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during transition from conventional to organic farming systems.  Geoderma, 170, 227-231.

Shrivastava, G., Rogers, M., Wszelaki, A., Panthee, D. R., Feng C..  (2010, April/March). Plant Volatiles-based Insect Pest Management in Organic Farming. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 29(2), 123-133.

Verheul, J..  (2011). Methane as a Greenhouse Gas: Why the EPA Should Regulate Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Under the Clean Air Act.   Natural Resources Journal, 51(1), 163-187.

Zaccone, C., Di Caterina, R., Rotunno, T., Quinto, M..  (2010, April). Soil – farming system – food – health: Effect of conventional and organic fertilizers on heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) content in semolina samples. Soil & Tillage Research, 107(2), 97-105.

Research Project Part 2: A Changing Arctic

Although the melting sea ice is allowing for an increase of killer whale presence in the arctic  the killer whales are damaging the ecosystem of the arctic sea because they are dominating the top of the food chain, they are competing with the Inuit for marine mammals, and they are causing marine animals to become endangered.

 

References

Campbell, R., Yurick, D., Snow, N. (1988). Predation on Narwhals, Monodon monoceros , by killer whales, Orcinus orca , in the Eastern Canada. Canadian field-naturalist. Ottawa ON [CAN. FIELD-NAT.]. Vol. 102, no. 4, pp. 689-696.

Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. (2007). Archives. Status of Knowledge on Killer Whales (Orcinus) in the Canadian Arctic. Retrieved from http://www.biblio.uqar.qc.ca/archives/30137701.pdf

Durban, J. J., Ellifrit, D. D., Dahlheim, M. M., Waite, J. J., Matkin, C. C., Barrett-Lennard, L. L., & … Wade, P. P. (2010). Photographic mark-recapture analysis of clustered mammal-eating killer whales around the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska. Marine Biology, 157(7), 1591-1604. doi:10.1007/s00227-010-1432-6

Ferguson, S., Higdon, J., and Wetsdal, K. (2012). Prey items and predation behavior of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Nunavut, Canada based on Inuit hunter interviews. Aquatic Biosystems, 8:3 doi:10.1186/2046-9063-8-3

Huntington, H. & Moore, S. (2008). Arctic Marine Mammals and Climate Change: Impacts and Resilience. Ecological Society of America, 18, S157-S165. Doi: 10.1890/06-0571.1

Knopp, J. A. (2010). Investigating the Effects of Environmental Change on Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) Growth Using Scientific and Inuit Traditional Knowledge. Arctic, 63(4), 493-497.

Kuker, K., & Barrett-Lennard, L. (2010). A re-evaluation of the role of killer whales Orcinus orca in a population decline of sea otters Enhydra lutris in the Aleutian Islands and a review of alternative hypotheses. Mammal Review, 40(2), 103-124. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2009.00156.x

Laden, G. (2012). What the Inuit Taught Scientists about Killer Whales. Surprising Science. [Web log post] Retrieved from http://www.Smithsonian.org.

Lougheed, T. (2010). THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF ARCTIC TRADITIONAL FOOD. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(9), A386-A393.

Mead, E. E., Gittelsohn, J. J., Kratzmann, M. M., Roache, C. C., & Sharma, S. S. (2010). Impact of the changing food environment on dietary practices of an Inuit population in Arctic Canada. Journal Of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 2318-26. doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01102.x

Morell, V. (2012). Killer Whale Menu Finally Revealed. Science Now. Retrieved from

http://www.news.sciencemag.org

O’Harra, D. (2012). Killer Whales are the Sea Wolves of Arctic. Alaska Dispatch. Retrieved from http://www.alaskadispatch.com

Puxley, C. (2012).Disappearing Sea Ice Enticing More Killer Whales to Arctic.
[Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www. Winnipegfreepress.com

Sakakibara, C. (2010). Kiavallakkikput Agviq (Into the Whaling Cycle): Cetaceousness and Climate Change Among the Inupiat of Arctic Alaska. Annals Of The Association Of American Geographers, 100(4), 1003-1012. doi:10.1080/00045608.2010.500561

Wendler, G. G., Shulski, M. M., & Moore, B. B. (2010). Changes in the climate of the Alaskan North Slope and the ice concentration of the adjacent Beaufort Sea. Theoretical & Applied Climatology, 99(1/2), 67-74. doi:10.1007/s00704-009-0127-8

Zerbini, A. N., Waite, J. M., Durban, J. W., LeDuc, R., Dahlheim, M. E., & Wade, P. R. (2007). Estimating abundance of killer whales in the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands using line-transect sampling. Marine Biology, 150(5), 1033-1045. doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0347-8
 

Research Project Part 2: Biofuel Production

Thesis

Although the use of biofuels can potentially lower our carbon emissions, the mass production of corn for use as biofuel causes environmental damage that outweighs its potential benefits because of its heavy demand for resources, the polluting nature of mass corn production, and the disruption of natural ecosystems to create more crops.

References

Cook, C. D. (2005). The spraying of America. Earth Island Journal,
20(1), 34-38.

Donner, S. D., & Kucharik, C. J. (2008). Corn-based ethanol production compromises goal of reducing

nitrogen export by the Mississippi River. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United  States of America, 105 (11), 4513-4518. doi:10.1073/pnas.0708300105

Gomiero, T., Pimentel, D., & Paoletti, M. G. (2011). Is There a Need for a More Sustainable Agriculture?.

Critical Reviews In Plant Sciences, 30(1/2), 6-23. doi:10.1080/07352689.2011.553515

 

Hamlin, H. J., & Guillette, J. J. (2010). Birth Defects in Wildlife: The Role of Environmental Contaminants

as Inducers of Reproductive and Developmental Dysfunction. Systems Biology In Reproductive Medicine, 56(2), 113-121. doi:10.3109/19396360903244598

 

Hill, J. J., Polasky, S. S., Tiffany, D. D., Nelson, E. E., & Tilman, D. D. (2006). Environmental, economic, and

energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels [electronic resource]. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America, 103(30), 11206-11210.

 

Holzman, D. C. (2008). The Carbon Footprint of Biofuels Can We Shrink lt Down to Size in Time?.

Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(6), A246-A252.

 

Potera, C. (2008). Corn Ethanol Goal Revives Dead Zone Concerns. Environmental Health Perspectives,

116(6), A242-A243.

 

Rosegrant, M. W., & Livernash, R. (1996). Growing more food, doing less damage. Environment, 38(7), 6.

 

Siikamäki, J. (2008). Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture: Examining the Connections. Environment,

50(4), 36-49.

 

Simpson, T. W., Paerl, H. W., Mankin, K. R., Sharpley, A. N., & Howarth, R. W. (2008). The New Gold

Rush: Fueling Ethanol Production while Protecting Water Quality [electronic resource]. Journal Of Environmental Quality, 37(2), 318-324.

 

 

 

 

Research Project Part 2: References: Organic Food

Although organic food is more costly, people should invest in organic because of the soil care, climate benefits, and water welfare.

Araújo, A., & Melo, W. (2010). Soil microbial biomass in organic farming system. Ciência Rural, 40(11), 2419-2426.

Berhe, A. (2012). Decomposition of organic substrates at eroding vs. depositional landform positions. Plant & Soil, 350(1/2), 261-280. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0902-z

Crinnion, W. J. (2010). Organic Foods Contain Higher Levels of Certain Nutrients, Lower Levels of Pesticides, and May Provide Health Benefits for the Consumer. Alternative Medicine Review, 15(1), 4-12.

Davidson, S. (2005). Going organic. Ecos, (127), 8-12.

Gabriel, D., Sait, S. M., Hodgson, J. A., Schmutz, U., Kunin, W. E., & Benton, T. G. (2010). Scale matters: the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales. Ecology Letters, 13(7), 858-869. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01481.x

GIBSON, R. H., PEARCE, S. S., MORRIS, R. J., SYMONDSON, W. C., & MEMMOTT, J. J. (2007). Plant diversity and land use under organic and conventional agriculture: a whole-farm approach. Journal Of Applied Ecology, 44(4), 792-803. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01292.x

Gomiero, T., Pimentel, D., & Paoletti, M. G. (2011). Environmental Impact of Different Agricultural Management Practices: Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture. Critical Reviews In Plant Sciences, 30(1/2), 95-124. doi:10.1080/07352689.2011.554355

Higaki, D., Karki, K., & Gautam, C. (2005). Soil erosion control measures on degraded sloping lands: A case study in Midlands of Nepal. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 8(3), 243-249. doi:10.1080/14634980500208184

Larose, A. (2006). Toxic Sludge: Is it Good for You?. E: The Environmental Magazine, 17(5), 31.

Loven, Z. (2008). Organic Works. Organic Gardening, 55(6), 48-49.

Miller, J. (2008). Mycotoxins in small grains and maize: Old problems, new challenges. Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A: Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment, 25(2), 219-230. doi:10.1080/02652030701744520

Oelbermann, M. M., & Echarte, L. L. (2011). Evaluating soil carbon and nitrogen Larose, A. (2006). Toxic Sludge: Is it Good for You?. E: The Environmental Magazine, 17(5), 31.

Organic farming. (2004). Better Nutrition, 66(1), 20.

ULBER, L. L., STEINMANN, H. H., KLIMEK, S. S., & ISSELSTEIN, J. J. (2009). An on-farm approach to investigate the impact of diversified crop rotations on weed species richness and composition in winter wheat. Weed Research, 49(5), 534-543. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3180.2009.00722.x

Ylla, I., Sanpera-Calbet, I., Vázquez, E., Romaní, A. M., Muñoz, I., Butturini, A., & Sabater, S. (2010). Organic matter availability during pre- and post-drought periods in a Mediterranean stream. Hydrobiologia, 657(1), 217-232. doi:10.1007/s10750-010-0193-z

Research Project Part 2

Thesis: Although hydroelectric dams are believed to provide a relatively clean source of electricity they are actually very harmful to the environment because they can inhibit the natural spawning runs of salmon, flood natural wetlands and emit large volumes of carbon dioxide and methane.

Biello, David. “The Dam Building Boom: Right Path to Clean Energy?” Yale Environment 360. Feb 23, 2009 <http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_dam_building_boom_right_path_to_clean_energy/2119/&gt;.

Bosshard, Peter, “China Dams the World” World Policy Institute 26, no 4 (2009) http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/detail?vid=25&hid=14&sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-ba49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=46730738

Carr, J.W. and F.G. Whorisky “Migration of Silver American Eels past a Hydroelectric Dam and Through A Coastal Zone” Fisheries Management and Ecology 15, no 5/6 (2008) 393-400. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/detail?vid=25&hid=14&sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=34883128

Demarty, M and J. Bastien, “GHG Emissions from Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Tropical and Equatorial Regions: Review of 20 Years of CH4 Emission Measurements,” Energy Policy 34, no. 7 (2011): 4197-4206. http://dx.doi.org.proxy.library.uaf.edu/10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.031

Ferguson, John W and others, “Potential Effects of Dams on Migratory Fish in the Mekong River: Lessons from Salmon in the Fraser and Columbia Rivers” Environmental Management 47 (2011) 141-159. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/detail?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=22&hid=14

Grahm-Rowe, Duncan. “Hydroelectric Power’s Dirty Secret.” New Scientist. Feb 24, 2005 <httrp://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7046-hydroelectric-powers-dirty-secret-revealed.html>.

Hvistendahl, Mara. “China’s Three Gorges Dam : An Environmental Catastrophe.” Scientific American. 3 Feb. 2012. 25 Mar. 2008 International Rivers Network. 3 Feb. 2012. < http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=chinas-three-gorges-dam-disaster&gt;

International Rivers Network. 3 Feb. 2012. International Rivers Network. <http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/GlobalResGHGsFAQ.pdf&gt;.

Keefer, M. L. et al. “Prespawn Mortality in Adult Spring Chinook Salmon Out Planted above Barrier Dams” The Ecology of Freshwater Fish 19 (2010) 361-372. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=22&hid=14

Lopez-Pujol, Jordi and Ming-Xun Ren, “Biodiversity and the Three Gorges Reservoir: A Troubled Marriage” Journal of Natural History 43, no 43-44 (2009) 2765-2786. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=20&hid=110

Marriot, Joe and others, “Impact of Power Generation Mix on Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprint Greenhouse Gas Results,” Journal of Industrial Ecology 14, no 6 (2010) 917-928. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=18&hid=110

Mourad, Ben Amor, and others, “Electricity Trade and GHG Emissions: Assessment of Quebec’s Hydropower in the Northeastern American Market (2006-2008),” Energy Policy 39, no 3 (2011) 1711-1721. http://dx.doi.org.proxy.library.uaf.edu/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.01.001

Roland, Fabio and others, “Variability of Carbon Dioxide Flux from Tropical (Cerrado) Hydroelectric Reservoirs,” Aquatic Sciences 72 (2010) 283-293. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/detail?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=19&hid=110

Sovacool, Benjamin K. and L. C. Bulan “Behind an Ambitious Megaproject in Asia: The History and Implications of the Bukan Hydroelectric Dam in Borneo,” Energy Policy 39, no 9 (2011) 4842-4859. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/detail?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=26&hid=14

Welch, David W. and others, “Survival of Migrating Salmon Smolts in Large Rivers With and Without Dams” PloS Biology 6, no 10 (2008) 2101-2108. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.uaf.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c23df883-04cf-428f-be65-8a49a40e683b%40sessionmgr15&vid=22&hid=14

Research Topic Proposal and Outline: Corn Production (ethanol)

I’m hoping to do my research paper on the environmental effects of using corn as a biofuel. I will be focusing on the negative environmental effects of mass corn production, arguing that the damage caused to water, wildlife, and the atmosphere as well as the mass use of resources outweigh the potential carbon-reducing benefits of bio fuel. I will be looking mainly at the use of resources (water, equipment, land etc.) that go into large scale farming productions. I will also research the pollution potential of various fertilizers and pesticides sprayed on corn crops. I want to make the stance that corn production is an inefficient solution to our energy crisis because the incentives to grow corn are financial rather than environmental; because the government subsidizes the industry so heavily farmers are thinking more about what’s going to make them money than what’s best for the environment.

Thesis:

Although the use of biofuels can potentially lower our carbon emissions, the mass production of corn for use as biofuel causes environmental damage that outweighs its potential benefits because of its heavy demand for resources, the polluting nature of mass corn production, and the disruption of natural ecosystems to create more crops.

1. Corn production uses a large amount of resources
   1. Land

i.      More farm land is occupied by corn than any other crop

ii.      Corn quickly depletes soil of nutrients, destroying its resource potential

1. Water

i.      Corn fields use a large percentage of all irrigated water

ii.      Rise in corn production is beginning to deplete groundwater

1. Corn Production has a huge potential for pollution
   1. Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

i.      Spraying fertilizer allows for runoff into the soil and water

ii.      Chemicals residing in the soil have potential to evaporate and enter the atmosphere

iii.      Chemical run off from corn crops is suspected to be exacerbating the “Dead Zone” problem in the gulf of Mexico

1. Carbon Dioxide Emissions

i.      The machinery used to grow and process corn into ethanol creates a considerable amount of carbon dioxide

ii.      The conversion of grassland to corn fields causes a natural  release of carbon residing in the soil as carbon dioxide

1. Corn Production can harm wildlife
   1. Occupation of habitat

i.      The government provides farmers economic incentives to grow more corn

ii.      The creation of more and more corn fields destroys natural grasslands occupied by diverse wildlife

1. Harm from chemical fertilizers

i.      Animals who eat directly from crops can be poisoned and killed by chemical pesticides and fertilizers

ii.      Chemicals used in farming often pollute nearby animals natural food and water sources

1. Indirect Harm

i.      Animals can become poisoned by eating birds or insects infected with chemicals from corn crops

ii.      Animals who become tainted and survive often neglect their young or fail to reproduce

 

Research Part 2

Thesis: Although Alaskan Natives disagree with it, the polar bear should remain on the endangered species list because their environment continues to change and it greatly affects their energy expenditure, hunting, reproduction, and weaning.

Armstrup, S. C., York, G., McDonald, T. L., Nielson, R., & Simac, K. (2004)

           Detecting denning polar bears with forward-looking infrared (FLIR)

           imagery. BioScience, 54(4), 337-344. Retrieved from

           http://search.proquest.com/

 Armstrup, S. C., Caswell, H., DeWeaver, E., Stirling, I., Douglas, D. C.,

           Marcot, B. G., Hunter, C. M. (2009). Rebuttal of “polar bear population

           forecasts: a public-policy forecasting audit”. Interfaces, 39(4), 353-

           369, 380-382. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Courtland, R. (2008). Polar bear numbers set to fall. Nature, 453(7194),

432-433. Retrieved October 20, 2011, from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Derocher, A., Lunn, N., & Stirling, I. (2004). Polar bears in a warming

climate. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 44(2), 163-176. doi:10.1043/1540-

7063(2004)44<163:PBIAWC>2.0.CO;2

 

Derocher, A. E., Anderson, M., Wiig, O., & Aars, J. (2010). Sexual

dimorphism and the mating ecology of polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

at Svalbard. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 64, 939-946.

doi:10.1007/s00265-010-0909-0

 

Engelhaupt, E. (2009). Climate change and the arctic diet. Environmental

                Health Perspectives, 117(7), A292. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

Gillis, A. M. (1991). Polar bears preserve protein. Bioscience, 41(8), 537.

Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Howe, L. E. (2010). Temporality and reconciliation. Administrative Theory &

                Praxis, 32(4), 611-611-619. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Lee, O., Lester, B. T., Li, M., Lambert, J., & Jean-Baptiste, M. (2007).  Conceptions of the greenhouse effect and global warming among

elementary students from diverse languages and cultures. Journal of Geoscience  Education, 55(2), 117-117-125. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/

 

McCarthy, J. J., & McKenna, M. C. (2000). How earth’s ice is changing.  Environment, 42(10), 8-18. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/

 

Molnar, P. K., Klanjscek, T., Derocher, A. E., Obbard, M. E., & Lewis, M. A. (2009). A body composition model to estimate mammalian

energy stores and metabolic rates from body mass and body length, with application to polar bears. The Journal of Experimental

     Biology, 212, 2313-2323. doi:10.1242/jeb.026146

 

Murphy, K. (2011, January 29). Bear’s long swim illustrates crisis; with arctic sea ice shrinking, one female bear swims through open

water for 9 days before reaching a floe. Los Angeles Times, p. A.12. Retrieved October 20, 2011, from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Pechsiri, J. S., Sattari, A., Martinez, P. G., & Xuan, L. (2010). A review of the climate-change-impacts’ rates of change in the arctic.

     Journal of  Environmental Protection, 1, 59-69. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Prowse, T. D., Furgal, C., Wrona, F. J., & Reist, J. D. (2009). Implications of climate change for northern canada: freshwater, marine,

and terrestrial ecosystems . Ambio, 38(5), 282-289. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

 

Schiermeier, Q. (2008). The long summer begins. Nature, 454(7202), 266- 269. Retrieved October 20, 2011, from

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Research Project Part 2: References

Energy Conservation
Through the Use of Alternative Energy Sources

References

Although current infrastructure supports energy generation through the use of fossil fuels,
alternative energies are a pathway to a reduction in fossil fuel consumption by allowing the more efficient use of current energy production technologies because alternative energy generation sources
are readily available by-products and wastes, energy co-generation uses existing infrastructure, and communities can be self sufficient; lowering the demand on large scale energy production.

Buczynski, B. (2011, January 30). Top secret synthetic gas could eleminate carbon emissions. The global warming cause. Retrieved
from http://www.care2.com/causes/

EnerWorks. (n.d.) The Enerworks spectrum preheat appliance: How it works [Brochure]. Retrieved from
http://www.enerworks.com/Pdf/New_Marketing_Fliers/Residential/Spectrum_PreHeat HowItWorks_low.pdf

Eshleman, C. (2009, September 08). Fairbanks businessman Bernie Karl preps portable power plant.Fairbanks
Daily News-Miner. Retrieved from http://www.newsminer.com/

Gaudrell, K. (2009). Biofuel basics. Alternatives Journal, 35, 14-19. Retrieved from http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/

Geuwen, T., Richards, G., & Weber, J. (2010, May). Approaching zero. Mechanical Engineering, 22-27. Retrieved from http://memagazine.asme.org/

Hodgson, P.E. (2008, Spring). The energy crisis. Modern Age, 140-147. Retrieved from http://www.isi.org/journals/modern_age.html

Holahan, T. (n.d.). A Framework for alternative energy development: Shifting from drilling rigs to renewables. Boston College
Environmental Affairs Law Review, 35(321), 321-348. Retrieved from http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/lawreviews/environmental/

Hunt, S. (2008, Spring). Biofuels, neither savior nor scam: The case for selective strategy. World Policy Journal, 9-17.
Retrieved from http://www.worldpolicy.org/

Indrawatti, V., Manaf, A., & Purwadi, G. (2009). Partial replacement of non renewable fossil fuels energy by the use of waste
materials as alternative fuels. American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3243249

Kline, K., Dale, V.H., Lee, R., & Leiby, P. (2009, Spring). In defense of biofuels, done right. Issues in Science and
Technology, 75-84. Retrieved from http://www.issues.org/

LePoire, D.J. (2011, Sept-Oct). Exploring new energy alternatives. The Futurist, 35-38. Retrieved from http:///www.wfs.org

Puckett, M.E. (2009). Strategic energy lessons: A Historical perspective applied to America’s oil source issues. Air Force Journal of
Logistics, 32, 8-22. Retrieved from http://www.aflma.hq.af.mil/lgj/journals.asp

Richardson, J. (2011, January 31). Machine that converts plastic to oil fuels Bernie Karl’s big dreams. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved from http://www.newsminer.com/

Schiermeier, Q., Tollefson, J., Scully, T., Witzer, A., & Morton, O. (2008, Aug). Electricity without carbon. Nature,
454(14), 816-823. doi:10.1038/454816a

Severin, M. (2011). Living off the grid and outside the box: A visionary Fairbanks home proves that it can be easy being green. Alaska
Home, 6(3), 57-62.

Research project: Alaska Natives actions and resource management

“Although many ideas are implemented in the name of progress, progress is not always a positive experience. A Western societal shift in thinking about resources does not cause Alaska Natives to shift their actions to match mainstream thinking because Alaska Natives have a differing world view on the matter of resources, have families to feed who are often on the cusp of poverty, and are battling an oppressive and/or belittling government by outside entities without consultation.”

References

“Craig” George, J. C., & Bockstoce, J. R. (2008). Two historical weapon fragments as an aid to estimating the longevity and movements of bowhead whales. Polar Biology, 31(6), 751-754.

Bates, P. (2007). Inuit and scientific philosophies about planning, prediction, and uncertainty. Arctic Anthropology, 44(2), 87-100.

Bersamin, A., Luick, B. R., Ruppert, E., Stern, J. S., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2006). Diet quality among Yup’ik eskimos living in rural communities is low: The center for alaska native health research pilot study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106(7), 1055-1063.

Cassady, J. (2007). A tundra of sickness: The uneasy relationship between toxic waste, TEK, and cultural survival. Arctic Anthropology, 44(1), 87-98.

Eilola, T. M., & Havelka, J. (2011). Behavioural and physiological responses to the emotional and taboo stroop tasks in native and non-native speakers of english. International Journal of Bilingualism, 15(3), 353-369.

Fienup-Riordan, A. (1999). Yaqulget qaillun pilartat (what the birds do): Yup’ik eskimo understanding of geese and those who study them. Arctic, 52(1), 1.

Fienup-Riordan, A. (2003). “Kenekngamceci qanrutamceci (we talk to you because we love you)”: Yup’ik “culturalism” at the umkumiut culture camp. Arctic Anthropology, 40(2), 100-106.

Fogel-Chance, N. (1993). Living in both worlds: `Modernity’ and `tradition’ among north slope inupiaq women in anchorage. Arctic Anthropology, 30(1), 94.

Funk, C. (2010). The bow and arrow war days on the yukon-kuskokwim delta of alaska. Ethnohistory, 57(4), 523-569.

Godden, R., & Mccay, M. A. (1996). Say it again, sam[bo]: Race and speech in huckleberry finn and casablanca. The Mississippi Quarterly, 49, 657+.

Jin, D., & Lin, J. (2011; 2011). Managing tsunamis through early warning systems: A multidisciplinary approach. Ocean & Coastal Management, 54(2), 189-189-199.

Jolles, C. Z. (1994). Cutting meat, sewing skins, telling tales: Women’s stories in gambell, alaska. Arctic Anthropology, 31(1), 86.

Kendrick, A., & Manseau, M. (2008). Representing traditional knowledge: Resource management and inuit knowledge of barren-ground caribou. Society & Natural Resources, 21(5), 404-418.

Leblanc, S. (2000). Groswater technological organization: A decision-making approach. Arctic Anthropology, 37(2), 23.

Lee, M. (2002). The cooler ring: Urban alaska native women and the subsistence debate. Arctic Anthropology, 39(1), 3.

Noongwook, G., Huntington, H. P., & George, J. C. (2007). Traditional knowledge of the bowhead whale (balaena mysticetus) around st. lawrence island, alaska. Arctic, 60(1), 47-54.

Wolsko, C., Lardon, C., Hopkins, S., & Ruppert, E. (2006). Conceptions of wellness among the yup’ik of the Yukon–Kuskokwim delta: The vitality of social and natural connection. Ethnicity & Health, 11(4), 345-363.