DEFINITION:1 a) the branch of biology that deals with the relations between living organisms and their environment b) the complex of relations between a specific organism and its environment 2 Sociology the study of the relationship and adjustment of human groups to their geographical and social environments. 1869: Birth of ecology. Most people are unaware [...]

HOW DDT KILLED THE ROBINS. Dutch elm disease threatened to destroy most of the majestic elms that once flourished along residential streets. To eliminate the beetles that carry this fungus disease, many communities sprayed their elms with massive doses of DDT. The pesticide stuck to the leaves even after they fell in the autumn. Earthworms [...]

The reasonable use of the Earth’s natural resources water, soil, wildlife, forests, and minerals is a major goal of conservation. Conservation is the preservation and maintenance of the environment to meet human needs for production while insuring that proper consideration is also given to aesthetics and recreation. An effective conservation program results in a continuous [...]

WATER CONSERVATION Polluted water in one part of the world affects water sources everywhere. This happens because water moves through what is called the hydro logic cycle. In the hydro logic cycle 1) water moves into the air and clouds as it evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers. 2) the winds that blow around the [...]

How Soil Conservation Works Groups interested in improving farming practices have been around for many years. But the federal government did not get involved in soil conservation until the early 1930s. Problems that occurred during the 1930s, such as the Dust Bowl, caused people to recognize the need for government leadership in the areas of [...]

Refuges for Wildlife Some governments have established national wildlife reservations and game refuges. Many refuges are established in places to which animals, especially migratory birds, have long been attracted. In the United States, many of these are administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. All the national parks and national monuments are wildlife refuges. Individuals [...]

THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT EFFECTS OF GOOD CONSERVATION Good forestry prevents the depletion of timber and the siltation of streams. Wilderness areas provide shelter for wildlife and a place for people to relax. Reservoirs control floods, provide plentiful drinking water, and generate power. Properly ploughed and well-managed farms keep the soil fertile and in place. Land [...]

  Industrial Pollution Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans through the control of nature and the development of new products have also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the world’s air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This [...]