Human Ecology Human Ecology

Issue 34 Spring/Summer 2016 The Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development Human Ecology Human Ecology SUSTAIN-34.indd 1 4/11/16 10:18 AM SUSTAIN-34.indd 2 4/11/16 10:18 AM Editor Human Ecology 2 Allan E. Dittmer Ronald R. Van Stockum, Jr. Design/Layout Nick Dawson University of Louisville Design & Printing Services 15 Groundwater Aquifer Depletion Carey E. Peabody, The Kentucky Institute for the Christopher S. Heppner, Environment and Sustainable Development (KIESD) was created in July 1992 within the Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Louisville. 25 Urbanization and Demographic Change in Kentucky Science The Institute provides a forum to conduct Sarah Ehresman interdisciplinary research, applied scholarly Matt Ruther analysis, public service and educational outreach on environmental and sustainable development issues at the local, state, national and international levels. 31 Coal Mining in Kentucky: Challenges and Opportunities in Protecting Human Health KIESD is comprised of eight thematic and the Environment Liz Edmondson program centers: Environmental Education, Environmental Science, Land Use and Environmental Responsibility, Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods, Pollution Prevention, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 40 The Wonder of Natural Life in Kentucky Environmental Policy and Management, and Ronald R. Van Stockum, Jr. Environmental Engineering. Sustain is published semi-annually by the Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Louisville, 55 Indoor Air Quality and Public Health 203 Patterson Hall, Robert R. Jacobs Louisville, Kentucky 40292. Russell Barnett louisville.edu/KIESD/sustain-magazine Send electronic correspondence to [email protected] 63 Growing a Local Food Economy-From the Ground Up This Publication is printed Arthur L. Willams Robert J. Ehrler on recycled paper. Issue 34 - Spring/Summer 2016 Human Ecology The relationship between humans and the world in which they live. Cover photo from NASA archives, used per media guidelines at NASA.gov. The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of age, religion, sex, disability, color, national origin or veteran status. This publication was prepared by the University of Louisville and printed with state funds KRS 57.375. SUSTAIN-34.indd 1 4/11/16 10:18 AM Human Ecology Ronald R. Van Stockum, Jr. Introduction Our environment teems with life, both tiny and large–but mostly tiny. Our great bustling and productive population affects “Human Ecology” deals with the relationship between the smaller world in massive ways, unnoticed by all but those 1 humans and the world in which they live. There is a lack of trained in the observation of minutia. If we adversely affect understanding within the general public about the nature of that those vast reservoirs of life, human ecology will necessarily relationship. What is generally known is diluted by immersion in be impacted. Whether those changes will increase human a sea of internet information, exploited and inflated to simplicity survivability or threaten its existence will play out in time, by politicians, or ignored as irrelevant to the daily pursuit of one’s perhaps more quickly than the great periods of extinctions that happiness. But scientists, scholars, governmental agencies, and are evident in the geologic record of the past. Our record in the investigative reporters have accumulated and analyzed vast stores geologic strata is being laid down now.2 of data dealing with our presence on Earth. And we have a history here. There is a hypothesis postulating that the Earth’s systems, both mineral and organic, interact in a relational way so In beginning, it is important to note that the view of human as to form a larger coordinating synthesis. This hypothesis ecology rapidly changes in perspective as one examines it over suggests that Earth’s combined system is capable of maintaining different time periods and scales of measurement. By examining balanced interactions within the composition of the whole. our experience on a microscopic, genetic, or molecular level, Such “homeostasis” could define a giant symbiotic relationship, human relationships with this planet are seen in even greater allowing a stable global platform for evolutionary change and complexity. By studying the fossil record of evolutionary change, species development. Alexander Von Humboldt examined such one becomes astonished at the progression of life that led to our relationships during his legendary explorations in South America presence here. more than 200 years ago.3 The scientific hypothesis was described in the twentieth century by James Lovelock and heralded by the There are more than seven billion people on this planet. accomplished cellular biologist Lynn Margulis.4 Many of Earth’s systems are stressed by our presence. Some of these systems, as described herein, are changing in response. Science has yet to determine that such a global symbiotic The human race is now manipulating its own great genome and relationship between life and this planet, called “Gaia” by seeking to reach out into the solar system, dreaming of future Lovelock, actually exists. It may be that all the elements of exploration and, undoubtedly, expansion. the Earth’s systems act independently of each other except for immediate cause and effects such as those demonstrated in But our population’s reproduction, expansion, and weather patterns. The modern science of climate change and consumption must be sustainable if humans are to continue the public concern over global warming are supporting massive to grow and survive on Earth. Our economic structure and its data collection and analysis by a new cadre of scientists using political basis are also part of the mechanisms at work in human the world’s most sophisticated computers. We will soon have a ecology. Some of these physical, evolutionary, cultural, and better understanding of the complexity of Earth’s systems, the economic systems are discussed in this paper. interaction between its physical elements, and the relationships of life thereto.5 2 Spring/Summer 2016 SUSTAIN-34.indd 2 4/11/16 10:18 AM Population Estimates suggest that these microorganisms outnumber the cells of each human body by a factor of ten.9 And there are over 10,000 There are more than 7.3 billion people currently alive on different types of organisms that have been identified in the nasal, planet Earth. As many as 11 billion people will be alive in the oral, skin, gastrointestinal, and urogenital areas of the human 6 year 2100. But the story of human ecology described herein body. starts not with the larger human organism itself, but necessarily begins with the smallest composition of its parts. The Atmosphere Life evolved on this planet more than 3.5 billion years ago. Life on Earth has long interacted with the atmosphere of Perhaps developing first were the self-replicating molecules that this planet. Before the evolution of photosynthetic organisms found an opportunity to be enclosed within a naturally forming, and the release of their waste product, oxygen, the air on Earth hollow sphere of phospholipids.7 These first primitive membranes had a much different composition. But photosynthesis would evolved into “prokaryotic” cells, within which free floating dramatically change that composition. genetic material reproduced itself as the early cell divided. At some point, it is believed that one prokaryotic cell was ingested Oxygen is a highly reactive, “mischievous” atom. It is so or invaded by another one, which then developed the ability powerful in its elemental form, O2, that we describe the burning, to survive within the “host” cell. Over time, and multiple destructive principle it embodies as “oxidation,” and call it “fire.” evolutionary efforts, both the host and invading cell began to In the upper atmosphere of Earth, oxygen absorbs the even more divide and reproduce in unison. They developed a cooperative, destructive energies of solar and cosmic radiation, trapping them mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship. Thus began a series into the otherwise unstable bonds of ozone, O3. Without that of changes leading to the development of “eukaryotic” cells, cells protective ozone shield surrounding the planet and absorbing with a nucleus that make up the tissues in the animals and plants such dangerous radiation, complex life forms would be threatened around us.8 Our lives developed out of the cooperation between here, and their further evolution would be compromised. primitive cellular organisms that began as far back as two billion So it is interesting that free oxygen, the agent of fire, became years ago. the mechanism of respiration whereby life would coax work from Those early eukaryotic cells soon learned to grow together the photosynthetic reservoir of sugar energy produced by plants. into complex forms. They evolved new, larger combinations And in a beautiful example of synergy in the consumption of that of cooperative, multicellular creatures that divided, grew, and energy, respiration recycles water and carbon dioxide back into reproduced billions of copies of themselves. So it was with the atmosphere. These ingredients then form the building blocks humankind. This example of cellular cooperation and evolution of more sugar food to be produced by plants through the trapping by eukaryote cells might prove instructive to humans who now of sunlight energy

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