I learned about the many nutrient cycles in our world that human activity has changed for the worse. The first example of this is excess phosphorus released by fertilizers into the ocean. This causes a bloom of sea-life, which kills the other organisms. Another, which I kinda already knew about, was the increase of carbon in the atmosphere due to the burning of the fossil fuels. What I didn't know was this simultaneously reduced the carbon sink levels underground. The last thing I learned was how excess legumes (Peanuts, peas, green beans, etc) planted create an excess of nitrogen in our soil.
Two ways this information relates to environmental science includes the effects on nutrient cycles and the political implications of the damage being done. The cycles being interrupted change fundamentally how the species involved can interact or even live in their environment. Less or more of something can be the difference between life or death of some species. The political side deals with how we stop these problems. On one hand, the positive feedback loops created by these issues with teh cycles in destroying ecosystems. On the other, how do you tell a family of peanut farmers to find new work?
A question I have is which cycle being affected is the most dangerous? Will changes to the sulfur cycle really matter? Which do I need to be conscious about when i spend money or go somewhere?
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