The Future of Life, How Much Is The Biosphere Worth?
Terms and Concepts: Wilson attempts to place “value” on the elements of the biosphere that we are placing at risk by our human activities. Understand the types of “value” he assigns to these biotic and abiotic elements. He suggests that the ivory-billed woodpecker has an emotional, an esthetic, and historical value more than a monetary one. Other factors in the biosphere have a value that can be estimated in dollars and cents; for example the Catskill Mountain watershed’s value to New York City. Be able to give other example from this chapter.
Understand why trying to replace the “services” of the biosphere with artificial, human made substitutes is impossible because of what Wilson and environmental economists call “the marginal value” of these environmental services. Appreciate what is meant by diversity in an ecosystem and why such diversity helps the ecosystem maintain its stability by the “insurance principle.” Be able to describe the experiments done to test the insurance principle hypothesis and the process of “overyielding.”
Compare the arguments of Wilson and Colin Clark on estimating the value of protecting the last remaining blue whales. Understand the implications of their two arguments for the role of society in protecting endangered species and the role of these organisms in the world wide market economy. Appreciate the relationship between plant diversity and our agricultural practices. Know how genetic engineering has and will change the diversity of our food plants. Consider the pros and cons of using genetic engineering for this purpose. Understand the potential role that plant diversity has in the development of new medicines. While reading this chapter and the examples of current and potential benefits to humanity, consider how we as a society should place “value” on the environment around us.
- Reading due: 20 November
- First draft due: 24 November
- Comments due: 26 November
- Final draft due: 2 December
Essay: The essay for this chapter is a position paper in which you will take the role of an individual arguing a particular point of view. Your essay must have the logical arguments that form the basis for your position as well as several specific examples offered as evidence. Take one of the following three positions: (1) an agricultural scientist trying to convince skeptical company executives to spend millions of dollars investigating ways to increase the genetic diversity of the company's crops. (2) a concerned scientist arguing that corporations should not be allowed to introduce genetically engineered products into the human food supply. (3) an American environmentalist trying to convince poor hungry people living in the South American rainforests that they should support efforts to protect the forests rather than cut them down to make more farm land available for their families.
Image of Ivory Billed-Woodpeckers from the National Geographic Society
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/ivory-billed-woodpecker.html
