[Ebook PDF] Living in the Environment, 20th Edition

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[Ebook PDF] Living in the Environment, 20th Edition

ISBN-13: 978-0357142202
ISBN-10: 0170291502

Author: G. Tyler Miller (Author), Scott Spoolman (Author)

Packed with captivating illustrations from National Geographic and MindTap’s anywhere, anytime digital learning tools, Miller/Spoolman’s LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 20th edition, empowers you with the knowledge and inspiration to make a difference in solving today’s environmental issues. Emphasizing sustainability, the authors offer clear introductions to numerous environmental problems and balanced discussions to evaluate potential solutions. Up-to-date coverage includes no-till farming, CRISPR gene editing, phosphate crisis, genetically engineered foods, lithium supplies, recycling threats, economics and climate change, and more. Exercises throughout sharpen your critical-thinking skills, while Core Case Studies help you apply what you’ve learned. MindTap’s exclusive content includes concept animations and conceptual learning activities to help you understand key environmental issues.

Preface
For Instructors
We wrote this book to help you achieve three important goals: first, to explain to your students the basics of environmental science; second, to help your students use this scientific foundation to understand the environmental problems that we face and to evaluate possible solutions to them; and third, to inspire your students to make a difference in how we treat the earth on which our lives and economies depend, and thus in how we treat ourselves and our descendants.
We view environmental problems and possible solutions to them through the lens of sustainability—the integrating theme of this book. We believe that most people can live comfortable and fulfilling lives, and that societies will be more stable and prosperous when sustainability becomes one of the chief measures by which personal choices and public policies are made.
In this new edition, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with National Geographic Learning. One result is the many informative photographs, numerous maps, and several stories of National Geographic Explorers— people who are making a positive difference in the world.
With these tools, we continue to tell of the good news from various fields of environmental science, hoping to inspire readers to commit themselves to making our world a more sustainable place to live for their own and future generations.
What’s New in This Edition?
■ Learning Objectives. Each chapter section begins with learning objectives that students can use to test their understanding of the material.
■ Updated data and material. The content and data of environmental science changes faster than in any other discipline. For years this book has been viewed as the most up-to-date introductory environmental science textbook. In this edition, we have updated the data, graphs, and numerous case studies found throughout the book. We have also added many new topics. (See the list below.)
■ Increased emphasis on critical thinking. We have been praised for integrating critical thinking throughout the textbook. In this edition, we have greatly increased the use of Critical Thinking questions in small boxes found throughout the book. This is the only environmental science textbook that includes critical thinking questions in the captions of many of the book’s figures to encourage students to examine and interact with those figures. The Learning Skills section that follows this Preface offers help in developing critical thinking skills. All Science Focus boxes include a critical thinking question (see Science Focus 4.1). Finally, a set of Critical Thinking exercises is included at the end of each chapter.
■ Expanded emphasis on learning from nature. We introduced this feature in the 19th edition of Living in the Environment, and in this edition, we present this concept in the Core Case Study on biomimicry in Chapter 1. In this new edition we have also increased the number of Learning from Nature boxes—brief summaries of how we can apply lessons from nature through biomimicry—found throughout the book.
New Topics in this Editon
We have added or expanded many topics to this edition,including:
Four Laws of Ecology, pioneer species, proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act, ecological importance of beavers, no-till farming (including a new ore Case Study for Chapter 12), polyculture and sustainability, CRISPR gene editing, phosphate crisis, controversy over genetically engineered foods, lithium supplies for lithium ion batteries, coal power plant closures,
the cost of new nuclear power plants, a possible new energy transition (new Core Case Study for Chapter 16),
energy use and air conditioning, multidrug-resistant TB, weakening of air pollution and CO2 standards, plastic wastes in oceans, hurricanes and water pollution, threats to U.S. recycling, using economics to slow climate change (new Core Case Study for Chapter 23), weakening vs. strengthening environmental laws, future of the EPA, Biosphere 2 (new Core Case Study for Chapter 25), prospects for populating Mars.
Sustainability Is the Integrating Theme of This Book Sustainability, a watchword for the 21st century, is the overarching theme of this textbook. You can see the sustainability emphasis by looking at the Brief Contents.
Six principles of sustainability, introduced in Chapter 1, play a major role in carrying out this book’s sustainability theme. They are depicted in Figures 1.2 and 1.7, and in a one-page summary on the last page of the print edition of this book. These principles are used throughout the book, with each reference marked by a Sustainability icon.
We use the following five major subthemes to integrate material throughout this book:
■ Natural capital. Sustainability depends on the natural resources and ecosystem services that support all life and economies. See Figures 1.3 and 8.4.
■ Natural capital degradation. We describe how human activities can degrade natural capital. See Figures 6.4 and 12.14.
■ Solutions. We present existing and proposed solutions to environmental problems in a balanced manner and challenge students to use critical thinking to evaluate them. See Figures 10.14 and 11.16. We summarize several proposed solutions in Solutions boxes found in many chapters.
■ Trade-offs. The search for solutions involves trade-offs, because any solution requires weighing advantages against disadvantages. Our Trade-offs boxes located in several chapters present the benefits and drawbacks of various environmental technologies and possible solutions to environmental problems. See Figures 12.24, 15.16, and 16.20.
■ Individuals Matter. Throughout the book, Individuals Matter boxes describe what various scientists and concerned citizens have done to help us work toward sustainability (see Individual Matter 1.1 and 4.1). In addition, a number of What Can You Do? boxes list ways in which readers can deal with the environmental problems we face (see Figures 9.13, 12.34, 16.33, 19.24). Especially important ways in which individuals can live more sustainably are summarized in Figure 25.12.