Human Landscapes Compendium 8

Table of Content

Human Landscapes
Evolutionary history
Evolutionary evidence
Humans and Primates

Natural selection
Evolutions Reality Show

Ecology
Physical landscape
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle

Biological landscape
Sustainable society
Bio-diversity
Alien species
Pollution
Medicinal value
Agricultural value
Human Landscapes

Evolutionary history-
The concept of time, a lot of time some 4 billion years
Over that deep time molecule formed and started creating life at cellular level

Evolutionary evidence-
Fossil record
Anatomical similarities
Common embryological features
Common Shared biochemical and genetic features

Humans and Primates-
Human’s closest relatives are monkeys and apes
We share a common deep time ancestral with all species
The fossil record shows many different human and human-like species living at one time
Homo sapiens evidence
Ability to interbreed
Little anatomical difference among populations
Little biochemical difference among populations
DNA and protein analysis show recent single common ancestor

Natural selection
Evolutions Reality Show-
The most adaptable and strongest past on genetics to off spring
Environments and culture play major roles in evolution
Humans dominate planet altering evolution by artificial selection

Ecology
Physical landscape
Water Cycle-
Water transfer rate between ecosystem components
Carbon Cycle-
Exchange rate of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere to ecosystems
Nitrogen Cycle-
Conversion of Nitrogen gas to ammonium
Phosphorus Cycle-
Ocean sediments containing Phosphorus moving to land masses

Biological landscape

Biodiversity-
Variety of life on earth, described in terms of the number of different species.
Types-
Symbiotic: mutually beneficial, both species benefit
Parasitic: one species benefits (“parasite”) and the other is harmed (“host”)
Commensal: One species benefits, the other is unharmed
Mutualism: both species benefit, like symbiosis, but it may appear one species has the advantage, but evolutionarily, over the long-term, both benefit
Predation: Usually considered parasitic, where the predator is the parasite, but can also be seen as mutualistic
A sustainable society would not become Parasitic as we have become in recent years

Alien species-
Exotics are non native members of an ecosystem.
A sustainable society would control these species movement

Pollution-
Environmental change that adversely affects the lives and health of living things.
A sustainable society would use recycling and composting, multi use agriculture

Medicinal value-
Medicine that has originally derived from living organisms.
A sustainable society would use organisms for the better of the planet

Agricultural value-
Wild plants that have been modified to become high producers.
A sustainable society would lower artificial productions