Chapter 9. Critical Analysis Question

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Critical Analysis Question:

Should the costs of the ecosystem services, such as air and water purification, impaired by strip mining and mountaintop mining be included in the cost of coal?

To formulate your answer, first consider these additional thought questions:

1.

Select the correct definition for ecosystem services.
A. Actions performed during normal and healthy ecosystem functioning that provide important benefits for humans such as oxygen production, soil formation, and air and water purification
B. Actions performed by humans that benefit the environment, such as erosion control and pollutant removal
C. Actions performed by a healthy ecosystem that help to sustain the ecosystem in the future, such as decomposition and nutrient recycling back into plants

Correct

Incorrect

2.

Which of the following are examples of ecosystem services? Select all that apply.
	Soil development
	Erosion of riverbanks
	Air and water purification
	Climate regulation
	Pollination
	Oxygen production

::Soil development: ::Erosion of riverbanks: Ecosystem services provide benefits to humans, and usually erosion is considered negative because it has adverse effects on human populations and activities such as agriculture.::Air and water purification: ::Climate regulation: ::Pollination: ::Oxygen production:

2. Which of the following are examples of ecosystem services?

3.

Knowing that ecosystem services, such as air and water purification, are impaired by human activities such as strip mining and mountaintop mining, decide which of the following statements is true.

Humans are able to quickly and successfully replace impaired ecosystem services with technological solutions.

All ecosystem service impacts are presently accounted for in the cost of coal to consumers, so when the mining operation finishes its work, the impacts can be remediated, repaired, and returned to premining conditions.

When there is a loss of ecosystem services, humans pay a cost for this. The costs may be hidden (not easily observable) and/or more long-term or with future consequences, but they are costs nonetheless.

Correct

Incorrect

4.

If the cost of ecosystem service impairment were included in the cost of coal, what would the possible impacts be?
A. There would be a very minimal change in the cost of coal to consumers.
B. The cost of coal could be so high that consumers could not afford it.
C. The cost of coal would greatly decrease because the ecosystem can easily absorb human impacts, such as those from mining, providing financial incentives for targeting this type of energy source.

Correct

Incorrect

5.

Now we return to the original Critical Analysis Question: Should the costs of the ecosystem services, such as air and water purification caused by strip mining and mountaintop mining, be included in the cost of coal?

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Chapter 9. Critical Analysis Question

Introduction

Questions 1 & 2

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Questions 3 & 4

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Critical Analysis Question

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9.1 Activity Completed!