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HUM-126: Global issues: sustainability

Ce cours présente les enjeux mondiaux de la durabilité. Il introduit les limites planétaires, leur interconnexion systémique et les thèmes de justice sociale. L'approche interdisciplinaire initie au travail de groupe et à la pensée systémique (interdépenda ...

Instructors (2)

Adélie Eliane Garin

Jérôme Chappellaz

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Related concepts (23)

Biodiversity

Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (genetic variability), species (species diversity), and ecosystem (ecosystem diversity) level. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth; it is usually greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than 10% of earth's surface and contain about 90% of the world's species.

Biodiversity loss

Biodiversity loss includes the worldwide extinction of different species, as well as the local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat, resulting in a loss of biological diversity. The latter phenomenon can be temporary or permanent, depending on whether the environmental degradation that leads to the loss is reversible through ecological restoration/ecological resilience or effectively permanent (e.g. through land loss).

Ecosystem

An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the system through photosynthesis and is incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding on plants and on one another, animals play an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant and microbial biomass present.

Aquatic ecosystem

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem found in and around a body of water, in contrast to land-based terrestrial ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems contain communities of organisms—aquatic life—that are dependent on each other and on their environment. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems may be lentic (slow moving water, including pools, ponds, and lakes); lotic (faster moving water, for example streams and rivers); and wetlands (areas where the soil is saturated or inundated for at least part of the time).

Freshwater ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, bogs, and wetlands. They can be contrasted with marine ecosystems, which have a larger salt content. Freshwater habitats can be classified by different factors, including temperature, light penetration, nutrients, and vegetation. There are three basic types of freshwater ecosystems: Lentic (slow moving water, including pools, ponds, and lakes), lotic (faster moving water, for example streams and rivers) and wetlands (areas where the soil is saturated or inundated for at least part of the time).

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Biodiversity and the Living Planet Index: Global Trends

Covers the Living Planet Index and its role in tracking global biodiversity trends and threats.

Climate Change: Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Examines the effects of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, focusing on species adaptation, migration, and the implications for ecological balance.

Biodiversity Project: Senegal-Mauritania Case Study MOOC: Geographical Information Systems 1

Explores GIS in a biodiversity project in Senegal and Mauritania.

Urbanization Impacts and Natural Resources Integration

Explores urbanization impacts on nature and integrative approaches for urban planning with natural resources.

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