Biodiversity, Natural Resources, and Human Sustainability (HS-ESS3-3): Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.

Creating a computational simulation illustrates the relationships between the management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity. The simulation models how different resource management strategies impact ecological systems, human societies, and species diversity. It helps visualize and analyze how sustainable practices and resource use can affect long-term human well-being and ecosystem health, providing insights into the balance needed to maintain both biodiversity and human needs.

Main Concepts:

  1. The management of natural resources is crucial for maintaining their availability and ensuring their sustainable use. This includes the processes of extraction, use, and disposal of natural resources, which can have significant environmental impacts if not managed properly. For example, the extraction of fossil fuels can result in air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions. Effective management strategies for natural resources include the use of renewable energy sources, reducing waste, and implementing policies and regulations to limit the environmental impact of resource extraction and use.
  2. The sustainability of human populations is essential for ensuring a healthy and stable future for our planet. It refers to the ability of human populations to meet their needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Achieving sustainability requires balancing social, economic, and environmental factors to ensure that resources are used efficiently and equitably. This includes improving agricultural efficiency, reducing resource consumption, and implementing sustainable urban planning practices that reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.
  3. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms present in an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Biodiversity is critical for the sustainability of natural systems and human populations. It provides important ecosystem services, such as soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and water purification, and supports human industries such as agriculture and medicine. The conservation of biodiversity is essential for maintaining the health and resilience of natural systems, which in turn supports human populations. Strategies for conserving biodiversity include protecting habitats, preventing species extinction, and reducing pollution and habitat destruction.

Question and Answer Section:

  1. What is the management of natural resources? Answer: The management of natural resources includes the processes of extraction, use, and disposal of natural resources.
  2. What factors affect the management of natural resources? Answer: Factors that affect the management of natural resources include the costs of resource extraction and waste management.
  3. What is the sustainability of human populations? Answer: The sustainability of human populations refers to the ability of human populations to meet their needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
  4. What factors affect the sustainability of human populations? Answer: Factors that affect the sustainability of human populations include agricultural efficiency, levels of conservation, and urban planning.
  5. What is biodiversity? Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms present in an ecosystem.
  6. Why is biodiversity important? Answer: Biodiversity is important for the sustainability of natural systems and human populations.
  7. What is a computational simulation? Answer: A computational simulation is a computer program that models the behavior of a system.
  8. How can a computational simulation illustrate the relationships among natural resource management, human sustainability, and biodiversity? Answer: A computational simulation can illustrate the relationships among natural resource management, human sustainability, and biodiversity by modeling the interactions between these factors and predicting their outcomes.
  9. What are some examples of factors that affect human sustainability? Answer: Examples of factors that affect human sustainability include agricultural efficiency, levels of conservation, and urban planning.
  10. Why is it important to develop new technologies for natural resource management? Answer: It is important to develop new technologies for natural resource management because these technologies can help to reduce the negative impact of resource extraction on the environment and improve the sustainability of human populations.

*continue your studies by accessing another review sheet below*

Space Systems: HS-ESS1-1 : HS-ESS1-2 : HS-ESS1-3 : HS-ESS1-4 : HS-ESS1-7

History of the Earth: HS-ESS1-5 : HS-ESS1-6 : HS-ESS2-1

Earth's Systems: HS-ESS2-2 : HS-ESS2-3 : HS-ESS2-5 : HS-ESS2-6 : HS-ESS2-7

Weather and Climate: HS-ESS2-4 : HS-ESS3-5 : HS-ESS2-8

Human Sustainability: HS-ESS3-1 : HS-ESS3-2 : HS-ESS3-3 : HS-ESS3-4 : HS.ESS3-6

Disclaimer: The information provided is intended to serve as a study guide based on a contextual analysis of the NGSS standards for the Earth and Space Science assessment. These study guides should be used as a supplement to your overall study strategy, and their alignment to the actual test format is not guaranteed. We recommend that you consult with your instructor for additional guidance on exam preparation.