GEOG 3110 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Asymptote, Devonian, Continuum Hypothesis
22 Feb 2017
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Scientists study biophysical systems to understand their functioning. Resource managers manage biophysical systems to achieve objectives set by policy makers: policy makers have legal requirements and strive to withhold economy. Sound scientific basis for both setting policy and making management decisions. 1939 dead/dying saguaro cacti observed in park. 1941 bacterium isolated from decaying tissues; fear that bacteria would kill all saguaro in park. Pathogenesis efforts: experimental area (10% of the park) cleared entirely of diseased saguaro which were disinfected with chemicals and buried in trenches, result: no effect; experiment may have held disease in check. 1944 suppression operations questioned: evidence of disease dates back to 1889, only old saguaro seemed susceptible, management response: ignored, spent next 20yrs funding pathogen research. 1970 cause of saguaro mortality attributed to climatic variability: cold damages tissues and the bacteria targets the wound (bacteria is a consequence of the damage, not the cause)
