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Environmental Science, 16th Edition

G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

Copyright 2019
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Environmental Science 16th Edition by G. Tyler Miller/Scott Spoolman

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Overview
Meet the Authors
What's New
Features
Table of Contents
Pricing

Overview

Partnering with National Geographic Learning, Miller and Spoolman deliver a text that equips students with the inspiration and knowledge to help solve modern environmental issues. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, 16th Edition, highlights important work of scientists and citizens, while photos, maps and illustrations bring course content to life. A concept-centered approach transforms complex topics into key concepts students understand. Using sustainability as their central theme, the authors emphasize natural capital, natural capital degradation, solutions, trade-offs and the importance of individuals. Students learn how nature works, how they interact with it and how humanity can continue to sustain its relationship with the earth by applying nature's lessons to economies and individual lifestyles. Available with MindTap, the platform that gives instructors complete control of their course and powers students from memorization to mastery.

Meet the Authors

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G. Tyler Miller

G. Tyler Miller has written 65 editions of textbooks for introductory courses in environmental science, basic ecology, energy and environmental chemistry. Since 1975, his books have been among the most widely used textbooks for environmental science in the United States and throughout the world. Translated into eight languages, they have been used by more than 3 million students. Dr. Miller has a professional background in chemistry, physics and ecology. He taught college for 20 years, developed one of the nation's first environmental studies programs and created an innovative interdisciplinary undergraduate science program before deciding to write environmental science textbooks full time in 1975. Now retired, Dr. Miller created Earth Education and Research, an enterprise that was devoted to improving environmental education. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and has received honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of his significant contributions to environmental education.

Scott Spoolman

Scott Spoolman is an experienced writer in the field of educational publishing, with more than 30 years of expertise. Between 2003 and 2018, he worked with Tyler Miller as a co-author on editions of LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE and SUSTAINING THE EARTH. With Norman Myers, he co-authored ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS: A MODULAR APPROACH. Spoolman has authored numerous books and articles in the fields of environmental science, geology and natural history, politics and business. Additionally, he has served as a consulting editor, contributing to the development of over 70 college and high school textbooks in the natural and social sciences. He earned a master's degree in science journalism from the University of Minnesota. In his free time, Spoolman enjoys exploring the forests and waters of his native Wisconsin along with his family -- his wife, environmental educator Gail Martinelli, son Will and daughter Katie.

What's New

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The new "Learning from Nature" feature appears in most chapters and includes a set of brief summaries of specific applications of biomimicry in various industries and fields of research. The 16th edition's emphasis on learning from nature is established early in Chapter 1's Core Case Study "Learning from the Earth," which introduces the principles of biomimicry. The principles and applications of biomimicry are further explored in a "Science Focus" box and a feature article on biomimicry pioneer Janine Benyus later in the chapter and throughout the book.
New visual elements inspired by National Geographic Learning that capture and hold students' attention. Many of the new photographs are from the archives of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. In addition, more than 130 diagrams--each designed to present complex ideas in understandable ways relating to the real world--make it one of the most visually informative textbooks available.
New Core Case Studies for eight of the book's 17 chapters enable students to apply text concepts and principles to current, real-world issues.
Updated throughout using thousands of articles and reports published between 2013 and 2017, major new or updated topics range from fracking to the Northern Pacific Garbage Patch with a wealth of hot and emerging issues in between.
The 16th edition now includes a more thorough treatment of the history of environmental conservation and protection in the United States, helping students see the big picture.

Features

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Five major subthemes are integrated throughout: Sustainability depends on natural resources and ecosystem services that support all life and economies. Human activities can degrade natural capital. Solutions to environmental problems are presented throughout, and students are challenged to critically evaluate them. Trade-offs are involved in the search for solutions and require weighing advantages against disadvantages; trade-offs diagrams spotlight specific environmental problems. Individuals Matter boxes and Case Studies describe the sustainability work of scientists and citizens.
The text's unique concept-centered approach helps students zero in on the main ideas. Each major chapter section revolves around a key question and one to three key concepts, which state the section's most important take-away messages.
The text emphasizes a global perspective on both the ecological level--revealing how all the world's life is connected and sustained within the biosphere--and through the use of information and images from around the world--with more than 40 maps included in the basic text and available digitally. End-of-chapter Global Environment Watch exercises further apply this international perspective.
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A Core Case Study opens each chapter and is integrated throughout, with special notations highlighting where text concepts are applied to the case. Every chapter ends with a "Tying It All Together" box connecting the Core Case Study and other chapter material to principles of sustainability.
Complementing the 17 Core Case Studies, more than 40 additional Case Studies are included throughout to provide in-depth evaluations of specific environmental problems and their possible solutions.
The Learning Skills section describes critical thinking skills, while specific critical thinking exercises throughout the book give students hands-on experience putting what they learn into practice.
"Thinking About" exercises included in most chapters reinforce learning by asking students to think critically about the implications of various environmental issues and solutions immediately after they are discussed in the text.
End-of-chapter materials help students maximize their study time: Detailed review questions include all chapter key terms in bold. Critical Thinking questions encourage students to apply what they learn to their own lives. Doing Environmental Science exercises help students experience the work of various environmental scientists. Data Analysis and Ecological Footprint Analysis problems are built around ecological footprint and other environmental data sets.

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Part 1. HUMANS AND SUSTAINABILITY: AN OVERVIEW.
1. The Environment and Sustainability.
Part II. ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
2. Science, Matter, Energy and Systems.
3. Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?
4. Biodiversity and Evolution.
5. Species Interactions, Ecological Succession and Population Control.
6. The Human Population and Urbanization.
7. Climate and Biodiversity.
Part III. SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY.
8. Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species.
9. Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems.
Part IV. SUSTAINING RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
10. Food Production and the Environment.
11. Water Resources and Water Pollution.
12. Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources.
13. Energy Resources.
14. Environmental Hazards and Human Health.
15. Air Pollution, Climate Change and Ozone Depletion.
16. Solid and Hazardous Waste.
Part V. SUSTAINING HUMAN SOCIETIES.
17. Environmental Economics, Politics and Worldviews.
Glossary.
Index.
Preface.
About the Authors.
From the Authors.
Learning Skills.