Ecology Nutrition Notes
Famine is a widespread starvation caused by a shortage of food.
· Can be caused by:
1. Loss of soil
2. Loss of nutrients in the soil
3. War
4. Lack of rain
5. Lack of sunlight for a long period of time
6. Failing crops
7. No income for most of a country for a long period of time
Malnutrition occurs when humans do not consume enough quantity of varies nutrition rich foods.
· There are many forms of malnutrition
ü Need to eat protein to obtain the 8 essential amino acids: Protein –energy malnutrition
o valine,isoleucine,leucine,phenylalanine,threonine, tryptophan, methionine, and lysine
ü Starvation Malnutrition
ü Eating disorders:
o Anorexia –constant dieting with rapid weight loss influenced by fashion trends
o Bulimia-Eating too much and then vomiting or using laxatives to get rid of the food
§ The acid in the stomach corrode and remove the enamel from teeth.
· Overeating causes obesity which can lead to Heart disease, Diabetes, and even death.
Humans need a balanced diet of Micronutrients and Macronutrients to keep that healthy and strong.
What is the difference between Micronutrient and Macronutrient?
Macronutrients are the Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats while Vitamins and Minerals are the Micronutrients which you only need small amounts of daily.
· One kilocalorie (one Calorie of food) provides enough energy to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 oC
List and describe the four basic food groups.
A.) Carbohydrates-provides energy and consist of simple sugars and starches
· 4 Cal/g
B.) Proteins-made up of amino acids that provide construction material for blood, muscles, and other tissues.
· 4 Cal/g
C.) Fats-Are lipids that contain three long fatty acids and one glycerol molecule.
· 9 Cal/g
D.) Fiber-A special Carbohydrate made of whole grain that regulates the digestive system
· 4 Cal/g
Vitamin Chart
Vitamin / Benefits / Deficiency will causeA / Night vision / Night blindness
B1 / help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose) / Beriberi
B6 / involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions / Anemia and confusion
B12 / Maintaining Blood cells / anemia
C / Antioxidant / Scurvy
D / Needed in combination with Calcium and Phosphorus for strong teeth and bones / Ricketts
In addition people need to include daily exercise
The Ecology of Food
Food efficiency-The amount of food grown in a given area
· Limited energy is used
· Limited resources used
· High yield foods
o The Green Revolution-(1950-1970) Mexico greatly increased crop production by developed new varieties of grain that produced high yields
§ Problem for small farmers was lack of money to obtain chemicals and proper amounts of water for the crops
· Cash Crop is a plant that is grown for the purpose of selling it.
· Monoculture is a farmer’s choice to grow only one crop
o Problem-can lose the whole crop
· Till farming uses equipment that tills the soil and can cause the soil to erode.
o This method takes more resources and more time
· No till is a farmer’s choose to not till the garden to avoid further erosion to the soil
· IPM uses insects instead of chemical pesticides (they kill insects, weeds, and crop microorganisms and fungi) and herbicides (kill certain types of plants like weeds) to prevent harming the plant and the groundwater.
· Aquaculture –commercially produced seafood and/or plants grown in water instead of soil
· Compost-partly decomposed material used as fertilizer
o Saves resources
o Saves space in landfills
· Genetic engineering –make genetically modified plants (GM) that resist certain pests and produce high yield and are more nutritious.
o Not organic
o Might be a factor that is killing the bee communities
· Sustainable Agriculture is Based on less soil erosion, crop rotation, integrate management, and minimal use of soil additives
o Some restaurants put these on their menu as “Farm or garden to plate”
o Grill to plate
o Farmers markets
· Domestication of animals
o Livestock – the raising of an animal for profit
§ Usually killed for a food source for people
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