Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 6th edition

1. Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
Our Island, Earth
The Nature of Environmental Science
The Science Behind the Story: What Are the Lessons of Easter Island?
The Nature of Science
Environmental Ethics
Sustainability and Our Future

2. Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
The Vanishing Oysters of the Chesapeake Bay
Earth's Environmental Systems
Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment
Energy Fundamentals
Ecosystems
The Science Behind the Story: "Turning the Tide" for Native Oysters in Chesapeake Bay
Biogeochemical Cycles

3. Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Saving Hawaii's Native Forest Birds
Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity
Ecology and the Organism
Population Ecology
The Science Behind the Story: Monitoring Bird Populations at Hakalau Forest
Conserving Biodiversity

4. Species Interactions and Community Ecology
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Black and White, and Spread All Over: Zebra Mussels Invade the Great Lakes
Species Interactions
Ecological Communities
The Science Behind the Story: Determining Zebra Mussels' Impacts on Fish Communities
Earth's Biomes

5. Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Costa Rica Values Its Ecosystem Services
Economics and the Environment
Environmental Policy: An Overview
The Science Behind the Story: Do Payments Help Preserve Forest?
U.S. Environmental Law and Policy
International Environmental Policy
Approaches to Environmental Policy
Sustainable Development

6. Human Population
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
China's One-Child Policy: Is It a Population "Time Bomb"?
Our World at Seven Billion
Demography
Population and Society
The Science Behind the Story: Did Soap Operas Reduce Fertilityin Brazil?

7. Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Farm to Table-And Back Again: The Commons at Kennesaw State University
The Race to Feed the World
The Changing Face of Agriculture
Soils
Maintaining Healthy Soils
Watering and Fertilizing Crops
Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators
Raising Animals for Food
Genetically Modified Food
The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture
The Science Behind the Story: How Productive Is Organic Farming?

8. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Farm to Table-And Back Again: The Commons at Kennesaw State University
The Race to Feed the World
The Changing Face of Agriculture
Soils
Maintaining Healthy Soils
Watering and Fertilizing Crops
Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators
Raising Animals for Food
Genetically Modified Food
The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture
The Science Behind the Story: How Productive Is Organic Farming?

9. Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Certified Sustainable Paper in Your Textbook
Forest Ecosystems and Forest Resources
Forest Loss
Forest Management
Parks and Protected Areas
The Science Behind the Story: Forest Fragmentation in the Amazon

10. Environmental Health and Toxicology
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Bisphenol A Is Everywhere-But Is It Safe?
Environmental Health
Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms 
The Science Behind the Story: Testing the Safety of Bisphenol A
Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems
Studying Effects of Hazards
Risk Assessment and Risk Management

11. Geology, Minerals, and Mining
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Mining for … Cell Phones?
Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science
Geologic and Natural Hazards
Earth's Mineral Resources
Mining Methods and Their Impacts
The Science Behind the Story: Can Acid Mine Drainage Reduce Fracking's
Environmental Impact?
Toward Sustainable Mineral Use

12. Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Starving the Louisiana Coast
Freshwater Systems
The Oceans
Marine and Coastal Systems
Effects of Human Activities on Waterways
Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water
Water Pollution and Its Control
The Science Behind the Story: Predicting the Oceans' "Garbage Patches"
Emptying the Oceans

13. Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Clearing the Air in L.A. and in Mexico City
The Atmosphere
Outdoor Air Quality
The Science Behind the Story: Measuring the Health Impacts of Mexico City's Air
Pollution
Ozone Depletion
Addressing Acid Deposition
Indoor Air Quality

14. Global Climate Change
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Rising Seas May Flood the Maldives
Our Dynamic Climate
Studying Climate Change
The Science Behind the Story: How Do Climate Models Work?
Current and Future Trends and Impacts
Responding to Climate Change

15. Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Hydrofracking the Marcellus Shale
Sources of Energy
Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use
Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels … and Coping with the Impacts
The Science Behind the Story: Discovering Impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Nuclear Power

16. Renewable Energy Alternatives
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Germany Goes Solar
Renewable Energy Sources
The Science Behind the Story: Comparing Energy Sources
Solar Energy
Wind Power
Geothermal Energy
Ocean Energy Sources
Hydroelectric Power
Bioenergy
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

17. Managing Our Waste
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
A Mania for Recycling on Campus
Approaches to Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste
The Science Behind the Story: Tracking Trash
Industrial Solid Waste
Hazardous Waste

18. The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities
CENTRAL CASE STUDY
Managing Growth in Portland, Oregon
Our Urbanizing World
Sprawl
Creating Livable Cities
Urban Sustainability
The Science Behind the Story: Baltimore and Phoenix Showcase Urban Ecology
Epilogue: Sustainable Solutions

APPENDICES

A. Answers to Data Analysis Questions
B. How to Interpret Graphs
C. Metric System
D. Periodic Table of the Elements
E. Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index