Module 2 Learning Activity-Kayla Crestani

biogas_diagram_krc5347

My diagram shows the ways that biogas generators work with both the ecosystem and its biological community.  The effects of the generator are a great example of human ecology and human-environment interaction.  The diagram shows how people and the environment can work together and also mirrors a positive feedback mechanism.  Starting with the need for fuel that doesn’t cause deforestation, the generator uses animal dung in place of fire wood.  This in turn reduces the need for child labor in collecting wood to use and allows these children to devote more of their time on their education.  The generator, once done producing methane gas for cooking purposes, can then be converted to compost and then flipped to become a money making product for the people. In using the biogas generator, the interaction between humans and their environment is producing a positive feedback mechanism because there will never be an endless amount of fuel to be used.  The fuel will be produced again and again without ever running out of materials because of its ability to be reused in the form of compost and go back into the ecosystem.

While reading what Gerry Marten had to say about the biogas generator, I realized we focused on some of the same points.  While we both included and agreed that deforestation could be eliminated if these generators took over, we touched on different positive effects as well.  Marten talked a lot about the effects of deforestation and its impact on irrigation.  He also brought up the idea of introducing the generators to not only wealthy farmers, but somehow making them accessible to everyone.  While I also touched on the loss of trees, I then brought up the fact that children were sacrificing their education to provide firewood.  I also added more about the business side of making the compost into fertilizer and selling it for profit.  Marten brought a very broad look to biogas generators while I focused more on the positive effects they would bring to the people using them.  I find it very useful and eye-opening in a sense to see what can happen when social systems and ecosystems work together to create something that is beneficial all around.

 

2 thoughts on “Module 2 Learning Activity-Kayla Crestani

  1. Hi Kayla,

    Thank you for your comments on my diagram.

    Our diagrams are similar in that we both focused on human-environment systems and included the local community. I think your diagram is easy to follow. I enjoyed that it is directional. Beginning with the affects of stick collecting on deforestation and children. I would have liked to see you label more positive feedback mechanisms (or negative) because you did a good job incorporating concepts from the lesson into your diagram and explaination. I think it crucial to include the positive effects of biogas generators. I did the same in blog here: http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/01/26/laurene2/

  2. Hello Kayla. I am Tenaya Mulvey and the website to check out my blog is http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/01/23/biogas_tenaya-mulvey/ .
    I enjoyed your diagram. I liked how you planned out and created your diagram. I started with a more simple approach where as you went into more detail on the relationship between the wood for fuel and the affects that it has on the children, education all the way up to the environment. I agree with you on how your approach is different than Marten’s. His was more business where yours was taken more from a personal standpoint.

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