how human activities impact the earth's ecosystems i

How human activities im-pact the Earth's ecosys-

tems IStandard 4 Key Idea 7 PI 7.1 MU 7.1 c , PI 7.2

MU 7.2a – 7.2c

Bell Ringer Question

• Give examples of environmental problems that you have heard from newspapers or TV news.

Greenhouse effectsAir pollution

Nuclear energy wastesWater pollution, etc

Summary of what we are going to learn this class and next class

1. Biodiversity crisis2. Land use and pollution3. Global warming4. Ozone layer depletion 5. Energy crisis

Today

Next class

1. Biodiversity crisis 1) Adding or removing specific organ-

isms intentionally or unintentionally • e.g. planting large expanses of one crop

reduces the biodiversity of the area. • e.g. Zebra mussels introduced by a foreign

ship dominated the Great Lakes, killing other native mussel shells. U.S. spent about $ 5 billion each year to recover the environment.

Solomon, Berg, and Martin. (2008). Biology. Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.

http://undertheriffles.com/tag/zebra-mussels/

1. Biodiversity crisis con’t

2) Commercial harvest/ unregulated hunting

http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/egypt-unregulated-bird-hunting-and-the-malta-connection/

1. Biodiversity crisis con’t

2) Habitat fragmentationBreakup of large areas of habitat into

small segments.

http://wildflowerturfblog.wildflowerturf.co.uk/2012/02/16/habitat-fragmentation/

Why is biodiversity important? (handout)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA3xNMJnFuo

2. Land use and pollution • Human population increase occupy more

land as living space or farmland. Less natural habitat for many native

species. Soil erosion : less available habitat for

many species

http://troutstreamresearch.safl.umn.edu/

Water pollution: Causes

• Heat• Sewage• Fertilizers (i.e. chemical phosphate)• Pesticides• Heavy metals (i.e. mercury)• Dioxin• Bacteria • Etc.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090118200636.htm

Water pollution con’t

http://waterstse.wordpress.com/world-impact/

Video: Water pollution (Answer questions on the handout.)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZ4IMpM45Y

Discuss the following problem with your partner.

Regents June 2013 # 64

Possible answers

— Increase plant growth might block sunlight from penetrating the water, killing off other plant species.

— Increase plant growth could disrupt the food chain by blocking light to the ecosystem.

— There will be a change (increased/decreased) in the oxygen supply for fish.

— There will be a change (decreased/increased) in the food supply for herbivores.

— can result in more decaying material causing the lake to fill in.

— Excessive plant growth can limit animal movement/alter habitat.

Air pollution

• Burning fossil fuels pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate mat-ter.

• When these pollutants are combined with water, they make acid rain.

http://sayiamgreen.com/blog/2009/09/the-10-most-polluted-cities-in-the-world/

Video: Air pollution (Answer questions on the hand-out.)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOk5G5vd2lw

3. Global warming

• Global warming: a gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth as a result of greenhouse gases

Global warming

http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs_v3/Fig.A2.gif

Global warming: CausesGreenhouse effectsBurning fossil fuels emits carbon diox-

ide, and other gases these gases trap the sunlight, causing the green-house effect.

http://afraidoftree.blogspot.com/2011/01/assigment-forest-ecology-greenhouse.html

Video: Global warming (Answer questions on the handout.)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROZJmX73FF4

Exit ticket

Regents Exams