Science and the Environment

Part 3

1.What are the two ways ecosystems experience

changes?• Ecosystems can experience slow and

rapid changes.

2.What are some examples of how natural weather disasters

can cause rapid changes?

• How might these natural disasters cause damage to ecosystems?

*hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, fires

*Plants and animals can die and wind and waves can cause erosion to land.

3.What is erosion?

• Erosion is when the surface of the earth is worn away.

4. What affects the ecosystem more than any other living

thing?• Other rapid changes to ecosystems

are caused by humans. People affect Earth’s ecosystems more than any other living thing does.

5.What are some ways humans affect the environment?

1. They cut down forests.

2. They use chemicals in the wrong way, sometimes causing oil spills which can harm fish.

3. They burn fuels that can damage the earth’s atmosphere. This causes the Green house Effect.

6. What are the two types of resources in an environment?

• They are renewable resources and nonrenewable resources.

• Renewable nonrenewable

What is a renewable resource?

• Renewable resources can be replenished by natural processes.

• Examples are plants, water, oxygen

8.What is a nonrenewable resources?

• Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced in a reasonable time. Sometimes they cannot be replaced at all. Most of these resources come out of the ground.

• Examples: Metals and petroleum products

What are some examples of items we use everyday made

from renewable and nonrenewable resources?

• Examples: Paper products, glass, plastic, gasoline

9. What does conserve mean?

• Conserve means to use things in small amounts.

Why is it important to conserve the resources we have?

• It is important that we conserve the resources we have. If we do not conserve our resources then we could have a shortage of resources or even run out completely!

9. What does endangered mean?

• Endangered means that a living thing is in danger of dying out. There are few of them left.

• 12.Example: The Louisiana Black Bear

• It is on the endangered species list due to changes in the ecosystem.

13.What is Global Warming or The Green House Effect?

• The burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal cause

greenhouse gases to escape into the air and that these

gases are causing warming of the Earth.

• Another cause is deforestation (cutting down

trees). Trees soak up carbon dioxide, one of the

greenhouse gases, from the air.

If the warming gets worse, as scientists expect, there may be some kinds

of plants and animals that become extinct (disappear completely)

because they can’t move to new homes. There may be more storms

and floods. Sea level may rise so much that people have to move

away from the coasts. Some areas may become too dry for farming.

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html Visit this website for a more thorough explanation!

Review• Natural Disasters: Sometimes bad things happenhttp://www.brainpop.com/search/?keyword=natural+disasters

• Humans and the Environmenthttp://www.brainpop.com/search/?keyword=Humans+and+the+Envirnment

• Weathering and Erosionhttp://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?

guidAssetID=6B1E329E-5A77-4B36-BFA9-1D307F75441C

• People and the Environmenthttp://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?guidAssetID=56CAE996-65EF-41CA-9B32-4BB2739AC5E9

• Renewable and Non renewable Resourceshttp://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?

guidAssetID=2C0D0AA6-C2A6-40DE-8143-7E62BE406ECB• Natural Resourceshttp://www.brainpop.com/search/?keyword=natural+resources