Transcript Ecological Questions

Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Do Now: Ecological Problems
Do Now: Select one of the following ecological problems.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
(a) Acid rain
(b) Increased amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in a lake
(c) Loss of biodiversity
For the ecological problem that you selected, briefly describe the problem and state one
way to reduce it. In your answer be sure to:
a) state the ecological problem you selected
b) state how humans have caused the problem you selected
c) describe one specific effect that the problem you selected will have on the ecosystem
d) state one specific action humans could take to reduce the problem you selected
Acid rain
Cause: Air pollution from burning fossil fuels: car exhausts and industry air
emissions contains sulfur and nitrogen compounds.
Effects: Lower pH of certain lakes which kills some fish
Action: Remove the chemicals from the exhaust before leaving the factory
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
Select one of the following ecological problems.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
(a) Acid rain
(b) Increased amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in a lake
(c) Loss of biodiversity
For the ecological problem that you selected, briefly describe the problem and state one
way to reduce it. In your answer be sure to:
a) state the ecological problem you selected
b) state how humans have caused the problem you selected
c) describe one specific effect that the problem you selected will have on the ecosystem
d) state one speific action humans could take to reduce the problem you selected
Increased amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in a lake
Cause: fertilizer runoff from farms into the lakes
Effect: rapid aging of lakes, fish die suffocated
Action: use less fertilizer
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
Select one of the following ecological problems.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
(a) Acid rain
(b) Increased amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in a lake
(c) Loss of biodiversity
For the ecological problem that you selected, briefly describe the problem and state one
way to reduce it. In your answer be sure to:
a) state the ecological problem you selected
b) state how humans have caused the problem you selected
c) describe one specific effect that the problem you selected will have on the ecosystem
d) state one specific action humans could take to reduce the problem you selected
Loss of biodiversity
Cause: overhunting, habitat destruction, deforestation, water and land pollution
Effect: loss of sources for future new medicines
Action enforce laws to protect species and habitats
habitat rehabilitation, reforestation
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
Choose one ecological problem from the list below.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
•Global warming
•Destruction of the ozone shield
•Loss of biodiversity
Discuss the ecological problem you chose. In your answer be sure to state:
(1) the problem you selected and one human action that may have caused the problem
(2) one way in which the problem may negatively affect humans
(3) one positive action that could be taken to reduce the problem
ECOLOGICAL
PROBLEM
GLOBAL
WARMING
CAUSE
NEGATIVE EFFECT
POSITIVE ACTION
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Auto emissions
Changes in weather
patterns
Increase in temperature
Increase in natural
disasters (floods, storms)
Loss of icecap
Reforestation
Alternative energy
Carpooling &
public
transportation
Reducing CO2
emissions
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
Choose one ecological problem from the list below.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
•Global warming
•Destruction of the ozone shield
•Loss of biodiversity
Discuss the ecological problem you chose. In your answer be sure to state:
(1) the problem you selected and one human action that may have caused the problem
(2) one way in which the problem may negatively affect humans
(3) one positive action that could be taken to reduce the problem
ECOLOGICAL
PROBLEM
DESTRUCTION
OF OZONE
SHIELD
CAUSE
Use of CFCs that
destroy ozone shield
NEGATIVE EFFECT
Increase exposure to
UV rays
Sunburn
•Cancer
•Damage eyes
•Decrease organisms’
resistance to disease
POSITIVE ACTION
Reduce use of
chemicals that
destroy ozone shield
Reduce use of
CFCs in aerosols
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
Choose one ecological problem from the list below.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
•Global warming
•Destruction of the ozone shield
•Loss of biodiversity
Discuss the ecological problem you chose. In your answer be sure to state:
(1) the problem you selected and one human action that may have caused the problem
(2) one way in which the problem may negatively affect humans
(3) one positive action that could be taken to reduce the problem
ECOLOGICAL
PROBLEM
LOSS OF
BIODIVERSITY
CAUSE
NEGATIVE
EFFECT
POSITIVE ACTION
Deforestation
Water and land pollution
Import of species
Overhunting, overfishing
Global warming
Ozone depletion
Loss of future
sources of
medicine
Loss of species
Law and legislation
to protect habitat
and species
Reforestation
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Ecological Problems
An individual has placed an editorial in the community newspaper stating that the local recycling
program should be discontinued. Respond to this editorial by explaining the importance of the local
recycling program for the environment. In your explanation be sure to:
• state one effect the increasing human population will have on the availability of natural
resources
• state one reason why recycling is important
• identify two natural resources or products made from natural resources that can be recycled
Increasing human population will decrease the availability of natural resources
Recycling reduces water and land pollution
Water and wood (paper) are natural resources that can be recycled
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Impact of Highways on Rain Forest
A tropical rain forest in the country of Belize contains over 100 kinds of trees as well as thousands
of species of mammals, birds, and insects. Dozens of species living there have not yet been
classified and studied.
The rain forest could be a commercial source of food as well as a source of medicinal and
household products. However, most of this forested area is not accessible because of a lack of
roads and therefore, little commercial use has been made of this region. The building of paved
highways into and through this rain forest has been proposed.
Discuss some aspects of carrying out this proposal to build paved highways. In your answer be
sure to:
(1) state one possible impact on biodiversity and one reason for this impact
(2) state one possible reason for an increase in the number of some producers as a result of road
building
(3) identify one type of consumer whose population would most likely increase as a direct result of
an increase in a producer population
(4) state one possible action the road builders could take to minimize human impact on the
ecology of this region
• 1. Building paved highways will decrease biodiversity because it will destroy the
habitat of many plants and animals
• 2. Cars will kill some herbivores (deer, rabbits, raccons) therefore plant population will
increase
• Plant population will increase because more light becomes available along the side of
the road
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Impact of Highways on Rain Forest
A tropical rain forest in the country of Belize contains over 100 kinds of trees as well as thousands
of species of mammals, birds, and insects. Dozens of species living there have not yet been
classified and studied.
The rain forest could be a commercial source of food as well as a source of medicinal and
household products. However, most of this forested area is not accessible because of a lack of
roads and therefore, little commercial use has been made of this region. The building of paved
highways into and through this rain forest has been proposed.
Discuss some aspects of carrying out this proposal to build paved highways. In your answer be
sure to:
(1) state one possible impact on biodiversity and one reason for this impact
(2) state one possible reason for an increase in the number of some producers as a result of road
building
(3) identify one type of consumer whose population would most likely increase as a direct result of
an increase in a producer population
(4) state one possible action the road builders could take to minimize human impact on the
ecology of this region
3. Herbivores would increase in number as a direct result of an increase in a producer
population.
4. Provide pathways for animals to cross the road
Take steps to reduce erosion
Limit the size of the road
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
In New York State, a certain lake was known to contain a number of fish of many
species. Following a series of rainstorms that had blown in from industrial centers west
lake, many of the fish died. There was no industrial, commercial, residential, or
agricultural development on the lake. Using one or more complete sentences, state a
valid explanation for the death of the fish.
The death of the fish is caused by the acidification of the lake due to acid
rain.
Burning fossil fuels produces nitrogen an sulfur compounds, that combine
with moisture in the atmosphere. When rain falls to the Earth has a lower pH
level –more much acidic- which kills the fish in the lake.
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
Many rivers in the United States, such as the Mississippi have a lot of pollution that
enters them from adjacent farmlands. Why should people that catch and eat fish from
these polluted rivers be concerned?
Because biological magnification
The concentration of a pollutant multiplies as it passes up the food chain from
producers to consumers.
People who eats the fish take in high concentration of pollutants as the fish
belong to the top level of the food chain
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
In St. Lawrence County of Northern New York, the deer population has increased to
numbers which pose problems for humans.
List 2 problems which these residents suffer due to the great increase in numbers in the
deer population.
Problems:
1. The increase of car accidents in nearby roadways due to the presence of more
deer.
2. Some diseases can be transmitted from deer to humans through parasites: i.e.
ticks
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
6. List at least two harmful effects of ozone depletion on humans
•More UV rays reach the Earth, increasing incidence of sunburn
•Increased incidence of skin cancers and/or cataracts
•Decreased humans’ resistance to disease
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
List two harmful effects building a shopping mall in a forested area near a village may
have on the environment.
•
•
•
•
Loss of biodiversity
Disruption of food chains
Deforestation and destruction of the habitats
Increase of pollution in the area
Objective: Review and Practice Regents Questions on Human Impact on Ecosystem
List and briefly explain (a sentence or two for each factor) two factors leading to the
exponential explosion in human population growth during the past 200 years.
•The agricultural revolution has increased
the food production.
•The industrial revolution improved
methods of transporting for goods and food
•Advances in medicine, sanitation, and
nutrition decreased the death rates.
Using one or more complete sentences, describe the change that occurred in
the habitat of the Edith's Checkerspot butterfly as a result of human activity.
Human activity:
A weed species was unknowingly introduced into nearby fields by cattle
ranchers
Change in the habitat of the Edith’s Checkerspot:
The butterfly changed its custromary diet and reproductive site from a
native plant to the invading weed