Transcript human impact1 (2)

The Human Impact on the
Environment
Biodiversity • The total of all the different
species living in a given area.
Where do we find the greatest
biodiversity?
RAINFOREST
Biodiversity = Stability
• The greater the biodiversity the
greater the stability of an
ecosystem.
Ecosystems will have a greater
chance of maintaining equilibrium
over a long period of time if they
have
(1) organisms imported by humans
from other environments
(2) a sudden change in climate
(3) a diversity of organisms
(4) predators eliminated from the
food chains
Threats to Biodiversity
•
•
•
•
•
Habitat destruction
Deforestation
Global Climate Change
Species Exploitation
Species Extinction
Amazon Deforestation
Deforestation
• Upsets Carbon Cycle
• More CO2 into atmosphere
• Less O2 into the atmosphere
Slash and Burn
Extinction vs. Endangered Species
• Extinction is when a species is
completely wiped out of its habitat
• Endangered species is when a
species’ population is declining
rapidly and they are close to
extinction
Extinct Species
Endangered Species
Every hour a species becomes
extinct!
Is that OK with you?
Long Island’s own – Piping Plover
Why is Biodiversity important to
me?
• Most of our
pharmaceuticals
or medicines
come from
plants, animals,
and fungi that
are found in the
rainforest.
One irreversible effect of both
deforestation and water pollution on
the environment is the
(1) extinction of species
(2) thinning of the ozone shield
(3) depletion of atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels
(4) increase in renewable resources
What can we do about protecting
biodiversity?
• Plant trees
• Protect species with laws about
poaching
• Stop deforestation
• Protect habitats
Human activities have had a major impact
on biodiversity. Scientists cannot solve this
problem alone. Concerned individuals
need to be involved in restoring and
maintaining biodiversity.
Explain how a loss of biodiversity today can
affect the survival of humans in the future.
State one specific action that you as a
student can take in your community to
help maintain or increase biodiversity. [1]
Which ecosystem is more stable
a potato field or a forest?
The Tragedy of the Commons
Renewable Resources
• These are resources that can
regenerate or replace
themselves.
Trees – if you cut own down
another can grow!
Clean energies
Non-renewable Resources
• A resource that
can NOT be
replaced or
replenished by
natural processes
–Fossil Fuels
In order to reduce consumption of
nonrenewable resources, humans
could
(1) burn coal to heat houses instead of
using oil
(2) heat household water with solar
radiation
(3) increase industrialization
(4) use a natural-gas grill to barbecue
instead of using charcoal
To Drill or Not to Drill!
Alaskan Caribou
Alaskan People
Over the past few decades, many oil companies
have discovered oil below the seafloor near the
coasts of many states. Some states, however,
refuse to permit offshore oil drilling, fearing it
might damage the environment. Discuss both
sides of this issue. In your answer, be sure to:
• state one way in which offshore oil drilling might
have a long-term negative effect on the
environment [1]
• state one way in which offshore oil drilling could
benefit society [1]
Sustainable Use of Resources
• Using natural resources in a way
that doesn’t deplete them
1. Plant a tree for every one cut
down
2. Use biofuels
3. Alternative energies
Acid Rain
• Causes:
burning of
fossil fuels and
factories with
smoke stacks
release sulfur
into the air
making
precipitation
acidic.
Acid Rain Effects
• Destroys plant tissues
• Destroys aquatic ecosystems
• Destroys many statues
Acid Rain on pH scale
Acid Rain Solutions
• Create laws that limit emissions from
smoke stacks.
• Create laws that mandate (force) factory
owners to use scrubbers on smoke stacks
• Use cleaner fuel sources
Most smoke stacks now have
scrubbers!
Global Climate Change
• Increase in the average
temperature of the
biosphere
The Evidence
• In the past 120 years the average global
temperature has risen .5 degrees Celsius
• The 1990’s was the hottest decade on
record
The Projections
• Computer models
suggest that the
average global
temperatures will
increase by 1 to 2
degrees Celsius by
2050.
The Cause of Climate Change
• Increased amounts of CO2 that enters the
atmosphere, from burning of fossil fuels
• Increased amounts of greenhouse gases
like methane
The Effects of Climate Change
• Polar ice caps will melt causing massive
flooding
The Effects of Climate Change
• More severe weather systems or storms
The Effects of Climate Change
• Increased distribution of insects that carry
deadly diseases - MALARIA
The Effects of Climate Change
• The environmental change favors certain
species like rodents, weeds, and insects
The Effects of Climate Change
• Increased droughts
Solutions for Climate Change
• Create laws that limit Carbon
dioxide emissions – The Kyoto
Treaty
• Use hybrid cars
• Limit your energy consumption
• Educate people about the issues
Solutions for Climate Change
• Use of alternative energies
–Wind farms
–Solar farms
–Geothermal energy
–Nuclear energy
Wind Farms
Solar Farms
Geothermal Energy
Nuclear Energy
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
PROS:
• Little greenhouse gas
emissions
• Readily available
technology
• Huge amount of
energy is generated
from one single plant
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
CONS:
• Risk of radioactive
disaster
• Radioactive waste
• Heats up
surrounding water
often harming the
ecosystem
Ozone Depletion
• Ozone
layer
protects
the earth
from
harmful
UV rays
Without Ozone
Cause of Ozone Depletion
• Emission of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
into the atmosphere
Effect of Ozone Depletion
• Increase UV rays increases the skin
cancer rates
Effect of Ozone Depletion
• Other species of plants and animals may
also be affected by UV radiation. The
species genes will mutate sometimes
causing cancer, death, or infertility.
Solution to Ozone Depletion
• The use of CFC’s was banned by
international law – Montreal Protocol of
1989
Ozone hole today!
Invasive Species
Invasive Species
• Apparently harmless animals and
plants that are transported around
the world.
• In their new habitats invasive
species reproduce rapidly
because they lack predators that
keep their population in check.
Purple Loosestrife
• Brought to America from Europe in the
1800’s as an ornamental plant.
• Destroys native wetland ecosystems
Purple Loosestrife
• No herbivores eat
this flower so it
grows very rapidly
and displaces
native plant
species.
Native cattails are endangered
because Purple Loosestrife
is taking up its space!
Zebra Mussels
• Brought over on cargo ships during the
1980’s and are destroying the Great Lakes
ecosystems
Zebra Mussels
Gypsy Moths
• A native of
Europe they were
brought
accidentally to the
US in the 1880’s
• They defoliate
native trees like
aspens
Sea Lamprey
• Brought over from Europe on cargo ships
the Sea Lamprey has killed many native
fish in the Great Lakes
Sea Lamprey attach to other fish
and “suck” out their guts!
Control of Invasive Species
• Biological Control – using a predator from
its homeland THAT WILL ONLY EAT THE
TARGET SPECIES to kill native species
or at least control it.
Leaf Eating Beetles and Purple
Loosestrife
1 Year After Beetles Introduced
Before Beetles Introduced
Pesticide Use and
Fertilizer Use
Pesticide & Fertilizer Use
• Pesticides are used to kill insects and
protect crops/plants
• Fertilizers are used to increase the growth
rate of crops/plants
Ecological Problems with
Pesticides
• Pesticides are dangerous chemicals that
trickle down into ground water aquifers.
Biological Magnification
• Chemicals
accumulate or
build up as it
goes up the food
chain often
becoming lethal
Biological Magnification
• Pregnant women
are told not to eat
seafood due to
biological
magnification of
chemicals that can
be harmful to the
fetus
DDT Biomagnification and the Bald
Eagle
• DDT a pesticide to
kill mosquitoes
• Harmed the shells of
Bald Eagles bringing
them close to
extinction
DDT Pesticide
• Wide scale use of
DDT banned in
1972 Stockholm
Convention
• Limited use today
as disease vector
control
• The Bald Eagles
are BACK!
Ecological Problems with Fertilizers
• Fertilizers contain high levels of nitrogen
and phosphorus that runs off into streams
and marine ecosystems causing algae
blooms.
Algae Bloom
Solutions- Eat Organic!
Super Happy Organic Farming Family