Human Impacts Ecology Unit Learning Goal 5. 10/10/05/vo.hungary.toxic.mud.spill.mtv?ir ef=allsearch

Human ImpactsHuman ImpactsEcology UnitEcology Unit

Learning Goal 5Learning Goal 5

• http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/10/05/vo.hungary.toxic.mud.spill.mtv?iref=allsearch

Earth as an IslandEarth as an Island

• All organisms that live on the Earth share a limited resource base and depend on it for their long-term survival.

• A resource for shelter and space• A resource for food supply• An energy source• A source of recreation• A major source of medicines• Natural resource for industrial products.

ResourcesResources

• RenewableResources that can regenerate or have a virtually unlimited supply.

Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable Resources

• Resources that cannot be replenished by natural processes.– Fossil Fuels

• Coal• Oil• Natural Gas

– Entire Ecosystems (sometimes)

Natural AreasNatural Areas• Critical habitat for many plants and

animals is disappearing.– If there is no place to find food and shelter

organisms are forced to relocate or die.

Categories of BiodiversityCategories of Biodiversity

• Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of habitats that exist on Earth.

• Species Diversity

The number of different species in the biosphere.

• Genetic Diversity

Different forms of genes present within a species.

Ecosystem ServicesEcosystem Services

• Solar Energy• Oxygen Production• Nutrient Recycling• Purification of Air and

Water• Pollination for food

production• Soil fertility and

erosion prevention

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Species at RiskSpecies at Risk

• Factors leading to endangerment or extinction.– Habitat Destruction– Invasive Species– Overexploitation– Disease– Pollution

• Eutrophication

Occurs in aquatic environments when excessive nutrients are added resulting in a bloom of algae that robs the water of oxygen.

Species at RiskSpecies at Risk• Extinct: A species that no longer exists.

• Endangered: A species facing imminent extinction.

• Threatened: a species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

California CondorCalifornia Condor• As recently as the early 1800s, the California Condor occupied

mountains along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to northern Baja California. By the mid-twentieth century, the population declined to a small population in south-central California. Through captive breeding, California Condors have been reintroduced to the coastal mountains of south-central California and the Grand Canyon area of northern Arizona. Condors prefer mountains, gorges, and hillsides, which create updrafts, thus providing favorable soaring conditions.

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Air qualityAir quality• Air Quality is affected by pollutants that

come from the combustion of fossil fuels.– Vehicles, homes, power plants, smelters, and

other industries.

• Smog can affect our health.

Acid RainAcid Rain• Acid rain is caused by the chemical

conversion in the atmosphere of SO2 and NO2 into nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

• Those are now monitored and controlled.

Water QualityWater Quality

• Water is threatened by pollutants that enter the bodies of water.

Biological Biological MagnificationMagnification

• Concentration of a harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain.

• For example, if in one day a little fish eats 1,000 plankton and a whale eats 1,000 little fish, the whale is ingesting all the toxins that were in a million plankton! – (1,000 x 1,000 = 1,000,000)

• Example– DDT and Bald Eagles

Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

• Ozone absorbs most of the UV radiation from the sun. – UV radiation may lead to many health concerns.

• Depletion of the ozone has been linked to the uses of CFCs.

• Today the use of most CFCs has been banned. • CFC molecules can stay in the atmosphere as

long as a century. • We have yet to see the effect of the CFC ban.

Climate ChangeClimate Change

• Average global temperatures at the Earth’s surface have increased 0.6 – 1.2oF since the late 1900’s.

• Effect of Climate Change– Change in weather patterns.– Increase in severe weather.– Melting of the polar ice caps.– Change in habitat for organisms.– Change in entire ecosystems.

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

What Can People Do?What Can People Do?

• Use mass transit

• Use vehicles that get good gas mileage

• Use energy-efficient appliances.

• Recycle

• Conserve our resources.

• Clean up our messes.

• Preserve habitat

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We can do better!!!We can do better!!!

The EndThe End