Assignment title; How polluted is the environment?

Task 1: How we affect the ecosystems: P4 P5 M3 D2

Task 2: Recycling – is this the answer, and is it working?: P6 M4 D3

Explain the long-term effects of pollutants on living organisms and ecosystems.

Distinction

Analyse the effects of pollutants on ecosystems Merit

Describe the impact that different human activities have on ecosystems.

Pass

Describe how living and non-living indicators can be used to measure levels of pollutants.

Pass

Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of humanactivity on the environment and

how these effects can be measured

Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of humanactivity on the environment and

how these effects can be measured

You are an environmental scientist working for a local community group and the group has recently been concerned about different areas of the local community. There have been reports about the River Thames which runs through the area looking green and foamy in places, and suggestions that some local industries and farmers are not being as careful as they should be with some of the things they are doing. You have been asked to write a report for the next meeting.

You are an environmental scientist working for a local community group and the group has recently been concerned about different areas of the local community. There have been reports about the River Thames which runs through the area looking green and foamy in places, and suggestions that some local industries and farmers are not being as careful as they should be with some of the things they are doing. You have been asked to write a report for the next meeting.

You should be able to:

explain the effects of an increasing human population on the environment.

Challenge

• Look at the picture. The picture shows how humans are polluting the Earth

• You have 30 seconds to look at the picture

• Describe what you see

• You now have 30 seconds to look at the picture

• Look at your partner’s picture and add extra information to your own

A report that includes a description of the short and long term effects of human activity activities on the environment and the organisms within it.

How human activities affect the environment through:

Deforestation- effect on the soil, climate and survival of plants and animals

Agriculture (farming) – effects of eutrophication and pesticides on animals and plants

Transportation of food and for travel – what causes acid rain and the effects of acid. Effects of pollutants on health

Make sure you give at least one long term effect for eachMake sure you give at least

one long term effect for each

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/rainforest-destruction-kalimantan-indonesia-and-costa-rica/3096.html

deforestation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqZsSuG7ao&feature=related:

Effects of eutrophication

Picture Key statement

EutrophicationEutrophication is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McfARs9PnbM&feature=related

Effect of pesticides

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlXNjpI5A4&feature=related

Effects of the excessive use of DDT from the

early 1940s.

Cabbage

Rabbit Stoat Fox

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/reducing-air-pollution-from-traffic/1578.html

Effects of transportation

Acid rain

Vehicles

Sulphur dioxide

Air

Dissolves

Water vapour

Clouds

Sulphuric acid

Acid rain

Limestone buildings and statues

Aquatic animals

Chlorophyll

Photosynthesise

Explain how acid rain isformed using all these key words

Explain the long-term effects of pollutants on living organisms and ecosystems.

Distinction

Analyse the effects of pollutants on ecosystems Merit

Describe the impact that different human activities have on ecosystems.

Pass

Describe how living and non-living indicators can be used to measure levels of pollutants.

Pass

Heading is:Living indicator species in water

StoneflyFreshwater

shrimps

Water pollution indicators - clean

Bloodworm Sludge worm

Water pollution indicators – very polluted

A living indicator is a living organism whose presence indicates the state of the environment

A non- living indicator is a non living thing that is used to indicate the state of the environment

A living indicator is a living organism whose presence indicates the state of the environment

A non- living indicator is a non living thing that is used to indicate the state of the environment

You are an environmental scientist working for a local community group and the group has recently been concerned about different areas of the local community. There have been reports about the River Thames which runs through the area looking green and foamy in places, and suggestions that some local industries and farmers are not being as careful as they should be with some of the things they are doing. You have been asked to write a report for the next meeting.

You are an environmental scientist working for a local community group and the group has recently been concerned about different areas of the local community. There have been reports about the River Thames which runs through the area looking green and foamy in places, and suggestions that some local industries and farmers are not being as careful as they should be with some of the things they are doing. You have been asked to write a report for the next meeting.

The River Thames runs through Gravesend.

The River Thames runs through Gravesend.

Tottenham marshes

Tottenham marshes

Buckland Lake Reserve

Buckland Lake Reserve

Gravesend marshes

Gravesend marshes

Boating at the Waterside centre on the River Thames

Boating at the Waterside centre on the River Thames

Species Site A Site B Site C Site D

Stonefly nymph

0 15 0 0

Mayfly nymph

0 22 0 0

Freshwater shrimp

1 3 5 16

Caddis fly larva

4 1 6 11

Water louse 3 0 5 2

Blood worm 5 0 6 2

Sludgeworm 1 0 7 0

Rat-tailed maggot

2 0 5 0

Task 1 for you to complete

1. Look at the species found at each site a long the River Thames. What conclusions can you draw from this?

2. Look at the site locations – do they provide further explanation for your conclusion?

3. Write a report explaining what living indicators are and how they can be used to find out about the water quality of the River Thames at the different sites. Explain how you have came to your conclusions

You should be able to:explain how scientists use non-living indicators as evidence to assess the level of pollution in water

Heading is:

Non-Living indicators

Monitoring the environment

Site A Site B Site C Site D

Oxygen levels in

water(mg/L)

3 8 2 6

Nitrate levels in

water(mg/L)

3.0 1.2 3.1 1.6

Task 1 for you to complete

Explain what we mean by non-living indicators. Add to you report about what the levels of

oxygen and nitrate in the river tells us about the water quality of the River at the different sites.

Look at the site locations – do they provide further explanation for your conclusion?

You should be able to:explain how scientists use living indicator species as evidence to assess the level of pollution in the air

Heading is:Air pollution indicator species

Air pollution indicators

Lichens – sensitive to sulphur dioxide and are killed by this

gas

Site A Site B Site C Site D

Number of different varieties

oflichens

2 5 0 3

Task 2 for you to complete

1. Look at the number of different varieties of lichens found at each site a long the River Thames. What conclusions can you draw from this?

2. Look at the site locations – do they provide further explanation for your conclusion?

3. Write a report on ‘the air quality a long the River Thames’ Explain how you have come to your conclusions.

4. Don’t forget to explain why lichens are called living indicators