How Humans Influence Ecosystems

Science 10 – Chapter 3.2

Media Watchdog Assignment

Subtitle

Media Watchdog Assignment – 3.2B – Page 135

▪ The media has an important role in delivering information on environmental issues, and as citizens we expect the information to be accurate.

Media Watchdog Assignment – 3.2B – Page 135

▪ 1. Environmental media topics tend to fit into one of the following categories. Which category does this report fit into? Circle one: Animal Habitat Loss, Global Warming, Air Pollution/Acid Rain, Water Contamination/Water Quality, Other.

▪ 2. In 20 words or less, summarize what the report is about.

▪ 3. What social, political, or economic issues are involved?

▪ 4. What are the arguments?

▪ 5. Are the arguments based on scientific experts’ claims? What evidence do you have of this?

▪ 6. What lifestyles, values, and points of view are presented in this message?

▪ 7. Does the report interpret data to favour one perspective over another? Explain.

Media Watchdog Assignment – 3.2B – Page 135

▪ 8. What techniques are used to attract my attention? For a newspaper article, consider the title of the article, what page the article appears on, and any pictures that are included. For a television report, consider the length of the segment, when it appears, and the footage or interviews.

▪ 9. What emotional effect does the report have on the listener or reader?

▪ 10. Do you think the story was presented to appeal to a specific audience?

▪ 11. Why do you think this message was sent?

▪ 12. Based on the information presented in the report, would you accept or reject the information as entirely true or possibly true? Give reasons for your answer.

CBC.ca News April 22, 2014

Humpback whale protection reduced

Analysis

▪ Ottawa is downgrading the North Pacific humpback's status from 'threatened' to 'of special concern‘

1. Endangered Species and human activity

2. An increase in humpback whale population has occurred over the past 40 years due to decreased human interaction, but future human endeavors may again harm the population with the “new status”.

3. Economic: pipeline route Social/Economic: whale watching

Political: Canadian Government Species Status, pipeline

Analysis

4. Arguments▪ Habitat will now be less enforced ▪ But …The whales have apparent resilience to change, calving,

food resources

5. Scientific Experts:Trevor Swerdfager: Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Very Reliable – Government AgencyLance Barrett-Lennard: Vancouver Aquarium – Reliable – non-profit??“must have to do, seems to” is that scientific?Karen Wristen: Living Oceans Society – reputable and reliable non-profit“species at risk act is being ignored and sidelined essentially”Art Sterrit: Coastal First Nations Executive DirectorDr. Marty Leonard: Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada“only biological scientific evidence used in the decision”

Analysis

6. Points of view

One side – other species do not have the same resilience, so we need not worry about the humpback.

Only used biological evidence, did not consider pipeline route

The other side – government has forgotten what reduced the number of humpbacks in the first place. An increase in tanker traffic will certainly affect humpbacks. Science was flawed: voodoo science

7. The 2 minute report gives more time to the government and aquarium scientist then to the conservationist and First Nation comments. Finally giving the last word to a biologist who recommended the change of status.

Analysis

8. The National on CBC – prime time – nationwide broadcast following hockey night in Canada

Online, just a small window on the website

2 minutes in length

Images of whales alive and having fun – Whoa!

Biologist with whale bone

Tanker image – pipeline

Seawall in Vancouver

The attire?

Analysis

9. Emotional effect is low. There were no images of dead whales, or whaling. Whales “seem” to be just fine.

10. Audience is the general population of Canada above the age of majority. No major target. Specific audience is intended to be intelligent and have an idea of what the Species Risk Act and pipeline issues entail.

11. The message was sent because of the ongoing pipeline debate, and because that it was a change in “status” that happened that day.

12. I accept that the information about humpback population increases is true based on the credentials of the people interviewed. I do not believe that the decision to change the status is entirely scientific. I believe the pipeline economics could have been an influence and the evidence will not be known until there are more tankers and less humpbacks. What will be the decision if there is a drop in humpback whales in the future and the tanker route becomes protected?

Title and Content Layout with List

▪ Add your first bullet point here

▪ Add your second bullet point here

▪ Add your third bullet point here

Words to Know

▪ Contamination

▪ Deforestation

▪ Extinction

▪ Habitat loss

▪ Soil degradation

▪ Resource exploitation

▪ Sustainability

▪ Traditional ecological knowledge

The Effects of Land and Resource Use

▪ Land Use: urban development, agriculture, industry, mining, and forestry.

▪ Resource Use: how humans obtain resources

▪ Resources: soil, wood, water, gas, oil, and minerals

▪ Humans use the land and resources to meet there needs.

▪ Needs: food, shelter, economy.

▪ Economy: selling goods to other countries. Exporting.

▪ Exported goods: cars, wood, coffee, tobacco, coal, fish, computers etc…

The Effects of Land and Resource Use

Habitat Loss

▪ The destruction of habitats due to human activity that can no longer support the species that once lived there.

Habitat Fragmentation

▪ The division of habitats into smaller, isolated fragments.

▪ Affects plant pollination, seed dispersal, wildlife movement, and plant and animal reproduction.

▪ Roads and pipelines.

▪ Solutions

The Effects of Deforestation

▪ Deforestation: logged and cleared and never replanted.▪ Less habitat for animals, and plants

are removed

▪ Soil degradation results from deforestation.▪ Soil is eroded because there are no

plants to hold the soil in place.▪ Nutrients are removed from the

ecosystem.

Effects of Agriculture

▪ Soil erosion from wind. The American Dust Bowl

▪ Soil compaction: occurs when soil is squeezed by vehicles and animals.▪ Reduces the air and moisture in the soil – reduces

the health of the soil.▪ Increases run-off. Increasing the nitrogen and

pollution in areas.▪ Solution: Aeration puts holes in the soil to allow for

some water and air to move through the soil.

Resource Exploitation

▪ the action of making use of and benefiting from resources

▪ Fish, timber, coal, mining…

▪ Overexploitation – making use until the resource is fully depleted.▪ Atlantic Cod

▪ Extinction – species is gone for ever.

▪ Exploitation contributes to CONTAMINATION of ecosystems.▪ BC mine reclamation is a law!

The effects of overexploitation on food webs

The effects of overexploitation on food webs

▪ The kelp forest example

1. Sperm whales and baleen whales hunted in 1946

2. Orcas eat those whales so orcas needed to find new food

3. Orcas ate seals, sea lions, and sea otters instead.

4. Sea otters eat sea urchins.

5. Sea urchins population increased because there were no otters.

6. Urchins eat the kelp.

7. Kelp forest declined with so many urchins not being eaten by the otters which were all eaten by the orcas who should have been eating the whales!!!

8. Kelp provide habitat – HABITAT LOSS – the butterfly effect?

Resource management and traditional ecological knowledge

▪ Knowledge is passed down from generation to generation.

▪ Human experience and knowledge gained over centuries!

▪ I call it wisdom.

▪ Art Sterrit

▪ Examples: controlled burning = recycling nutrients

▪ Midwifery, cosmic navigation, are also examples traditional knowledge not directly related to ecology.

▪ Stanley Park – Tourist management vs. natural forest ecology

Greenpeace

▪ Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.

▪ Greenpeace's goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity.

▪ Therefore Greenpeace seeks to:

▪ protect biodiversity in all its forms

▪ prevent pollution and abuse of the earth's ocean, land, air and fresh water

▪ end all nuclear threats

▪ promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence