StreamsStreams In TheIn The Humber RiverHumber River

By: Ahren McCutcheonBy: Ahren McCutcheon

BibliographyBibliography

• http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Humber/http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Humber/Humber_e.htmHumber_e.htm

• http://themaplescottages.ca/userfiles/http://themaplescottages.ca/userfiles/image/lake%20trout.jpgimage/lake%20trout.jpg

• http://www.combat-fishing.com/http://www.combat-fishing.com/SFWOzStreamMiddle.JPGSFWOzStreamMiddle.JPG

• http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpH7EL7jLqU/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SpH7EL7jLqU/Swux64HJHbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-Swux64HJHbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-cQecMBM2qE/s1600/river-pollution-pv.jpgcQecMBM2qE/s1600/river-pollution-pv.jpg

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1.1. Biome summary Biome summary

2.2. Ecosystems within the biomeEcosystems within the biome

3.3. Introduction Introduction

4.4. Food webFood web

5.5. Effect on animals by humans Effect on animals by humans

6.6. Threats and solutionsThreats and solutions

7.7. Community interaction within the ecosystemCommunity interaction within the ecosystem

8.8. The conclusionThe conclusion

Biome Summary Biome Summary

• Canada has the largest supply of Canada has the largest supply of freshwater of any country in the freshwater of any country in the world. world.

• The freshwater biome has a wide The freshwater biome has a wide range of organisms that live a range of organisms that live a sustainable lifestyle, whether they sustainable lifestyle, whether they are aquatic or terrestrial. are aquatic or terrestrial.

Summary ContinuedSummary Continued

• The salt concentration of the water is The salt concentration of the water is usually less than 1% usually less than 1%

• Aquatic animals and plants that live Aquatic animals and plants that live there can only survive because of this there can only survive because of this concentration. concentration.

• If an animal from this biome was moved If an animal from this biome was moved to a marine biome it would die because it to a marine biome it would die because it wouldn’t be used to that salt wouldn’t be used to that salt concentration. concentration.

Summary ContinuedSummary Continued

• This biome consists of many This biome consists of many resources necessary for the survival resources necessary for the survival of organisms within their ecosystemof organisms within their ecosystem

• Many different fish species live in this Many different fish species live in this biome at this is one of our natural biome at this is one of our natural resourcesresources

Ecosystems Within the Ecosystems Within the BiomeBiome• There are 5 main types of Ecosystems There are 5 main types of Ecosystems

within the fresh water Biomewithin the fresh water Biome

• They are; ponds, creeks, rivers, lakes and They are; ponds, creeks, rivers, lakes and the one I will be focusing on is stream the one I will be focusing on is stream EcosystemsEcosystems

• I will be looking at one set of streams in I will be looking at one set of streams in particular and this will be in the Humber particular and this will be in the Humber RiverRiver

Introduction to my Introduction to my EcosystemEcosystem• The Humber River is located extensively in The Humber River is located extensively in

southern Ontario between Georgian Bay southern Ontario between Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario and Lake Ontario

• It flows through the Greater Toronto Area It flows through the Greater Toronto Area

• Its mouth is in Toronto and in the Etobicoke Its mouth is in Toronto and in the Etobicoke area. area.

• The main part of the Humber River travels The main part of the Humber River travels 100 km through a variety of natural 100 km through a variety of natural habitats in both rural and urban landscapeshabitats in both rural and urban landscapes

Food WebFood Web

Problems on the EcosystemProblems on the Ecosystem

• There is one main problems that has There is one main problems that has happened to this ecosystemhappened to this ecosystem

• The problem is pollution of the water The problem is pollution of the water that runs all through the rivers and that runs all through the rivers and streamsstreams

Effect on Organisms Effect on Organisms

• Over the past six years, the Humber Over the past six years, the Humber River has been hit with 900 oil spills River has been hit with 900 oil spills and 750 chemical spills. and 750 chemical spills.

• Bacteria levels haven't improved, fish Bacteria levels haven't improved, fish habitat has deteriorated and summer habitat has deteriorated and summer water flows have decreased. water flows have decreased.

Effect ContinuedEffect Continued

• If there is pollution then the animals If there is pollution then the animals can’t live in the water and all the can’t live in the water and all the surrounding animals won’t be able to surrounding animals won’t be able to drink from the water. drink from the water.

• This would probably kill of the entire This would probably kill of the entire or at least most of this ecosystem if or at least most of this ecosystem if it got too badit got too bad

Effects ContinuedEffects Continued

• First the weaker animals would die First the weaker animals would die off then there predators would die off then there predators would die

• lack of food would cause their lack of food would cause their predators to die and this chain would predators to die and this chain would go on until something is done or until go on until something is done or until most or all of the animals diemost or all of the animals die

How Humans Effect How Humans Effect EcosystemEcosystem

• We are the ones that are dumping We are the ones that are dumping our garbage into the river and our garbage into the river and streams. streams.

• Also in more rural areas we would Also in more rural areas we would put the pesticides on the plants that put the pesticides on the plants that would cause runoff into the rivers.would cause runoff into the rivers.

Solutions to the ProblemSolutions to the Problem

• Steps to helping clean up the river Steps to helping clean up the river have already been taken but more have already been taken but more help is needed help is needed

• If we want to put the river back into If we want to put the river back into the shape it was in before this was the shape it was in before this was happening people al around Toronto happening people al around Toronto will have to help outwill have to help out

Solutions ContinuedSolutions Continued

• People living near the Humber river People living near the Humber river have already volunteered to help clean have already volunteered to help clean it up but that is not enough people it up but that is not enough people

• My solution is to get more people to My solution is to get more people to help clean up the parts of the river that help clean up the parts of the river that flow in Toronto because there are at flow in Toronto because there are at least a million people that could help least a million people that could help outout

Solutions ContinuedSolutions Continued

• The other thing that contributes to The other thing that contributes to the pollution problem is runoff from the pollution problem is runoff from farms.farms.

• My solution to this problem is to My solution to this problem is to contol how much pesticide farmers contol how much pesticide farmers can put on their cropscan put on their crops

• This would help reduce the pollution This would help reduce the pollution going into the rivergoing into the river

ConclusionConclusion

• I think that fresh water streams are a I think that fresh water streams are a wonderful thing that I want to preserve so wonderful thing that I want to preserve so my grandchildren can seemy grandchildren can see

• This can happen if we all look out for This can happen if we all look out for these ecosystems and if we all help clean these ecosystems and if we all help clean them upthem up

• There are many different solutions to the There are many different solutions to the problems that have come up so it can be problems that have come up so it can be donedone