Download Peace River Valley

Science 10
Ecosystem processes and
relationships

By the end of this seminar and related readings,
you should be able to :
◦ Locate the Peace River area’s biome and ecozone.
◦ Understand food relationships, nutrient cycles and
bioaccumulation processes.
◦ Recognize some plants, animals, fish, birds, amphibians,
and reptiles that inhabit the Peace River Valley.
◦ Explore relationships between living elements of the
Peace River Valley.
◦ Demonstrate comprehension of processes with applied
examples from the Peace River Valley.
◦ Propose a bioaccumulation scenario using knowledge of
cycles and local species.
Where are we?
Try to identify all the plants,
animals, birds, fish,
amphibians and
reptiles on your cards.
All of these species
are found in the
Peace River Valley.
Write the correct
species names on the cards.
Theory
Biotic: relating to living things
What can you see in this picture?
Biotic: relating to living things
What can you see in this picture?
Abiotic: non-living chemical and physical factors
What can you see in this picture?
Abiotic: non-living chemical and physical factors
What can you see in this picture?
Theory
Food Chain
Food Pyramid
Food Web
Nutrient cycle
Practice! On your handouts
Food Chain
Food Pyramid
Food Web
Nutrient Cycle
Theory

refers to the gradual
buildup of chemicals in
living organisms.
◦ Many harmful chemicals
cannot be decomposed
naturally.
◦ These chemicals can be
eaten or absorbed and
sometimes cannot be
removed from the body of
the organism effectively.

is the process by which chemicals become
more concentrated at each trophic level.
◦ At each level of the food pyramid, chemicals that do
not get broken down build up in organisms.
◦ When a consumer in the next
trophic level eats organisms
with a chemical accumulation,
it receives a huge dose of
the chemical(s).



Enters ecosystems through the burning of
fossil fuels, waste incineration, mining, and
manufacturing (ie: batteries)
Mercury bioaccumulates in the brain, heart
and kidneys of many animals and fish.
Elevated mercury levels in fish tissue is a
common side-effect of flooding to create
hydroelectric dam reservoirs. (Stokes & Wren, 1987)
Practice! On your handouts
Which species would be
effected by increased
mercury levels
in the Peace
River, due to
an additional
hydroelectric
dam?



What biotic elements would be affected by
increased mercury levels in the Peace river?
What trophic levels would be most impacted
by mercury contamination of the Peace River?
What are the possible impacts of your
scenario, on the natural ecosystem, and on
humans that interact with it?
If you were interested in our topics today, you
can learn more by reading
 Bioaccumulation of Mercury by Aquatic Biota
in Hydroelectric Reservoirs
 The Living Peace River Valley
Both are found on www.itsourvalley.ca