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Major Environmental Issues • • • • • • Pollution Global climate change Increasing resource use Premature extinction of plants and animals Poverty Population growth Worldometers Developed Countries • • • • 19% of world’s population 85% of worlds wealth Use 88% of worlds resources Generate 75% of pollution and waste Developing Countries • 15% of world’s population • Use 12% of world’s natural resources • Produce 25% of world’s waste and pollution Human impacts on the earth: Make two lists: “Positive effects” & “Negative effects” Human Impacts Our effects on: Biodiversity Earth’s Systems Biodiversity • Increased biodiversity creates a more stable environment • 3 kinds: – Genetic diversity - variety of genes in a pop. or spp. – Species diversity – number of different species – Ecosystem diversity – variety of ecosystems in an area Importance of Biodiversity Direct Economic Value – Food, clothing, medicine, genetic potential, etc Indirect Economic Value – O2, Clean H2O, flood & drought protection, soil production, decomposition of wastes, climate regulation Aesthetic Value Scientific Value Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water 5 » Habitat loss 4 » Habitat Fragmentation 3 » Overexploitation 2 » Pollution 1 » Introduced species What to Teach: • Define the threat & define any vocabulary • At least one example from the book • At least one example NOT from the book • A solution to the problem You have been assigned a section of reading based on the numbers above. Your job is to read about that section and teach a group of the other numbers about what you read. Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water Habitat loss Disruption – decline of one species affects others - Removal of Keystone species Destruction – clearing of rainforest, big cities, urban sprawl, draining wetlands, etc Baltimore, Maryland Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water Habitat Fragmentation Wildlife Corridor Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water Overexploitation – excessive use – Hunting, fishing, fur trade, etc – Can lead to premature extinction • Passenger pigeons, dodo bird, tasmanian tiger, quagga, etc 1883 1680s 1930s 1896 Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water Pollution – Point source & non-point source – Biological magnification – Acid rain • Burning fossil fuels releases: – Sulfur dioxide + water = sulfuric acid – Nitrogen oxide + water = nitric acid – Eutrophication – Oil spills Chemical Buildup Some chemicals can build up in the tissue of living things faster than it is broken down Nutrients Lead Mercury DDT Bioaccumulation can lead to biomagnification Video Threats to Biodiversity Biodiversity is a component of communities on land, in the air and in the water Invasive species - no limiting factors Video Cane toads in Australia Lionfish Zebra muscles Invasive species of South Dakota Asian carp Mountain Pine Beetle • Fast growing, aggressive, adaptable • No natural predators in North America • Females lay approximately half a million eggs each time they spawn Bonus Video Impact on Earth’s Systems Atmospheric Aquatic Terrestrial The cycles connect all parts of the biosphere Water Carbon Nitrogen Exhaust – smog – Sulfur dioxide & nitrogen oxides = acid rain – CO2 = climate change CFCs = the ozone layer Video (Atmosphere) Greenhouse Effect • Sunlight enters the atmosphere, is absorbed by the earth and converted into heat energy. • The earth releases the energy • Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the heat energy from the earth and re-radiate it in all directions Without it, all that heat energy would escape into space. There would be no life on earth. All water would be frozen. Main Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide – CO2 Water vapor – H2O Methane – CH4 Enhanced Greenhouse Effect Global Warming Enhanced Greenhouse Effect leads to global warming and climate change Global Warming – Rise in global average temp Climate Change – Change in long term statistics concerning weather. Climate • Long term weather patterns • Mainly temperature and precipitation The U. S. Weather Service uses a 30 year time span to determine their “average temperature and precipitation” So where is the heat coming from? Fossil Fuels Nonrenewable: Contain the energy of the sun from millions of years ago. • Coal • Natural Gas • Oil/Gasoline Combustion C(s) + O2 CH4 + 2O2 2C8H18 + 25O2 CO2 CO2 + 2H2O 16CO2 + 18H2O What do you do with a lump of coal? Burning a fossil fuel releases the energy contained in the chemical bonds of the molecules Burning fossil fuels contributes large amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere. For every gallon of gasoline (6 lbs.) burned, 20 lbs. of CO2 are released. Fuel economy Electricity Production Carbon Cycle Atmospheric CO2 Photosynthesis Plants Cellular Respiration Combustion Animals Fossil Fuels Death and decomposition Carbon Cycle Atmospheric CO2 Photosynthesis Plants Cellular Respiration Animals Death and decomposition Human activity (industrial revolution) has been mainly responsible for the rise in CO2 levels. Animation Possible Effects -Availability of water resources by altering evaporation and precipitation (climate) -Shift crop growing regions -Change sea levels -Ocean acidification -Alter the structure and location of biomes -Extinction of species In summary… So, what can we do about it? Figure out how much of a problem we are. calculator Polar Explorers Take action. Will Steger Global Warming 101 Eric Larson Fossil Fuel Energy Sources Coal Petroleum Natural Gas Chasing Ice vs 5 1 6 3 2 4 Alternative Energy Wind Solar Hydropower Geothermal Biomass Hydrogen (Atmosphere) Ozone Depletion Ultraviolet light hits a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) molecule, such as CFCl3, breaking off a chlorine atom and leaving CFCl2. Sun Cl Cl C F Cl UV radiation Once free, the chlorine atom is off to attack another ozone molecule and begin the cycle again. Cl Cl O O The chlorine atom attacks an ozone (O3) molecule, pulling an oxygen atom off it and leaving O O an oxygen O molecule (O2). Cl Summary of Reactions CCl3F + UV Cl + CCl2F Cl + O3 ClO + O2 Repeated Cl + O Cl + O2 many times A free oxygen atom pulls the oxygen atom off the chlorine monoxide Cl molecule to form O2. O O Cl The chlorine atom and the O oxygen atom join O to form a chlorine monoxide molecule O (ClO). Figure 18-26 Page 473 Slide 35 CFCs released into the atmosphere from refrigerators, aerosol spray cans, etc UV rays strike a molecule of CFC Chlorine atom breaks from CFC Chlorine takes oxygen atom from O3 to form O2 Free oxygen atom removes oxygen from chlorine Chlorine free to continue breaking down ozone Summary Video Human Health • Worse sunburn • More eye cataracts • More skin cancers • Immune system suppression Food and Forests • Reduced yields for some crops • Reduced seafood supplies from reduced phytoplankton • Decreased forest productivity for UV-sensitive tree species UV-sensitive tree species Wildlife • Increased eye cataracts in some species • Decreased population of aquatic species sensitive to UV radiation • Reduced population of surface phytoplankton • Disrupted aquatic food webs from reduced phytoplankton Air Pollution and Materials • Increased acid deposition • Increased photochemical smog • Degradation of outdoor paints and plastics Global Warming • Accelerated warming because of decreased ocean uptake of CO2 from atmosphere by phytoplankton and CFCs acting as greenhouse gases • Pollution – Solid waste, pesticides, herbicides, salt, oil, nutrients, etc • Invasive species • Mining – Surface/strip mining/mountain-top removal – Underground – Fracking • Habitat Disruption – Habitat fragmentation – Habitat loss & deforestation Video Video Tall Grass Prairie then and now Includes: Rivers/streams, Lakes, Wetlands, Aquifers Divided into watersheds - Area that drains into a body of water - Provides habitat, drinking water, irrigation, etc - Water carries sediment, nutrients, chemicals, etc - Problems are often from upstream Big Sioux Watershed Missouri River Watershed • Invasive species – Asian carp, zebra muscles • Pollution - Affects the health of the watershed Video – Solid waste/garbage – Microbeads – Chemicals pesticides, etc – Eutrophication Buildup of (and water can result in an ) in a body of die, sink, & Decomposition to happen is needed by in the lake High levels of & can result in a “fish kill” because of eutrophication • Invasive species – Asian carp, zebra muscles • Pollution - Affects the health of the watershed – Solid waste/garbage – Microbeads – Chemicals pesticides, etc – Eutrophication • Habitat fragmentation & disruption – Channelizing rivers – Draining wetlands – Dams & Hydroelectric Power Habitat fragmentation & disruption Draining wetlands Habitat fragmentation & disruption Dams & Hydroelectric Power Low head dams Hoover Dam Wildlife corridor Fish Ladder SO…. What can be done about any of it??? Conserving Biodiversity Use of natural resources – Renewable vs nonrenewable resources – Sustainable use – meeting needs now, while allowing for full future use Protecting Biodiversity Keep what already naturally exists – National Parks, nature preserves, public land, biodiversity “hot spots” – Build corridors between habitat fragments Restoring Ecosystems Re-introduction of species Bioremediation -Detoxify polluted area using living things Biological augmentation -Use of natural predators Laws Clean air act - 1970 Endangered species act Clean water act Clean Air Act (1970) Ozone, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, Lead Clean Water Act (1972) Endangered Species Act (1973) Laws Ways to reduce our environmental impact: • Slow population growth • Use less resources and produce less waste • Increase use of environmentally beneficial technologies • Phase out environmentally harmful technologies Fixing & Preventing Human Impacts • Recognize & take ownership • Do SOMETHING about it! – Personal decisions add up • • • • Think “big picture” Ask questions Look for/find solutions “Vote” with your money – Social change – Governments, agencies & laws – VOTE! • Conserve, protect & restore habitats Individual Actions • Simplify - Use less Tragedy of the Commons – Do you need that plastic bag? – Could you walk there? Combine trips? Carpool? • Re-use what you can…as long as you can! – Is there a “recycled” version available? – Use mugs, hand towels, canvas bags, etc. – Think: recycled, recyclable, reliable, repairable, refillable, and reusable Recycling