Download Threat 1: Ozone Depletion

Threat 1: Ozone Depletion
 Description: The ozone layer protects us
from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the
sun, but it is becoming thinner in places.
 Causes: Air pollution such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosol
spray cans.
Threat 1: Ozone Depletion
 Effects: Increased UV radiation reaches
Earth, causing sunburn, skin cancer, and
damage to plants.
 Solutions: Eliminate the use of CFCs.
Threat 2: Global Warming
 Description: Earth’s climate is getting
warmer.
 Causes: Pollution, mostly from CO2
emissions from fossil fuels.
Threat 2: Global Warming
 Effects: Altered weather patterns, sea
level rise from melting ice caps, plant and
animal loss.
 Solutions: Use alternative energy
sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric)
instead of fossil fuels to decrease CO2
emissions.
Threat 3: Habitat Loss
 Description: Habitats for organisms,
such as the Amazon rainforest and coral
reefs, are being destroyed by humans.
 Causes: Deforestation to create
pastureland for cattle, urban
development, pollution, global warming.
Threat 3: Habitat Loss
 Effects: Loss of biodiversity / extinction
of species.
 Solutions: Sustainable use of resources,
protecting land and species in national
parks.
Threat 4: Acid Precipitation
 Description: Precipitation with unusually
high amounts of acid. The pH is below 7.
 Causes: carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide,
etc. (from factory or car pollution) mixes
with H2O to form acid rain.
Threat 4: Acid Precipitation
 Effects: Harms or kills plants and causes
metal in bridges, cars, etc. to corrode
quickly.
 Solutions: Filter harmful pollution from
factories/cars and reduce the use of
fossil fuels.
Threat 5: Invasive Species
 Description: Species not native to a
particular area. (kudzu, zebra mussels,
etc.)
 Causes: Humans carry them to a new
area either ON PURPOSE (kudzu) or
ACCIDENTALLY (zebra mussels.)
Threat 5: Invasive Species
 Effects: Harms or kills native species,
decreases biodiversity, and negatively
affects food webs.
 Solutions: Killing or otherwise eliminating
the invasive species. Usually, this is
difficult!
Threat 6: Bioaccumulation
 Description: The increasing
concentration of harmful chemicals in the
bodies of organism in a food web.
 Causes: Chemicals such as DDT &
mercury are released in ecosystem and
absorbed or eaten by plants/animals.
Threat 6: Bioaccumulation
 Effects: Death by poisoning, low birth
rates due to birth defects or thin-shelled
eggs, and behavioral changes.
 Solutions: Decrease the use of toxic
chemicals in ecosystems.