Environmental Impact and Biomes (4)

Stability of an Ecosystem

1. The stability of an ecosystem is greatly affected by certain environmental changes some of which are caused by our species:a. The Greenhouse effect and the

resultant global warmingb. Pollution/biomagnificationsc. Acid precipitation (rain)d. Rainforest Deforestation

Ozone Layer Depletion

2. Ozone is a gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth.

3. It acts as a protective shield blocking the sun’s harmful rays.

Ozone Layer

4. In 1985 it was noticed that ozone amounts were a much as 35% lower in certain areas than than they had been in 1960.a. Antarctica and

the Artic were the most affected.

Ozone Layer5. Depletion in the ozone layer causes more UV rays to reach the Earth’s surface.a.More intense UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and cancer of the retina.

b.Marine algae and certain crops are also harmed.

Ozone Layer6. Chlor6. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are destroying the ozone layer. a.CFC were used

worldwide in refrigerators, A.C.s, and aerosol spray cans.

b.CFCs are limited or banned throughout most of the world.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

The CFC Problem1.CFCs are released and rise to the stratosphere2.Sunlight breaks down the CFCs, releasing atomic chlorine3.Atomic chlorine destroys the ozone4.Increased UV rays reach the Earth’s surface, raising the risk of skin cancer and other dangerous consequences.

7. Global Warming

a. On average, global temperatures have been steadily increasing for more than a century.

b. Contributing factors:i. Sunspot cycles on

the sunii.Human activity

8. Greenhouse Effect

a.Global warming has led led to the greenhouse effect.

b.Greenhouse gases insulate the Earth and keep us from freezing, but they are getting too warm.i. CO2, methane, and

nitrous oxide

8. B. Greenhouse Effectii. The greenhouse

effect traps heat within the atmosphere the same way glass traps heat in a greenhouse.

iii. CO2 is able to store heat in it’s chemical bonds.

iv. The increase in CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels is increasing temperatures.

Chemical Pollution

9. Many industrial chemicals are toxic or carcinogenic.a.Big companies are to blame for much of the pollution.

b.These companies are just now being regulated.

Chemical Pollution

C. In 1986, firefighters putting out a fire in Switzerland accidentally washed 30 tons of mercury and pesticides being stored into the Rhine river.

D. These poisons traveled through Germany, the Netherlands, and into the North Sea killing wildlife.

E. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

(BP Oil Spill)i. Largest

accidental marine oil spill in history.

ii.Occurred in April 2010.

iii.Leaked 185 million gallons of crude oil over a period of 3 months.

F. Caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as fishing and tourism industries.

G. Skimmer ships, containment G. Skimmer ships, containment booms, anchored barriers, and booms, anchored barriers, and sand-filled barricades were all sand-filled barricades were all used in an attempt to contain used in an attempt to contain and clean.and clean.

BP Oil Spill

10. Agricultural Chemicals

a.Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are being used in agriculture and are affecting global ecosystems.i. US now monitors the use of these

products.ii.Much still circulates in

environment.

10. Agricultural Chemicals

B. One of the main pesticides used was DDT.

C. DDT accumulated in animals causing many birds to become endangered or extinct.

11. Acid Raina. Rain and snow carry acid to the

Earth’s surface. This is known as acid rain.

b. Acid rain is rain that has a pH of 4.0 to 4.5. (10x more acidic than regular rain)

11. Acid Rain

C. One of the main causes is the smoke from coal burning power plants. The smoke contains sulfur which combines with water vapor in the air creating sulfuric acid..

11. Acid Rain

D. In North America, acid rain is most severe in the northeast US and southeast Canada.i. These places are

downwind from coal burning power plants in the mid-west.

11. Acid rain

E. Acid rain is causing the pH levels in lakes to decrease which kills fish and vegetation.

F. Forests are also being damaged.

12. Loss of Resources A.Extinction of Speciesi. Loss of rainforests

due to loggingii. Loss of animals

1.10% of animal species teeter on brink of extinction

2.1/5 in next 50 years will be lost

iii. Loss of plants• Madagascar

periwinkle contains 2 anticancer drugs

12. Loss of ResourcesB. Loss of Topsoil

i. Topsoil is important because it is fertile and allows for growth of plants.

ii. Much is being lost that cannot be replaced due to human activity.1.Poor land mgmt2.Overgrazing3.Turned over to eliminate weeds

12. Loss of ResourcesC. Groundwater Pollution and Depletion i. Much water is wasted

by watering lawns, washing cars, and leaky and inefficient plumbing.

ii.More is polluted by chemical waste. Once pollution enters groundwater there is no easy way to clean itit..

13. Human PopulationA. Rapid human

growth is straining resources.

14. Population growth is fastest in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Slowest in North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

(growth shown in millions)

15. Human Effortsa.Banned CFCs,

restricted asbestos and DDT use

b.Secondary sewage treatment facilities that remove chemicals and bacteria from sewage in rise.

c.Emissions from burning coal down 30% in 10 years

15. Human EffortsD. All cars required to use catalytic converters to reduce emissions.

E. Clean air act requires “scrubbers” on all power plants. (reduces emissions on smoke stacks)

F. Gasoline tax to discourage use and fund clean up

What Can You Do?• Use less electricity.– Turn off appliances when not in use.

• Drive less and drive more fuel efficient cars.– Ride your bike, walk

• Reduce, reuse, recycle

• Dispose of waste properly (batteries, chemicals, etc.)

Major Biological Communities

The Earth’s Biomes

16. What is a biome?

a.It is a large biological community or a large ecosystem.

b.The temperature and moisture in an area affects what can live there…so these two factors shape where these biomes occur.

c.Closer to the equator…warmer all year…further colder all year…in between seasonality of temperatures.

Earth’s biomes

Tropical Rain Forests

Savannas

Taiga

Tundra

Desert-Found in TX

Temperate Grasslands-Found in TX

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Evergreen Forests-Found in TX

Aquatic/Marine Biomes

Aquatic-TX