Interdependency Within the Modern World

The Danger of Water, Soil and Plant PollutionChapters 4,5,6

Everything is connected…

Chemical Pollution in Water

THE BATTLE TO SAVE OUR WATER

Pesticide use contaminate many water sites through pesticide

runoff and deliberate application.Chapter 4

The beauty of one of nature’s greatest resources…

And this is the havoc caused by insecticide pollution…

• Pollution of the environment negatively affect necessary water resources.

• Water sources have already suffered through significant pollutants by way of radioactive wastes and nuclear fallout. The addition of chemical pesticides have furthered the pollution of our waters.

• The first major problem with this type pollution are their aims to destroy particular plants and insects. Pesticides deliberately applied to water sources unnecessarily kill off pertinent species of fish and decrease species diversity.

• The problem with this unadulterated killing are the effects it has on species diversity; pollution kills species in their natural habitat and inhibit their reproduction causing immense population declines. As chapter 53.2 states, species diversity is fundamental in community structure and interruptions could have horrid effects.

• Concept 53.2 relays dominant and keystone species exert strong controls on community structure. In chapter 4 Carson relates that waterfowl populations have significantly declined in the Far West and damage could be irreplaceable. The species on which these waterfowl fed on were contaminated. However what about other species of fish controlled by the waterfowl? These species will now go unchecked. Other examples may include the decline of keystone species and leaving dominant species unchecked.

• The problem of water pollution is part of the problem of global pollution. Infiltration of chemicals into water have made problems of modern water purification with many chemicals still present in filtered water.

• Evidence of this exists in a case where sample drinking water from an orchard area in Pennsylvania contained enough pesticides to kill all test fish in only four hours. This "drinking" water also proves harmful to humans and again disrupts the ecosystem. pg 1200

• Water pollution is invisible and the deaths it cause usually go undetected.

It’s Everywhere!!!!!!

Pollution in our groundwater

• Widespread groundwater contamination seems to be the most pertinent problem in water pollution.

• Groundwater contamination leads to pollution of streams, lakes and rivers in areas not even treated with insecticide.

• As stated in Chapter 54.5 groundwater contamination directly effects marine ecosystems and are supplies of drinking water – poisoning could be a very real way of killing off many forms of life.

Disrupting the Earth’s Foundation

Widespread Pollution of Our Soil Chapter 5

Not a happy Earth

• Soil serves a dual purpose. It is the birthplace of many life forms and also serves as a habitat for many organisms including many bacteria and fungi.

• Soil constantly changes. It is always taking part in variant nutrient cycles.

• Insecticides in soil such as DDD,aldrin,lindane and heptachlor among others disrupt the continuity of nutrient cycles occurring in the soil. Without the nutrients present the cyclic patterns of the soil, plants would starve and die.

• Soil plays a vital role in nitrogen cycles and insecticides inhibit nitrifying bacteria from continuing this process thus interrupting nitrogen supplies of organisms. Arsenic also is very poisonous to soils and its effects are permanent

• As life’s birthplace, soil contamination affects all living things.

• Plant tissues absorb insecticides within the soil, causing infected plant life they may harm them and the consumers that feed on them. Poisoned soil poisons plants; poisoned plants poison animals ; poisoned animals poisons you and me…Scary isn’t it?

• The Rivet Model as discussed in Chapter 53.5 interdependence within communities and ecosystems and shows how changes in one area can affect the entire ecosystem.

Interdependence

Connections between pollution of water, soil and vegetation

Chapter 6

• Water, soil and vegetation are the materials supporting our modern world so taking care of them should be a priority.

• Herbicide sprayings eliminate many unintended targets. Sprayings are assumed to be focused on attack of one particular plant but often the insecticide attack is a blanket one – taking victim many unintended plant life and destroying habitats. Carson observes how sprayings are constantly used as a blanket cure-all and are therefore abused.

• Carson concludes this chapter with the interdependence between vegetation, organisms and soil and the importance of taking care of each intricate part.

• Chapter 50.1 directly correlates with this principle and encourages the use of the precautionary principle when dealing with the environment. The precautionary principle advises people to carefully consider potential consequences of actions.

• For example, the book makes notice of a sage eradication project by the government in the West. The destruction of this essential plant, affected the eating patterns of many animals including antelope, mule deer, and grouse. Not taking to account eradication would have on these animals the government continued with the program and disrupted a vital system in a community.

• The interdependence of ecosystems warrants precautions to be taken to ensure the safety of the Earth’s animals, water and soil. Yes it sounds rudimentary, but we only have one Earth –we should protect it to the best of our ability!!

This slide presentation was prepared by:

• Keturah Reed• Vanessa Cooper

• Michael Bow