Chapter 6 Humans in the Biosphere Lab Biology CP

Chapter 6: Humans in the Biosphere 6.1: A Changing Landscape 6.2: Using Resources Wisely 6.3: Biodiversity 6.4: Meeting Ecological Challenges

6.1 A Changing landscape

The Effect of Human Activity Humans affect the environment by: 1. Agriculture 2. Development 3. Industry These impact the quality of: Soil Water Atmosphere

1. Agriculture Monoculture: The practice of clearing large areas of land to plant a single highly productive crop year after year Enables efficient sowing, tending, and harvesting of crops using machines Fertilizer production and machinery consume large amounts of fossil fuels

2. Development As cities get larger more waste is produced Development consumes farmland and divides natural habitats into fragments

3. Industry Human society was transformed by the Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s Modern conveniences (TV’s, computers, machinery, etc.) use ALOT of energy to produce power Industries have traditionally discarded wastes from manufacturing and energy production directly into the air, water, and soil.

Sustainable Development Ecosystem goods and services are the goods and services that are produced by ecosystems that benefit the human economy Examples: water and wood Sustainable development provides for human needs while preserving the ecosystem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGr2gPRnaaU&feature=fvw

Renewable Resources Renewable Resources: Examples: Any natural resource that is recycled or replaced constantly by nature Examples: 1.) Sun 2.) oxygen 3.) rain 4.) paper

Nonrenewable Resources Natural resources that are used up more quickly than they can be replaced by natural processes Examples: 1.) petroleum or oil 2.) diamonds 3.) graphite 4.) metals

Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels: Examples: Fuels formed in Earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years Examples: 1.) oil gasoline diesel 2.) coal 3.) natural gas

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels Develop other sources of energy Examples: 1.) water power to generate electricity 2.) wind power 3.) nuclear power Splits uranium in a fission reaction Produces steam that rotates turbine blades of electric generator 4.) geothermal energy Energy contained in the Earth’s crust 5.) solar cells (batteries)

6.2 using resources wisely

Soil Resources Soil supports agriculture and forestry Erosion: movement of soil from one area to another Problems: Desertification: when farmland turns into desert from overgrazing and dry climate Deforestation: loss of forests Solutions: Contour plowing Leaving roots/stems of previous year’s crops

Freshwater Resources Pollutions sources: Surface Water Ocean Water Fertilizers, mercury, algae Ocean Water Oil spills and dumping Groundwater Seeps underground and gets into the water table

Chemicals in the Water From industry and agriculture Examples: PCB’s – since banned Difficult to eliminate DDT: pesticide mercury Biomagnification: occurs if a pollutant is picked up by an organism and is not broken down or eliminated from its body; it collects in body tissues and the concentration INCREASES at higher trophic levels

BIOMAGNIFICATION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5P-UoKLxlA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRqAS4Eow-c

Atmospheric Resources Air Pollutants: Soot and smoke Acid Rain Greenhouse gases Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides (NOX and SOX) Volcanic eruptions Forest fires Evaporation of paints/chemicals Smog

Acid Precipitation Acid Precipitation has a pH below 5.6 Effects of Acid Precipitation: 1.) Death of trees 2.) Marine organism die 3.) Damages buildings/cars/structures/etc.

Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse Gases: How heat is trapped in the atmosphere by certain atmospheric gases Contributes to GLOBAL WARMING Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide CO2 Methane CH4 Nitrous Oxide N2O Fluorinated gases (CFC’s, HCFC’s, etc.)

Ozone Depletion Symbol: O3 Protects us from UV radiation from the Sun Ozone is being depleted by: 1.) refrigerants/cooling devices 2.) CFC’s 3.) pollution

Ozone depletion 1980-2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXV6ppONgUk

Global Warming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGIllMbG22Y

Indoor Air Pollution Examples: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Radon (Ra) Gas produced when natural gas or other fuels are burned Can cause death Radon (Ra) 2nd leading cause of lung cancer Radioactive gas emitted by soil and gets into homes by cracks in the foundation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSCOnFLTzGQ

6.3 biodiversity

What is Biodiversity? The total of all the genetically based variation in all organisms in the biosphere Types: 1. Ecosystem biodiversity 2. Species biodiversity 3. Genetic biodiversity

The Value of Biodiversity Medicine Chemicals in wild organisms treat disease Agriculture Wild crops carry genes we can use in genetic engineering Ecosystem services

Threats to Biodiversity Humans altering habitats Hunting Introducing invasive species Releasing pollution into food webs Contributing to climate change

How can we preserve biodiversity? Protect species Preserve habitats and ecosystems Participate in conservation efforts Ecological hot spot: a place where significant numbers of species and habitats are in danger of extinction

Ecological Hot Spots

6.4 meeting ecological needs

Ecological Footprint Describes the total area of functioning land and water ecosystems needed both to provide the resources an individual or population uses and to absorb and make harmless wastes that populations generate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfEoIyTLiY

Principles of ecology that can guide us to a sustainable future Recognizing a problem in the environment Researching that problem to determine its cause Using scientific understanding to change our behavior

Relative Footprints U.S. has the greatest!!!