Aim What does the phrase “Human impact on Ecosystems” mean?

Explain what has happened to the polar bear in the picture below.

Ecosystem- all the living and non-living things that interact in a certain area of the environment

Environmental Impact All living things, including humans, affect the environment around them

Beaver Example Beavers build dams and affect the flow of water in the river

Termite Example Termite affect the environment by eating wood on trees

Human Impact As a result of technology we are making more significant changes to the environment. Give an example of how technology changes the environment? Where are i-phones made?

Stress on the Environment Human growth consumption depletes resources that the earth contains Industrialization

Pollutions affect on an Ecosystem Pollution decreases the stability of an ecosystem biodiversity by harming species habitat

Depletion Depletion means a serious reduction in a short period of time

Finite Supply They cannot be replaced naturally We will eventually run out of supplies

What are some human activities that negatively affect the environment?

Deforestation Cutting trees down Destroys Habitats Causes Erosion Decreases Biodiversity

Why do we cut trees? For Industry (Jobs) Paper Housing Furniture

Fossil fuels Fuels that come from the ground Burning them produces energy to heat our homes, run our cars, and produce energy to run factories Examples- Oil, Gas and Coal

Burn Fossil Fuels Produces Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (Greenhouse gas) Causes Global Warming Melts the Ice Caps

Natural Resources Renewable – Resources can be replaced quickly (Solar and wind power) Non-Renewable- Resources cannot be replaced quickly (Fossil Fuels-Oil, Coal, Gas)

Ozone Depletion Caused by Freon gas in refrigerators and air conditioners More UV (ultra-violet) rays reach the earths surface Causes mutations and skin cancer

Strip Mining Depletes Resources Causes Erosion

Overfishing Kills fish Depletes supply of fish for future generations

How does the government prevent pollution? Pass Laws to prevent it Impose a fine or penalty

Aim How and why do we need to preserve our natural resources?

How do we preserve resources? Reduce consumption Reuse resources Recycle

Reduce Carpooling Mass transit Conserve (walk or ride your bike)

Reuse Grocery Bags Water bottles Plastic plates

Recycle Plastic Paper Scrap metal Glass

Why do we need to conserve resources? Resources are finite (limited), so we will run out Prevents pollution

Define Pollution Pollution is the harmful change in the environment that will affect an organisms habitat (where it lives)

Types of Pollution Air pollution Water pollution Land pollution

Natural Recycling Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nutrients

Water Cycle Ecosystems maintain a supply of water to survive

Carbon Cycle Animals take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide (Cellular Respiration) Plants take in carbon dioxide an release oxygen (Photosynthesis)

Nutrients Recycle Plants use nutrients in the soil to grow Nutrients are transferred through food chain Dead and waste of organisms are recycled and put back into the soil by decomposers (Bacteria and Fungi)

Aim How do people affect the way ecosystems function?

The Flow of Energy Energy is passed through the environment but NOT recycled Energy pyramid loses large amount of energy to heat Sun is constant source of energy

Population Growth The population levels off as it reaches an ecosystems carrying capacity

Direct Harvesting Destruction or removal of a species from a habitat which can lead to extinction An example is when an exotic animal is removed for a pet ( Cute monkey or parrot)

Invasive Species When people remove a species from one environment to another They become pest because they usually have no natural enemy and multiply quickly

Land Use As human populations grow we need more resources to make things we need (clothes, MP3 players and cars) Need more space for factories and homes

Deforestation Need to clear land to make homes and factories This leads to habitat destruction

Leads to Loss of Biodiversity Direct Harvesting Imported Species Deforestation

Aim What is the impact of technology and industrialization on the environment?

Industrialization The development of an economy in which machines produce our products

We Need Power Burn fossil fuels Nuclear fuels (splits atoms)

Power Plants Cause: Water pollution Air pollution

Water Pollution Sewage from a power plants can act as a fertilizer Plants bloom using up oxygen resulting in fish suffocating

Toxic Waste Poisonous waste dumped in rivers end up in the food chain Many organisms are killed as a result of these toxins

Air Pollution Burning fossil fuels leads to Increase in CO2 levels (Global Warming) Acid rain Smog

Aim How will the choices we make today affect our environment tomorrow?

Advances in Technology New factories Increase crop yield Efficient cars New Computers and iPods

Technology Creates Problems Mainly environmental There is a cost to everything For each new technology we must assess the risk

A trade-off We have to analyze the cost verse the benefit Is it worth it? (Pros and Cons)

Today's decisions affect our future The decisions we make today will affect our future environment

Decisions have Consequences The trade off was power produced verses a possible nuclear accident Was it worth it?

Aim Ecology Review

Ecology The study of how organisms interact with living and nonliving things that surround them

Terms to Know Biotic factors- Living things Abiotic factors- Nonliving things

Biotic vs Abiotic Biotic Abiotic Animals Plants Bacteria Dead organisms The Sun Water (Lake) Oxygen Temperature Nutrients

Ecosystem All living things and nonliving things interacting together

Habitat The specific environment an organisms lives in is called a habitat Examples- Frogs- Pond Birds- Trees Whales- Oceans

Niche The specific role an organism plays in an ecosystem (Sea Otter- What it eats and who eats it)

Population Members of a single species in a given area

Community All the different populations combined

Biosphere Atmosphere (Air) Hydrosphere (Water) Lithosphere (Land)

Concepts of Ecology Energy is transferred from one organism to another Materials (chemicals) are recycled

Aim Ecology Review 2

Competition Recourses are finite(limited) so organisms must compete for them to survive

Limiting Factors Factors in the environment that limit the size of the population

Carrying Capacity The number of organisms of any single species that an ecosystem can support

Predator An organism that kills and eats another organism

Prey Organisms that are killed for food

Food Chains Food chains show what eats what Shows the flow or transfer of energy

Food Web Food Wed is many interconnected food chains Organisms can eat more than one kind of organism More complex and accurate than a food chain

Aim What are the important components of a food chain?

Constant Source of Energy The important ABIOTIC factor that provides energy to the food chain is the SUN Energy is NOT recycled its transferred

Autotrophs Organisms that make their own food Also called Producers First in chain

Heterotrophs Organisms that have to eat to obtain energy Consumers

Consumers Carnivores (Meat) Herbivores (Plants) Omnivores (Both)

Decomposers They consume the waste of dead organisms Decomposers recycle nutrients back to soil for plants to use Bacteria and Fungi

Stability of Food Chain Must have more producers than consumers Must have decomposers to recycle nutrients

Aim What is an Energy Pyramid?

Energy Pyramid A Diagram that shows the transfer of energy through a food chain or web

Energy lost to heat Energy is lost to the environment as heat at each level Also lost as metabolism

Producer to Consumers Producers are always at the bottom level All subsequent levels are consumers

Important Levels Levels A- Tertiary consumers B- Secondary consumers C- Primary consumers D- Producers (plants)

Energy Energy from sun starts the pyramid and keeps it going Energy is transferred not recycled.

Chemicals(Materials) are Recycled Decomposers extract energy in dead organisms and return it to soil as Nutrients Bacteria and Fungi

Aim What are the advantages of Biodiversity?

Biodiversity The amount of different species in an ecosystem

Ecosystem Stability Biodiversity leads to ecosystem stability The more species the better it is for all

Loss of Biodiversity Natural disasters (Tsunami) Deforestation (Cutting down trees) Removal of a species

Biodiversity Benefits Humans Organisms provides humans with: Medicines(aspirin) Foods Industrial products

Value of Biodiversity Ecosystem (Habitats) Species (All Kinds) Genetics (Evolution)

Aim What is Ecological Succession?

Ecological Succession Series of changes where one habitat is change to another

Modifications Each step of the way the environment is modified for the next stage to emerge(more stable)

First Example of Succession Occurs after a natural disaster Examples: - Tsunami - Volcanic Eruption

Second Example of Succession Change from a lake community to a forest

Facts on Succession Each step is modified for the next Each next step is more stable Most ecosystems will return to their natural state after a disaster