Human Issues, Impacts, & Solutions I

Issue: Invasive Species

Possible Solutions: Pay attention to bioindicators Species that are sensitive to change Show early warning signals of environmental problems

Issue: Habitat Loss

Possible Solutions: Conservation Biology: identify, protect, and maintain areas at risk. Restoration Biology: rebuilding damaged ecosystems Ecotourism: educates travelers about ecosystem while raising funds for conservation Artificial corridors promote dispersal and help sustain populations

Issue: Biomagnification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5P-UoKLxlA

Possible Solutions Banning of toxic pollutants (worst ones have already been banned, like DDT) Regulate or even eliminate processes that create toxins (ex. Burning Coal)

(a) In 1991, before restoration Figure 55.17 Figure 55.17 A gravel and clay mine site in New Jersey before and after restoration. (a) In 1991, before restoration (b) In 2000, near the completion of restoration 9

Concentration of soluble uranium (M) Figure 55.18 6 5 4 3 2 1 Concentration of soluble uranium (M) Figure 55.18 Bioremediation of groundwater contaminated with uranium at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee. 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Days after adding ethanol 10

Possible Solutions Bioremediation is the use of living organisms to detoxify ecosystems - The organisms most often used are prokaryotes, fungi, or plants Biological augmentation uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem