ASSESSING HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS

Easter Island Mystery Discovered in 1722 Once were thriving population of people and thick forests The islanders then clear trees for crops, use wood to move large rock statues, and burn wood to keep warm No forest to support the island sustainably Decline of human and other populations; Easter Island, Chile island deserted

What is Sustainability? The ability of populations of organisms to live, interact and reproduce indefinitely in an environment

Arrange your desk

“Benefits of natural ecosystem & biodiversity” Cubing activity In group of 4, with the provided BIG CUBE Use the provided 4-corner placemat Each member write down their own thought after seeing each picture in the cube Listen for signal to rotate the cube; students & placemat don’t rotate Student rotate the cube?

Benefits of biodiversity and ecosystems Think/Pair/Share Food -Fuel -Natural resources -Water -wetlands purify water - Regulate climate (temperature, rain) -Cycle nutrients and decompose waste -The animals help pollinate crops and disperse seeds. -Cultural and recreational opportunities (e.g. parks, beaches) for our well being. Think/Pair/Share

If biodiversity is kept high then the ecosystem is more sustainable. = the number and variety of species on Earth ~ 2 million species identified so far To maintain biodiversity, we must use the resources of an ecosystem in a sustainable way (Meaning?) Sustainable use: of an ecosystem means using an ecosystem’s resources in a way that meets our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. If biodiversity is kept high then the ecosystem is more sustainable.

Biodiversity Hot spots Are places of high diversity

Species at risks

Bee, Monarch Butterfly, Barn Owl, Cucumber Tree, Fowler’s Toad, LakeSturgeon, and Wood turtle are all subject to threats like habitat loss, pollution, roads, and invasive species. 

“Caption it” activity Visual + feeling  powerful tool for learning Get a few pieces of small paper from Ms. Pham, tape and marker To be done individually Rotate around the classroom Write a caption for the pictures you see Express your feeling and thoughts using respectful language; initial your writing

SHARE what you came up with

Learning Task To actively go through the provided reading package and answer the embedded articles. If not done in class, please do as HW Respond to the exit card at the end and obtain Ms. Pham’s initial Will be taken up next few slides

5 main reasons for the decrease in the variety of species on Earth H = Habitat Change I = Invasive Species P = Pollution O = Overexploitation C = Climate Change HIPOC

HIPOC package assessment for learning NOTE: The next couples of slides you do not have in your reading package They are used for assessment of what you know after the reading on HIPOC

What impact is being implied here? Habitat Change

What impact is being implied here? Overexploitation “Which two factors that affect biodiversity are responsible for the possible extinction of the Bornean Rhinoceros?” Answer: Poaching Habitat Loss

What impact is being implied here? Overexploitation

What impact is being implied here? Invasive species

Gray vs. Red Allow gray squirrels to be hunted for meals 1. List 2 reasons that the Gray Squirrel is such a threat to the red squirrel.  carrier of squirrel pox and eat 7 times more than that native red squirrels     2. What strategies is Britain using to solve the problem of the gray Squirrel? Allow gray squirrels to be hunted for meals   3. Do you agree with what Britain is doing? Can you suggest other more humane methods?

What impact is being implied here? Pollution

What impact is being implied here? Climate Change

How did human pollution impact the ecosystem? -Many marine organisms mistake human plastic products as food and consume them. -They die after eating them as they cannot digest them. -Plastic products do not decompose quickly; they remain in the environment and continue harming other organisms. Mockumentary http://www.ted.com/talks/capt_charles_moore_on_the_seas_of_plastic?language=en

How did human pollution impact the ecosystem? (Cont) Causing acid rains The simpson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v09KnqiYi-c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc6j7zz1_do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v09KnqiYi-c

Hands-on: Simulate acid rain effect What you need: Vinegar (filled to 3cm depth) 1 small test tube One 2-cm piece of chalk What did you observe? What would happen to this statue if acid rain is falling on it?

What is an acid? A corrosive substance that have a high amount of hydrogen ions An acid has a pH ranges from 0 to less than 7 pH is a measure of how much hydrogen ions an acid has. Demo: acid change indicator colors

Acid rain pH = 4.2 Clean rain pH = 5.6. Acidity Levels Acidity is an abiotic factor that is connected to the chemical environment of soil and water. If the pH of a substance is between 0 and 7 (below 7), it is called acidic. A lower pH means higher acidity. If the pH of a substance is between 7 (higher than 7) and 14, it is called alkaline (or basic). If the pH of a substance is 7, then it is neutral. Acid rain pH = 4.2 Clean rain pH = 5.6.

Leafless forest due to acid rain How did human pollution impact the ecosystem? (Cont) Causing acid rains In Canada, mining and refining metals, electrical power generation, automobiles, and oil and gas operations emit harmful chemicals made of nitrogen and sulphur into the atmosphere. This process is called emission. Acid Rain: rain that contains acid formed from nitrogen and sulphur containing substances. Statue corroded due to acid rain Leafless forest due to acid rain

Ocean acidification- when excess CO2 dissolved in ocean Recall: ocean is a carbon sink; it stores CO2

Effects of acid rain on soils, vegetation, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial and aquatic mammals Acid rain is an international problem as pollutant gases are carried around the globe by wind Next year do Soil lab: acidity of rain water on the fertility of soil? Students will design their own experiment -Damages waxy coating of plant leaves that protect them from infection. -Acidic waters cannot support life: dissolves shells of organisms, makes fish eggs too fragile to survive, and kills off aquatic plants and animals.

-When acid rain seeps into soil, it burns the skin of earthworms. -Reduces plant and tree growth (increased acidity towards the right) -Increases acidity of soil which decreases the plants ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. -When acid rain seeps into soil, it burns the skin of earthworms.

HW Sing along Summarize table 3.1 p90 onto your note Do Question 1-3 page 94 Sing along