Environmental Issues & Environmental Solutions Chapter 22-2 and 22-3 Environmental Issues & Environmental Solutions

22-2 Environmental Issues Pollution Pollution causes SMOG Water vapor mixed with chemicals from human activities (burning fuels, using chemicals, etc.) Can contain nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, organic chemicals, small particles & ozone

Air Pollution Ozone Thinning Ozone (O3) in stratosphere Protects from UV radiation (UV light) Chemicals, such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), cause reactions that break down ozone Thinning of the ozone layer in the polar regions Most countries no longer produce CFC’s

Global Warming Relationship between average CO2 levels & average global temperatures Cause-and-effect relationship: A change in one variable causes a change in another variable

Acid Precipitation Precipitation that is acidic because air pollutants combine with water in the atmosphere Changes pH of soil & water Can cause disease or death in plants & animals

Land & Water Pollution Human activity produces chemicals that pollute the land and the water. Biological Magnification Process where chemicals become more concentrated in an organism higher on the food chain that the organism is in.

Ecosystem Disruption Ecosystem Disruption The destruction or substantial change in the functioning of natural ecosystems Can disrupt species or entire communities

Ecosystem Disruption Extinction Endangered- number of organisms is so low the organism is in danger of becoming extinct Extinction- every organism in a species has died Causes Habitat destruction, hunting, harvesting, invasive species

Ecosystem Disruption Ecosystem Imbalances Keystone Species- A species that impacts the other species in the community Causes- Overuse of resources, human impact

Human Resource Use Primary Production- the total energy stored through photosynthesis Humans use 10-55% of the Earth’s primary productivity

Human Resource Use Ecological Footprint- the analysis of human impact on the ecosystems Includes use of food & natural resources, production of wastes & pollution Biosphere has limited capacity to renew or repair

Human Resource Use Sustainability- the ability to meet human needs so that the population can survive indefinitely Humans need to close the gap between the Earth’s renewable resources & capacities, our own needs and the needs of other living species Possible Solutions: New technologies Slow or reverse population growth Reduction of consumption of resources

22-3 Environmental Solutions Conservation & Restoration Biology Conservation Biology- scientists identify, protect & manage natural areas to retain biodiversity Restoration Biology- scientists address extreme cases of ecosystem balance and develop a plan to restore the ecosystem to its original state

Conservation & Restoration Biology Species & Habitats- are interconnected Bioindicator- a species that is especially sensitive to ecological change Whooping Crane- an example of the interconnectedness between species & their environment.

Protecting Ecosystems Many considerations to balance ecosystem preservation & human rights. Protection focuses on regions with the most biodiversity Biodiversity Hotspots-Ecological regions that are the richest in unique species and in most need of protection

Governments & Laws Laws & policies exist to address environmental issues International laws & policies also exist Debt-for-nature swap- richer countries or private organizations fund some debt of a developing country in exchange for preservation & conservation efforts

Private Efforts & Cooperation Your Role in the Environment Ecotourism- tourism that supports the conservation of ecologically unique areas and also support the economy Urban Ecology- Study of biodiversity in areas densely populated by humans