1. Ecology 3 Power point

2. Pollutants accumulate in the air.
Pollution is any undesirable factor added to the air, water, or soil.
Smog is one type of air pollution.
sunlight interacts with pollutants in the air
pollutants produced by fossil fuel emissions
made of particulates and ground-level ozone

3. Smog can be harmful to human health.
Acid rain is caused by fossil fuel emissions.
produced when pollutants in the water cycle cause rain pH to drop
can lower the pH of a lake or stream
can harm trees

4. Air pollution is changing Earth’s biosphere.
The levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide rise and fall over time.
High levels of carbon dioxide are typical of Earth’s warmer periods.

5. The greenhouse effect slows the release of energy from Earth’s atmosphere.
1.sunlight penetrates Earth’s atmosphere
2.energy is absorbed and reradiated as heat
3.greenhouse gases absorb longer wavelengths
4.Greenhouse gas molecules rerelease infrared radiation
methane (CH4)
water (H2O)
carbon dioxide (CO2)

6. Global warming refers to the trend of increasing global temperatures.
North Pole

7. Water pollution affects ecosystems.
Pollution can put entire freshwater ecosystems at risk.
Examples of water pollution include: raw sewage, chemical contaminants, trash, detergents and fertilizers used in fields.

8. Indicator species provide a sign of an ecosystem’s health.
Examples include:
amphibians
top predators

9. Biomagnification causes accumulation of toxins in the food chain.
Pollutants can move up the food chain.
predators eat contaminated prey
pollution accumulates at each stage of the food chain
Top consumers, including humans, are most affected.

10. Preserving biodiversity is important to the future of the biosphere.
The loss of biodiversity has long-term effects.
loss of medical and technological advances
extinction of species
loss of ecosystem stability

11. Loss of habitat eliminates species.
Habitat fragmentation prevents an organism from accessing its entire home range.
occurs when a barrier forms within the habitat
often caused by human development

12. Habitat corridors are a solution to the problem.
corridors can be road overpasses or underpasses
allow species to move between different areas of habitat

13. Introduced species can disrupt stable relationships in an ecosystem.
An introduced species is one that is brought to an ecosystem by humans.
accidental
purposeful
Invasive species can have an environmental and economic impact.

14. Invasive species often push out native species.
Burmese python (Florida Everglades)

15. Invasive species often push out native species.
mice (Australia)

16. Invasive species often push out native species.
kudzu (southeastern United States)

17. Sustainable development manages resources for present and future generations.
Sustainable development meets needs without hurting future generations.
Industry examples:
Forestry
Fishing
hunting

18. Protecting Earth’s resources helps protect our future.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created in 1970.
The EPA develops policies and regulations to protect the environment.
Legislation helps to protect the environment and endangered species.
Clean Air Act
Clean Water Act
Endangered Species Act

19. There are several ways that people can help protect the environment.
control population growth
develop sustainable technology and practices
protect and maintain ecosystems