1. Module 4: Human Impacts

2. Human activities are impacting the oceans in many different ways
Human activities are impacting the oceans in many different ways. By knowing where marine animals go and how they use the ocean environment, we can develop a better understanding of what kinds of human activities are affecting marine animals, where, and how. This information can then be used to modify human activities to minimize their effect on the ocean. In this module, you’ll inspect a data overlay that was generated by a group of scientists to show where the ocean is heavily impacted by humans and where it is minimally impacted by humans. Your goal is to identify any overlap between heavily impacted areas and your hotspot, and to think about the specific types of activities that may cause the most harm to marine animals.

3. Research
Use the Ocean Tracks library and the internet to learn how human activities impact the marine environment. Through your research, try to answer the following questions:
What are some ways that humans impact the ocean environment?
What are some of the current threats to elephant seals, tunas, white sharks and albatross?
What questions do you have about human impact and the ocean? Try to see if you can answer some of your own questions as well.
Record your notes on additional slides

4. A group of scientists at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) have gathered different types of data and used it to generate a map showing the intensity of human impacts in the world’s oceans. You can access this data overlay for the eastern Pacific Ocean on the Ocean Tracks interface. Explore this website:
How was the human impacts map created?
Why was this map created?

5. Inspect the global human impacts map below
Inspect the global human impacts map below. Are there any general patterns you observe globally? Which areas of the world seem to be the most heavily impacted? The least impacted?

6. Now, explore the NCEAS data interface available at this web address:
What types of ecosystems are present in your hotspot?
Pick one type of human activity and describe it on an additional slide. You may need to do some research to define what the activity represents.
How do you think scientists got the data to generate a map of where this activity occurs?
Are there some areas of the ocean where there is no data about this type of activity? Do you think this is because this activity does not affect this area of the ocean, or because the data is not available?
What are some other interesting things that you notice about the data on this website?
What questions do you have about the data on this website?
Answer these questions on additional slides

7. What types of human activities impact marine animals in your hotspot?
Challenge #1
What types of human activities impact marine animals in your hotspot?

8. Data Collection Plan
Use the data on the NCEAS data interface ( to answer the challenge question.
Note, you can select to look at human impacts either in your diversity hotspot or in a species hotspot you identified during your data exploration. Also use the information (e.g. data, maps) you collected in the previous modules to support your reasoning.
Describe here the data that you will use to answer this question:
STOP
Discuss your data collection plan with your teacher before moving on

9. State a Claim What is the level of human impact in your hotspot?
What human activities are likely to impact animals in your hotspot?

10. Provide Evidence
Insert screen shots of data layers on the NCEAS data interface, and any additional evidence collected in previous modules to support your claim.

11. Explain Your Reasoning
State why you have selected each piece of evidence and describe how that information helps to show what human activities impact the animals in your hotspot.

12. Share Your Findings
Share your claim describing the types of human activities that impact your hotspot to the rest of the class.