1. How do humans impact our Oceans?
By Mrs. Shaw

2. Environmental Science Opening Assignment
How do humans impact our water resources? (freshwater and saltwater)
Copy this
chart
Acids
Bases pH
Physical properties
H+ Ions involved

3. Marine Science Opening Assignment
What are the 3 ways that humans are effecting our oceans?
Copy this
chart
Acids
Bases pH
Physical properties
H+ Ions involved

4. Ocean Pollution and Acidification Learning Goals
Students will be able to
Explain how humans are polluting our water resources and causing changes to aquatic ecosystems.
Describe the pH scale and differentiate between an acid and a base.
Explain how adding CO2 causes ocean water to become more acidic and how this change can effect ocean organisms.

5. Remember your pH scale
pH= the lower the pH, the more Hydrogen ions (H+)
Acids
Bases pH
0-6.9
7.1-14
Physical properties
Sour, sticky
bitter, slippery
H+ Ions involved
More
Less
Fill in your
chart 
basic
(low H+ )
acidic
(high H+ )
neutral 7 14
Vinegar ~3
Ocean water ~8
Ammonia
~11

6. How is carbon part of the oceans chemistry?
Human activities release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by
Respiration
Decay of dead organisms
Burning fossil fuels
Factory and car emissions

7. How is carbon part of the oceans chemistry?
The ocean is a carbon sink which means it absorbs and then stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
This helps to decrease the atmospheric CO2 and helps regulate climate. (negative feedback effect)
Remember – CO2 is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and emits heat and adds to the increase in our atmospheric temperature

8. How much CO2 can the ocean absorb?
The total amount of any gas seawater can absorb depends on temperature and salinity
Salinity is a measure
of the dissolved salt
content of water
Teacher’s Note: Increases in temperature and  salinity can decrease the amount of gas seawater can absorb.
Our ocean
captures and stores carbon

9. What happens when carbon dioxide is absorbed in the ocean?
When dissolved in water, carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid that dissociates (breaks apart) into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions which increases the acidity of the water.
Some of the excess hydrogen ions combine with carbonate, decreasing carbonate availability to marine organisms.
Teacher’s Note: In reference to the first and second bullets, you may want to remind student that pH is a measure of the Hydrogen ion concentration. If the concentration of Hydrogen ions in seawater increases, the pH of seawater will decrease.
Photo:
NOAA, Accessed November 2010

10. Carbonate is used by marine organisms like this pteropod (marine snail) to create the compound calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate is the material that composes the shells and exoskeletons of many marine organisms including corals.

12. How is marine life affected?
Sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs may decline due to change in pH and slower construction of coral exoskeletons.
Photo:
NOAA, Accessed November 2010
Photo: NOAA

13. How is marine life affected?
Reduced abundance of small shelled organisms may cause problems for those larger species that prey upon them for food
Interference with marine
mammal communication
is possible!
Teacher’s Note: If you want to give students an example of pH interference with marine mammal communication, direct them to the story at the following link:
Photo:
NOAA, Accessed November 2010
Photo: NOAA

14. OA Brief Overview
As more CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere, more is also absorbed into the ocean. This changes the pH of the water and makes it more acidic.
This change in pH effects organisms that have shells by breaking down their shells or stopping them from being able to form. It also hurts coral reefs which are primarily made of calcium carbonate.

15. Ocean Acidification Overview
Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification

16. Ocean Acidification Lab Opening Assignment
Title your paper “Ocean Acidification Lab” and copy the chart below.
Approximate pH
Based on pH chart
Is it an Acid ??
Is it a Base ??
Water
Vinegar
Apple Juice
Lemon juice
Soda
Table cleaner
Dish soap
Baking soda and water

17. Physical Properties of Acids and Bases
Review of pH scale and
physical properties of acids and bases
Property
Acids
Bases
Taste
sour
bitter
Smell
Frequently burns nose
Usually no smell (except NH3)
Texture
Sticky
Slippery
Reactivity
Reacts with metals
Reacts with oils and fats

18. Using Bromothymol Blue
Bromothymol Blue is a universal indicator of pH.
To use it you need to take a small sample of the solution you are testing and put it on the plate. Then put 1-2 drops of the BTB on it and mix. Use the color chart to rate the pH and document in your chart.

19. Ocean Acidification Lab
Follow the directions on your lab sheet please.
Turn your lab sheet in at the end of the class.

20. Lab Wrap Up
Let’s review questions then watch video clip on how chemistry is AWESOME!
XtjN0

21. Opening Assignment
Explain how ocean acidification happens and how it effects marine organisms.

22. Ocean Acidification overview
Extra CO2 is emitted into our atmosphere.
The ocean acts as a sink (negative feedback mechanism) and absorbs some of this CO2.
The extra CO2 that is absorbed gets dissolved and changes the pH of the ocean water making it more acidic.
This change in pH effects organisms that have shells by breaking down their shells or stopping them from being able to form. It also hurts coral reefs which are primarily made of calcium carbonate.

23. How OA affects our economy . .
Login to my website and go under “Environmental Science” then Unit Study Notes, then click on Unit 3: Oceans.
Click on the link to the article. Read the article on oysters and be prepared to answer questions about what you read.

24. Activity: Article Review on Overfishing and the need for Biodiversity
Please label your paper: Overfishing and the loss of biodiversity . . .why do I care?
Copy and answer the questions to the article and turn them in.

25. Questions to answer with overfishing article
1. What is overfishing and what was the first type of fish that was overfished?
2. What is the population estimate currently of the larger ocean fish?
3. What is the prediction of the date of collapse of the world’s fisheries?
4. Why are larger fish the first at risk to become extinct?
5. How does overfishing affect the biodiversity of fish species?
6. What is by-catch?
7. List 2 things that are being done to help counteract this problem.

26. Opening Assignment What is by-catch?
How do biologists know that a population is increasing or decreasing?

27. Overfishing – Statistics and Data
87% of the world’s assessed fish stocks are at the breaking point, classified as over exploited or fully exploited.
50% of the fish stocks in the US are either overfished, or at risk of being overfished US
100 million sharks and 23,000 dolphins are killed each year.

28. Activity: Mark-Recapture lab activity
Intro to mark recapture technique:
#3 is already done for you and please skip #9

29. Opening Assignment Day 3
While continuing to watch the video “The End of the Line” complete the following observations 1. How are ocean ecosystems and humans affected by overfishing? 2. What can YOU do to help with the overfishing problem? Use complete sentences

30. Topic #1 – Overfishing – Possible Solutions
1. Educate people and make it personal to them. How would their lives be different if the coral reefs were effected enough that the fish could not live there? (Amanda, Jonathon, Lucas)
2. Don’t support places that buy captured dolphins, educate others, and donate to dolphin sanctuaries. (Annie, Victoria, Chloe, Daria)
3. Encourage people that you know who fish often to take only the minimum of fish (Elizabeth, Chris, Jay)

31. Topic #1 – Overfishing – Possible Solutions
Possible Solutions – Period 6
1. We need stricter fishing regulations to make sure we aren’t overusing our resources. (Sam and Robert)
2. People should be permitted to fish but just can’t keep that many fish. (McKenzie, Maribel, and Mona)