1. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Goals/Objectives Describe ecosystem balance Explain how human activities have impacted ecosystem balance Chapter 1: Understanding Ecology

2. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Environmental Science Study of interactions and relationships –Among living organisms –Between organisms and their surroundings physical features chemical features

3. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Environmentalist Environmentalism –strong concern for environment –based on evidence, values, beliefs, politics –not the same as ecology Environmentalist –political activist with interest in environment Ecologist –Uses the Scientific Method to study the interactions between organisms and their environment

4. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Ecosystem Organisms interact not only with each other –but also with their nonliving environment Ecosystem –a community of living organisms –all of the nonliving features of the environment water, soil, rocks, buildings

5. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Shared Resources All organisms share some basic resources –Sunlight (ultimate source of energy), soil, and water All organisms have common needs: nutrition to meet energy needs –Plants need nutrients and moisture from soil –Plants need sunlight –Other organisms: energy by eating plants

6. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Ecosystem Balance A theoretical state in which living organisms and nonliving resources are maintained at constant levels. –Space, food, shelter, water, nutrient needs are met –No depletion of resources; resources remain available at constant levels

7. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Human Impacts Human activities impact shared resources and environment –increased erosion –pollution –industrial and solid wastes –pesticides –petroleum –acid precipitation

8. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Erosion Wind and water naturally transport soil –erosion Human activities have increased rates –farming, logging, clearing land Too much erosion threatens or harms –water supplies –soil

9. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Pollution Harmful material makes contact with life- sustaining resource –surface water –groundwater –soil –air Pollution can take a variety of forms

10. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Industrial Waste Each segment of society produces wastes –industrial waste agriculture, mining, manufacturing, cities –includes a variety of substances metals, chemicals, acids, fertilizers, oil, antifreeze, etc.

11. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Solid Wastes Includes material gathered by trash or garbage collectors Some sent to landfills and buried Some solid wastes are burned Some solid waste is recycled

12. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Solid Wastes Solid wastes in landfills –take longer than expected to break down –some landfills leak toxic substances Burned solid wastes threaten air quality

13. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Pesticides Large amounts used each year –pollute environment –containers often considered hazardous waste

14. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Petroleum Oily, flammable liquid –occurs naturally in large underground deposits Used to produce large variety of products –gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil Toxic when released into environment

15. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Exxon Valdez: Alaska, 1989 11 million gallons of oil spread throughout the waters of Prince William Sound –damaged coastal areas –killed massive numbers of organisms

16. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Deepwater Horizon: Gulf of Mexico, 2010 210,000,000 gallons spilled

17. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Law of Conservation of Matter Matter can neither be created nor destroyed **That includes waste, pollutants, chemicals… We burn gasoline…converting it to carbon dioxide, methane, particulates, and other wastes that enter the atmosphere Is any ecosystem in the biosphere in balance?

18. © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning Biosphere II Extremely difficult to maintain balance Oxygen levels deficient over time Move to Mars???