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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

13. 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

15. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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