1 The biodiversity of a coral reef Three Major Climate Zones Tropical Polar Temperate The Earth Has Many Different Climates • Weather • Temperature, precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover • Hours to days • Climate • Area’s general pattern of atmospheric conditions over decades and longer Polar (ice) Subarctic (snow) Cool temperate Highland Warm ocean current River Warm temperate Dry Tropical Major upwelling zones Cold ocean current Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle Natural Capital: Generalized Map of the Earth’s Current Climate Zones Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rain Cold deserts Cold deserts 60°N Evergreen coniferous forest Evergreen coniferous forest The highest solar energy input is at the equator. Hot desert Hot desert Northeast trades 30°N Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Westerlies Westerlies Air cools and descends at lower latitudes. Tropical deciduous forest Tropical deciduous forest Warm air rises and moves toward the poles. Solar energy Equator 0° Tropical rain forest Tropical rain forest Tropical deciduous forest Tropical deciduous forest Southeast trades Hot desert Hot desert 30°S Westerlies Westerlies 60°S Cold deserts Cold deserts Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Air cools and descends at lower latitudes. Polar cap Polar cap Polar cap Polar cap Global Air Circulation Cool, dry air Condensation and precipitation Heat released radiates to space LOW PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE Falls, is compressed, warms Rises, expands, cools Warm, dry air Hot, wet air Flows toward low pressure, picks up moisture and heat HIGH PRESSURE Moist surface warmed by sun LOW PRESSURE
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The biodiversity of a coral reef
Three Major Climate Zones
Tropical
Polar
Temperate
The Earth Has Many Different Climates
• Weather • Temperature, precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover• Hours to days
• Climate• Area’s general pattern of atmospheric conditions over decades and longer
Polar (ice) Subarctic (snow) Cool temperate Highland Warm ocean current River
Warm temperate Dry Tropical Major upwelling zones Cold ocean current
ArcticCircle
Tropic ofCancer
Tropic ofCapricorn
AntarcticCircle
Natural Capital: Generalized Map of the Earth’s Current Climate Zones
Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rain
Cold desertsCold deserts60°N
Evergreen coniferous forestEvergreen coniferous forestThe highest solar
energy input is at the equator.
Hot desertHot desertNortheast trades
30°NTemperate deciduous forest and grasslandTemperate deciduous forest and grassland
WesterliesWesterlies
Air cools and descends at lower latitudes.
Tropical deciduous forestTropical deciduous forest Warm air rises and moves toward the poles.
Solar energyEquator 0° Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest
Human Activities Are Disrupting and Degrading Marine Systems
• Major threats to marine systems • Coastal development• Overfishing• Use of fishing trawlers • Point source pollution (點源污染)
• Runoff of nonpoint source pollution (非點源污染)
• Habitat destruction• Introduction of invasive species• Climate change from human activities• Pollution of coastal wetlands and estuaries
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Natural Capital DegradationMajor Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
and Coral Reefs
Marine Ecosystems Coral Reefs
Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture and urban development
Ocean warming
Over one‐fifth of mangrove forests lost to agriculture, development, and shrimp farms since 1980
Soil erosionRising ocean acidity
Beaches eroding because of coastal development and rising sea levels
BleachingAlgae growth from fertilizer runoff
Ocean bottom habitats degraded by dredging (疏浚) and trawler fishing
Increased UV exposureRising sea levels
At least 20% of coral reefs severely damagedand 25–33% more threatened
Damage from anchorsDamage from fishing and diving
Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay—an Estuary in Trouble
• Largest estuary in the US; polluted since 1960
• Human population increased
• Point and nonpoint sources raised pollution
• Phosphate and nitrate levels too high
• Excess sediments from runoff and decreased vegetation
Chesapeake Bay Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay—an Estuary in Trouble
• Oysters, a keystone species, greatly reduced
• 1983: Chesapeake Bay Program• Integrated coastal management with local, state, federal (聯邦) governments and citizens’ groups
• 2008 update:• 25 years and $6 billion• Program met only 21% of goals• Water quality “very poor”
Natural Capital
Freshwater Systems
Ecological Services Economic Services
Climate moderation Food
Nutrient cyclingDrinking water
Waste treatmentIrrigation water
Flood control
Groundwater recharge
Hydroelectricity
Habitats for many species
Transportation corridors
Genetic resources and biodiversity Recreation
Scientific information Employment
Painted turtle Blue‐winged teal
Green frog
Muskrat
Pond snail
Littoral zone Plankton
Diving beetle Northern pike
Yellow perchBloodworms
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Some Lakes Have More Nutrients Than Others
• Oligotrophic lakes• Low levels of nutrients and low NPP• Very clear water
• Eutrophic lakes• High levels of nutrients and high NPP• Murky (混濁) water with high turbidity
• Mesotrophic lakes• Eutrophication of lakes from human input of nutrients
The Effect of Nutrient Enrichment on a Lake
eutrophication
Lake GlacierHeadwatersRain and snow
RapidsWaterfall
TributaryFlood plain Oxbow lake
Salt marshDelta
Deposited sediment
Source ZoneOcean
Transition Zone
SedimentWater
Floodplain Zone
Three Zones in the Downhill Flow of Water New Orleans, Louisiana Flooded by Hurricane Katrina
August 29, 2005
Projection of New Orleans if the Sea Level Rises 1 Meter Freshwater Inland Wetlands Are Vital (有生命力的) Sponges
• Marshes
• Swamps
• Prairie potholes (壺洞)
• Floodplains
• Arctic tundra in summer
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Freshwater Inland Wetlands Are Vital (有生命力的) Sponges
• Provide free ecological and economic services• Filter and degrade toxic wastes• Reduce flooding and erosion• Help to replenish streams and recharge groundwater aquifers
• Biodiversity• Food and timber• Recreation areas
Three Big Ideas
1. Saltwater and freshwater aquatic life zones cover almost three‐fourths of the earth’s surface, and oceans dominate the planet.
2. The earth’s aquatic systems provide important ecological and economic services.
3. Human activities threaten biodiversity and disrupt ecological and economic services provided by aquatic systems.