U Of P Week 4

Tonight

• Quiz• Go over EnvironNews Topics• Discuss resources – pros and cons• Discuss Biodiversity• Power PointBREAK• “An Inconvenient Truth” segments and

discussion• Practice presentations

Preserving Earth’s Biological

Diversity

Chapter 17

Activity

• In groups, use the flipchart paper and markers to write down why you think biodiversity is important

• Also brainstorm ways in which biodiversity is at risk and write that on the paper

• Loss / destruction of habitat. . . . . . . . . . .73% • Introduction of exotic (non-native) species or their diseases . …………. … .68%• Pollutants. . . . . . . . …………………… ...38%• Hybridization with sub-species or other species . . . . . . . . ……….. . . . . 38% • Exploitation (over-harvesting and over-hunting). . . . . .15%

(Note: total exceeds 100% because multiple factors sometimes apply to one species in decline)

Causes of Species Decline

Importance of Diversity

• We are dependent on organisms for food and raw materials

• Most of the world’s species have not yet been studied for their potential benefits

• Loss of species begins a chain reaction whose effects could be felt worldwide

ex. Missing bees

• Genetic assortment – species do better when their lineage is not closely linked

ex. Cross pollination of crops

• Spiritual, ethical and aesthetic value

•Species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate leading to a decrease in biological diversity!!!

Extinct Species

• Background Extinction vs. Mass Extinction

Continuous, slow rate of extinction over millions of years

Numerous species disappear over geologically short time frame.

-Major climate change

Extinct Species

• Today, extinction rate is 100x - 1000x the background rate

• In U.S., 250 species gone extinct since 1980

• Endangered species

• Could become extinct soon without human intervention

• At risk are species with:

- Small range- Island locale- Low reproductive success- Specialized breeding areas- Specialized feeding habits

Threatened species• Population declining rapidly

• Likely to become endangered

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment

#1 threat to biodiversity is loss of habitat- destruction- fragmentation- degradation

• Biotic Pollution:

introduction of a foreign species into an ecosystem it did not evolve in

Invasive Species

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

• Pollution:

• Acid rain

- Acidification of soil and water

• Ozone depletion

- Increased UV radiation

• Climate change

- Warming due to CO2 increases

Endangered and Extinct Species

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment

• Overexploitation

Illegal hunting: snow leopards Unregulated parrot trade

What Can We Do About Declining Biological Diversity?

• Increase Awareness of Public

• Support Research in Conservation Biology

• Provide Economic Incentives to Landowners and Other Local People

• Establish International System of Parks

• Control Pollution

Discussion

• Think about the area in which you live: – Is it biologically diverse? – What factors contribute to the diversity of the

area in which you live?– What factors inhibit biological diversity where

you live?

Air Pollution

Chapter 20

The Atmosphere as a Resource

• Atmospheric composition:

• Nitrogen = 78%

• Oxygen = 21%

• Argon = 0.93%

• Carbon dioxide = 0.04%

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

• Major Classes of Air Pollutants

• Particulate matter

• Nitrogen oxides

• Sulfur oxides

• Carbon oxides

• Hydrocarbons

• Ozone

Ozone damage

• Primary Air PollutantsCarbonmonoxide

Nitrogen oxides

Particulates

Volatile organics

Sulfur dioxide

Ammonia

Lead

• Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution

Transportation

Fuel combustion

Industrialprocesses

Other

• Primary and Secondary Air Pollutants

Chemicalreactionsgeneratesecondarypollutants

Effects of Air Pollution

• Air Pollution and Human Health

Respiratory track, eyes, blood

Air Pollution Around the World• Long-Distance Transport of Air Pollution

Regional andGlobal

AtmosphericChanges

Chapter 21

Global Climate ChangeMean annual global

Temperature, 1960-2003Causes of Global Climate Change

CO2 in the atmosphere

The Causes of Global Climate Change

•Greenhouse Effect

• The Causes of Global Climate Change

• Effects of Global Climate Change

• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels

1957 1998

Melting permafrost

Effects of Climate Change• Rising sea level• Salinity differences – loss of marine diversity• Melting ice – loss of habitat for polar bears etc.• Melting permafrost – leads to increased insect

population• Changing weather patterns

Discussion

• After viewing portions of “An Inconvenient Truth”, discuss in your groups which part of the information given was the most compelling

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere

• Stratospheric ozone layer

Normal levels of ozone

Reduced levels of ozone

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere

• Ozone thinning

Antarctica

• Causes• Main problem: CFCs

The Effects of Ozone Depletion

• Potentially, increased incidence of skin cancers

Melanoma Some features • Irregular borders • Uneven color • Raised areas

Acid Deposition• A.K.A. Acid rain• In US, damage from acid deposition is estimated at $10 B

Acid Deposition• The Effects of Acid Deposition• Acid Deposition and Forest Decline

• Damage to leaves - reduced photosynthesis - more susceptible to stress - death of tree• Damage to soil: acidification - Ca, K readily wash out - damage to fungi that aid in root uptake - death of tree

Acid Deposition

• Acid deposition not limited to locations where it originates.

– • IL, IN, MO, OH, PA, TN, WV– - produce 50-75% of acid deposition

– • New England and Southeastern Canada– - contaminated

Water Pollution

Chapter 22

Types of Water Pollution

• Sewage

↑ EnrichmentExplosion in algal, bacteria, & decomposer populations

↑ Biological oxygen demand

↓ Oxygen levels in water

Fish kills

Water Quality Today

• Water Pollution from Agriculture

• 72% of water pollution in rivers attributed to agriculture (largest polluter of rivers)– Pesticides may leach into soil; then water– Sediment pollution in rivers from soil erosion– Animal waste from runoff

Water Quality Today• Other sources of Water Pollution

• • Urban runoff

• • Leakage

• - gasoline storage

• - sewage

• - landfill

• - industrial surface

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Chapter 23

Solid Waste• US produces most per capita solid waste =

4.4 lbs per person per day• 229 million tons per year (and increasing!)

Solid waste produced by av. family of four in one year in US

Solid Waste

• Types of Solid Waste Where it goes

Paper andPaperboard

Yard Waste

Food Waste

Plastics

Metals

Rubber, leather, &textiles

Glass

Wood

Other

SanitaryLandfills

Recycling

Incineration

Note: most of the solid waste can be recycled but is not

Hazardous Waste• Types of Hazardous Waste• Dioxins

– Byproduct of combustion of chlorine compounds– Emissions from incinerators; industry– Bio-accululation in fatty tissues (affecting ALL humans)– Bio-amplification in food webs– Carcinogen

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)– Cooling and hydraulic fluids– Acute toxicity; birth defects; endocrine disruption; possible carcinogen– Bio-accululation in fatty tissues– Bio-amplification in food webs

• Radioactive material

Tomorrow’s World

Chapter 25

A Strategy for Sustainable Living

• Living Sustainably

• Improve living conditions while maintaining a healthy environment

• Balance– economic growth– environmental conservation

A Review of the Central Themes of Environmental Science

• Principle 1: Building a Sustainable Society• • Preserve Earth’s biological diversity• • Live within Earth’s carrying capacity• (1) Use renewable resources at a rate• which they can be renewed• (2) Conserve non-renewable resources

A Review of the Central Themes of Environmental Science

• Principle 2: Respecting and Caring for the Community of Life

Endangered sea turtle

• We evolved within and depend upon the web of life

• Need to protect ecosystems; species

A Review of the Central Themes of Environmental Science

• Principle 3: Improving the Quality of Human Life

Challenges of under developed countries

- Distribution of resources

- Economic growth

- Scientists and Engineers

Addressing the Goals of Sustainability

• Principle 4: Conserving Earth’s Vitality and Biological Diversity

- Restore ecosystems- Control agriculture- Control pollution

Addressing the Goals of Sustainability

• Principle 5: Keeping within Earth’s Carrying Capacity

Family planning discussion

Carrying Capacity of an ecosystem determined by its ability to - absorb wastes - renew itself

Implementing Environmental Sustainability at Various Levels

• Principle 6: Changing Personal Attitudes and Practices

• Everyone learns; everyone contributes– Role of Education– Sustainable consumption

Implementing Environmental Sustainability at Various Levels

• Principle 7: Enabling Communities to Care for Their Own Environments

• Provide communities with– Access to knowledge– Opportunities for their input– Right to help make decisions

Implementing Environmental Sustainability at Various Levels

• Principle 8: Building a National Framework

• • Integrate Development and Conservation

• Most governments have single department overseeing environmental concerns

• Need integrated approach across all government levels to promote sustainability– Law, Science, Taxation

Implementing Environmental Sustainability at Various Levels

• Principle 9: Creating a Global Alliance

Global alliances for global problems - U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement - Kyoto Protocol (Global Warming) - Montreal Protocol (Ozone Depletion)

What Kind of World Do We Want?

• Which Principle you give top priority?

• What do you think the probability is that these Principles would be implemented in the US today?

• What prevents their consideration?

• Do you think that if the US fails to adopt these principles that there were be any real serious consequences?