EffEct of Man’s activity on thE
ecosystem
Presentation Prepared by: Muha Mu hama mad d Na Nabe beel el Ud Uddi din n
Syllabus objective/contents Section E
4.1. Recycling of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials 5.1 Negative Negative impact of human activity on the environment 5.2 Pollution Pollutio n of marine and wetland environments 5.3 Conservation
Populat opulation ion growth The table below shows the growth of human population from 1650 to 2012
Year Y ear
Population Popu lation (billions) (billions)
1650
0.5
1930
1
1965
3.5
1980
4.5
2012
7
Is such an increase in population beneficial or harmful? Justify your your response
Complete the table Complete table belowbelow- Benefi Benefits ts or harm of rapid rapid human population growth Benefits
Harm
A typical typical growt growth h curve e.g. of bacteria
What are some possible po ssible negative effects effects of rapid growth in human population?
Increase in demand for food , and increase in number of people dying of starvation and people suffering from deficiency diseases (demand more than supply) Increase in demand for energy More More land space space will will be needed for housing and agriculture agriculture Increase rate of deforestation increase effects of climate change
Factors affecting growth of Natural Populations
Competition for food, water, oxygen and space: Resources available available can only support sup port a finite finite number numbe r of organisms. organi sms. However However,, competition may also help
to keep the number of organisms organ isms in check (prevent (p revent overpopulation of one type of species). This is an advantage in some cases e.g. e. g. in human digestive system.
Effect of disease and pests: E.g. Black death/Bubonic plague killed 30-60% of Europe's population in the 14th 14th Century Century.. Pest may damage crops causing causing famine famine
1918 Flu pandemic-Killed over 50 million persons worldwide (wikipedia)
Factors affecting growth of Natural Populations
Natural Disasters: Fires, floo flood, hurricanes and volcanoes for example can wipe out several populations at once in a short time (overnight maybe). E.g. Tsunami (caused by an earthquake) in Indian Ocean in 2004 killed more than 230,000 humans and many other species of living organisms.
2004 Tsunami
Is Georgetown Georgetown in a suitable location?
Waste products from Human Activities
Biodegradable
Can be recycled by biological means e.g. by bacteria They are generally organic matter e.g. plant matter or animal waste Can be recycled to make fertilizers fertili zers (organic), or biofuel (e.g. methane gas) Simple method: Compost
Non-Biodegradable wastes
Cannot be decomposed by biological means E.g. synthetic plastics, metals, synthetic Styrofoam Can be recycled e.g. Plastic bottles When recycling, recycling, one need to consider consider
Cost of recycling Storage cost/space Collection and transport
Pollution
Types
Water Water pollution: e.g. chemical, thermal, thermal, or physical. physical. Air pollution: release of harmful gases gases Land pollution: disposal of solid waste
Negative impact of Human Activities on the Negative environment-Water pollution
Pollution by agricultural agricultural activities
Pesticide runoffs affects aquatic organisms and humans who consume consume them them Eutrophication : process where water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate stimula te excessive excessive plant or algae growth (algal bloom)
Eutrophication
Some harmful effects of Inorganic/synthetic pesticides
Death of aquatic organisms Cancer/tumors in animals or humans who consume affected animals Reproductive problems and birth bi rth defects Genetic Geneti c change (Mutation) Nerve disorders
Industrial Waste
Mercury in gold mining min ing may affect aquatic organisms (cause mental retardation and paralysis in humans) Heated water into river: from power stations Other chemicals in river, river, streams e.g. oils used in heavy duty machines Any other ?
Oil spills
Toxic to marine life, and birds Prevent flight in birds Damage beaches and surrounding ecosystem
Water pollut pollution-In ion-Industrial dustrial Waste
Improper sewage and garbage disposal
Release of raw, raw, untreated sewage se wage can cause Eutrification Eutrif ication but more importantly import antly,, lead lead to spread of water borne disease Improper disposal of garbage may lead to blockage of drainages, causing flooding. Flood may lead to loss of livestock, spread of diseases disease s and loss of property
Biomagnifications
Concentration of pollutants pollutan ts increase at each trophic level of the food chain.
Review
Human population growth is very rapid Large population increases demand for resources resources Factors Factors such as food, competition, disease dise ase and natural nat ural disasters affects/limits affects/limi ts population growth growth Water Water pollution can cause Eutroph Eutrophication ication and Biological Oxygen Oxygen Demand (BOD)/lack (BOD)/la ck of oxyg oxygen en in water Heavy metals e.g. Mercury and lead are toxic, toxic, and may result in Biomagnifications
Today
Air Po Pollution llution Climate change Reducing pollution and conservation
Air Pollution
Mainly from burning of fossil fuels, release of gases from factories, or dust particles E.g. of air pollutants:
Carbon dioxide (Greenhouse gas) Carbon monoxide Oxides Oxides of sulphu sulphurr (results in?) Oxides of nitrogen (results in?) Lead –from car exhaust CFC – in aerosols. Break Brea k down ozone layer layer
What does air pollution cause?
Acid rain Global climate change/global warming Affects health: increase increase asthma, respiratory respiratory disorder, disorder, cardiovascular disease
Effect of Acid rain on Monuments Both marble and limestone consist of CaCO3, which reacts with acid rain in an acid–base reaction to produce CaSO4. Because CaSO4 is somewhat soluble in water,, significant water significant damage damage to the structure can result.
Marine Pollution
Marine ecosystem: includes oceans, estuaries and lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs, the deep dee p sea and the sea floor f loor Marine pollution
occurs when harmful chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste Noise (due to industrial activities) invasive organisms enters into the marine habitat ha bitat
A lagoonlagoon- a shallow shallow body of water separated from a larger larger body of water by barrier islands or reefs.
Examples Ex amples of Marine Pollution
Invasive species can take take over over an ecosystem (dominate) and facilitate the spread of new diseases, disease s, jeopardize jeopardize the ability of native species to obtain food.
Due to climate change
ocean water is becoming more acidic (suggest effects) Water Water temperature temperature is increasing increasing
Wetlands
A wetland is a land land area area that is saturated saturated with water, water, either permanently perman ently or seasonally e.g. mangroves Destruction Destruction and pollution polluti on to wetlands may be due to:
Commercial development : tourism Drained wetland for agriculture Polluted water affects entire enti re ecosystem Sea level rise: species of mangrove become submerged and die
Wetland
Wetland
Commercial development at a river bank
Global Warming Video
Global climate change
Direct observations find find that CO2 is rising sharply s harply due to human activi activity ty.. Ocean and surface temperature measurements find fi nd the planet continues to accumulate heat. Satellite and surface measurements measuremen ts find less less energy is escaping to space at CO2 absorption wavelengths. (this is as a result of increase CO2 levels)
The Greenhouse Effect
Video-Greenhouse effect
Industrial Revolution
How do climate scientist know about CO2 concentration for million of years ago?
Ice core Drilling
http://www.southwestclimatechange.org/files/cc/figures/icecore_records.jpg
Health consequences of Global Climate change
Some of the the health consequences consequ ences of climate change are straightforward:
warmer temperatures temperatures changes in the hydrologic hydrologic cycle and enhanced pollen production (increase asthma) alter patterns of infectious disease (e.g. more malaria) and compromise air quality.
Is there a solution to global climate change?
Write Write at least three (3)
Summary of Previous session -Global warming Cause
Effects
Solutions
Major Major cause: cause: anthropogenic effect i.e. effect caused by human activity
Sea level rise
Use le less vehicles
Increase temperature temperature of Plant more trees ocean and land reforestation
Minor cause: climate Increase Increase spread spread of change occurs naturally, naturally, diseases e.g. because of solar activities More intense storms, and unpredicted weather weather pattern pattern
Use alternative sources of ener energy gy Reduce Reduce or stop using CFC’s
Reminder
66 Days remaining remaining before 26th May: Paper 2 According to Psychologists, According Psychologists, learning is better when the same amount of study is spread out over periods of time than it is when it occurs closer together or at the same time. time. You You will learn more if you you space space your learning, compared to if you wait to cram at the last minute before before your your exam.
Environmental Envir onmental conserva conser vation tion
Conservation Conservation means to preserve, and keep unchanged It is about reducing pollutants, and to minimize their the ir effects on the environment
Reducing Pollution
Treatment of effluents eff luents Use of emission emission control device to to remove remove SO2, NO2 NO 2 etc. Use cleaner fuel Modification Modificati on of processes so that less pollutants are produced Recycling waste : biodegradable and nonbiodegradable Reuse e.g. plastics, glass bottles Use alternative energy sources
Soil conservation
Reduce overgrazing: overgrazing: this may remove remove fertile fertile top soil and cause erosion (…deserts) Reclamation after mining e.g. in area of bauxite mining Use of best farming farmin g practice: e.g. contour farming on slopes
Contour Farming
Contour Farming
Soil conservation
Plant windbreaks: Windbreaks Wind breaks prevent soil erosion by slowing the th e force of the wind over open ground Restore wetlands. wetlands. They
prevent soil erosion. Wetlands Wetlands act as natural natural sponges, sponges, absorbing absorbing rainw rainwater ater and preventing preventin g it from carrying the soil away. away. provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife
Conserve natural Environments
Maintain mangrove swamps: Mangrove Mangrove forests protects us against heavy he avy winds, soil erosion, and flooding Designate National Parks : no mining, hunting etc. can be done in these areas. E.g. Kaieteur National Park
Protect endangered species
Humans may remove remove wild plants plants and animals until unti l the population is too low to breed (endangered) Enact laws to protect species whose population is i s low Develop breeding programs to increase number numbe r of species in natural ecosystems Have systems in place to monitor population
Extinct Species
