Sustainability of Ecosystems and Climate Change Unit

SUSTAINABILITY OF ECOSYSTEMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE UNIT: -terms from section 1.1 (stewardship, environment, sustainability, biodiversity, holistic approach/ 7 generations, ecology, ecosystem, biotic and abiotic factors, species, population, habitat, niche, community) -biomes (all types, details, examples of organisms present, effects of climate change, abiotic and biotic factors) -biosphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere - details, biotic and abiotic factors, effects of climate change) -nutrients (definitions and examples) -water, nitrogen and carbon cycles (diagrams, details, effects of climate change on carbon cycle) -cellular respiration and photosynthesis (word equations of both, how they interact with one another, effect of climate change) -terms from section 1.2 (producer/ autotroph, consumer/ heterotroph, types of consumers, decomposers, detritivores) -food chains and food webs -energy pyramids (be able to construct one with correct transfer of energy between trophic levels) -interactions in ecosystems (predation, types of symbiosis, competition) -carrying capacity, equilibrium, abiotic and biotic limiting factors -sustainability and climate change -human impacts on soils (acid rain, types of soil, pH, soil erosion, ways to improve soil quality) -human impacts on water (6 ways to assess the quality of water, bioaccumulation and biomagnification) -Tale of Grassy Narrows and Melting of the Permafrost case studies - https:/ / www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BFfuHmrW2gc link to permafrost video Terms from section 1.1 Stewardship - taking care and personal responsibility for the management and care of the earth. Environment - the living and nonliving things that exist on earth as well as their iterations with each other. The environment is a complex, self-sustaining system. Sustainability - populations of animals, plants and other organisms can continue to interact and reproduce indefinitely. The ability to endure. Biodiversity - the total number of different species in an ecosystem and their relative abundance. holistic approach/7 generations - the development of deep respect for the earth. 7 generations is the teaching of ensuring that the next 7 generations are able to survive on earth. Ecology - the study of relationships between living organisms and their environment. Ecosystem - a complex, self-regulating system in which living things interact with each other in a given area. Biotic factors - fungi, animals, plants abiotic factors - air, rocks, temperature Species - a group of similar organisms in an ecosystem that can reproduce and give birth to viable offspring. This makes up a population. Population - a group of members of the same species that live in the same area Habitat - the physical environment of an organism = where it lives Niche - all the interaction of a given species within its ecosystem. The role of the organism Community - made up of populations of different species that live and interact in an area. Consumer - eat other organisms to obtain energy because they cant produce their own food Biomes Definition - a large geographical region that contains similar ecosystems. The main types of biomes are terrestrial and aquatic. (the combining of ecosystems) Deciduous forests - the regular kind of forests/trees we see most often, deciduous trees. Deciduous trees have leaves that change color and fall off. - biotic factors: wild flowers, spiders, slugs. Abiotic factors: water, sunlight, temperature - climate change is causing more rainfall than ever before Boreal forests - more colder forests contain many trees (coniferous and deciduous) and bodies of water (lakes, rivers) - abiotic factors: little sunlight, cold temperatures, large bodies of water. Biotic factors: moose, bears, lynx, spruce trees. - climate change is causing boreal forests to become warmer Tundra - found in the arctic and tops of mountains, are cold and windy treeless regions called a tundra. - Biotic factor: ravens, wolves, caribou. Abiotic factor: low precipitation, dry winds, cold temperatures - climate change is causing a decrease in the population of caribou and due to the warmer temperatures, there is more greenery. Grasslands - the little amount of rainfall causes only grass to grow and not enough to sustain a forest - biotic factors: grass, bison, elephants, giraffe abiotic factor: little precipitation, fertile soil, temperature - climate change has caused droughts. Temperate coniferous forests - a cool and moist forest that mainly contains coniferous trees ( trees that don't lose leaves ) - biotic factors: bears, porcupines, pine trees. abiotic factors: cold temperatures, sunlight, water - the warming of climate change has caused wildfires to be more often. Marine - a marine biome is an aquatic biome filled with salt water. (oceans and coral reef) - biotic factors: seaweed, fish, corals. abiotic factors: water currents, temperatures, ph - climate change has warmed up marine water leading to ice-melting, sea-level rise, marine heatwaves, and ocean acidification. Freshwater - freshwater biomes are aquatic and contain fresh water (ponds, rivers, lakes) they are viable drinking sources - biotic factors: fish, bacteria, plants. abiotic factors: temperature, ph, sunlight - climate change ha caused coastal erosions and rising sea levels The spheres Biosphere - is the cycle of living organisms from the lithosphere to the hydrosphere and atmosphere. - lithosphere - lithosphere comes from the moving of tectonic plates. The lithosphere provides us with forests and grasslands. It's the rocky outer layer of the earth. Hydrosphere - the total amount of water on a planet. It is known as water on land (oceans, lakes, rivers), in the air (water vapor, clouds) and underground (aquifers). atmosphere - the whole mass of air surrounding a planet. On earth, there are 7 layers of the atmosphere. Each layer has a role ( niche ;) ) Nutrients Definition - are substances that an organism uses to build and repair their cells and provide energy to grow, live and reproduce. Nutrients include: carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, vitamins, fats and oils. Animals: they get their nutrients by eating carbohydrates, fats and proteins Plants: they get their nutrients from nitrates (NO3) Nutrient cycle The process of moving a nutrient (matter) back and forth between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. The cycle has no beginning or end. This matter can be built up over thousands of years. Theses are called reservoirs and can be found in water, land, atmosphere or in sediments Cycles Water cycle Water enters the atmosphere through evaporation (lakes, ponds, oceans), transportation (trees and plants) and cellular respiration (all living organisms) Four main factors Precipitation Rainfall Condensation Forming of clouds (gas-liquid) Collection Bodies of water evaporation Water vapor (liquid-gas) Nitrogen cycle All organisms need nitrogen to make proteins The nitrogen in the air is in the form of nitrogen gas (N2) Nitrogen gas to become nitrates (NO3) before plants are able to use The air you breathe is made up of 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen Nitrogen fixation: converting nitrogen gas (N2) into nitrates (NO3) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil, converting nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3) ammonia must then be converted into nitrates. Lightning causes NO3. nitrates then dissolve in water and enter the soil Plants called legumes (beans, alfalfa, peas) have nodules on their roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that fix nitrogen directly for the plant. Animals, decomposers and nitrogen process: Animals get their nitrogen by eating plants or animals When animals eat proteins, ammonia is produced in its waste Decomposers that break down the ammonia from the water into nitrates and nitrites They are the released into the soil where they can be absorbed by plants Converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas (denitrification): (Denitrification is the opposite process of nitrogen fixation ) Denitrifying bacteria in the soil, converts nitrates back into nitrogen gas (N2) which is now back into the atmosphere. Soil fertility and plant growth can be increased by adding artificial fertilizers Carbon cycle Where is carbon found: The bodies of all living things The atmosphere (CO2 gas) Underground as coal, oil and natural gas (fossil fuels) Oceans and lakes (dissolved CO2) Permafrost How the cycling of carbon works Coal, oil and natural gas deposits were formed from the remains of huge forests that lived hundreds of million years ago. These are called fossil fuels. Burning these fossil fuels causes carbon dioxide to be released in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration (complimentary process) move carbon between the various reservoirs When organisms die, their carbon containing molecules become apart of the soil Decomposers break down these molecules further and release CO2 into the atmosphere Under certain conditions, the remains of some dead organisms may gradually be changed into fossil fuels. Cellular respiration Photosynthesis Definition: a chemical process Definition: The process of producing carbohydrates in which energy is released from food. This happens in all living organisms. from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight is called photosynthesis. These organisms who do this are called producers or autotrophs. Role in cycling carbon dioxide Role in cycling carbon dioxide All living organisms release CO2 into the atmosphere Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere Word equation Word equation Glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy Carbon dioxide + water + sunlight -> glucose + carbon dioxide How do they interact with one another Cellular respiration and photosynthesis work in a process that aids and keeps each other going. Cellular respiration releases carbon dioxide and uses up oxygen while photosynthesis releases oxygen and uses up carbon dioxide. Terms from section 1.2 Producer - Photosynthesis that is carried out by organisms, are called producers. Examples of producers are terrestrial and aquatic plants like algae and other organisms. Also known as autotrophs Consumer / heterotroph - eat other organisms to obtain energy because they cant produce their own food Wate Primary consumer - eats producers (caterpillars) Secondary consumer - eats primary consumers (small bird) Tertiary consumer - eats secondary consumers Quaternary consumer -eats tertiary consumers Organisms and what they eat Herbivore - only eats plants (deers & moose) Carnivore - eats mostly meat (wolves) Scavenger - carnivores that eats the remains of dead animals (vultures) Omnivore - eats both plants and animals (humans, bears & racoons) Detritivore - eats organic matter of remains of dead animals and animal waste (maggots & earthworms) Decomposer: breaks down organic matter and release nutrients back into the ecosystem (fungi & mushrooms) Food chains and food webs Food chain - A way of showing feeding relationships among organisms. Has a beginning and an end in a food chain. They start with a producer and end with a final consumer. Food webs - accurately illustrate the many types of food a consumer eats. Does not have a definite beginning and end. Many possibilities of energy sources and food relationships. Energy pyramids Definition: Energy pyramids show the amount of available energy the producers and consumers contain. 10 percent of the energy is lost when going up the trophic levels The rest of the energy is 60% is poo and 30 is cellular respiration How to construct one: The base of the energy pyramid is the starting number (the biggest one) On your next trophic level divide the starting number by 10 And so on until you reach the tertiary level Interaction in ecosystems There are 3 types of interactions organisms go through Competition (+/-) The interaction between 2 or more organisms competing for the same resource in a given habitat (food, habitat, mate) Predation (+/-) Occurs when one organism hunts and eats another to obtain food Camouflage: technique used to blend into environment or natural surroundings (snakes, insects, chameleon) Mimicry: when one species looks like another species to increase chance of not being eaten (viceroy and monarch butterfly) Symbiosis (+/+) (+/0) (+/-) A close interaction between two different species in which members of one lives in, on or near members of another species Mutualism (+/+): when both species benefit from the relationship (clown fish living in anemone) Commensalism (+/0): occurs when one species benefits and the other is neutral. (cattle egret feeds on fields stirred up by grazing animals) Parasitism (+/-): occurs when one species benefits at other expense parasites live on inside the host to obtain nutrition. ( ticks living on animal host, feeding on blood) Characteristics of population Definition: Natural populations fluctuate (increase and decrease) Equilibrium - reached when the number of births is equal to the number of deaths. Thus, the number of individuals stay the same over time Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support and be sustainable. Limiting factor - an environmental factor that prevents increases in populations or prevents them from moving into a new habitat. Prevents population from surpassing its carrying capacity Can be biotic or abiotic Abiotic Vs. biotic limiting factors Abiotic Biotic Sunlight Competition for resources Water, Soil, Air Predators Space Disease - causing organisms Natural Disturbances (i.e. fire, storms, drought) Reliance on others for survival(i.e. number of mates) Human Disturbances (i.e. deforestation) Goal of sustainability: to meet the needs of the present generation of individuals without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs. -sustainability and climate change -human impacts on soils (acid rain, types of soil, pH, soil erosion, ways to improve soil quality) -human impacts on water (6 ways to assess the quality of water, bioaccumulation and biomagnification) -Tale of Grassy Narrows and Melting of the Permafrost case studies - https:/ / www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BFfuHmrW2gc link to permafrost video Human impacts on soils Acid rain - acids form in air by emissions and fall as acid rain Causes of acid rain… Emissions coming from mining, refining metals, electrical power generators, oil/gas operation, automobiles release chemicals into the air which combine with water vapor and form acids. Nitrogen and sulfur continuing substances are the most common pollutants in these emissions. Effects of acid rain… Damages waxy coat that's protects leaves from infection = acid burn Burns skin of earthworms Affects plant root’s ability to absorb nutrients Makes lakes and rivers more acidic and therefore the aquatic organisms can die Solutions to acid rain… Government put limits on emissions Better technology to reduce pollution = scrubbers remove damaging chemicals before they are released to the atmosphere This is a global problem since wind carries harmful emissions Assessing impacts We can examine pollutants (i.e. rain) in ecosystems and their effects by assessing… Soil 2. Water Assessing soil The condition of soil indicates the health of an ecosystem Soil is a loose covering on the ground containing a mixture of organic matter, minerals and moisture Soil quality soil profile, soil type, and acidity Soil profile - soil is made up of distinct layers… Top soil - mostly HUMUS (decaying organic matter), contains rock and lots of organisms Subsoil - very compact, little/no organic matter, roots of tall trees and bacteria, bottom is saturated like sponge because of water table Bedrock - solid rock, water cannot penetrate, but is trapped in groundwater (above bedrock). Organic layer (idk ngl) Top soil Subsoil Bedrock Soil types - three main types of soil are loam, clay and sand. Each supports different plant life and has different fertile layers. Loam is the most fertile soil and preferred for agriculture. Acidity Acidity is an abiotic factor that determines the chemical environment of soil. Not all substances are acidic (i.e. pure water is classified as neutral) To measure acidity levels, we use a PH scale. By testing the moisture in the soil with strips of paper that change color called PH paper. Soil PH low ph soil with values less than 7 - the soil is acidic high ph soil with values more than 7 - the soil is alkaline Soil ph that equals to 7 - the soil is neutral Soil too acidic or too alkaline can damage tissues of plants & animals and make it difficult to absorb nutrients Some plants do require slightly acidic or alkaline soils to grow (i.e. coniferous trees prefer acidic soils) Human impacts of soil: farming Soil erosion: loss of soil when water or wind washes or blows it away (typically, the roots of plants holds soil in place) Plowing soil - top soil exposed to wind and water Overgrazing by livestock - strips land of vegetation How crop rotation helps restore nitrogen to the soil Same type of crop is grown each year… can deplete nutrients crop fuel Crop rotation: practice of planting different type of crop each year… alternate types of nutrients taken and crops can add nutrients to soil Another method that helps with the loss of soil nutrients Planting legumes (i.e. peas, lentils, soybeans, have nodules, symbiotic bacteria) This replenishes the soil Don't need to add fertilizer -human impacts on water (6 ways to assess the quality of water, bioaccumulation and biomagnification) Human impacts on water quality Assessing water quality 1. Aquatic organisms 2. Oxygen content 3. Acidity 4. Phosphorus & nitrogen concentration 5. Heavy metals 1. Aquatic organisms Aquatic ecosystem a great variety of organisms indicted a healthy ecosystem presence or absence of certain organisms can indicate that water is polluted Indicator organisms: insects and insect larvae, shrimp, clams, and worms (some organisms can survive in polluted water while others cannot) (i.e. lots of caddis fly = clean H2O & lots of worms = polluted H2O) 2. Oxygen content Dissolved oxygen the level of oxygen present in water, measured in ppm (parts per million) or mg/L If the level drops, fewer organisms are able to live Biological oxygen demand (BOD) - measures how quickly oxygen is used up by microorganisms Effective test for water pollution - polluted water promotes growth of some micro-organisms Feed off the pollution and therefore use up oxygen at a high rate (other aquatic organisms may die As water becomes more polluted, BOD increases in value, therefore, oxygen is used up more quickly in a polluted water source and organisms demand higher concentration of dissolved oxygen 3. Acidity As with soil, most organisms prefer a neutral ph (7) As acidity increases, biodiversity decreases Most fish will die if ph is 4.5 of lower 4. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations Fertilizers have a high concentration of P and N Applied to garden and fields Runoff into lakes & stream cause algae to grow rapidly in water Eutrophication - the addition of nutrients to water causing increased growth of algae As algae die, oxygen is depleted, causing other organisms to die as well 5. Heavy metals Metals such as mercury, copper, lead and cadmium May be present in small quantities in water but can be very toxic and cause illnesses Sources of heavy metals: batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, coal-fired power plants, incinerators and steel mills When heavy metals gradually build up in an organism’s body tissue, it is called bioaccumulation Biomagnification build-up of certain substances in the bodies of organisms at higher trophic levels of food chains/webs Contaminated algae - consumed by zooplankton and heavy metals bioaccumulate in their fat tissues Heavy metals - more and more concentrated in each step of the food chain as one animal eat many contaminated animals (top predator receives the greatest amount of toxins) As humans eat these toxic animals, many health concerns and illnesses occur: kidney and lung disease, immune system disorders, cancer, sterility in men, infertility in women, birth defects in babies whose mothers’ consumed and contaminated organisms while pregnant. Tale of grassy narrows Main point - a main water supply, Grassy Narrows lake, contains mercury. 90% of the community has mercury poisoning. Why there was mercury - From 1962 to 1970, former owners of the Reed paper mill upstream, dumped 9000 kg of mercury waste into the river, which poisoned the lake and its wildlife. Devastated Grassy Narrows’ economy by thriving commercial fishing being out of the picture. With few local economic opportunities and little money, residents have continued to eat the fish caught from nearby lakes and rivers over the years. Why hasn't it been solved - took many years to secure government commitments. Melting of the permafrost Main point - permafrost is melting all across the world. Questions from julie johnson How much of Canada sits on permafrost? Around half of canada In tuktoyaktuk. What is permafrost? Permafrost is a raw earth material that stays frozen for at least 2 years. What is the function of permafrost in the north? Permafrost acts as the glue and cement that hold land together What is causing the erosion of the cliff seen along the beaufort sea? As the permafrost thaws, it causes cliffs to erode, caused by increased climate. Why are scientists concerned with the release of carbon as a result of the melting permafrost? In the permafrost, there is double the amount of carbon that is in the air. How much of the earth’s permafrost is expected to be thawed by year 2100 About 70% Can permafrost be refrozen once it has been thawed? Not possible