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Unit 6: Ecosystems
Module 16: Human Impact on the Environment
NC Essential Standard:
2.2 Understand the impact of human activities on the environment
ABSOLUTLY YES. It is NOT a theory. There is no other side. The earth IS getting
warmer. Believe it, because the data doesnt lie!
There is debate about why the climate is changing. But scientific consensus is that humans
are contributing due to excessive emissions of greenhouse gases like CO 2. Levels of
greenhouse gases and global average temperature are tightly correlated!
By the way, in NO WAY is global warming caused by a hole in the ozone layer!!! These are
2 unrelated problems!
I.
Sketch a graph of
human population
growth:
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(from http://online.sd43.bc.ca)
(from www.mnforsustain.org)
(from www.cbc.yale.edu)
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D. Solutions
1. ZPG zero population growth (birth rate = death rate).
a. Limit number of births per family by offering tax incentives
Ex. China
b. Make birth control and family planning more available.
c. Educate public and our political leaders.
2. Conservation wise and careful use of resources through
environmental stewardship
a. Twenty percent of the worlds population uses more than
fifty percent of the worlds resources.
b. People in developed countries (like the U.S.) can decrease
resource use by the 3 Rs:
i.
ii.
one-use containers
iii.
II.
Global Warming:
Cause
Effect
NC Example
Acid Precipitation:
Cause
Effect
NC Example
Effect
NC Example
Check Yourself!
1. What are the two main greenhouse gases?
3. What part of the water cycle carries land pollution to the water?
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III.
Word Help:
Bio
Diversity -
exist within an area and the genetic diversity within each species
Effect
NC Example
3. Biomagnification of Pesticides
Accumulation
Magnification
Watch It!
Check Yourself!
1. What is biodiversity?
2. What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?
_________ of
Species
Loss of ______
diversity
Is defined as
Loss of
____________
Ultimate Cause
Ways to prevent
_________ consumption of
resources
_______ material/resources
This leads to
Habitat
__________
Deforestation
________ environments we
have damaged
Resulting from
Word Bank:
Natural resources
Fragmentation
Increase
Recycle
Reuse
Livestock & Agriculture
Destruction
Restore
Biodiversity
Reduce
Extinction
Genetic
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Unit 6 / Module 16
Problem Solving Set
1.
For each of the following items, write an I if they increase with human
population growth, or a D if they decrease with human population growth.
_____ fossil fuels
_____ landfills
_____ deforestation
_____ endangered species
_____ roads
_____ wilderness areas
_____ air pollution
_____ minerals/metals (mined from earth)
_____ water pollution
_____ biodiversity
2.
Country A
Country B
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3.
a. On the y-axis, what does 0.0 represent (Hint: this is where the graph
starts, and the graph is measuring change)?
b. What was the overall temperature change between 1850 2000
(calculate the actual difference!)?
c. What trend does the data show between 1970 and 2000 (increase,
decrease, staying the same)?
4.
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5.
a. According to the diagram, what are the two main pollutants responsible
for acid rain?
b. Use the diagram to name two sources (things producing these pollutants)
of these pollutants.
c. Name two ecosystems from the diagram that might be affected by acid
rain.
6.
For each of the global problems listed in the chart below, think of one local
solution - something that you can do to lessen that problem.
Global Problem Caused by
Local Solution
Global Warming
CO2 and CH4
Acid precipitation
Water Pollution
Run-off of land
pollutants
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7.
As the human population increases, there is an increasing need for more land to support this
population. Forests are being cut down at an alarming rate to allow for development and
agriculture. In the 1950s, approximately 14% of the Earths land area was covered by
rainforest, but today rainforest covers only about 6%. This relatively small percentage of
Earths land supports about 50% of Earths species! Many of these species, such as the
mountain gorilla, are now at risk. Another problem is habitat fragmentation. Giant pandas
require quite a large land for each individual so that they will be able to get enough food to
survive. Today, Chinas 1,100 giant pandas live in 24 isolated habitats that represent just a
fragment of their historic range, because people require more land to support their own
needs. Wetland destruction is another problem. Wetlands are drained or filled in so that
people can live near lakes or seashores, but the organisms that depend on the wetlands
have nowhere else to go. There has been a decline in migratory waterfowl populations,
such as whooping crane as a result.
Name of Species
8.
Image Credits:
www.coe.ilstu.edu
www.phschool.com
www.epa.gov
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