Human impact on ecosystems

INTRODUCTION Human activities alter both the abiotic and the biotic environment in many ways.. An understanding of ecological relationships is needed to assess the impact of human activi

1 INTRODUCTION

Human activities alter both the abiotic and the biotic environment in

many ways For example, energy use increases air temperatures around cities, mining and effluent disposal release dissolved minerals into

waterways, and farming increased the populations of agricultural and pest species and decreased the populations of most wildlife An

understanding of ecological relationships is needed to assess the impact

of human activities on the environment

2 PLANNING AND DESIGNING

Problem

How do particular human activities have an impact on ecosystems?

Background Information

You will carry out research on one particular human activity that has an impact on the environment in your province The goal of your research

is to discover at least two links that connect a particular activity with a particular consequence, using ecological relationships that you have

learned For example, certain industries produce wastes containing

mercury, which enter the aquatic environment (Link 1) The mercury is deposited in the sediments of lakes and streams but is released by the activity of bacteria (Link 2) The mercury enters the bodies of

organisms and is concentrated in the muscles of carnivorous fish as it passes up the food chain (Link 3)

Through explorations such as this, you will be able to explain, for

example, how the production of paper might affect the health of fish-eating people living downstream from a pulp mill You will present

your finding, including tables and graphs of data in a report

Prediction

Experimental Design

Materials

‰ Reference books

‰ Internet searches

3 PERFORMING AND RECORDING

Procedure

1 Choose one of the following topics to investigate i.e.;

a The impact of human activities on an endangered

ecosystem such as short-grass prairie

b The impact of draining wetlands

c The impact of dam construction

d The impact of releasing heavy metals into the

environment

e The impact of single-crop, or monoculture farming

f The impact of clear-cutting forests

g The impact of building cottages along lake shores

h The impact of urban sprawl development on natural areas or drainage systems

i The impact of oil and gas exploration in Canada

j The impact of illegal wildlife poaching

k The impact of strip mining

l The impact of underground mining

2 Based on your knowledge of ecosystems, list some of the ways in which the natural environment would be affected Use concepts such as abiotic environment, populations, food webs, pyramid of numbers, prey, decomposers, biodiversity, and adaptation to

describe your ideas

3 Organize your ideas into liked steps: A leads to B, B leads to C,

and so on

4 Carry out research to obtain information related to your ideas

Good sources of data are Statistics Canada and various government departments such as Mining, Forestry, Fisheries, Environment,

Agriculture, and the Canadian Wildlife Service (NOTE: some of these organizations have home pages on the internet) Know what you need before you inquire, and be as specific as possible For example, figures showing changes in the numbers of prairie ponds since 1955 are available from Environment Canada (Figure 3.6) Changes in duck numbers on the western plains are provided by the Annual Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey, available from the Canadian Wildlife Service (Figure 3.7) Fisheries and Oceans Canada has data on mercury concentration in fish in various prairie lakes, and so on

5 Assemble your report, including data and illustrations, as outlined

in the experimental design

Evidence

4 ANALYZING AND APPLYING

Analysis

1 Describe your attempts to obtain information that were successful Give reasons for the lack of results

2 Did your research provide you with any information that surprised

you? Explain

Application

1 Suggest how one or more of the harmful impacts described in your report might be minimized or eliminated

2 Organize a class debate on the topic "Scientific information is of little value in resolving environmental issues in society."