final exam

Identify the control variables and planetary boundaries for biosphere integrity

Control Variable:

-Genetic diversity (extinction rate)

-Functional diversity (biological intactness index, BII)

Planetary Boundary:-<10 extinctions per million species per year

-Maintain BII at 90% or above, assessed geographically by biomes/large regional areas

Distinguish between ecosystem functions and ecosystem services, and give examples of each

Ecosystem functions are:

-How species interact

-The flow of energy and nutrients

-How species use resources

-How many trophic levels exist

Ecosystem services are:

- Provisioning (providing food, fuel, water)

- Regulating (flood control, climate regulation)

- Supporting (carbon storage, nutrient cycling)

- Cultural (recreation, cultural benefits)

Define biodiversity, and explain how biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience

- The degree of variation in life.

- Affects ecosystem function and ecosystem services.

-Genetic, Species, Ecological Diversity

Identify the different trophic levels in a food web

1. Primary producers (autotrophs): plants and photosynthetic bacteria - the lowest trophic level

2. Secondary Producers (or primary consumers; herbivores): feed on plants

3. Tertiary producers (or secondary consumers; carnivores): feed on herbivores

4. Quaternary producers (or tertiary consumers; top carnivores): feed at the apex of the food web

Define the term ecosystem

-Everything that exists in a particular area, both biotic and abiotic, and their interactions.

-The complex community of organisms and its environment functioning as a unit.

Define apex predator

a top-level predator with no natural predator of their own; resides at the top of a food chain. e.g. grey wolf

Define keystone species

a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment compared to its relative abundance.

Define niche

the role a species plays in its ecosystem; not only its habitat requirements, but also how it acquires energy and nutrients, and how it interacts with other species, and non-biotic parts of its ecosystem.

Define habitat

the physical environment where a species typically lives.

Explain what a trophic cascade is, and be able to give an example

Occurs when the impact of a predator on its prey affects one or more trophic level

.-When the apex predator is removed, the lack of population control at the next trophic level down can affect the populations at the trophic level below

.-Trophic cascades must occur across a minimum of three trophic levels (e.g. secondary consumer, primary consumer, and producer)

-Trophic cascades can also happen from the bottom up; for example, the removal of a producer may affect population sizes in the trophic levels above it-e.g. wolves in yellowstone national park

Explain how a 'mass extinction' is defined, and evaluate evidence that suggests that human activities are leading to a 6th mass extinction

A mass extinction event is when species vanish much faster than they are replaced.

Holocene extinction: due to the unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change

A loss of about ¾ of all species in existence across entire earth across a short (less than 2.8million years) geological period of time

Evidence shows that human activities are leading to the 6th mass extinction:Extinction is happening fasterThe extinction rate is 477 species since 1900 whereas the standard rate is 9 species.322 species have been recorded going extinct since 1500, which is about 1.2 species going extinction every 2 years while the natural rate is ranging between 0.1 to 2 extinctions per million species-years

Recognize the Strategic Goals of the Aichi Biodiversity targets

Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society.

Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.

Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity.

-Define 'indicator species', and explain how the American pika fits this definition.

An indicator species is an organism used to assess a specific environmental condition. An indicator species is one whose presence or absence will indicate the existence of a particular environmental condition.

For example, Fruticose lichens can only grow in environments with little to no air pollution. If they are present in a ecosystem it can be inferred that the air is free of pollutants.

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is often considered an indicator species due to its sensitivity to temperature and climate conditions. Pikas are small, herbivorous mammals that inhabit alpine and subalpine regions in North America. They are adapted to cool, high-altitude environments and are highly susceptible to warmer temperatures. As such, they are particularly sensitive to climate change.

-Appreciate how having narrow ranges of physiological requirements can be detrimental if/when the environment changes.

Having narrow ranges of physiological requirements can be detrimental for a species when the environment undergoes changes, especially if those changes fall outside the species' optimal conditions. Here are some reasons why a narrow physiological range can be disadvantageous:

Climate Sensitivity:

Habitat Limitations:

Competition and Predation:

Migration Challenges:

Evolutionary Lag:

Vulnerability to Anthropogenic Activities:

-Describe how different pressures can cause organisms to either adapt or move to a new location.

Organisms can respond to various pressures in their environment by either adapting to the changes or by relocating to a more suitable location. These pressures can be natural, such as climatic shifts or ecological interactions, or they can be anthropogenic, resulting from human activities. Here's how different pressures can influence organisms to adapt or move:

Adaptation:

Climate Change:

Predation and Competition:

Resource Availability:

Habitat Alterations:

-Pose hypotheses to investigate climate change and its effects on the American pika. Analyze and interpret research results.

Hypotheses:

Temperature Sensitivity

Hypothesis: The American pika is sensitive to temperature changes, and as global temperatures rise due to climate change, we expect a corresponding shift in the altitudinal range of pikas.

Research Approach: Conduct a longitudinal study comparing historical and current distribution data of American pikas. Analyze temperature trends in their habitats and correlate with observed changes in pika distribution.

Recall the global distribution of land use, and identify the main drivers/causes of land use change

Global distribution of land use:

Only 29% of Earth's surface is land

Only 71% of that 29% is habitable

Of the habitable land, 50% is for agriculture, 37% is forests, 11% shrubs, 1 & urban and built-up land, 1% freshwater

Identify the control variables and planetary boundaries for land system change, and explain why forest change is the focus of the land system change planetary boundary

control variable global: area of forested land as % of original forest cover

planetary boundary global: 75%

control variable biome: area of forested land as % of potential forest

planetary boundary biome: tropical 85%, temeprate 50%, boreal 85%

List and describe ecosystem services provided by rainforests

regulate the earth's atmosphere. carbon storage. create biodiversity

Describe the ways in which land use changes impact the earth system and link to other planetary boundary processes that you have studied

changing the global carbon cycle and possible the global climate. affect regional climates through changes in surface energy and water balance. transformation of the hydrologic cycle.

anthropogenic nutrient inputs to the biosphere from fertilizers and atmospheric pollutants. declines in biodiversity

Deforestation directly and largely impacts climate change and the carbon cycle, about 35% of human made emissions of carbon have come from land system change. Changes water balances and freshwater availability. Also leads to significant declines in biodiversity.

Describe some strategies that can be used to combat deforestation and the detrimental effects of land use

replanting proper greenery into forests, protecting old and large trees, protecting mature forests, keeping land in ownership of indigenous people

-Describe trends in forest loss in two countries (Indonesia and Brazil), and give evidence-based explanations for the observed trends.

Indonesia:

Trend:

-Historically, Indonesia has experienced significant deforestation, particularly in its tropical rainforests, driven by factors such as palm oil plantations, logging, and agricultural expansion.

Brazil:

Trend:

-Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest, has faced substantial deforestation, with fluctuations in rates over the years. Deforestation surged in the 2000s, decreased in the following decade, but has shown signs of increasing again in recent years.

Identify the 3 criteria for a pollutant to be considered a planetary boundary for novel entities.

the pollution must be irreverisble or very difficult to reverse

the disruptive effect is only detectable when it is a problem at the global scale

the pollution must disrupt earth system processes

Evaluate the case for marine plastic pollution as a planetary boundary for novel entities, providing evidence for how it meets each of the 3 criteria.

scientists found evidence suggesting that mpp is irreversible as it is everyone and it will be encapsulated in rocks globally.

plastic being redistributed across land and around the world's ocean, the concentrations of it as a contaminant are nearly the same globally.

high concentrations of microplastics on beaches may change the flows of nutrients and water, affect sand's temperature which can affect sex determination of turtle eggs.

when microplastic is eaten by copepods which play a vital role in marine food webs, their feces don't sink down into the water as fast as usual which changes the flow of carbon and nutrients in the ocean

Describe ways in which scientists collect data about marine plastic pollution.

within 50km of coast line

Describe impacts of marine plastic pollution (MPP) on each sphere in the earth system, and explain how MPP links to the Planetary Boundaries of biosphere integrity and climate change.

mpp and climate change:sunlight accelerates the breakdown of plastic which releases GHG. microplastics may interfere with the formation of ice cover because they float on the surface of arctic waters, which speeds up global warming

mpp and biosphere integrity:when copepods consumer large amounts of microplastics, they produce fewer and less healthy offspring and this could lead to collapses of important species that each copepods

Identify both large-scale (policy) and small-scale (individual) solutions to the marine plastic pollution environmental problem.

Large Scale: development of effective waste management in all countries, cease plastic waste trade into developing countries

Small Scale: recycle all plastics, making smarter consumer choices

-Articulate the differences and similarities in microplastic pollution in two different lake systems.

Differences in Microplastic Pollution:

Sources and Land Use:

Types of Microplastics:

Transport Mechanisms:

Local Human Activities:

Similarities in Microplastic Pollution:

Presence of Common Microplastics:

Atmospheric Deposition:

Transport Within Water Bodies:

Biological Uptake:

Need for Mitigation Strategies:

-Hypothesize the sources of plastic pollution in each system and suggest strategies to reduce the pollution.

System 1: Urban River System

Hypothesized Sources of Plastic Pollution:

Urban Runoff: Plastics from litter, improperly disposed waste, and packaging in urban areas are likely to be washed into stormwater drains during rainfall events.

Improper Waste Disposal: Littering and inadequate waste disposal practices in urban areas may contribute directly to plastic pollution in the river.

Industrial Discharges: Industries along the riverbanks may release plastic particles through wastewater discharges.

Sewage Systems: Microplastics from personal care products and synthetic fabrics could enter the river through municipal sewage systems.

Strategies to Reduce Pollution:

Improved Waste Management: Implement and enforce effective waste management systems in urban areas, including recycling programs and proper waste disposal infrastructure.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct educational campaigns to inform the public about the impact of plastic pollution and promote responsible waste disposal.

Identify the control variable and planetary boundary for ocean acidification.

control variable: carbonate ion concentration, average global surface ocean saturation state with respect to aragonite

planetary boundary: >80% of the pre-industrial aragonite saturation state of mean surface ocean, including natural and seasonal variability

Explain how the ocean acidification boundary is linked with the climate change and biosphere integrity boundaries.

Linked to climate change because carbon is what causes global warming, as well as ocean acidification. It is linked to biosphere integrity because ocean acidification kills living organisms who live in the ocean

Describe carbon dioxide dissolution and solubility (and their chemistry) in the context of the ocean carbon system.

Solubility cycle: gas exchanged at ocean surface, CO2 dissolved in ocean reacts in water to form carbonic acid then dissociates to make bicarbonate and hydrogen ions and bicarbonate dissociates to make carbonate and more hydrogen ions

Explain how the ocean carbon system buffers the ocean against rapid changes in seawater pH.

The solubility cycle can work backwards when PH gets too low. Hyrdogen ion combines with carbonate. This carbonate can actually come from the shells and coral from the ocean which is harmful.

Describe geographic differences in ocean acidification using maps.

Almost no areas on the global map that have gone up in PH. Most areas along the equator are red and orange, which indicates a 0.5-0.7 drop in PH.

List impacts of ocean acidification on humans.

Affect the food that humans eat. Most of the shellfish that we eat requires calcium carbonate to form their shells → reduce in food amount

List solutions to the ocean acidification issue.

restore/establish land uses that enhance update of atmospheric CO2 by vegetation and soilsCut fossil fuel emissionsGeoengineering solutions-fertilising oceans with iron to cause human-made phytoplankton blooms to take up CO2

-Describe concepts of coral growth (extension, density, calcification).

Coral growth is a complex process influenced by various factors, and several key concepts help understand the dynamics of coral colonies. Three fundamental concepts related to coral growth are extension, density, and calcification:

Extension:

Definition: Extension refers to the linear growth of coral colonies, primarily in terms of the upward growth of the skeletal structure. It is often measured as the increase in height or length of the coral branches or the entire colony over a specific time period.

Density:

Definition: Density, in the context of coral growth, refers to the number of coral polyps per unit area or volume. It is a measure of how closely spaced the individual polyps are within a colony.

Calcification:

Definition: Calcification is the process by which corals and other marine organisms secrete calcium carbonate to form their skeletons. The calcium carbonate forms the coral's hard, limestone-like structure, providing support for the coral colony.

-Describe saturation state and the overall impact of ocean acidification on coral calcification during the 21st century.

The saturation state is a measure of the tendency of seawater to dissolve or precipitate calcium carbonate minerals, such as aragonite and calcite. Specifically, it indicates how favorable the conditions are for these minerals to form and persist in seawater. The saturation state is expressed as the ratio of the ion product of calcium carbonate in seawater to its solubility product.

-Formulate a hypothesis and test the hypothesis with data collected in the field.

Higher levels of human activity and urbanization are positively correlated with increased microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.

Define sustainability, and describe the three components of a sustainable society.

Sustainability: in human scale of time, is able to endure, thrive, and regenerate without overburdening the living systems of the earth

-Use graphical analysis to interpret the data to predict how ocean acidification will impact coral calcification by the year 2100.

Assume you have historical data on ocean pH levels and coral calcification rates over the past few decades. Additionally, use projections for future pH levels based on current trends and predictions for the year 2100.

Graphical Representation:

Line Graph:

Plot a line graph with the x-axis representing time (years) and the y-axis representing pH levels. Display two lines: one for historical pH trends and another for projected pH levels by 2100.

Recognize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Things like, hunger, poverty, education, clean water, social justice, ocean protection arguably most importantly, global partnerships to achieve goals

List the 5 transformational policies that Rockstrom suggests are necessary to allow us to reach the SDGs within the Planetary Boundaries, and compare them to the strategies Chan proposes for achieving sustainable development

1. Rapid renewable energy growth (Halving emissions every decade)

2. Accelerated sustainable food chains

3. New development models in poorer countries

4. Active inequality reduction (redistribution of money)

5. Investment in education to all

Explain why the concept of "waste" is unique to human systems.

The law of conservation matter states that matter is neither created or destroyed. In nature all materials are recycled, but this is not the same in human societies. Things are thrown away

Expelled matter is recycled by another organism.There is no waste in natural ecosystems: all matter continues to be used in other forms.

Waste, trash, is unique to humans, and is defined as products of human creation that are no longer wanted and so are thrown 'away'.

Explain the concept of an ecological footprint.

The impact a country or individual has on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to support their use of natural resources.

Average ecological footprint in canada is about 5 earths.

Describe choices you can make on an individual scale to minimize your ecological footprint, and explain which planetary boundaries they address.

They can chose to use more sustainable transportation method, things like carpooling, public transit, biking and electric cars. This addresses the climate change boundary because it reduces carbon emissions.

-Identify three sustainability initiatives on SFU campuses, and describe one in detail including what environmental science issue/planetary boundary(ies) it addresses.

SFU publications on inclusivity, provides clean and sanitized water, creation of waste tracking apps, joined the United Nations in sustainability goals

-Identify the three focus areas of Vancouver's "Greenest City Action Plan", including what environmental science issue/planetary boundary(ies) they address.

Vancouver's "Greenest City Action Plan" focuses on several key areas to enhance sustainability and address environmental challenges. The plan, launched in 2011, outlines specific goals and strategies for making Vancouver the world's greenest city by 2020. The three primary focus areas of the plan are:

Green Economy:

Environmental Science Issue/Planetary Boundary Addressed:

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Integrity:

Climate Leadership:

Environmental Science Issue/Planetary Boundary Addressed:Climate Change:

Green Communities:

Environmental Science Issue/Planetary Boundary Addressed:Land Use Change and Planetary Boundaries related to Ecosystem Integrity: