Ecological Issues

Understand various ecological issues that exist around the world, what causes them, and how they impact their ecosystems.

Deforestation, caused by excessive tree-chopping, plastic pollution, co2 emissions.

Be aware of California-specific examples and how our (relatively) local ecosystems are impacted.
- Call to Action
  - Know various approaches that can raise awareness and bring individuals or groups to action.

education, call to action, policy changes,

- Ecological Surveys and Experiments
  - Explain what survey data is and ways in which it can be collected.

survey data is data from an underwater camera and is collected by pausing the video footage

- - Demonstrate ability to interpret survey data and draw conclusions from those observations.

we can interpret the amount of species per snapshot and evaluate biodiversity

- - Understand how Part 1 of the Ocean Acidification Lab models the concept of ocean acidification.

It shows how different amounts of an acid can affect the co2 concentration in the ocean.

- - Understand how Part 2 of the Ocean. Acidification Lab shows how organisms can be impacted directly by lowered pH in their environments.

it shows how the humans are impacting the environment with ocean acidification

Ocean acidification is the process where the pH of the ocean decreases due to the absorption of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This leads to a decrease in the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for organisms like corals, oysters, and sea urchins to build their calcium carbonate structures. As the ocean becomes more acidic, it becomes harder for these organisms to form and maintain their shells, spines, and skeletons, ultimately impacting their development and survival. The term "acidification" is used even though the ocean's pH remains around 7 because any decrease in pH from the natural levels can have significant effects on marine life.

- The Age of Humans
  - Explain the concept of a carbon footprint.

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, emitted directly or indirectly by human activities. It is a measure of the impact individuals, organizations, or activities have on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. This includes emissions from transportation, energy use, food production, and other sources that contribute to climate change. By calculating and reducing our carbon footprint, we can help mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change.

- - Know the role of the Industrial Revolution and the Great Acceleration in humans' increasing impact on the environment.

During the Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation increased significantly. This led to the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. The Great Acceleration, starting around the mid-20th century, saw a rapid increase in various human activities, such as population growth, industrial production, and consumption, further intensifying the impact on the environment. These periods marked a significant shift in human influence on the planet, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural processes.

- Climate Change
  - Connect the burning of fossils fuels to overall climate change.

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This excess CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat and leading to rising global temperatures. This process, known as the greenhouse effect, contributes to climate change by altering weather patterns, causing sea levels to rise, and impacting ecosystems worldwide. The excess CO2 also gets absorbed by the oceans, leading to ocean acidification, which negatively affects marine life like coral, oysters, and sea urchins by decreasing pH levels in the water.

- - Briefly describe the causes and effects of specific climate change issues: acid rain, ocean acidification, methane production, monocrops, deforestation/reforestation, urban development, overhunting/overfishing, invasive species, air pollution

Ocean acidification is caused by the absorption of excess carbon dioxide by the oceans, leading to a decrease in pH levels. This impacts marine life by hindering the ability of organisms like corals, oysters, and sea urchins to form calcium carbonate structures, affecting their development negatively. Acid rain is caused by pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere, leading to acidic precipitation that harms ecosystems. Methane production contributes to global warming as methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Monocrops deplete soil nutrients and increase the risk of pests and diseases. Deforestation reduces carbon sequestration, while reforestation helps mitigate climate change. Urban development leads to habitat loss and fragmentation. Overhunting and overfishing disrupt ecosystems and endanger species. Invasive species outcompete native species, leading to biodiversity loss. Air pollution from various sources harms human health and ecosystems.

- - Explain the concept of biological magnification.

Biological magnification, also known as biomagnification, is the process where toxins or pollutants become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. Organisms at higher trophic levels accumulate higher levels of these substances due to consuming organisms lower in the food chain that have already accumulated the toxins. This phenomenon occurs because the toxins are not easily broken down or excreted by organisms, leading to their accumulation in higher concentrations in organisms at the top of the food chain.

- Data/Models
  - Know that regulatory bodies and advocacy groups exist to bring awareness to current and future ecological issues.

Regulatory bodies and advocacy groups exist to bring awareness to current and future ecological issues by monitoring, enforcing regulations, and promoting sustainable practices. For example, organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States set standards to protect the environment and human health. Non-governmental organizations like Greenpeace work to raise awareness about ecological issues like ocean acidification and advocate for solutions to address them. These groups play a crucial role in educating the public, influencing policies, and driving positive change for the environment.

- - Understand the trends of various ecological issues that have been tracked over time.

Ecological issues such as ocean acidification, climate change, deforestation, and species extinction have been monitored over the years. These issues have shown concerning trends, with negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Tracking these trends helps scientists and policymakers understand the extent of the problems and develop strategies to address them. negative goes up biodiversity goes down

- - Describe how a computer model can be created from existing data and how it can be tested for validity before applying it towards future predictions.

A computer model can be created by inputting existing data related to ocean acidification, such as CO2 levels, pH changes, and impacts on marine organisms. The model can be tested for validity by comparing its predictions to real-world observations and experimental results. By adjusting parameters based on new data and ensuring the model accurately reflects known scientific principles, its reliability can be assessed before using it for future predictions.

- Climate Change Impacts
  - Explain how the following climate change issues began and/or impact the ecosystems around them: precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, migration, extinction, missed season issues, agricultural limitations, rising sea levels

Climate change issues like precipitation pattern changes, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels are primarily caused by human activities releasing greenhouse gases, leading to global warming. These changes impact ecosystems by altering habitats, causing species migration, and increasing extinction rates. Changes in precipitation patterns can disrupt ecosystems by affecting plant growth and water availability. Extreme weather events can lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Rising sea levels threaten coastal ecosystems, causing habitat loss and increased flooding. These changes can result in missed seasons, agricultural limitations, and further exacerbate the impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.

Understand what types of sustainable and renewable resources are available.

Sustainable and renewable resources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy sources. These resources can be replenished naturally and have minimal impact on the environment. They are considered sustainable because they can be used without depleting them for future generations. These resources play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.