Ecology 11 D Notes
Part I - It Comes From The Sea
1. List the important services the Earth's ocean systems provide us with
Transportation, food, minerals, removing carbon to get oxygen, fighting diseases, and drilling for oil.
2. Define the word fisheries.
It refers to all the fishing activities in the ocean, and the location where people fish.
3. What is a major crisis facing the world’s fisheries?
Other countries are fishing, and there is over-fishing going on.
4. What do you think would be the best solution to the problem?
For humans to depend less on fish and to realize what kind of damage the environmental changes are doing.
5. What is one way the oceans impact the world climate?
The ocean's ability to collect, drive and mix water, heat, and CO2
6. A very important organism from the ocean called_phytoplankton_produces approximately _90_% of the worlds
oxygen!
Part II - Different Effects Humans Have on the Seas
1. What are two examples of negative effects humans have on the oceans that would
be from runoff (water that moves across the surface of the earth)?
Sewage, oil spills, toxic chemical.s
2. The article says carbon emissions from the atmosphere are raising the acidity of the
oceans. How is this possible?
People burn fossil fuels, which increases the level of toxic chemicals in the water. therefore, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
3. What is a “Floating City”?
It is a cruise ship that carries a lot of people, and releases a lot of waste during the trips.
4. Approximately how many gallons of sewage do cruise ships produce a day?
30,000 gallons of sewage
5. How is human waste water or black water harmful to ocean systems?
Black water, or sewage, carries bacteria and other harmful substances, contaminating the species, and when those animals are eaten, it causes serious illness. White/Gray water is made up of laundry detergent, cooking wastes, and all the other waste that is not "sewage". The chemicals that all these substances contain also harm the environment, and the populations of the different communities. All this contamination causes great decreases in the population of animals.
Part III - DDT
1. Despite its ban, DDT still appears in the tissues of Antarctic _Adelie penguins _.
2. How do scientist believe this chemical is still being exposed to the environment after
almost 30 years?
A. illegal use
B. leaking from storage containers
C. melting glaciers **** ANSWER ****
3. Describe the process of bio accumulation and how it lead to DDT effecting penguin
populations.
Bio accumulation is when a toxic substance enters the body of an organism, and accumulates inside the body of the organism, and when that contaminated organism is eaten, the predator gets that toxic substance in its body, therefore, making that substance accumulate, or increase in mass, inside of the predators body, this continuing in a cycle, making the whole food chain/web contaminated with the toxic substances. Bio-accumulation affected the penguin population because it thinned the bird's eggshells, and with the harsh winters, some of the eggs froze, leaving less offspring to be born, therefore decreasing the population. Also, some penguins had too much toxic chemicals in their system, and began to die from it.
Part IV - Rigs to Reefs
1. Describe the benefits of artificial reefs.
they help increase the population of fish, making it a home for fish, it is a safe way to recycle scrap metal.
2. What is a benefit of artificial reef programs for people?
It helps with fishing, there's more fish as a food resource.
3. What is a benefit of the programs for the inhabitants of the gulf?
Fish get a home and food, and there's more places to lay eggs and increase the population, help the food chain/web, keeps landfills low, providing jobs for people.
4. List the artificial reef programs currently being utilized by Texas Parks & Wildlife:
Texas Artificial Reef Plan
Texas Artificial Reef Program
Texas Artificial Reef Fund
Rigs to Reefs
Ships to Reefs
****Now, follow the Rigs to Reefs link for the remaining questions.
5. The Rigs to Reef program involves the recycling of obsolete petroleum (oil) into permanent artificial reefs rather than allowing them to be taken ashore as scrap.
6. Why do these decommissioned rigs make ideal reef habitats?
Because they are environmentally safe, are constructed of highly durable and stable material that withstands displacement or breakup and already support a thriving reef ecosystem.
1. List the important services the Earth's ocean systems provide us with
Transportation, food, minerals, removing carbon to get oxygen, fighting diseases, and drilling for oil.
2. Define the word fisheries.
It refers to all the fishing activities in the ocean, and the location where people fish.
3. What is a major crisis facing the world’s fisheries?
Other countries are fishing, and there is over-fishing going on.
4. What do you think would be the best solution to the problem?
For humans to depend less on fish and to realize what kind of damage the environmental changes are doing.
5. What is one way the oceans impact the world climate?
The ocean's ability to collect, drive and mix water, heat, and CO2
6. A very important organism from the ocean called_phytoplankton_produces approximately _90_% of the worlds
oxygen!
Part II - Different Effects Humans Have on the Seas
1. What are two examples of negative effects humans have on the oceans that would
be from runoff (water that moves across the surface of the earth)?
Sewage, oil spills, toxic chemical.s
2. The article says carbon emissions from the atmosphere are raising the acidity of the
oceans. How is this possible?
People burn fossil fuels, which increases the level of toxic chemicals in the water. therefore, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
3. What is a “Floating City”?
It is a cruise ship that carries a lot of people, and releases a lot of waste during the trips.
4. Approximately how many gallons of sewage do cruise ships produce a day?
30,000 gallons of sewage
5. How is human waste water or black water harmful to ocean systems?
Black water, or sewage, carries bacteria and other harmful substances, contaminating the species, and when those animals are eaten, it causes serious illness. White/Gray water is made up of laundry detergent, cooking wastes, and all the other waste that is not "sewage". The chemicals that all these substances contain also harm the environment, and the populations of the different communities. All this contamination causes great decreases in the population of animals.
Part III - DDT
1. Despite its ban, DDT still appears in the tissues of Antarctic _Adelie penguins _.
2. How do scientist believe this chemical is still being exposed to the environment after
almost 30 years?
A. illegal use
B. leaking from storage containers
C. melting glaciers **** ANSWER ****
3. Describe the process of bio accumulation and how it lead to DDT effecting penguin
populations.
Bio accumulation is when a toxic substance enters the body of an organism, and accumulates inside the body of the organism, and when that contaminated organism is eaten, the predator gets that toxic substance in its body, therefore, making that substance accumulate, or increase in mass, inside of the predators body, this continuing in a cycle, making the whole food chain/web contaminated with the toxic substances. Bio-accumulation affected the penguin population because it thinned the bird's eggshells, and with the harsh winters, some of the eggs froze, leaving less offspring to be born, therefore decreasing the population. Also, some penguins had too much toxic chemicals in their system, and began to die from it.
Part IV - Rigs to Reefs
1. Describe the benefits of artificial reefs.
they help increase the population of fish, making it a home for fish, it is a safe way to recycle scrap metal.
2. What is a benefit of artificial reef programs for people?
It helps with fishing, there's more fish as a food resource.
3. What is a benefit of the programs for the inhabitants of the gulf?
Fish get a home and food, and there's more places to lay eggs and increase the population, help the food chain/web, keeps landfills low, providing jobs for people.
4. List the artificial reef programs currently being utilized by Texas Parks & Wildlife:
Texas Artificial Reef Plan
Texas Artificial Reef Program
Texas Artificial Reef Fund
Rigs to Reefs
Ships to Reefs
****Now, follow the Rigs to Reefs link for the remaining questions.
5. The Rigs to Reef program involves the recycling of obsolete petroleum (oil) into permanent artificial reefs rather than allowing them to be taken ashore as scrap.
6. Why do these decommissioned rigs make ideal reef habitats?
Because they are environmentally safe, are constructed of highly durable and stable material that withstands displacement or breakup and already support a thriving reef ecosystem.