Ecology (B)

• 1) What is Global Warming?

  2)What are the 2 greenhouse gases of global warming that trap energy from the sun?

  A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

  2) Carbon dioxide and methane
• Where does carbon dioxide and methane come from?

  carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

  Methane (CH4) comes from livestock and farming decay in landfills and farming rice in paddy fields.
• Explain the greenhouse effect


  Greenhouse gases form a blanket around the Earth's atmosphere.

  This blanket allows heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere but then gets trapped.

  This causes the Earth's temperature to increase (global warming)
• 4 consequences of global warming

  How does global warming affect biodiversity?

  1) Sea levels rising

  2) Changes in species distribution.

  3) Changes in migration patterns.

  4) Reduction in biodiversity.

  
  

  Global warming affects biodiversity as it makes it harder for organisms to survive as they change environments quickly.

  
  

  Eg. Coral Reefs
• What are corals made of?

  What happens if there is too much heat?

  Corals are made up of Polyps and Algae.

  If there is too much heat, polyps lose their algae. Then the coral turns white and coral polyp dies after a few days.
• CORAL BLEECHING


  When corals are under stress, the coral polyps expel the algae that live in their tissues.

  Now the corals become transparent and their white skeleton becomes expelled.

  They are not dead but at more risk of starvation and disease.
• How to reduce effects of global warming?

  Plant more trees and reduce deforestation.

  Burning fewer fossil fuels.

  Being more energy efficient.
• Why are forests cleared to?

  1) Provide land to grow other crops

  2) Raise animals

  3) Grow biofuels

  4) Room for housing/ industry

  5) Room for infrastructure
• What happens when plants and trees are burnt?

  In deforestation, why is co2 released into the atmosphere?

  What happens when loss of animals and plants?

  Release Co2 into the atmosphere.

  Photosynthesis

  Loss of biodiversity
• Peat bogs


  Peat forms in very waterlogged areas.

  They have anaerobic conditions as they prevent bacteria breaking down plant materials by respiration.

  Plant material builds up to form a black fibrous material which can be burnt like coal.

  
  

  Peat is cut and dried before being used as a fuel or for making compost.
• Why should humans not destroy peat bogs to make compost?

  1) decay of peat releases co2 into the atmosphere

  2)Reduces area of natural habitat for organisms that live there.

  3) Reduces diversity of area as reduces number of plants, animals and microorganism that live there.
• What are the 3 types of pollution and what do each of them include?

  1) Solid Waste

  2) Liquid waste

  3) Gaseous waste

  
  

  Solid waste is rubbish (e.g. plastic waste)

  
  

  Liquid waste is sewage and run off from fields (animal waste) which can lead to eutrophication.

  
  

  Gaseous waste is all the co2 and methane produced that leads to global warming
• What is eutrophication?


  Eutrophication is a type of water pollution caused by the addition of sewage or fertiliser.
• Steps of Eutrophication

  1) Fertiliser is spread on the land

  2) Then gets washed away by the rain and gets absorbed into the soil.

  3) Fertiliser is transported to a lake by an underground river

  4) Fertiliser causes overgowth of aquatic plants and algae in the lake

  5) Sunlight can not reach bottom of lake so algae dies

  6) Bacteria decomposes the algae, taking up all the oxygen, making the lake anoxic (H2owithout oxygen)
• Effects of acid rain


  Damages leaves and roots of trees.

  washes mineral ions out of the soil

  aluminium ions washed into lake affect gills of fish as they can not get the oxygen that they need.

  waterways are more acidic so they killl aquatic plants and animals.
• Explain what bioaccumulation is

  Bioaccumulation is where toxins build up as you go through a food chain. (The build up of a substance in a loving organism)

  The toxins concentrate in the body of the organism.

  When eaten, toxin passes into tissue of the consumer.
• what can we use coral bleaching for?

  We can use coral bleaching as an indicator for sea temperatures
• Indicator species


  Some organisms are very sensitive to abiotic (non-living) factors around them.

  Some organisms are very sensitive to air pollution.

  They can be used to measure this environmental factor.

  
  

  By Sampling area:

  1) we can estimate level of pollution.

  2) compare one area with another
• Where do lichens live and what are they sensitive to?

  Lichens live on buildings, trees and rocks.

  They are sensitive to sulphur dioxide - some species are more tolerant than others

  
  

  Sampling:

  1) Set up 10m by 10m areas

  2) Count how many lichens of each type are seen.

  
  

  ( lots of yellow means high sulphur dioxide pollution).
• Aquatic Environments


  Pollution causes a reduction in oxygen levels (eutrophication).

  Alderfly larvae and dragonfly larvae are sensitive to reduction in oxygen levels (Indicator of pollution free water)

  Sludge worms and blood worms- can cope with very little oxygen in water .

  (Indicator of polluted water)

  
  

  
  

  You can use sensors to measure salinity, oxygen concentration and pH.

  You can do tests to indicate levels of chemicals such as nitrates as they give precise measurements.
• What is biodiversity?

  What are the 2 parts to protecting biodiversity?

  Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world of a particular habitat.

  The 2 parts to protecting biodiversity are:

  1) Protecting the ecosystem (repairing damage already done)

  2) Protecting organisms from extinction
• 5 ways you can maintain biodiversity

  Problems with preventing biodiversity

  1) breeding programmes for endangered species

  2) protection/regeneration of rare habitats

  3) reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows

  4) reduction of deforestation and co2 emissions

  5) recycling resources.

  
  

  Funding

  Lack of qualified scientists available.

  Lack of policing/ laws in certain areas
• What is food security?

  Why is food security is an issue for all countries?

  Food security is having enough food to feed a population.

  
  

  Issue for all countries due to:

  Increased birth rate

  changed diets

  new pests/diseases

  environmental changes

  conflict/war

  costs of agriculture
• How to increase food security with examples?

  1)-Increasing productivity

  Technology

  Changes to farming practices

  Hydroponics (growing plants with water based nutrient solution)

  Fisheries

  
  

  Advantage of hydroponics: Mineral supply controlled and no risk of eutrophication.

  
  

  2) Intensive farming

  Feeding protein rich diets

  Restricting movement

  Controlling temperature

  Provide antibiotics
• What is Biotechnology?

  
  

  How to produce insulin? ( genetic engineering etc.)

  
  

  What is Recombinant DNA?

  Biotechnology is the use of living organisms to make products to improve the quality of life

  
  

  PRODUCING INSULIN:

  Genetic engineering is changing the genetic material of an organism.

  This is by removing or altering genes or by inserting genes from another organism.

  
  

  Recombinant DNA is the DNA of an organism that now contains DNA from another organism.
• 5 steps for genetically modifying bacteria


  1) Remove plasmid from a bacteria

  2) Cut it open using enzymes

  3) Remove DNA from organism and cut out the Gene

  4) Add gene to bacterial plasmid

  5) Put recombinant plasmid back into bacteria and allow it to reproduce
• In what ways are genetically modified crops changed?

  What is used as a vector to enable a new gene to enter the plant?


  They are changed in many ways including:

  Resistance to inset attacks or herbicides

  Larger fruit

  Disease resistance

  Shelf life

  
  

  Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used as a vector to enable new gene to enter the plant
• What is mycoprotein?

  How is mycoprotein made?

  Mycoprotein is fungal protein

  
  

  The fungus fusarium is grown in huge vats (fermenters)

  It is fed on glucose syrup which is waste from starch production.

  Oxygen is provided.

  Biomass of fungus doubles every 5 hours.

  Protein has flavours added and is textured to make mouth feel meat.
• 1) What is Global Warming?

  2)What are the 2 greenhouse gases of global warming that trap energy from the sun?

  A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

  2) Carbon dioxide and methane
• Where does carbon dioxide and methane come from?

  carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

  Methane (CH4) comes from livestock and farming decay in landfills and farming rice in paddy fields.
• Explain the greenhouse effect


  Greenhouse gases form a blanket around the Earth's atmosphere.

  This blanket allows heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere but then gets trapped.

  This causes the Earth's temperature to increase (global warming)
• 4 consequences of global warming

  How does global warming affect biodiversity?

  1) Sea levels rising

  2) Changes in species distribution.

  3) Changes in migration patterns.

  4) Reduction in biodiversity.

  
  

  Global warming affects biodiversity as it makes it harder for organisms to survive as they change environments quickly.

  
  

  Eg. Coral Reefs
• What are corals made of?

  What happens if there is too much heat?

  Corals are made up of Polyps and Algae.

  If there is too much heat, polyps lose their algae. Then the coral turns white and coral polyp dies after a few days.
• CORAL BLEECHING


  When corals are under stress, the coral polyps expel the algae that live in their tissues.

  Now the corals become transparent and their white skeleton becomes expelled.

  They are not dead but at more risk of starvation and disease.
• How to reduce effects of global warming?

  Plant more trees and reduce deforestation.

  Burning fewer fossil fuels.

  Being more energy efficient.
• Why are forests cleared to?


  1) Provide land to grow other crops

  2) Raise animals

  3) Grow biofuels

  4) Room for housing/ industry

  5) Room for infrastructure
• What happens when plants and trees are burnt?

  In deforestation, why is co2 released into the atmosphere?

  What happens when loss of animals and plants?

  Release Co2 into the atmosphere.

  Photosynthesis

  Loss of biodiversity
• Peat bogs


  Peat forms in very waterlogged areas.

  They have anaerobic conditions as they prevent bacteria breaking down plant materials by respiration.

  Plant material builds up to form a black fibrous material which can be burnt like coal.

  
  

  Peat is cut and dried before being used as a fuel or for making compost.