Lesson 3: Environmental Issues and Concerns

ECOSYSTEM CONCEPT
In biology, an ecosystem is a community of organisms and their physical environment. ... While organisms in an
ecosystem may be engaged in competition or predation, the concept focuses on interdependence — one organism's
reliance on another or on the ecosystem as a whole.
The idea of an ecosystem has been adopted for social and economic systems. An "ecosystem" is the
environment that a company is part of, including suppliers, partners, consumers, and the underlying structure and
behavior of the technology, markets and social context. Framing economic interactions as being an ecosystem promotes
establishing alliances with companies that might have been seen as competitors. There are many possible economic
relationships, just as there are many possible relationships between organisms in a biological ecosystem.

Individual (Organismal) Ecology- Study of the life history of an individual & its response to its environment.
Population Ecology-Study of the abundance, distribution, & dynamics of a group of individuals of the same species.
Community Ecology- Description & quantification of natural assemblages of different species/populations

Biosphere (Global Ecosystem) or the Earth Biosphere- Global sum of all ecosystems (biotic and abiotic) as an integrated
system. Earth as an ecological entity or system.

The Three Major Classes of Ecosystem

1. Fresh Water Ecosystem
2. Terrestrial Ecosystem
3. Ocean Ecosystem
Fresh Water Ecosystem
Freshwater ecosystems can be found in streams, rivers, springs, ponds, lakes, bogs and freshwater swamps. They
are subdivided into two classes: those in which the water is nearly stationary, such as ponds, and those in which the
water flows, such as creeks. Freshwater ecosystems are home to more than just fish: algae, plankton, insects,
amphibians and underwater plants also inhabit them.
Relatively small in area ~ 1.8% of earth's surface. Support many species of life including fish, amphibians,
insects and plants. Base of all food is found in freshwater Planktons (microscopic organisms) they include lakes and
ponds, rivers, streams, springs, and wetlands.

Ocean ecosystems or Marine Ecosystem

 Marine ecosystems differ from freshwater ecosystems in that they contain saltwater, which usually supports
different types of species than does freshwater. Marine ecosystems are the most abundant types of ecosystems
in the word. They encompass not only the ocean floor and surface but also tidal zones, estuaries, salt marshes
and saltwater swamps, mangroves and coral reefs.
 Very large amount of earth is covered by ocean (~75%).
 40% of all photosynthesis occurs in oceans.
3 types of oceanic ecosystems.
1. Shallow Ocean Waters
Photosynthesis occurs here.
2. Deep Ocean Surface
Photosynthesis occurs here.
3. Deep Ocean Waters
No Photosynthesis can occur here because light cannot penetrate deeply into water.

Terrestrial ecosystems:
Many diverse types of ecosystems come under this major category.
Location usually dependent on the latitude of area and amount of precipitation.
Tropical Rain Forest
 Precipitation ~250 cm/year
 Little temperature variation/abundant moisture.

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  Contains more species than biomes.
Savannas
 Precipitation 90- 150cms/year.
 Open, widely spaced trees, seasonal rainfall.
 Parts of Africa, South America & Australia.
Deserts
 Precipitation 20cm/year.
 Dry, sparse vegetation; scattered grasses.
 Parts of Africa, Asia, Australia and North America.
Temperate Grasslands
• Precipitation 10- 60cms/year
• Rich soil; tall dense grasses
• Central North America; Central Asia
Deciduous Forests
 Precipitation 75-250cms/year
 Warm summers and cool winters.
 Parts of Europe; North Eastern United States; Eastern Canada
Coniferous Forests
 Precipitation 20- 60cms/year
 Short growing season, cold winters.
 Parts of Northern Asia; Northern North America
Tundra
 Precipitation 25cms/year
 Open; Wind swept; dry; cold ground areas.
 Parts of far Northern Asia; Northern North America

Environmental Issues and Concerns

1) Water issues 2) air issues 3) waste and land pollution 4) climate change
1) WATER ISSUES – One of the most important areas of environmental concern is the earth’s water supply, we need to
be concerned about water pollution as well as increasing scarcity of drinkable water in certain areas of the world.

 Degraded water quality: similarly, water quality can be seriously degraded by contamination with pollutants,
giving rise to a range of health-related and ecological effects (such as the degradation of coral reefs). A major
source of water pollution is the terrestrial run-off to inshore waters that occurs in many coastal locations; such
run-off may contain significantly elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural land and from
human settlements. Many other human activities lead to water pollution, including mining and industrial
processes, which may create toxic effluent. Oil spills, accumulation of plastics and the bioaccumulation of
persistent organic chemicals are some of the other causes of serious degradation of the marine environment.
 Scarcity of fresh water: besides the pollution of freshwater sources, there are a variety of other reasons for the
scarcity of fresh water for drinking in many parts of the world - many of which are related to poor water
resource management practices. For instance, the over-abstraction of water from rivers results in water
shortages and problems of salinization downstream. Irrigation practices may also be responsible for the
depletion of local water sources and the salinization of irrigated land. Vast differences in water security exist at
the global scale, reflecting both demand for fresh water and the scale of public and private investment in water
supplies, treatment and distribution.
 Ocean Acidification is caused when CO₂ dissolves into the ocean bonding with sea water creating carbonic acid.
The acid reduces the pH levels in the water, essentially changing the Ocean acidity by 30% in the last 200 years
according to analysis - a level that the ocean has not been at in over 20 million years.
 Water Pollution. Every year over 8 millions tons of garbage dumped into the ocean. Not only is garbage
introduced into the oceans, but also the excessive amounts of fertilizer that finds its way into the ocean through
rains, floods, winds, or dumped in excess right into the largest producer of oxygen we have.

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  Ocean Dumping. Dumping of waste materials from industries, ships and sewage plants into oceans has polluted
the marine ecosystem to a great extent.
 Dredging-In this world of ever expanding industrial activities, dredging is an important activity that enhances
marine transportation and other related activities. However, dredging has been a major cause of disturbance in
the marine ecosystem for many years.
 Waste Pollution from Ships - As we know, tens and thousands of ships are responsible for more than 90 per
cent of world trade. Apart from other pollutants such as oil and gas, the waste and garbage generated on board
ships poses a significant threat to the marine ecosystem.
 Noise Pollution from Ships - It has been scientifically proved that the noise generated from shipping operations
is harmful to marine organisms. Harmful effects of noise pollution on marine organisms include haemorrhages,
changed diving pattern, migration to newer places, and damage to internal organs and an overall panic response
to foreign sounds.
 Oil Spills - No discussion on marine environment can come to a conclusion without mentioning the biggest cause
of marine pollution – oil spills. The world has witnessed several oil spill disasters that have been one of the
major concerns of pollution to the marine environment.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

 Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
 Wash only full loads of laundry.
 Position sprinklers to water the lawn and garden, not the sidewalk or driveway.
 Plant native shrubs and groundcovers rather than grass in your landscaping.
 Upgrade to more-water-efficient appliances, including toilets, showerheads, washing machines, refrigerators,
and dishwashers.
 Collect rainwater from your roof in rain barrels and reuse it to water your garden.
 Join a local organization to assist in fighting water pollution around the world

Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption

 Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being
conscious of your energy use at home and work.
Use Fewer Plastic Products
 To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth
tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
Help Take Care of the Beach
 Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself.
Influence Change in Your Community
 Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them
know you support marine conservation projects.
Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
 All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this
vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire
others.

2) AIR ISSUES – Air pollution Isn’t an issues that most people consider to be of primary environmental concern since it
doesn’t seem to pose an immediate or pressing threat to a lot of us. However, air pollution causes serious health
problem and threatens the natural environment. This the most important areas of environment concern that we can
start working to change today.
Air pollution
The air we breathe has a very exact chemical composition; 99% of it is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor
and inert gases. Air pollution occurs when things that aren't normally there are added to the air. A common type of air
pollution happens when people release particles into the air from burning fuels. This pollution looks like soot, containing
millions of tiny particles, floating in the air.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

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  Minimize your use of cars and other vehicles in favor of walking or riding a bike
 Reduce your engagement with air-polluting service like dry cleaning
 Be conscious of your use of air polluting chemical.
 Limit your consumption of products that come from air polluting factories.

3)WASTE AND LAND POLLUTION – Another area of grave concern to EPA( Environmental Protection Agency) many
different aspect of the planet health is waste toxic, waste like dangerous electronics and Harmful chemical and
deposited in landfills on large-scale basic. Toxic waste is major issues, but other types of waste are concern as well. All
waste ends up leading to land pollution, causing problems in the environment and taking up much needed land space.

Garbage Problem
Garbage pollution arises when the waste collected in dumping sites keeps rotting, spreading odor and cause air
pollution in the surrounding areas, which also creates problems at the administrative level. It is often seen that waste
including inorganic material such as iron cans, paper, plastic, glass pieces, or leftover food, animal bones, vegetable
peels etc are dumped in the open.

HOW DOES GARBAGE CONTRIBUTE TO AIR POLLUTION?

Today, land, water and air have become polluted. Garbage is dumped in open spaces. Large factories emit a lot
of smoke. Due to dust particles in the smoke, air becomes contaminated. In addition to the spread of foul odor, germs
also breed in rotting trash leading to various diseases. Mosquitoes, flies and mice find a fertile breeding ground in
mounds of waste. Garbage, from the households and the industrial wastes, fall into the rivers. This makes the water of
the rivers polluted. Thus, increasing garbage in the home, outside or in water sources has aggravated the problem of air
pollution.

Pollution, also called environmental pollution, the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form
of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted,
decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment,
are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants,
such as noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution. Pollution of all kinds can have negative effects on the
environment and wildlife and often impacts human health and well-being.

The presence of environmental pollution raises the issue of pollution control. Great efforts are made to limit the
release of harmful substances into the environment through air pollution control, wastewater treatment, solid-waste
management, hazardous-waste management, and recycling. Unfortunately, attempts at pollution control are often
surpassed by the scale of the problem, especially in less-developed countries. Noxious levels of air pollution are common
in many large cities, where particulates and gases from transportation, heating, and manufacturing accumulate and
linger. The problem of plastic pollution on land and in the oceans has only grown as the use of single-use plastics has
burgeoned worldwide. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane and carbon dioxide, continue to
drive global warming and pose a great threat to biodiversity and public health.

Land pollution
Organic material was the largest component of the garbage generated. Paper and paperboard accounted for
more than 26%; food was 15% and yard trimmings were 13%. Plastics comprised about 13% of the solid waste, while
rubber, leather and textiles made up 9.5% and metals 9%. Wood contributed to 6.2% of the garbage; glass was 4.4% and
other miscellaneous materials made up about 3%.
Water pollution
Water pollution happens when chemicals or dangerous foreign substances are introduced to water, including
chemicals, sewage, pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff, or metals like lead or mercury. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 44% of assessed stream miles, 64% of lakes and 30% of bay and estuarine areas
are not clean enough for fishing and swimming. The EPA also states that the United State's most common contaminants
are bacteria, mercury, phosphorus and nitrogen. These come from the most common sources of contaminates, that
include agricultural runoff, air deposition, water diversions and channelization of streams.

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Noise pollution
Even though humans can't see or smell noise pollution, it still affects the environment. Noise pollution happens
when the sound coming from planes, industry or other sources reaches harmful levels. Research has shown that there
are direct links between noise and health, including stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference,
hearing loss. For example, a study by the WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group found that noise
pollution may contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year by increasing the rates of coronary heart disease.
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can regulate machine and plane noise.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

 Get in the habit of buying only what you need.
 Recycle all recyclable items instead of throwing them away.
 Re-use or donate all useful, non-recyclable items instead of throwing them away.

4) CLIMATE CHANGE

All of these different types of pollution and waste end up contributing to what is probably the biggest area of
concern for the planet- the changing climate. Climate change is causing increase in the severity of natural disasters like
flood, and hurricanes worldwide. These things devastate society and wreak havoc on the regions that they hit. Global
warming will cause an increase in these issues along with additional problem that could ultimately end civilization as we
know it.