Salt Water Pollution Jacob Beckerman Christian Choi John Sheehy Jerry Zhu

What is it? A substance or thing introduced into an environment that is harmful to the ecosystem We focus on the pollution in the oceans

Pollutants Toxic waste Oil dumping Garbage dumping Pesticide/fertilizer runoff Untreated sewage

How it happens Careless businesses Rain shortly after use of pesticides/fertilizers Cruise ships

Problems Lack of biodiversity Endanger animals Create diseased water

Food Chains / Symbiotic Relationships Birds dive onto ocean top to catch fish – ocean top is covered with a layer of oil – bird gets covered in oil – resorts to finding food elsewhere – creates competition in other areas Pollutants cause algae to grow on coral reefs – algae takes sunlight from coral reef – coral reef is malnourished (parasitism) Pollution on water prevents sunlight from getting accessing plants – less plants survive – plant eating fish die – whole food chain affected by death of fish and plants

Biotic / Abiotic Factors Affected Diseased fish and people Lack of oxygen due to plants unable to get sunlight for photosynthesis as a result of a top layer of pollution blocking sunlight Water is dirty and not suitable for life

Matter Cycles When water evaporates, the trash is left behind or evaporated with the water – the physical trash becomes a thicker layer on the ocean or the evaporated pollution is a part of rain (causes acid rain) Layers of trash cause sunlight to be blocked out – plants can’t perform photosynthesis – levels of oxygen drop – fish can’t take in as much oxygen – less carbon dioxide produced – plant’s get less carbon dioxide

What has been done Laws regulating dumping Certain countries ban dumping entirely (Canada) Filter and treat water before re-releasing into environment

Possible Solutions Completely ban pollution everywhere Alternative waste disposal methods Educating people on the effects Remove existing pollution after banning / creating more strict laws

Partial works cited (Images only)