1. Environmental Resources
SC.912.L.17.11
Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water, energy, fossil fuels, wildlife, and forests.
SC.912.L.17.8
Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, nonnative species.
Essential Questions:
What are the cost and benefits of using renewable vs. nonrenewable resource?
Why would a reduction in the biodiversity of an ecosystem have a potential for negative consequences?

2. Bellringer
Some people see the benefit of wind energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels for energy production. Others believe it is dangerous for migratory birds. These opinions best illustrate that decisions about alternate energy sources:
should be the responsibility of each individual
must be made by weighing the risks and costs against the benefits
will usually favor older methods of energy production over newer methods
must be made by taking into account the present needs of the citizens without looking toward the future

3. Interactive Journal Left Side Right Side
We Do – Ecosystem Invaders Scenarios
Right Side
I Do – Guided Notes

4. Environmental Resources
Humans depend on Earth’s nutrient and energy cycles for survival.
Production of materials for desired items use natural resources
Nonrenewable resources – Fossil Fuels (Oil, natural gas, and coal), minerals and uranium
Renewable resources – Wind and solar energy, plants, animals, water and land
Overuse of resources and the production of waste can cause a disruption in the energy and nutrient cycles of Earth.

5. Nonrenewable Resources: Coal
What is it?
Formed underground from decaying plant material
How much is left in the world?
About 250 years
Advantages?
Plenty left
Mining is getting more efficient
Disadvantages?
Pollution: CO2 emissions (linked to global warming), SO2 (linked to acid rain
Heavy and bulky to transport
Mining impact to the environment

6. Nonrenewable Resources: Oil
What is it?
Formed underground from decaying animal and plant material
How much is left in the world?
About 50 years!
Advantages?
Easy to transport
Efficient in producing energy
Less pollution than coal
Disadvantages?
Not much left
Pollution: air and danger of water pollution through spills
Construction of oil fields impact on the environment

7. Nonrenewable Resources: Natural Gas
What is it?
Formed underground from decaying animal and plant material
How much is left in the world?
About 70 years!
Advantages?
Clean, least polluting of all non-renewables
Easy to transport
Disadvantages?
Some air pollution
Danger of explosions
Environmental impact of extraction process (fracking)

8. Nonrenewable Resources: Nuclear
What is it?
Uses uranium, naturally found in some rocks
How much is left in the world?
unknown
Advantages?
A small amount of radioactive material produces a lot of energy.
Not much waste and few CO2 emissions released, as well as, few other greenhouse gases
Disadvantages?
High cost to build and close down power stations
Waste is radioactive. Problem getting rid of waste safely

9. Renewable Resources: Wind
What is it?
The movement of air from high to low pressure
How much is left in the world?
Endless
Advantages?
No pollution
Disadvantages?
Costly initially
Wind changes all the time, not predictable
Not visually appealing
Possible impact on bird migration

10. Renewable Resources: Solar
What is it?
Energy from the sun
How much is left in the world?
Endless
Advantages?
No pollution
Can be used in remote areas
Disadvantages?
Can be expensive to obtain and install materials
Not always available

11. Renewable Resources: Bio-Energy
What is it?
Biomass – organic material from plants and animals
Biogas – produced by the fermentation of organic matter
How much is left in the world?
Endless
Advantages?
Good availability
Contributes to sustainable agriculture and forestry
Reduced environmental impact
Disadvantages?
Can be expensive to set up
Releases greenhouse gases

12. Renewable Resources: Water
What is it?
The movement of water drives a turbine
How much is left in the world?
Endless
Advantages?
No CO2 emissions
Can help control flooding
Can provide a good water supply to an area
Disadvantages?
Large areas may be flooded
Visual and water pollution

13. Renewable Resources: Geothermal
What is it?
Heat from the ground
How much is left in the world?
Endless
Advantages?
No CO2 emissions
Disadvantages?
Expensive
Can only be used in certain parts of the world

14. Renewable Resources: Wood
What is it?
Firewood, pellets, chips, charcoal and sawdust
How much is left in the world?
Readily available as firewood or wood wastes
Advantages?
Inexpensive
Can be sustainable
Disadvantages?
Deforestation
Greenhouse gas emissions

15. Resources & Biodiversity: Acid Rain
What is it?
Any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric (NOx) and sulfuric acids (SO2).
Causes?
Human activities – burning fossil fuels (SO2 and NOx) emissions)
Rotting vegetation
Volcanic eruptions
Environmental Effects
Increases acidity in water (lakes, streams, wetlands and other aquatic environments)
Damages forests
Increases acidity in soils
Leaches aluminum from soil
Removes minerals and nutrients from soil

16. Resources & Biodiversity: Global Warming
What is it?
gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans.
occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface
Causes?
Burning of fossil fuels (CO2 emissions)
Effects
Sea levels rise due to melting glaciers
Increase in average temperature
Increase in severe weather
Ocean acidification
Change in migration patterns
Increase in spread of disease causing pathogens
Severe drought

17. Biodiversity greater diversity = greater stability Biodiversity
The wide array and assortment of species that are found in any given ecosystem.
Greater biodiversity offers:
more food resources
more habitats
more resilience in face of environmental change
Greater genetic diversity

18. Loss in Biodiversity Causes Effects
Pollution
Loss of habitat
Construction
Use of resources
Deforestation
Habitat fragmentation
Barrier forms prevent an organism from accessing its entire home range (roads, fences, walls).
Global warming
Reduction in stability of ecosystem
Permanent loss of organisms (extinction)
Medicines
Technology
Food sources
Habitats

19. Invasive Species Invasive Species Threats of invasive species
Non-native species introduced to an ecosystem intentionally or accidentally.
Threats of invasive species
May be well suited to the new environment
May not have any predators or other limiting factors
May out compete native species for resources (food or land)
May cause economic damage
May physically dominate or overtake waterways and manmade structures.

20. Invasive Species Examples: Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades
Release by pet owners
Similar climate of a tropical jungle southeastern Asia.
No natural predators
Reducing biodiversity of Everglades (endangered bird species)
Kudzu in the United States
From southeaster Asia
Introduced as an ornamental tropical house plant and prevent soil erosion.
Hardy plant that smothers other plants and organisms where it grows.
Common house mouse in Australia
Arrived on British ships
Population thrives and grows exponentially (no predators)
Destroy corn and grain crops and crop storage.
Cause farmers a lost in revenue

21. We Do Students will read scenarios as a group or individuals.
Students will answer the scenario questions as a group or individuals.
Optional – Class discussion of scenarios and their environmental impact.

22. Bellringer – Retry
Some people see the benefit of wind energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels for energy production. Others believe it is dangerous for migratory birds. These opinions best illustrate that decisions about alternate energy sources:
should be the responsibility of each individual
must be made by weighing the risks and costs against the benefits
will usually favor older methods of energy production over newer methods
must be made by taking into account the present needs of the citizens without looking toward the future
Answer – B (will appear on click)

23. Exit Slip #1
After the Aswan High Dam was built on the Nile River, the rate of parasitic blood-fluke infection doubled in the human population near the dam. As a result of building the dam, the flow of the Nile changed. This changed the habitat, which resulted in an increase in its population of a certain aquatic snail. The snails, which were infected, released larvae of the fluke. These larvae then infected humans. This situation best illustrates that:
the influence of humans on a natural system is always negative in the long term
human alteration of an ecosystem will cause pollution and loss of finite resources
the influence of humans on a natural system can have unpredictable negative impacts
human alteration of an ecosystem does not need to be studied to avoid ecological disaster
Answer: C

24. Exit Slip #2
Environmentalists are hoping to protect endangered organisms by calling for a reduction in the use of pesticides, because loss of these organisms would:
increase the mutation rate in plants
reduce biodiversity in various ecosystems
cause pesticides to become more toxic to insects
decrease the space and resources available to other organisms
Answer: B

25. Exit Slip #3
A strip mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. They promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from the area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. As an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government? 
the threat to local biodiversity
the increased traffic in the area
the new jobs that would be created
management of the land after the company leaves
Answer: A

26. Exit Slip #4
A native species and a non-native species are competing for resources within the same ecosystem. The non-native species is more likely to survive than the native species in which of the following situations?
Predators prey on both native and non-native species.
The non-native species has no natural enemies in the ecosystem.
The native species is immune to certain pathogens in the ecosystem.
Both the native species and the non-native species thrive on the same food source.
Answer: B

27. Exit Slip #5
The nonnative zebra mussel was first found in a lake near Detroit in By 1989, it had colonized all Great Lakes waterways. Which scenario is most likely true regarding the introducing of this species?
Native fish naturally eat zebra mussels.
Native mussel populations are growing rapidly.
The higher biodiversity leads to healthier lakes.
They compete with native mussels for food and other resources.
Answer: D