1. The Environment

2. A) Carbon Cycle Matter is cycled within and between ecosystems. Ex: Water, carbon and minerals crucial to life Matter that is cycled from living things back to the environment are called biogeochemical cycles

4. Humans are altering the Carbon Cycle by burning fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels releases CO2, among other things( called greenhouse gases), into the atmosphere, leading to global warming Natural sources of greenhouse gases include volcanoes, respiration and decomposition

6. B) Global Warming AKA -Global Climate Change - Theory that is being un-naturallyy sped up by human activity Global Temp has increased 1.4 o F (0.8 o C) The ‘80s and ‘90s were the warmest on record Sea ice loss is damaging polar bear and Arctic populations Glaciers are receding. Glacier Nat’l Park has lost 123 Glaciers since 1910 Sea temp rises are bleaching coral reefs Incidence of Wild Weather is increasing. (Wild fires, hurricanes, etc.)

10. C) Acid Rain- any form of precipitation that is unusually acidic *Normal Rain pH 5.6 --> Acid Rain pH ~3 *Can be rain, sleet, snow or fog Caused by the mixing of SO 2 and NO X with atmospheric water forming sulfuric acid and nitrous acids -Major source- Electric Power Production Negatively affects plants, animals, aquatic ecosystems and infrastructure In the US the major affected area is in the New England area, though the industrial contributors are mainly located in the mid-west, thanks to the wind Resulting in Dead Lakes and Stripped Forests

13. Aquatic Species Range of Tolerance

15. Mt. Mitchell, NC

16. Solutions Use of scrubbers on industrial smoke stacks Use of catalytic converters on cars Reduce emissions from cars through public transit, HOV lanes Restore damaged ecosystems Push for use of alternative energy sources

17. Habitat Destruction-when a natural habitat is rendered incapable of sustaining its current species In the Amazon -22,392 km 2 per year is deforested Leading cause of Extinction worldwide Causes: Agriculture (#1) Mining, Logging, Urban Sprawl and Infrastructure Habitat Fragmentation, Climate Change Introduced Species Species Extinction- the end of a species, locally or globally -Roughly 3 species per hour, most we don’t even know of yet

18. Amazon Jungle 2000 Deforestation 2008 Amazon Clearing Mexican Jungle after burning Habitat Destruction

19. http://www.conservation.org/act/get_involved/pages/stoptheclock.aspx Dodo Bird-1681 Golden Toad-1989 Bali Tiger-1937 Passenger Pigeon-1914 Carolina Parakeet-1939 Extinct Species

20. Introduced Species-a species that has been transplanted outside its normal(native) geographic range, though the actions of humans. The term invasive species describes species that act as pest.

21. Cane Toad-Australia Red Fox-AustraliaZebra Mussel-US Kudzu-Everywhere Eura. Tree Sparrow-US European Starling- US Introduced Species

22. Hemlock Wooly AdelgidGypsy Moth Defoliation-PA

23. Biological Control-the use of predators or parasites to control agricultural pests or invasive species Failure Cane Toad introduced in 1930’s to control Sugar Cane beetles Cane Toad is a generalist. Instead they consumed food closer to the ground, where it was, since its size limits its mobility

24. Success Alligator Weed is native to South America, but in US clogs waterways and out competes native species Alligator weed is biologically controlled through a team of specialist insects Alligator Weed Thrips - terrestrial foliage Alligator Weed Stem Borer-stems Alligator Weed Flea Beetle- foliage & stems

25. E) Pollution Pollution-is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem Two Types Point source- from a specific source Non-Point source- from a diffuse source Agricultural Run-off Air Pollution from WWII

26. One Agricultural pollutant was a insecticide called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, better known as DDT Used to control disease vectors such as mosquitoes and lice 1962 -Rachel Carson published Silent Spring -Started the Environmentalist Movement -Major uses were banned worldwide in 1970’s DDT had a major impact on the populations of birds of prey ex. Osprey, Brown Pelican and the Bald Eagle

27. Bioaccumulation- when an organism acquires a toxin faster then it is lost -a little toxin over a long time leads to death -within 1 trophic level Biomagnification- the increase in concentration and effect of a toxin up a food chain -across trophic levels

28. DDT’s Effect On Predatory Bird Eggs