Ecology: Water and Nutrient Cycles

1. Ecology: Water and Nutrient Cycles PHA Biology: 2009 Moretti/ Dickson

2. Tuesday, 5.26.09Title: Intro Water and Nutrient Cycles Do NowWhat are 6 major processes of the water cycle? HomeworkRe-write homework due for today on separate paper to be handed in.

3. Nutrient Cycles & Energy Flow • 95% of most organisms is made of: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, & Nitrogen • Elements, Chemical Compounds, etc. are passed from organism to organism • Energy is a one-way flow starting w/ Sun • Matter is not Created or Destroyed; it is Cycled and Transformed

4. Water Cycle • Movement of water through ecosystem • Necessary for all life forms on Earth • 3 phases of Water: • Solid = Ice • Liquid = Water • Gas = Vapor • Processes: • Evaporation • Transpiration • Condensation • Run-Off • Groundwater

5. The Water Cycle The Water Cycle in Motion

6. Activity:How Different Land Surfaces Affect Water Movement

7. Wednesday, 5.27.09Title: Nutrients and Pollution • Do NowWhat is a Limiting Nutrient? HomeworkRead Pollution Paper

8. Nutrients • The body’s chemical “Building Blocks” • Use these to build tissues and carry out essential functions (think: digestion unit) • Passed from organism to organism through environment (cycled)

9. Limiting Nutrient • Primary Productivity: • Rate organic matter is created by Producers • Limiting Nutrient: • When an essential nutrient is scarce and limits the growth of producers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) • Naturally limited • move slowly through the environment • involve a number of transformations to make them usable • Overall production is limited by available nutrients in an ecosystem – this is how they are “limiting”

10. Nitrogen Cycle • Needed to build amino acids • Most abundant gas in atmosphere (78%) • Nitrogen fixing bacteria convert Gas (N2)into Ammonia (NH3). • Other bacteria convert this to Nitrates and Nitrites • These forms are used by producers to make proteins • Decomposersreturn nitrogen to the soil. • Denitrification: bacteria convert Ammoniaback to N2

11. Phosphorous Cycle • Important for DNA, RNA, ATP, ADP • Limiting Nutrient • Not in Atmospheric Form • Stays bound to rocks and soil minerals • When they erode, it is available for producers to absorb • Dissolves in Water • Used by marine organisms

12. Pollution Video Write down these questions to answer during the video: What is nonpoint source pollution? What are some examples? Nonpoint Source Pollution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cACFw8lzkPI&feature=related

13. Sources of Water Pollution http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/images/wsci_03_img0431.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/pollution_steel_factory.jpg http://www.eriewatershed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/parking-lot-dedication-1-orig.jpg • Point Source Pollution • From a direct source • Sewage Treatment Plant • Factory • Storm water discharge pipe • Non-Point Source Pollution • From a “non-specific” source • Most Storm water Run-off • Car exhausts

14. Non-Point Source Pollution Pathways http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/qa.html: (taken from EPA's Polluted brochure EPA-841-F-94-005, 1994) • Runoff in the form of Rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. • Picks up and carries natural and human-made pollutants • Deposits pollutants into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. • 80 percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from land-based sources* • We all play a role in Non Point Pollution *http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/facts/pollut.htm

15. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/305293863_50e6a517ef.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/305293863_50e6a517ef.jpg?v=0 http://www.hoorwa.org/index_images/cows3edited.jpg

16. Nutrient Loading Limiting Nutrients “Introduced” to Ecosystem • Residential/ Commercial Fertilizers: • Apply a limiting nutrients to boost productivity (mostly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) • Pet Wastes (and other feces): • Full of Phosphorus and Nitrogen • Combined Sewer Overflow • Discharge human waste, sediments, detergents, etc. into waterways • Agricultural Wastes • Wastes from agriculture, grazing, and feedlots • Include Fertilizers • Nutrient loading from animal wastes

17. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/305293863_50e6a517ef.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/305293863_50e6a517ef.jpg?v=0 http://www.hoorwa.org/index_images/cows3edited.jpg

18. Nutrient Loading: What’s the problem? • Fertilizers , Sediment, and Pet Wastes Run-offinto waterways (water cycle) • Combined Sewer Overflow discharges into waterway • Introducelimiting nutrients to ecosystem = more production of producers (algae) • Shade other producers below the surface • Not enough consumers to eat all of the algae • Algae and other producers die = Oxygen Depletion

19. Chemical Pollution • Numbers: • More than 70,000 commercial and industrial compounds are now in use • An estimated 1,000 new chemicals are introduced each year (most of these are not adequately tested) • Pathways Through Environment • Point Source Discharge from Factories/ Industries: Water or Airborne • Nonpoint Runoff: Urban Centers and Farms • Nonpoint Airborne: Autos, aerosols, burning, dust particulate, etc. • Airborne brought down through Deposition • Poor Disposal/ Leach from Landfills into Groundwater http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/community/classroom/c2-foodweb-e.html

20. Friday, 5.29.09Title: Pollution Movement Through Ecosystems • Do NowName some major chemical pollutants from the reading. HomeworkComplete Water Drop Essay

21. Chemical Pollution: Effects on Ecosystems • Bioaccumulation/ Biomagnification: • The build-up of toxins in an organisms tissues • Higher concentrations in organisms than in surrounding ecosystem • Tend to accumulate most in higher-level consumers. Become toxic at certain concentrations • Examples: • Metals: mercury, lead, & cadmium • PCBS • Pesticides: DDT

22. Refer to EPA Pollution Reading Assignment

23. Monday, 6.1.09Title: Carbon Cycle • Do NowWhat is the cell respiration equation? HomeworkCarbon cycle/greenhouse effect readings. Complete Class Activity.

25. Tuesday, 6.2.09Title: Human Impacts on the Carbon Cycle • Do NowWhat is the link between increased carbon in the atmosphere and climate change? HomeworkComplete Practice MCAS questions.

26. Carbon Cycle: Discuss Questions http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/sccs/public/teachers/Carbon-cycle-full.jpg

27. Carbon Cycle • Found in ALLlife forms. ALL life is Carbon-Based! • Absorbed: • Photosynthesis • Stored (sink): • Plant Tissue (forests…) • Dead organisms turn to fossil fuels (coal, oil, …) • Released (source): • Respiration • Decomposition • Released (source): • Volcanoes • Erosion • Human Release (source): • Burn Fossil Fuels

28. Wednesday, 6.3.09Title: Human Impacts on the Carbon Cycle cont. • Do NowWrite down 2 environmental issues that we have learned about that concern you. HomeworkEmail me your top two ideas for the poster project by Friday. Check blog by Thursday evening for a list of topics

29. Pollution Poster Project Ideas

30. Nutrient pollution from fertilizers (be specific to Nitrogen and Phosphorus) • Nutrient pollution from pet/ animal feces (be specific to Nitrogen and Phosphorus) • Acidity in waterways • Plastics in the environment • Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere (note: if you choose this option, you need to specific your Source and Effect when you sign up. We will accept up to 5 different proposals). • PCBs Pollution in the environment • PAHs Pollution in the environment • Mercury Pollution in the environment • Lead Pollution in the environment • Zinc Pollution in the environment • Prescription drugs/ Antibiotics in the environment (not directly covered in class) • The effects of deforestation on the water cycle • Pollution from other metals in the sediment • Pesticides in the environment • Movement of other toxins in the environment (arsenic, cyanide, etc.). Identify the specific toxin you are interested in. • Poisonous/ deadly bacteria in the environment • Effects of limited dissolved oxygen on fish • The effects of large-scale forest fires • Sewer discharge from storm water overflow (Note: you must identify the type of pollutant you plan to highlight when signing up. We will accept up to 2 different proposals for this.) • Leaking discharge of oil and other fluids from automobiles • Urban Run Off (This is for those who have a different idea for a pollutant moving through the environment by urban run-off. Present your individual proposal for consideration.). Topics:

31. Climate Change Videos • “Al Gore warns of latest climate trends” from TED.com: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/al_gore_warns_on_latest_climate_trends.html • “Al Gore’s new thinking on the climate crisis” from TED.com (begin 5 minutes in): http://www.ted.com/talks/al_gore_s_new_thinking_on_the_climate_crisis.html Note: You can find more of the videos at www.ted.com

32. Highgate, Vermont

33. Pollution Issue Analysis:Stonyfield Farm • Pollutant? • Pathway? • Effects of Pollutants? • Strategy? • Unforeseen Benefits?