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Perturbation of Ecological Systems

Perturbation of Ecological Systems. Dr. Debrah Fine. Ecology. The study of how living things interact with each other and their non-living environment From Greek “ oikos ,” meaning “home,” and “logy,” meaning “knowledge.”. Lesson Overview. I. Types of ecological interactions

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Perturbation of Ecological Systems

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  1. Perturbation of Ecological Systems Dr. Debrah Fine

  2. Ecology • The study of how living things interact with each other and their non-living environment • From Greek “oikos,” meaning “home,” and “logy,” meaning “knowledge.”

  3. Lesson Overview • I. Types of ecological interactions • II. Examples of human perturbation of ecological systems • Australia • Hawaii • New Zealand • III. What are humans doing now to perturb the ecosystem?

  4. Types of Social Actions

  5. Lesson Overview • I. Types of ecological interactions • II. Examples of human perturbation of ecological systems • Australia • Hawaii • New Zealand • III. What are humans doing now to perturb the ecosystem?

  6. Rabbits in Australia • In 1859, Thomas Austin imported and released 24 rabbits in Australia • "The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting."

  7. Population Surge • Since there were few natural predators to rabbits in Australia, their population soared to an estimated 20 billion by the 1920’s

  8. Why are rabbits such a nuisance? • Rabbits threaten native mammalian populations • Support fox and feral cat populations • Compete with similar sized native mammals for shelter and food • Rabbits threaten native plants • Rabbits feed on seedlings and prevent regeneration of native trees and shrubs

  9. An Early Attempt at Containment

  10. Myxoma Virus

  11. Development of Resistance to Myxoma Virus Resistant Resistant

  12. Hawaii: Mongoose • Sugar cane farmers brought the mongoose to control the rat population

  13. Hawaii: Mongoose • No natural predators in Hawaii

  14. Hawaii: Mongoose • The mongoose did not control the rat population, but instead preys on native birds and bird eggs

  15. New Zealand: Possum • Possums were introduced in New Zealand to establish a fur trade

  16. New Zealand: Possum • No natural predators

  17. New Zealand: Possum • Spread bovine tuberculosis • Damage crops and orchards

  18. Lesson Overview • I. Types of ecological interactions • II. Examples of human perturbation of ecological systems • Australia • Hawaii • New Zealand • III. What are humans doing now to perturb the ecosystem?

  19. Humans and the Earth’s Ecosystem

  20. Climate Change

  21. Climate Change: What is a Greenhouse Gas?

  22. A Map of the World

  23. Population

  24. Energy Consumption

  25. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

  26. What is a Carbon Footprint? • Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by your activities in a given time frame

  27. Ways to Reduce Our Carbon Footprints • Take public transportation, walk, ride a bicycle, carpool • Switch to bio-diesel or a hybrid car • Less air travel • Use energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances • Recycle and reuse stuff • Don’t be wasteful • Eat food grown locally • Eat less meat • If your four-person family skips steak 1 day a week [for a year], it’s like taking your car off the road for almost 3 months

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