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004 Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Environment & Ecology. 004 Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems. Central Case: The Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone”. Mississippi Delta. Eutrophication. Mississippi River. Eutrophication. runoff. Eutrophication. Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. 2006 Seamap Hypoxia Map.

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004 Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

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  1. Environment & Ecology 004 Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

  2. Central Case: The Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone” Mississippi Delta

  3. Eutrophication Mississippi River

  4. Eutrophication runoff

  5. Eutrophication

  6. Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone 2006 Seamap Hypoxia Map

  7. Eutrophication Fish kills

  8. Eutrophication

  9. The Earth’s systems • System: a network of relationships among components that interact with and influence one another • Exchange of energy, matter, or information • Receives inputs of energy, matter, or information, processes these inputs, and produces outputs • Feedback loop: a system’s output serves as input to that same system • A circular process

  10. Negative feedback loop Negative feedback loop: output resulting from a system moving in one direction acts as an input that moves the system in the other direction • Input and output neutralize one another • Stabilizes the system • Most systems in nature

  11. Positive feedback loop • Positive feedback loop: instead of stabilizing a system, it drives it further toward an extreme • Examples: erosion • Rare in nature • But are common in natural systems altered by humans

  12. Chemistry is crucial for understanding… Any environmental issue: • How gases contribute to global climate change • How pollutants cause acid rain • The effects of chemicals on the health of wildlife and people • Water pollution • Wastewater treatment • Hazardous waste • Atmospheric ozone depletion • Energy issues

  13. Chemical building blocks Matter: all material in the universe that has mass and occupies space • Can be transformed from one type of substance into others • But it cannot be destroyed or created, which is… • The law of conservation of matter • Helps us understand that the amount of matter stays constant • Recycled in nutrient cycles and ecosystems

  14. Element Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler chemical entities by ordinary chemical reactions . Periodic Table 112 known elements

  15. Elements & Atoms An element is composed of atoms (0.1-1 nm in diameter) Atom cluster of small particles (proton, neutron, electron)

  16. Subatomic Particles Protons (p +) Neutrons (n o) Electrons (e -)

  17. Electron Shell Configurations of Atoms proton neutron electron hydrogen atom helium atom carbon atom 1p, 0n, 1e- 2p, 2n, 2e- 6p, 6n, 6e-

  18. Electron Configuration of Atoms proton neutron electron hydrogen atom helium atom carbon atom 1p, 0n, 1e- 2p, 2n, 2e- 6p, 6n, 6e-

  19. atomic number: number ofp; #p = #e- 2He2e- and 2p He

  20. He atomic mass (atomic wt.): sum of masses ofp+n He 2p + 2n, atomic mass = 4 4 2He p + n e-

  21. C Carbon Atom p = n = e- = Atomic number = Atomic mass =

  22. O Isotope Atoms that differ in the number of neutrons 16 8 O 17 8 O 18 8 O #p+n #p O16 O17 O18 stable isotopes

  23. Molecule Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds Oxygen O2 Nitrogen N2 Ammonia NH3 Carbon Dioxide CO2 Water H2O Methane CH4 Glucose C6H12O6

  24. Major Organic Elements • Carbon • Hydrogen • Oxygen • Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Sulfur

  25. Organic Molecules • Carbohydrates: C6H12O6 (glucose) • Lipids: C3H8O3 (glycerol) + 3C16H32O2 (fatty acids) • Proteins: COOH-NH2 • Nucleic Acids: sugar, PO4, N2 containing base

  26. Compound Binding two or more different kinds of elements together NaCl CH4 C6H12O6

  27. Respiration C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

  28. Photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy  C6H12O6 + 6O2

  29. Acids Proton donor, i.e., they donate H+ ions HCl is a strong acid with a pH 1-2 HCL  H+ + Cl-

  30. Bases Proton acceptor, i.e., they take up H+ ions NaOH is a strong base ~pH 12 Na+ + OH- NaOH NH3 + H+ NH4 OH -+ H+ H2O HCO3 +H+ H2CO3

  31. Neutralization HCl + NaOH H2O + NaCl

  32. Buffer- resists dramatic changes in pH; ex. tums, rolaids…buffers stomach acid

  33. pH Scale 0-14 Type of Solution pH Value Neutral 7 Acidic 0-6 Basic (alkaline) 8-14

  34. pH Scale Logarithmic scale

  35. Causes of Acid Rain Air pollution • Burning of fossil fuels - Power plants - Cars, trucks, airplanes The main chemicals • Sulfur dioxide • Nitrogen oxides

  36. Acid Rain Normal Rain • H2O + CO2 H+ + HCO3- • A pH of 5.6 • Water + carbon dioxide  proton + bicarbonate Acid Rain • Form of water pollution • More acidic than normal rain • Has pH < 5.6 • nitrous dioxide + water  nitrous acid + nitric acid 2NO2 + H2O  HNO2+ HNO3 • sulfur dioxide + water  sulfuric acid SO2 + H2O H2SO4

  37. Ecological Effects from Acid Rain in Lake System Changes begin to occur as soon as a lake starts to lose it natural bases or alkalinity. • A large reduction in the number of plankton & invertebrates. • The rate of decomposition of organic matter decreases • Direct effects on fishes reproductive cycles. • A calcium deficiency in fish leads to bone malformation. • Fish can suffocate as their gills become clogged with aluminum hydroxide. • Songbirds are effected by eating insects contaminated with toxic metals.

  38. Acid Rain on Forests

  39. VOG on Crops Protea flower crop Big Island Table 2. Soil pH range for optimum growth of some crops. Crop pH Alfalfa 6.5-7.5 Avocado 6.0-6.5 Azalea 4.5-5.0 Ginger 6.0-7.0 Macadamia 5.0-6.5 Pineapple 4.7-5.7 Sugarcane 6.0-7.0 Taro 5.5-6.5

  40. Effects from Acid Rain

  41. Effects from Acid Rain

  42. Acid Rain

  43. Ocean Acidity

  44. Global Ocean Acidity

  45. Consequences of Ocean Acidity Animals with CaCO3 skeletons affected • Plankton • Corals • Mollusks • Fish Fisheries http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7933589.stm

  46. Acid Rain in Marine Environment • reduces ability of marine organisms to utilize calcium carbonate • Coral calcification rate reduced 15-20% • Skeletal density decreased, branches thinner

  47. Photosynthesis Autotrophs (producers): produce their own food from the sun’s energy by photosynthesis Green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria • Chloroplasts: organelles where photosynthesis occurs • Contain chlorophyll: a light-absorbing pigment 6CO2 + 6H20 + the sun’s energy C6H12O6 + 6O2

  48. Cellular respiration releases chemical energy • Heterotrophs (consumers): organisms that gain energy by feeding on others • Animals, fungi, microbes C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H20 + energy mitochondria

  49. Energy and matter in ecosystems Energy Flow Nutrient Cycling

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