Changes in ecosystems

1. Changes in ecosystems Unit 2: Organisms and their environment. Area study 2: Dynamic ecosystems.

2. Learning Objectives • To evaluate the changes to different ecosystems over time. • To recognise the scope, intensity, and impact of various natural changes. • To examine the impacts of human-induced changes on ecosystems. • To identify techniques for monitoring and maintain ecosystems.

3. ~1ºC change on the weather Change of climate impacts ecosystem Global warming.

4. 0.5ºC over next 100 years and Arctic Ecosystems Harm to Coral Reef

5. 1ºC over next 100 years All coral reefs bleached 10% of global ecosystems transformed

6. 2ºC over next 100 years Mass mortality in coral reefs 1/6 of global ecosystems transformed 1/4 species committed to extinction

7. 3ºC over next 100 years 1/2 of nature reserves unable to meet conservation objectives 1/5 of global ecosystems transformed 1/3 species committed to extinction

8. Primary changes in ecosystems may produce a cascade of secondary changes that may not become apparent immediately. In the case study about climate change, what are the primary and secondary changes? BRAINSTORM: Primary changes.

9. Frequency of change • Regular and predictable events (e.g. tides and seasons) • Sporadic (irregular) events (e.g. floods) • One-off events, planned or unpredictable (e.g. oil spill)

10. Restoring the balance of the ecosystem. • We can see how climate change impacts the ecosystem. How do you think this change would impact the human race? • Do you think climate change can be reversed? If so, how?

11. Successionin ecosystems: The natural replacement over time of one community by another community with different dominant species. Primary succession Secondary succession

12. You are government officials. You will be presenting at the UN meeting for climate change. In your presentation (approx. 5 minutes), be sure to make it engaging with digital images and clear layouts. You need to include the following information: • What is the primary change, and what is the frequency of its occurrence? • How has the primary change impacted the ecosystem and the organisms that live there? Identify the secondary changes that may occur. • What interventions have been implemented in attempt to restore the ecosystem? Does it involve primary succession or secondary succession? • Create a plan to restore the ecosystem back to its original state.

13. UN Meeting on Climate Change Take notes on: • Primary change • Frequency of change • Secondary changes • Interventions to restore the ecosystem • Primary or secondary succession • Keywords

14. Key ideas • Primary changes and secondary changes. • Frequency of change? • Can damage of an ecosystem be restored? • Primary succession vs. Secondary succession. Invasive species Over-harvesting Fire = important

15. Example: Over-harvesting • Goats on trees found in Morocco. • Like to eat the fruit of the argan tree, which is similar to an olive • The argan tree slowly disappearing due to over-harvesting for the tree's wood and overgrazing by goats.

16. Interesting websites • The world’s 10 worst invasive species: http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/12/15/incoming-the-worlds-10-worst-invasive-species/ • Invasive species specialist group: http://www.issg.org/ • Invasive species database:http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/