Changing EcosystemsChanging Ecosystems
Ecosystems can change by:
•natural processes ornatural processes or
• human activityhuman activity
Natural Processes
• LightningLightning
• FloodingFlooding
• HurricanesHurricanes
• Volcanic eruptionsVolcanic eruptions
• DroughtDrought
• Extended Cold PeriodExtended Cold Period
Human ActivityHuman Activity• Habitat Habitat
destructiondestruction
• Overuse of Overuse of resourcesresources
• PollutionPollution
• Introduced Introduced speciesspecies
Introduced Species• Non-native speciesNon-native species
• Some can become INVASIVE, spreading Some can become INVASIVE, spreading throughout their new areathroughout their new area
• Invasive species Invasive species – grow and reproduce quicklygrow and reproduce quickly– thrive in many habitatsthrive in many habitats– usually have no diseases, predators or pestsusually have no diseases, predators or pests– are difficult to remove or controlare difficult to remove or control
Problems with Invasive Species•Destroy
ecosystems
•Change the food web
•Reduce biodiversity
•Degrade habitats
•Transmit exotic diseases and parasites
•Cost to economy
World’s 10 Worst Invasive Species!!
AHHHHHH!!!!!
Asian Carp Snakeheads
Kudzu Killer Bees
Starlings Rabbits
Cane Toads
Eastern Grey Squirrels
Rats (Rat Island, Alaska)
Burmese Pythons
Kudzu, or Mile-a-Minute
Kerry Britton, USDA Forest Service, www.invasive.org
Yun Wu, USDA Forest Service, www.invasive.org
• Was introduced in 1876 from Japan at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia to celebrate different cultures
• Gardeners grew it for ornamental purposes
• Was used for erosion control• Now used to feed goats and to
make baskets
Why did we bring them?
For food…
‘cuz they’re purdy…
Gregg Hill Gardens
for medicine…
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
or some other use.
•Fiber
•Erosion control
•Conservation projectsDaniel Barringer/Natural Lands Trust
Crownvetch (Coronilla varia)
USDA-APHIS PPQ Archives, www.forestryimages.org
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org
Or just by accident!
Zebra Mussels introduced from ballast water
John M. Randall/The Nature Conservancy
Purple Loosestrife
•Brought from Europe to plant in gardens
•Competes with wetland plants
USDA
Multiflora Rose
•Brought here from Asia in the 1800s•Was used as a living fence and for
erosion control
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestimages.org
Nutria
•Don’t let this cute little guy fool you!
• Introduced for the fur trade
•Damages vegetation and destroys wetland habitats
And…the biggest pain in Delaware’s hind end Phragmites!!!
John M. Randall/The Nature Conservancy
Also known as the common reed
James R. Allison, GA Dept. of Natural Resources, www.invasive.org James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,
www.forestryimages.org
Primary SuccessionA new community forms in an area that lacks
soil or vegetation (bare rock)
– Lichens and mosses develop first (Pioneer Species)
– Soil forms due to weathering (physical & chemical) and decomposition (plants & animals)
Secondary Succession• Follows primary
succession
• Needs soil to be present
• Original inhabitants must be damaged or destroyed (by human or natural processes)
• Occurs a lot faster than primary succession
Climax CommunityClimax CommunityStable community of a diverse Stable community of a diverse number of species (plants and number of species (plants and
animals)animals)
Acid Rain•Normal rain is already slightly acidic
(~5.6 on the pH scale) – Carbon dioxide reacts with water in the
atmosphere to form carbonic acid
•Average pH of rain in Eastern US is 4.5
•Water reacts with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, causing precipitation to become even more acidic
pH Scale
Sources of Pollution Which Contribute to Acid Rain
•Natural sources– lightning
– forest fires
– volcanoes
• Human activities–industrial
factories–coal-fired power
plants –car emissions
****Air currents cause acid precipitation to be carried far away from the source of the pollution
www2.nature.nps.gov
Negative Effects of Acid Rain •Corrodes metal
structures (bridges)
•Dissolves limestone structures
•Disrupts ecosystems by leaching calcium and potassium from the soil
Possible Solutions•Cleaner vehicles
which burn extra nitrogen oxides
•Electric/Hybrid Vehicles
•Factories install scrubbers to remove sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide from plant emissions
1. Which of the following is NOT true about invasive species?
Des
troy
ecosy
stem
s
Chan
ge th
e fo
od web
Tra
nsmit
exotic
dis
e...
Pro
tect
hab
itats
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. Destroy ecosystems
B. Change the food web
C. Transmit exotic diseases
D. Protect habitats
2. How have humans changed ecosystems?
Def
orest
atio
n
Hab
itat d
estru
ctio
n
Pollu
tion
Intro
ductio
n of n
ew ..
.
All
of the
above
20% 20% 20%20%20%
25
A. DeforestationB. Habitat
destructionC. PollutionD. Introduction of
new speciesE. All of the above
3. Which one of the following is NOT a reason for why invasive species are difficult to control?
No n
atura
l pre
dator
s
Gro
w and
repr
oduce
...
Req
uire
littl
e fo
od
Thriv
e in
man
y ha
bitats
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. No natural predators
B. Grow and reproduce quickly
C. Require little foodD. Thrive in many
habitats
4. T or F Ecosystems can change through natural processes?
Tru
e
Fal
se
50%50%
25
A. TrueB. False
5. What community starts as bare rock and slowly develops?
Prim
ary
succ
es...
Sec
ondar
y su
cc...
Volc
anoes
mou
ntain
s
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. Primary succession
B. Secondary succession
C. VolcanoesD. mountains
6. A community that is stable with diversity of plants and animals
Prim
ary
succ
essi
on
Sec
ondar
y su
cces
sion
Clim
ax c
omm
unity
Uto
pian s
ociet
y
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. Primary succession
B. Secondary succession
C. Climax community
D. Utopian society
7. What is the typical pH reading of rain in the Eastern U.S?
7 13 5.6
4.5
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. 7B. 13C. 5.6D. 4.5
8. What causes rain to not be perfectly neutral (a 7) on the pH scale?
Wat
er re
acts
with
ca.
..
The
oxygen
porti
on ..
Pollu
tant
s in
gas
eou...
33% 33%33%
25
A. Water reacts with carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere
B. The oxygen portion of water is pulled onto carbon molecules in CO2
C. Pollutants in gaseous water react with the atmosphere
9. T or F: Natural processes can contribute to acid rain
Tru
e
Fal
se
50%50%
25
A. TrueB. False
10. Which of the following natural phenomena does NOT cause acid rain?
Hurri
canes
Lig
htnin
g
Fore
st fi
res
volc
anoes
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. HurricanesB. LightningC. Forest firesD. volcanoes
11. Why does the pollution we create not cause acid rain where we live?
We
recy
cle
before
it g
...
Air
curre
nts c
arry
pol..
.
We
have
acid
rain
but
i...
We
expe
rience
Flo
rida.
.
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. We recycle before it gets too bad
B. Air currents carry pollutants elsewhere
C. We have acid rain but it is only during the spring
D. We experience Florida’s polluted rain
12. What are some negative effects of acid rain?
It c
orro
des
me.
..
It b
urns
your .
..
It h
elps
with
...
It m
akes
peo
pl...
25% 25%25%25%
25
A. It corrodes metals such as bridges, and takes important nutrients out of the soil
B. It burns your skin and eyesC. It helps with photosynthesisD. It makes people hallucinate
and think they are zombies
13. What are some ways to prevent acid rain?
Char
ge peo
ple ..
.
Mak
e peo
ple p
a...
Mak
e fa
ctorie
s...
33% 33%33%
25
A. Charge people who don’t recycle
B. Make people pay extra taxes who buy big trucks
C. Make factories install scrubbers to filter their emmissions
14. Invasive species are only animals.
Tru
e
Fal
se
50%50%
25
A. TrueB. False
15. Why did we introduce new species into America?
For f
ood, e
cono
mic
g...
To d
estro
y ou
r hom
e...
Stu
pidity
!
33% 33%33%
25
A. For food, economic gain, medicine, and to prevent soil erosion
B. To destroy our homeland and ruin ecosytems
C. Stupidity!
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