Activity 4: The Research Project – Human Impact on Ecosystems



Science 10 Sustainability of Ecosystems

Activity #1 The Research Project – Human Impact on Ecosystems

Background

Everyday activities of humans result in many changes in both the abiotic and biotic environment of our ecosystems. The use of energy increases air temperatures around cities, mineral contamination of waterways is a result of mining and effluent disposal release, farming increased populations of agricultural and pest species and decreased the populations of most wildlife. In order to better assess the impact of human activities on the environment, it is necessary to understand the ecological relationships in the ecosystem.

Task

Your task is to research one particular human activity that has an impact on the environment in your province. Then you need to link that particular activity with at least two specific consequences, using ecological relationships that you have learned.

For example, certain agricultural practices produce wastes containing pesticides such as DDT, which enter the aquatic environment. The pesticide is then deposited on the algae and plant growth in lakes and streams (Consequence 1). The pesticide enters the bodies of phytoplankton and the process of biomagnification becomes concentrated in the muscles of carnivorous fish (Consequence 2).

Through explorations such as this, you will be able to explain, for example, how the use of pesticides could affect the health of fish-eating people living downstream.

The end result of your research will be to present your finding, including tables and graphs of data in a report. Some suggested formats include essay format, Powerpoint Presentation or Web Page.

Investigate

1. Choose one of the following topics to investigate (or decide on one of your own topics, but discuss it with your teacher before beginning your research).

a. The impact of human activities on an endangered ecosystem such as a grass prairie.

b. The impact of draining wetlands.

c. The impact of dam construction.

d. The impact of releasing heavy metals into the environment

e. The impact of single-crop or monoculture farming.

f. The impact of clear-cutting forests.

g. The impact of building cottages along lake shores.

h. The impact of urban sprawl development on natural areas or drainage systems.

i. The impact of oil and gas exploration in Canada.

j. The impact of illegal wildlife poaching.

k. The impact of strip mining (e.g. nickel).

l. The impact of underground mining (e.g. potash).

m. An approved topic of your choice.

2. Using your knowledge of ecosystems: list some of the ways in which the natural environment would be affected. Use concepts such as abiotic environment, populations, population density, food webs, pyramid of numbers, predators, prey, decomposers, biodiversity, and adaptation to describe your ideas.

3. Organize your ideas into links or steps: A leads to B, B leads to C, and so on.

4. Carry out research to obtain information related to your ideas. There are many good internet sources of data in the list of related websites. If you are going to contact organizations like government departments of Fisheries or Mining, etc. please prepare a list of what you need before you inquire, and be as specific as possible. Some examples are: figures showing changes in numbers of prairie ponds since 1955 are available from Environment Canada, changes in duck numbers on the western plains are provided by the Annual Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey, available from the Canadian Wildlife Service, etc.

5. Assemble your report, including data and illustrations, as previously discussed.

6. Analysis

a. Describe your attempts to obtain information that were successful. Give reasons for the lack of results?

b. Did your research provide you with any information that surprised you? Explain.

c. Suggest how one or more of the harmful impacts described in your report might be minimized or eliminated.

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