Runoff of chemical fertilizers, animal waste and pesticides contaminates lakes and streams. Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water can cause algal blooms and result in ocean dead zones such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico." Foods that are shipped from a distance are usually filled with preservatives that way they stay good on the trip and for a little while on the
The Effects of Temperature on the Swimming Behavior of Daphnia Introduction: Plankton play a large role in the ecosystem. Plankton are aquatic organisms that exist in innumerable different regions of aquatic environments. They can be utilized as a food source for other planktons, large aquatic animals, and other animals. Since they are at the pedestal of the food chain, they are important since they fill the base of the ecosystems they exist in. Many zooplanktons are also ectothermic which means temperature can highly affect metabolism and growth (Jalal et al., 2013).
Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon more correctly known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of microorganisms), an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column and results in discoloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas. [1] These algae, more specifically phytoplankton, are single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water's surface. Certain species of phytoplankton, such as Dinoflagelate, contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red. When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green.
Due to sea level rising coral reefs are getting destroyed, as they cannot survive in water above 25m. Also the increase of sea levels changes the nutrient flow, which will further damage the food chains. Furthermore coral bleaching is another side affect of global warming which affects the coral reef. Coral bleaching is permanent damage and is effected globally. It gets especially worse during an El Nino year.
(E) (4) effect on photosynthesis (light independent reaction); increased rate with small increases, disruption with larger; increased rate of growth of (some) plants; possible increased rate of crop growth; effect of other limiting factors. (PS) (5) effect on transpiration; increased rate of water loss and hence wilting/dehydration; reduced stomatal opening may affect photosynthesis; possible consequences of drought on ecosystems. (T) (6) effect on respiration and metabolism; increased effect on growth and activity, especially of ectotherms. (M) (7) ecological effects of disruption of food webs and the dynamics of ecosytems, with changes in niches and hence communities. (EC) (8) effect on species; extinction of species that are unable to adapt, especially ones with specialised requirements; limited opportunity for plants and some animals to spread to more suitable conditions as climate changes.
While plants do benefit from elevated levels of phosphorous and nitrogen in the soil, so too do the pests that eat the crops, leading to population booms of bugs like crop-decimating aphids (National Academy of Sciences 688). The result is an increase in the amount of pesticides that farmers must use; pesticides that eventually seep into ground water and sometimes into potable supplies. Infiltrating ground water right along side the pesticides are the excess fertilizers which, once in rivers, streams, and lakes, cause rapid growth of algae. The immense amount of algae blocks off sunlight in these bodies of water and chokes off other plant life, which in turn kills off the fish that normally thrive on plants. In other cases, the algae blooms from eutrophication turn out to be incredibly toxic species (National Academy of Sciences 696).
These runoffs have contributed to the beach closures, and the unsustainable condition of biological life in the lake. Human health is at great risk due to the untreated waste that is dumped in Lake Huron each year. The untreated sewage contains many viruses, two being Giardia (an intestinal parasite), cryptosporidium, which causes intestinal illnesses and even death. E. coli a more familiar virus has elevated its concentrations in Lake Huron, found in either animal or human feces, which causes diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. ("Testing the waters,"
Estuaries transport dissolved nutrients to coastal zones leading to a high productivity in primary and secondary production. Deviations in production can greatly affect species richness, abundance, and productivity (Goel 2014). Ctenophores are major predators of zooplankton. It is possible that a lack of ctenophore predation in the Barrington River allow zooplankton in the inner bay to survive and matching diversity (Kremer 1979). There may a few places where an error could have been made that would
Many environmental organizations across the United States deal with this very problem. Obviously, each situation is different geographically because of slightly different climates and habitats, but the problem is all the same: Zebra mussels are altering the ecosystems of these habitats, which causes ecological, biological, and economic issues. Because it is nearly impossibly to wipe out an established colony, the most economically efficient way to deal with zebra mussel infestation is complete prevention. The need to control zebra mussels led to the creation of a multi-million dollar industry. Completely ridding an infested habitat of zebra mussels is nearly impossible with the technology and knowledge available today.
The Gulf of Mexico’s Dead Zone Earl Kuehne Columbia Southern University 06/29/2015 The Gulf of Mexico’s Dead Zone The Dead Zone is an area in Mexico with low oxygen levels and covers an area of 13,080 square kilometers. The zone is caused by the Mississippi River that enriches it with phosphorous and nitrogen nutrients. The increased deposits of nutrients into the river facilitate the growth of algae, thus resulting in the development of algae blooms, which alter food chains and deplete oxygen. Seasonal variations cause fluctuations in the size of the dead zone and the size is sometimes affected by farming activities. The formation of the Dead Zone follows a scientific process and in Mexico, various environmental policies