Science Learning Resource: What effect(s) are humans having on our environment and eco-systems?

1. Science Learning Resource: What effect(s) are humans having on our environment and eco-systems? The learning resource by Callum Piper, 8A2, Miss Kirk

2. Aims: My aims during this presentation are: • To inform people about the effects we as humans are having on our environment. • To educate people about ecosystems and food webs. • To give people ideas as to how they can reduce their carbon footprint. • To help people remember the above by means of a quiz. Enjoy!

3. Ecosystems and adaptations Ecosystem: An ecosystem is the word given to a habitat, environment or area with the correct living conditions for certain life forms to thrive. For example, the conditions of the wet rainforests of the Amazon in South America are extremely well suited to such life forms as brightly coloured orchids and river lurking crocodiles and alligators. This is partly because the animals suited to these environments/ecosystems have adapted their physical features to make it easier for them to survive there. For example, the Indian elephant has developed large, plate-like ears with which to disperse red blood cells and therefore heat, a useful asset for living in a hot, merciless landscape such as theirs.

4. Food webs and organisms’ roles in an ecosystem. When humans study ecosystems and environments of different types/varieties, they discover that individual species’ of animal(s) unconsciously depend on each other to survive. They discover that if one small species/sub-species dies out, the entire ecosystem suffers because of it. For example, in a small English forest/woodland, there are foxes. Those foxes rely on their being mice on which to feed. The mice, In turn, rely on their being enough food (grass, nuts etc) for them to eat. And for there to be grass there must be worms and other small underground creatures to give the growing soil its nutrients. Because of this, if the worms stop giving the earth nutrients, the mice die. Because the mice die, so do the foxes etc. In one ecosystem their can be many food webs/chains, allowing a vast quantity of life/life forms to co-exist in their environment.

5. Where do the humans come in? As you probably know, humans are believed to have evolved from apes. At that time, we were as much a part of our world’s ecosystem as any other organism. Since then, as we have evolved, we have detached ourselves from the chain of our ecosystem. We take from our planet and our environment, but we give little (if any!) back. We have drilled oil from our planet’s depths, we have cultivated and imprisoned other animals and not helped them in return in any way at all! We have reached the top of the food chain by using tools and our unusually advanced brains to hunt and cultivate other organisms for our food, and destroyed entire habitats simply in order to make our own lifestyles a little more comfortable…

6. What do we do to damage our environment? • Drill for oil in the earth’s crust. This damages our planet because oil is formed over thousands/millions of years by rotting biomass e.g. wood and takes a long time to replenish. • Chop down trees in wooded areas/countries. This damages the environment because trees produce oxygen and rid us of carbon dioxide and because they make up a habitat for several organisms. • Pollute the atmosphere by means of exhaust and fumes: When we burn fossil fuels e.g. oil, coal etc we pollute our Earths atmosphere, causing it to increase in heat/temperature. This will have knock-on effects for generations to come if it is continued…

7. What can we do to help? You should now be wondering how you can help make our impact on our planet’s environment lessen. Their will now be an interactive role-play task for you to try. When you’ve done it once you may want to try it again and try to improve your score. Good Luck!

8. The task You are the environmental advisor for a major business company. Your job requires that you give advice to the head of the corporation as to what to do when faced with environmental issues during construction or expansion of the business. You will be given 3 multiple choice questions, you must give advice to the head of the company as to what to do on each one. Enjoy! Start

9. Decision I The company has been offered planning permission to build on an abandoned farm that has not been used for many years. However, surveys have shown that two of the old barns are now home to endangered species of bats and other, non-winged rodents. The company head has asked for your advice: Tell him to build anyway, and hope nobody takes legal action against you. Tell him to try and avoid the animals and find a new construction site somewhere else Tell him to try and relocate the bats Tell him to try and build as far away from the animals as possible without leaving the designated construction zone

10. Decision II The company has been notified by local inspectors that one of their office buildings is significantly damaging the environment. The company head has asked you what to install/take away in order to make this building more eco-friendly. Build a wind turbine outside the building to provide power Install solar panels on the roof and use a more eco-friendly electricity company Close the building down entirely Build an oil-run electricity generator close to the building

11. Decision III The company wishes to clear an area of forest in order to expand their business. However, this will significantly damage the environment. Can you think of any suggestions? Suggest a new area of construction Proceed with construction Proceed, but try to find a way of preserving the local wildlife

12. Score: 4. WELL DONE! You have made the best decision possible, the company head is incredibly impressed with your knowledge of our natural enviroment! Decision II Decision I Decision III FINISH

13. Score: 3. NOT BAD! You have made a decision that will benefit the company in years to come, and have mostly avoided damaging the enviroment. Decision II Decision I Decision III FINISH

14. Score: 2. COULD BE WORSE! You have made a decision that will give a little profit to the company but failed to protect the environment. Decision II Decision I Decision III FINISH

15. Score: 1. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! You’re decision has brought ruin to the environment around you and the company has made a huge loss. The company head is furious! Decision II Decision I Decision III FINISH

16. Scoring 0-5 points: You have led the company to ruin, and destroyed the environment in the process! 5-8 Not bad. You have increased the company’s profit, but the environment has suffered in the process 8-12 Well done! You have fulfilled the companies wishes and preserved the enviroment!