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!