Essential Biology 5.2 & G3: Greenhouse Effect & Human Impacts

Sources to use:Allott text, Click4Biology, The Habitable Planet (

  1. Annotate the diagram to show the carbon cycle and processes involved.

  1. Outline some of the methods used to measure or estimate atmospheric carbon dioxide.
  1. The topic of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere has been the source of intense debate with regard to climate change in recent years. This graph shows the famous ‘Keeling Curve’ from Mauna Loa laboratory in Hawaii. Find out more here:

  1. Describe the overall trend shown in the graph.
  1. Suggest one human impact and one natural cause that could have led to the overall trend shown in the graph:

Human:

Natural:

  1. Explain the annual fluctuations in CO2 levels.

Peaks:

Troughs:

  1. Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the greenhouse effect.
  1. Identify three greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide.
  1. Explain how increased atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases lead to an enhanced greenhouse effect.
  1. Outline some of the possible consequences of a global temperature rise on arctic ecosystems.
  1. What is the precautionary principle?
  1. How does the precautionary principle apply to human impacts and global warming?
  1. Give two other examples of the precautionary principle in effect in Biology or Medicine.
  1. Evaluate the precautionary principle as a justification for taking strong action in response to the threats posed by the enhanced greenhouse effect. What are some of the steps that we could take?
  1. What is ozone and what is its function in the stratosphere.
  1. Outline the effect of CFC’s on the ozone layer.
  1. Outline the effects of UV radiation on living tissues and biological productivity.
  1. Describe the consequences of ozone layer damage due to CFC use in terms of long-term environmental and human health impacts.
  1. What can be measured using Simpson’s Diversity Index?
  1. List some of the uses of Simpson’s Diversity Index data in environmental decision making:
  1. Describe how Simpson’s Index could be used to compare two locations.
  1. Use Simpson’s Diversity Index to compare these communities:

Grassland Site 1

Species / A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H
Present / y / y / y / x / x / x / x / x / N= / 3 / N-1= / 2
number / 65 / 12 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / O / Σn= / n-1=

Simpson’s Index:

Grassland Site 2

Species / A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H
Present / y / X / y / y / y / y / y / y / N= / 7 / N-1= / 6
number / 12 / o / 32 / 21 / 08 / 6 / 07 / 4 / Σn= / n-1=

Simpson’s Index:

Which one of these sites was farmed grassland? Which was left to go wild? Explain your answer.

  1. Read the article “Aborigines improve biodiversity by starting fires” and then work through this example of Simpson’s Diversity Index. The data have been simplified. ( )
  1. Species populations were recorded before and 5-years after fire. Calculate D for before and after the fires.

Immediately prior to burning / Five years post-burning
species / count / n(n-1) / species / count / n(n-1)
A / 125 / A / 16
B / 21 / B / 45
C / 14 / C / 34
D / 8 / D / 95
E / 7 / E / 25
F / 5 / F / 36
G / 5 / G / 80
H / 5 / H / 101
ΣN / ΣN
ΣN(N-1) / ΣN(N-1)
Σn(n-1) / Σn(n-1)
D = / ΣN(N-1) / D = / ΣN(N-1)
Σn(n-1) / Σn(n-1)
D = / D =
  1. Compare the diversity before and after the fires.
  1. Which species in the table represents spinifex? Explain your answer.
  1. Which type of ecological succession is being modeled here?
  1. Discuss the following reasons for conservation of biodiversity in rainforests:

Ethical/moralEconomical

EconomicalAesthetic

  1. Define alien species.
  1. Give examples of the introduction of the following types of invasive species and their impacts:

Intentional Introduction: food source

Intentional Introduction: biological control

Accidental Introduction: shipping or globalization

  1. How do alien species have the following impacts on ecosystems? Give examples.

Predation

Interspecific competition

Habitat destruction

Biological control

Extinction

  1. Use the Global Invasive Species database to complete this information for a an invasive species found in your local area or home country (
  2. Binomial and common names and taxonomy
  1. Native and introduced geographical ranges
  1. Introduction pathways or vectors
  1. Local dispersal methods
  1. Impacts
  1. Management strategies
  1. Outline how RHDV has been used as biological control in Australia.

Problem:

Solution:

Effectiveness:

  1. Define biomagnification.
  1. Distinguish between bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
  1. Using a diagram or flow-chart, describe the cause and consequences of one named example of biomagnification.

Cause: / Diagram:
Consequences:

Stephen Taylor Bandung International School