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| Polluted water runoff URL:http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfing-lifestyle |
There has been a lot of growing concerns in regards to
restoring and preserving ecosystems to which we inhabit. As our species continue
to reproduce rapidly, our ecosystems will continue to decrease in species
richness and increase in pollution. A quote from chapter eight in the section ecosystems
and habitats that I found hard to take in begins; “A sixth mass extinction is
now underway and is progressing rapidly (Robertson, 115).” This disturbing; nonetheless,
true statement needs to be addressed logically and rapidly. How can we go about
finding a solution to this problem when the answer might be horrid and
upcoming? If this problem is anything like climate change; we will not act upon
this issue until it is too late. It might be climate change or over-population
leading to our carrying capacity exceeding its limit; if we wait to see an
outcome then nothing will be progressed.
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| Meme of the next possible mass extinction URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INWqAABweTg |
A second quote that can correlate with population growth
is on page 118; “Urban development is responsible for another large percentage
of habitat destruction (Robertson, 118).” With increase population, land
development and land management are called into effect. Deforestation occurs
when humans need more land to build homes or crop fields. Once the land is
destroyed, many of the native species found in that section of land that was
destroyed must escape to another ecosystem that suits their specific niche. If
that species cannot inhabit another ecosystem, then they will suffer. Overpopulation
of our species will continue to impact how we manage the land we destroy; in
China, there is not much land left so they are building up instead of wide.
Another side effect of urban development is pollution runoff. As we discussed
in class, a huge factor of pollution runoff is fertilizer usages and land
development.
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| Typical urban developed area URL: http://cannoncorp.us/market/urban-development/ |
The quote that can have major side effects can be found
on page 128; “Many urban streams have been diverted to pipes underground
(Robertson, 128).” With nuclear power plants in the northwest region of the
United States being built right next to major streams and rivers, adverse consequences
follow. Some of these consequences due to the nuclear power plant include toxic
water, a high level of pH effecting the hydrology of the stream, and acid rain.
The freshwater streams and rivers located in the areas near nuclear power
plants provide a large water source that is dependent on the local people
living around that area. Many pipes that flow through the ground end up at a
water facility plant where it is treated and then redistributed throughout the
area. If an area has problems with polluted water, then the facility must under
a process called reverse osmosis to cleanse out any chemicals in the drinking
water. This process is very expensive and is brought in due to acquiring
electrical power from the nuclear plants.
Sources
Robertson, M. (2014). Quotes
from chapter eight in Ecosystems and Habitat p. 115-128. In Sustainability Principles and Practices.
Third Avenue, NY. Routledge.
