ECOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY GOALS 1 I Can describe

ECOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

GOALS 1. I Can describe the concept of ecological footprints and explain its usefulness 2. Define a contaminant as an agent that causes changes in the physical, chemical or biological properties of the environment 3. Describe bioaccumulation and explain it in terms of trophic levels 4. Describe bioconcentration 5. Describe toxicity threshold and describe the factors that influence it 6. Describe the treatment used to decontaminate waste water 7. Describe methods of biodegrading pollutants

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT THE MEASURE OF THE IMPACT OF LIFESTYLE CHOICES ON THE ECOSPHERE. HOW MUCH LAND IS REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN A PERSONS CONSUMPTION. ECOSPHERE: CONSISTS OF THE REGIONS OF EARTH THAT ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING LIFE, TOGETHER WITH THE ECOSYSTEM THEY CONTAIN. 1. BIOSPHERE – LIFE AND THEIR HABITATS 2. LITHOSPHERE: EARTH AND ITS HABITAT 3. HYDROSPHERE: WATER AND ITS HABITAT 4. ATMOSPHERE: AIR

WHAT COUNTS IN YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT?

HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR GLOBAL FOOTPRINT? • HECTARES (10 000 SQUARE METERS) • A GLOBAL HECTARE IS A HECTARE WHOSE PRODUCTIVITY AND CAPACITY TO ABSORB WASTE IS EQUAL TO THE AVERAGE WORLD POPULATION

BIOCAPACITY • The capacity of an area to continuously supply raw materials and absorb waste material generated by humans.

DO P. 46 #6

YOUR FOOTPRINT (LS) • HTTP: //WWW. FOOTPRINTCALCULATOR. ORG/

ECOLOGICAL DEFICIT/RESERVE (BALANCE) • The difference between the biocapacity of the area it occupies and its ecological footprint. Ecological deficit/reserve = Biocapacity- Ecological footprint

Given that the ecological footprint of the united states is 8. 2 gha person and that its biocapacity is 3. 8 gha person, calculate whether it has an ecological reserve or deficit. • P. 45 #5

The world-average ecological footprint in 2012 was 2. 84 global hectares person with an a Biocapacity of 9. 2 billion (9 200 000). If the population of the earth is 7. 7 billion people, Is our planet enough.

The Ecological footprint in Finland is 32 million Global hectares and the biocapacity is 13. 44 gha/person. Does Finland have enough land to support its population? The population Finland is 5. 5 million.

ECOTOXICOLOGY • Ecotoxicology: The study of the effects of toxic chemicals on biological organisms, especially at the population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere levels. • Contaminants: An agent that causes changes in the physical, chemical or biological properties of an environment or an organism Contaminant = pollutant

Can you think of any contaminants you would find in the following? • Soil: P. 8 #2 • Water • Air:

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WASTE Contaminant Land Nitric and sulphuric acid Water Air X Aerosols X Ammonia X Fluorochemical and chloronated coumpounds (CFC, freon) X Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) X Household solid waste X Liquid toxic waste X Radioactive waste X X X

3 MAIN TYPES OF MODIFICATIONS BY CONTAMINANTS • BIOLOGICAL: LIVE ORGANISMS • PHYSICAL: CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES • CHEMICAL: CHANGES IN CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES

HOUSEHOLD WASTE

WHAT TYPE OF WASTE ARE THE FOLLOWING P. 7#1 1. Water used to cool machinery in a pulp and paper plant mill which is directly discharged into the nearby river. 2. An increase in synthetic estrogen concentration has been noticed. 3. Conventional thermal power plants release nitrogen and sulphur oxides into the atmosphere. 4. During heavy rain, overload conditions sometimes occur at waste water treatment plaints, which must release untreated wastewater into watercourse.

BIOACCUMULATION Bioaccumulation is the “build-up of chemicals in living organisms” The chemicals can either be absorbed by the environment or ingested through food. The chemical accumulates because it cannot be easily broken down. The contaminants get stored in the fat-cells of the organism.

Poison dart frogs ingest poison ingested from eating ants centipedes and mites to use as their own poison

BIOACCUMULATION (READ P. 12 AND DO #4) The contaminant is found in higher concentrations in the organism then the surrounding environment.

DDT

BIOCONCENTRATION • A type of Bioaccumulation which is done through direct contact. • Normally done by plants

WHAT’S CONCENTRATION?

BIOMAGNIFICATION The process by where chemicals accumulate and become more concentrated at each tropic level of a food chain

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CONTAMINANTS MAKE THEIR WAY UP THE FOOD CHAIN ?

TOXICITY • The ability to have a harmful effect on living organism • The substances can make the organism sick, modify it behavior or even kill it.

EFFECTS OF MERCURY • MOOD SWINGS, IRRATABILITY, NERVOUSNESS • MUSCLE TWITCHING, WEAKNESS, ATROPHY, NUMBNESS • MEMORY LOSS • DAMAGES BRAIN AND KIDNEY • CAN DAMAGE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

TOXICITY THRESHOLD The minimum quantity of a substance that can produce a considerable harmful affect.

WASTEWATER • Wastewater: water that is discharged after household or industrial use and that is polluted as a result of human activity.

WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF WASTE WATER? • P. 27 #1, 2, 3

WHAT CONTAMINANTS ARE FOUND IN WASTEWATER? • Sand suspended particles • Pathogens (microorganisms that can cause diseases) • Decomposing organic material • Nutrients that stimulate the excessive growth of algae, cyanobacteria and aquatic plants. • chemicals

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CLEAN WASTE WATER?

IC H P O R N T O EU I T A

EUTROPHICATION • The process by which natural waters lose their oxygen because of excessive accumulation of organic matter and nutrients. • Fertilizers particularly phosphorus makes its ways into rivers causing algae blooms. The dead algae sinks to the buttom and gets decomposed by bacteria. • The bacteria use up all of the oxygen

CONTAMINANTS IN WASTE WATER • PLASTIC, METALS AND PESTICIDES ( NOT BIODEGRADABLE) • MERCURY • PHOSPHATES AND NITRATES • CYANOBACTERIA

RIVER ON FIRE • HTTPS: //WWW. YOUTUBE. COM/WATCH? V=_Y 0 MSKBIXRQ

WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT

WATER TREATMENT PLANT PHASES

PRETREATMENT( PRELIMINARY TREATMENT) Purpose: Removes large solids and insoluble material such as grease and oils to protect the operation of the plant. 1. Screening 2. Grit chamber 3. Skimming-

SCREENING: screens remove large solids

2. Grit chamber- Removal of gravel and sand using sedimentation.

3. Skimming- air is injected into the system causing insoluble substances to float as a foam, which is skimmed off with a rake

PRIMARY TREATMENT (PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES) Purpose: to remove suspended particles in the system • A reagent is added to the water to promote the formation of flocs (Flocculation) • The flocs settle to the bottom and get removed through decantation

FLOCCULATION

DECANTATION

SECONDARY TREATMENT (BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT) Purpose: remove organic and suspended solids • Water is transferred to a tank where microorganism and large amounts of air are added. • The microorganisms digest the organic matter. The sludge is then removed through decantation.

TERTIARY TREATMENT (OPTIONAL) Purpose: removal of pathogens and nutrients not previously removed • Treatment of water with chemicals, often chlorine, ozone or UV light are used. • Includes phosphate removal, filtration and disinfection • Chemical, photochemical, biological

WHAT ABOUT THE SLUDGE?

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE 4 TREATMENTS IN THE VIDEO • HTTPS: //WWW. YOUTUBE. COM/WATCH? V=OAXTH 88 I 7 RK • P. 31 #2 • P. 32 #3 • P. 33 #4

BIODEGRADATION OF POLLUTANTS