Changes in Ecosystems - Natural Events

Transcription

1 Changes in Ecosystems - Natural Events 8A predict and describe how different types of catastrophic events impact ecosystems such as floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes Textbook pages:

2 How can ecosystems change? Gradual Changes All ecosystems change over time some changes are gradual but temporary. Ex. summer and winter in the same forest Some changes are still gradual but permanent. Ex. climate change happens slowly over time, but can (p.398 text) Sudden Disturbances Disturbances are events that change an ecosystem Disturbances destroy organisms and habitat Floods caused by heavy rains Wildfires Severe storms such as tsunamis and hurricanes Volcanic eruptions

3 Short term effects Changes to the environment is actually a constant! What do you think is meant by that statement? For example, a flash flood is a sudden event or disturbance that can cause a lot of damage. However, most of the time, the damage is shortterm. Flooding in Austin - June

4 Long term effects Of course, there are events that will change an area forever. But the change may still be recoverable it just takes a longer amount of time, perhaps even hundreds to thousands of years. Example: Mt. Saint Helens eruption 35 years ago. The eruption The recovery

5 How do these events affect Texas ecosystems and regions? Webquest:

6 Day 2 11/7 Discuss Hurricanes and then human caused events

7 Hurricanes and the Texas Coast 8A predict and describe how different types of catastrophic events impact ecosystems such as floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes

8 The Beach Close your eyes and imagine the beach. Put your self on the shore, relax. Now, listen to this: (Beach sounds) What are your thoughts or comments now?

9 Here is our coast:

10 Take a look at the brochure and information: You will have a few minutes to find the following: Animal inhabitants Natural changes to the ecoregion what might be natural or human caused events that could change this region? Vegetation (plants) What is the land/soil like? What are other abiotic factors?

11 Now what you will do: You are going take notes in your science journal title the page: Natural and Human Caused Disasters When instructed, get a computer and sign it out.

12 Your tasks: The rest of class is self paced. You will get a computer and go to my website Unit 2. Scroll down until you see this power point/pdf Click to open it, take notes, watch videos and then when you are done, come get the reading.

13 Self paced portion starts after this slide!

14 Watch these quick videos: Barrier Island Ecosystem (9 min) Padre Island (8 min)

15 Hurricanes what are they? Remember from the webquest? Who can tell me about hurricanes? On average, ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico each year. About six of these develop into hurricanes. Hurricanes 101

16 The hurricanes they are STILL talking about!! Have you heard of Katrina (New Orleans ), what about Sandy (Jamaica and on to New Jersey ) What about Galveston, 1900? Galveston Hurricane (1 min) More recent: Hurricane Mathew

17 Satellite Images and Erosion What changes do you notice? (Haiti, Hurricane Mathew)

18 Hurricane Mathew Stats: New photos taken from space reveal the extent of the damage and the disturbing amount of vegetation lost in the storm. The Category 4 storm brought 107 mph (172 km/h) winds, torrential rainfall, and floods to the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, wiping out entire villages, and killing at least 1,000 people. Aerial footage revealed widespread destruction in the western portions of the island nation

19 How Hurricanes affect ecosystems: Aquatic - It can erode the sediment and deposit the sand in a new place, salt water can be introduced into areas that are not used to it. The hurricane floodwater has chemicals and debris in it that can cause fish kills or other harmful effects Terrestrial (land) strong winds, storm surges, flooding and possible tornados Coastal wetlands and barrier islands take the brunt of the storm surge

20 Changes in Ecosystems Human Caused Events Human impact on ecosystems

21 Question to ponder: What are your thoughts?

22 Examples from history: Chernobyl what happened (3 min) Recovery (?) The animals of Chernobyl (5 min) What type of event is Chernobyl? Gradual or Sudden?

23 Examples from history: BP spill in the Gulf coast a few years ago (2010) what do you know? Here are the facts: Amount of oil spilled: more than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. Even though the gushing well was capped in July 2010, oil is still washing up on shores, which might cause long-term damages to people and living organisms in the area.

24 BP Oil Spill: 16,000 total miles of coastline have been affected, including the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

25 BP Oil Spill: Over 8,000 animals (birds, turtles, mammals) were reported dead just 6 months after the spill, including many that were already on the endangered species list. It s still not over large predators such as dolphins are still dying with illnesses attributed to this spill

26 Reading: