WEBQUEST: Ch 6 HUMAN IMPACT ON THE BIOSPHERE
NAMES_________________________________ per _____ Date __________
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Objective: Find out the various ways that humans are impacting our
environment.
Directions -Under each Topic, visit the website and COMPLETE the provided
questions. Type your answers into this document and submit one for each group.
Remember to rename the document before you save. These are your notes for the unit, so
do a good job. Everyone is responsible for every topic, even if you divide up the work.
HOW HUMAN ACTIVITIES AFFECT THE BIOSPHERE
Climate change http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/
1.
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3.
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How much has our climate changed over the last century?
List at least 8 forms of evidence for climate change?
How have human activities contributed to climate change?
Identify 5 things you can do at home to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
Invasive or non-native species
https://sites.google.com/site/humanpopulationgrowthwebquest/home/non-native-species
1. What is a non-native species?
2. Why are non-native species dangerous to ecosystems?
3. IDENTIFY 4 examples of invasive non-native species
a. Explain how each one was introduced into its new environment.
b. Describe each one’s impact on the ecosystem.
Ozone Depletion
http://envis.tropmet.res.in/kidscorner/ozone.htm
1. What is ozone?
2. Why is the ozone layer important to life on Earth?
3. What is the difference between “bad” and “good” ozone?
4. What is ozone depletion?
5. What causes ozone depletion?
6. How does ozone depletion impact human health?
7. What impact does ozone depletion have on plant and animal life?
Acid Rain
http://www.cleanairkids.org.uk/acidrain.html
1. What is acid rain?
2. What are the main gases that cause acid rain?
3. How can acid rain affect plants and trees?
4. How can acid rain affect organisms that live in the water?
5. How can acid rain affect buildings?
Biomagnification
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9i6a_NRahg
1. Understand how biomagnification occurs in an ecosystem.
2. Explain how and why DDT affects ecosystems.
Eutrophication
http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/eutrophication.html
1. What is eutrophication?
2. What causes eutrophication?
3. List 5 results of eutrophication?
Deforestation
http://kids.mongabay.com/lesson_plans/lisa_algee/deforestation.html
1. What is deforestation?
2. List the causes of deforestation.
3. What are the environmental consequences associated with deforestation?
4. What are the social impacts of deforestation?
5. List 5 ways you can help reduce deforestation.
Desertification
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envfacts/facts/desertification.htm
1. What is desertification?
2. List 4 causes of desertification.
3. List 3 results of desertification.
Over Harvesting
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/
1. What is overfishing?
2. Why is overfishing such a complex environmental issue?
3. What steps are being taken to counter the effects of overfishing?
VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY
http://www.biodiversitybc.org/EN/main/why/109.html
1. How does biodiversity benefit human health?
2. What other ways does biodiversity help humans?
CURRENT THREATS AND PRESERVATION METHODS TO
BIODIVERSITY
http://www.biodiv.be/biodiversity/threats/
Use the website from the Convention on Biological Diversity to answer the following
question:
1. What are 9 or 10 major threats to biodiversity?
2. Find out what habitat fragmentation is, define it and explain how it impacts
biodiversity.
What is a Biodiversity Hotspot?
Use youtube, search this question, view video by California Academy of Sciences
1. What is a biodiversity hotspot?
2. What is an endemic species?
3. What are the 2 criteria used to identify hotspots?
http://www.priweb.org/globalchange/bioloss/bl_06.html
1. What methods are being used to preserve biodiversity
ROLE OF ECOLOGY IN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/energy/renewable/
Answer the questions while clicking through the animation
1. What is a nonrenewable resource?
2. What is a renewable resource?
3. Why is the sun renewable but oil is nonrenewable?
4. How is fresh water both a renewable and a limited resource?
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=renewable_home
1. Summarize the 5 types of renewable energy listed on the main page.
2. What are the three energy sources most frequently consumed by the US?
3. Why don’t we use more renewable energy?
http://www.iisd.org/sd/
1. What is sustainable development?
2. How can sustainable development help minimize negative impacts of human
activities?