Interdependency Within the
Modern World
The Danger of Water, Soil and Plant
Pollution
Chapters 4,5,6
Everything is connected…
Chemical Pollution in Water
THE BATTLE TO SAVE OUR WATER
Pesticide use contaminate many water
sites through pesticide runoff and
deliberate application.
Chapter 4
The beauty of one of nature’s
greatest resources…
And this is the havoc caused by
insecticide pollution…
• Pollution of the environment negatively affect necessary
water resources.
• Water sources have already suffered through significant
pollutants by way of radioactive wastes and nuclear
fallout. The addition of chemical pesticides have
furthered the pollution of our waters.
• The first major problem with this type pollution are
their aims to destroy particular plants and insects.
Pesticides deliberately applied to water sources
unnecessarily kill off pertinent species of fish and
decrease species diversity.
• The problem with this unadulterated killing are the
effects it has on species diversity; pollution kills species
in their natural habitat and inhibit their reproduction
causing immense population declines. As chapter 53.2
states, species diversity is fundamental in community
structure and interruptions could have horrid effects.
• Concept 53.2 relays dominant and keystone species
exert strong controls on community structure. In
chapter 4 Carson relates that waterfowl populations
have significantly declined in the Far West and damage
could be irreplaceable. The species on which these
waterfowl fed on were contaminated. However what
about other species of fish controlled by the waterfowl?
These species will now go unchecked. Other examples
may include the decline of keystone species and leaving
dominant species unchecked.
• The problem of water pollution is part of the problem
of global pollution. Infiltration of chemicals into water
have made problems of modern water purification
with many chemicals still present in filtered water.
• Evidence of this exists in a case where sample
drinking water from an orchard area in Pennsylvania
contained enough pesticides to kill all test fish in only
four hours. This "drinking" water also proves harmful
to humans and again disrupts the ecosystem. pg
1200
• Water pollution is invisible and the deaths it cause
usually go undetected.
It’s Everywhere!!!!!!
Pollution in our groundwater
• Widespread groundwater contamination seems to be
the most pertinent problem in water pollution.
• Groundwater contamination leads to pollution of
streams, lakes and rivers in areas not even treated with
insecticide.
• As stated in Chapter 54.5 groundwater contamination
directly effects marine ecosystems and are supplies of
drinking water – poisoning could be a very real way of
killing off many forms of life.
Disrupting the Earth’s Foundation
Widespread Pollution of Our Soil
Chapter 5
Not a happy Earth
• Soil serves a dual purpose. It is the birthplace of many
life forms and also serves as a habitat for many
organisms including many bacteria and fungi.
• Soil constantly changes. It is always taking part in
variant nutrient cycles.
• Insecticides in soil such as DDD,aldrin,lindane and
heptachlor among others disrupt the continuity of
nutrient cycles occurring in the soil. Without the
nutrients present the cyclic patterns of the soil, plants
would starve and die.
• Soil plays a vital role in nitrogen cycles and insecticides
inhibit nitrifying bacteria from continuing this process
thus interrupting nitrogen supplies of organisms.
Arsenic also is very poisonous to soils and its effects
are permanent
• As life’s birthplace, soil contamination affects all living
things.
• Plant tissues absorb insecticides within the soil, causing
infected plant life they may harm them and the
consumers that feed on them. Poisoned soil poisons
plants; poisoned plants poison animals ; poisoned
animals poisons you and me…Scary isn’t it?
• The Rivet Model as discussed in Chapter 53.5
interdependence within communities and ecosystems
and shows how changes in one area can affect the
entire ecosystem.
Interdependence
Connections between pollution of
water, soil and vegetation
Chapter 6
• Water, soil and vegetation are the materials supporting
our modern world so taking care of them should be a
priority.
• Herbicide sprayings eliminate many unintended
targets. Sprayings are assumed to be focused on
attack of one particular plant but often the insecticide
attack is a blanket one – taking victim many
unintended plant life and destroying habitats. Carson
observes how sprayings are constantly used as a
blanket cure-all and are therefore abused.
• Carson concludes this chapter with the interdependence
between vegetation, organisms and soil and the
importance of taking care of each intricate part.
• Chapter 50.1 directly correlates with this principle and
encourages the use of the precautionary principle when
dealing with the environment. The precautionary
principle advises people to carefully consider potential
consequences of actions.
• For example, the book makes notice of a sage
eradication project by the government in the West. The
destruction of this essential plant, affected the eating
patterns of many animals including antelope, mule deer,
and grouse. Not taking to account eradication would
have on these animals the government continued with
the program and disrupted a vital system in a
community.
• The interdependence of ecosystems
warrants precautions to be taken to
ensure the safety of the Earth’s animals,
water and soil. Yes it sounds rudimentary,
but we only have one Earth –we should
protect it to the best of our ability!!
This slide presentation was prepared
by:
• Keturah Reed
• Vanessa Cooper
• Michael Bow