Name: _________________________
1.4.9 Human Impact on an Ecosystem 1
Pollution Worksheet
Human Impact on Ecosystems
We are going to look at 3 ways that humans affect ecosystems:
•
_______________________
•
_______________________
•
_______________________
Pollution must be related to habitat studied.
Pollution
Pollution is ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
It is the ____________________________________________ and affects _________,
____________ _____________, __________, ____________ and ____________.
Chemicals of human origin that harm the environment are called _______________________.
Some types of Pollution
1. _________________________________
2. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________
4. ______________________________________
Pollutants
are produced by ________________________________________
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CO2 from respiration is _________________________________ – why?
______________________________________________________________________________
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excess CO2 from burning fossil fuels is
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SO2 from marshes & volcanoes is _______________________________________ – why?
______________________________________________________________________________
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SO2 from factory chimney is
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Name: _________________________
Pollutants
Some pollutants are __________________________________________ in an environment, e.g.
________________, but levels are _________________________ by human activity.
Other pollutants never exist in an environment e.g. ________________________________
From the Syllabus & Guidelines
The Syllabus states: “Study the effects of any one pollutant.”
The Guidelines for Teachers states: “Give the effects of one pollutant from any of the following
areas: domestic, agricultural, industrial.” and
“Give an example of one way in which pollution may be controlled in the selected area.”
What follows is only a sample of the pollutants available.
Effect of one pollutant from one area
- Agricultural, Industrial or Domestic
Area
Pollutant
Source
Effects
Agricultural
Industrial
Domestic
Eutrophication & Algal bloom
eutrophication: a condition where lakes become ______________________________, resulting
from excess artificial fertilisers washed into rivers and lakes.
There is a _____________________________________ (algal bloom) as they use up the nutrients.
When __________________________________ the ___________________ and are
_____________________________________, which _____________________ in the water
resulting in the ______________________________________ such as fish.
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Name: _________________________
Control of Pollutants
in the selected area - Agricultural, Industrial or Domestic
Area
Pollutant
Agricultural
Slurry &
Fertiliser
Industrial
Sulphur
dioxide
Domestic
Plastic bags
Control Measures
Ecological impact of one human activity
Burning Fossil Fuels
Acidic oxides and acid rain
•
All rain is acidic – __________________________________
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CO2 in the air dissolves in rainwater to form _______________________________ – pH = 5.5 in
unpolluted air
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Acid rain refers to __________________________ with a pH of _________________ (Note: pH
4.5 is 10 times more acidic than pH 5.5)
Acid rain
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Burning of fossil fuels (e.g. ______________________________________________) releases
___________________ into the air, especially __________________ and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
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SO2 dissolves in rainwater to form __________________________ (H2SO3) or reacts with
particles in the air to form ________________________ (H2SO4)
•
The resulting rain is _________________ and can be __________________________
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Name: _________________________
Effects of acid rain
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Reduces ___________________
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Phosphorus (P) ___________________________ and is ________________ to plant roots
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__________________ becomes soluble and poisonous and with ______________,
___________and _____________ is washed (leached) from the soil into lakes and water supplies
Soil is ___________________ and ____________ in highly mineralised water. Why?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Effects of acid rain
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Erodes _________________________________ buildings
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Causes _______________________________________ – irritates the delicate lining of the lungs
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Inhibits ________________________ formation and ___________________________ of plants
Effects of acid rain
Acid rain is a ‘______________________________’ i.e. it is formed in one country but transported
or blown huge distances to another.
Norway ‘imported’ its acid pollutions from the __________________________________ and the
______________________ in Germany.
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Ireland is lucky that the prevailing winds are from the Atlantic and not from Europe.
Dealing with acid rain
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Reducing the __________________________________________________________
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Using __________________________________________________________________
(‘scrubbers’ are fitted to the insides of chimneys)
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______________________________________ fitted to modern cars
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Developing ___________________________________________ sources
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Name: _________________________
Need to know
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Define the term: Pollution.
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State areas affected by pollution.
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State mechanisms to control pollution.
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Explain the difference between the terms pollutant and pollution.
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Discuss the ecological impact of one human activity.
END
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