importance of aquatic ecosystems why is preserving these ecosystems important? what services do they...
TRANSCRIPT
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Importance of Aquatic Ecosystems
Why is preserving these ecosystems important?
What services do they provide to other ecosystems, organisms, or humans?
What are ways that humans are threatening these ecosystems? (specific ways)
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Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems
Chapter 11
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Human Impacts on BiodiversitySpecific threats to Aquatic Biodiversity
Pollution (non-point and point source)
Degradation of coastal/inland wetlands and estuaries
Overfishing
Invasive species
Altering lake/river flow—dams and irrigation
Climate change
Ocean Habitat destruction (ocean bottom and coral reefs)
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Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity…and biodiversity in general
HIPPCOH-Habitat Loss and Degradation
I- Invasive Species
P- Human Population Growth
P- Pollution
C- Climate Change
O- Overexploitation
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HIPPCOHabitat Loss and Degradation
little is understood about the ocean and its organisms 90% of all fish species spawn on coral reefs, coastal
wetlands and marshes, in mangrove forests, and rivers. these are among the most threatened aquatic
ecosystems Sea grass beds (which act as nurseries) are being lost or
degraded Rising sea levels (due to climate change) will destroy
reefs and swamp coastal wetlands Sea bottom habitats destroyed due to harmful fishing
practices (trawling/dredging)
In freshwater ecosystems... dams alter river flows irrigation for agriculture provides enormous stress on
water resources
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HIPPCOInvasive Species
introduced deliberately or accidentally
displace or cause the extinction of native species and disrupt ecosystem functioning
most have arrived in ship ballast water (globalization)
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HIPPCOHuman Population Growth
majority of the worlds population lives in coastal areas, this increase has added additional pressure to these ecosystems
oceans becoming more crowded (collisions with whales and ships)
oceans becoming noisier (disrupt communication and migration patterns)
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HIPPCOPollution
most comes from land-based activities
run-off of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers increase eutrophication and cause algal blooms
toxic chemicals (DDT, PCBs, mercury)from industry can kill aquatic species or alter their physiology
Plastic. Mimic food sources and are accidentally ingested. Release toxic compounds to the water.
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HIPPCOClimate Change
Rising sea levels destroy reefs,
wetlands, and other ecosystems
displace humans to other areas
Warmer and more acidic water. increases dissolved
CO2, breaks down shells of organisms
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HIPPCO Overexploitation
Overfishing. Industrial fishing fleets
include ~4 million boats currently harvesting 57%
more than the sustainable yield
“Commercial Extinction”--no longer profitable to continue harvesting the species
If given time, fisheries can recover quickly, but if continued to be exploited then less likely to bounce back.
larger fish species (tuna, cod, marlin, swordfish) are increasingly scarce...so begin to fish “down the food chain” which provides less food for larger species
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Too many boats, chasing Too many boats, chasing too few fish….too few fish….
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Fishery: concentration of a particular wild aquatic species suitable for commercial harvesting
Fishprint: defined area of ocean needed to sustain the fish consumption of an average person, nation, or world.
Bycatch: unwanted, accidentally caught organisms that are thrown back (33% of total catch)20 million metric tons are destroyed a year80,000 whales, dolphins, seals, and turtles are
among the animalsShrimp trawlers throw back 5.2 pounds of marine life
that will eventually die for every pound of shrimp caught
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As fisheries continue to be exploited their recovery time increases
Commercially valuable wild species (cod, tuna, marlin, swordfish, mackerel, even sharks) will be driven to extinction if continued to be harvested at current rates.Some estimate as soon as 2050!Aquatic species are disappearing 5 times faster than
terrestrial ones
Example: Atlantic Cod off the coast of Newfoundland Species was hunted to brink of extinction. Ban on fishing was implemented in early 1990s.
Populations have still not recovered. (Tragedy of the Commons!)
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Industrial Fishing PracticesModern fishing boats are
very sophisticated using GPS, sonar, spotter planes, large nets and long fishing lines to find the fish.Essentially the fish have
no chance to hide…Cause tremendous
ecosystem damage and reduce biodiversity
A large portion of the fishing vessels come from less-developed countries (especially Asia)Many which don’t abide by
international fishing quotas
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TrawlingUsed to catch cod, flounder,
shrimp and scallops
Drag a funnel shaped net along the ocean bottom, weighted with chains and platesSome nets large enough to hold
12 747s!!
VERY destructive. Destroys everything in its pathSame as clear cutting a forest
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Purse-SeineUsed to catch surface
dwelling species (tuna, mackerel, anchovies , salmon and herring), schooling species
A large net encloses the school, tightens around it then brings fish to the boat
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Long-LineLines up to 60 miles
long with thousands of baited hooks
Depth of line adjusted to catch open-ocean species (swordfish, tuna, shark) or ocean-bottom species (halibut and cod)
Accidently catch sea turtles, birds, and dolphins on hooks
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Driftnet (gill net)Drifting nets go as deep as
50 feet and 40 miles long
Leads to unwanted fish caught as well as overfishing of certain species
Accidentally catch mammals, turtles ,and bird
Lines longer than 1.2 miles banned by the UN in 1992 in international watersCompliance is voluntary!
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Whaling IndustryDuring the height of the whaling industry 1.5 million
whales were killed (1950-1975)Drove 8 of the 11 major species to commercial
extinction Right, bowhead, blue, fin, sei, humpback, minke and sperm
whalesBlue whale numbers (largest mammal) are less than
5000
1946 International Whaling Commission was established to regulate industry1986 set moratorium on whaling (banned) including
the sale of whale products Iceland (minke, fin) Japan (minke, sei and fin), and Norway
(minke) ignore ban
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Fisheries ManagementDifficult to estimate fish numbers due to size of ecosystem
and migration Aim for harvesting “optimum sustained yield”
Set quotas and fishing allotment (fishing seasons)
Decrease government subsidies on fish
Consumer vote (buy sustainably harvested fish) Marine Stewardship Council Labels Ask where fish came from
Protect predator species (eat lower on food chain)
Aquaculture “farming fish” Presents a new set of problems…
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Protecting and Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
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Difficult to protect aquatic ecosystems due to rapidly growing human population and expanding ecological footprint
Damage isn’t always visible
Historically have believed ocean is an inexhaustible resource
Ocean lies outside the legal jurisdiction of any country—or have rivers/lakes that span multiple countriesLeads to overexploitation (Tragedy of the
Commons)
Challenges…
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Laws and Treaties1975- Convention on the International Trade in
Endangered SpeciesEnsures trade of organisms doesn’t harm their survival
(endangered and threatened species)
1979 Global Treaty on Migratory SpeciesProtects migration routes and habitat for terrestrial,
aquatic and avian species (UN)
1972 Marine Mammal Protection ActListed organisms may not be “taken” in US waters or
high seas or their products imported
1973- US Endangered Species ActLists and protects endangered species and their
habitats
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1976- US Whale Conservation and Protection ActProtects whales along US coasts including Mexico and
Canada; prohibits sale of whale products (including imports)
1995- International Convention on Biological DiversityDevelop strategies to sustain and protect biodiversity on
a global level
1986- International Moratorium on WhalingGlobally prohibits the hunting of whales and selling of
whale products
**All of these are difficult to enforce international compliance
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Marine EcosystemsEconomic Incentives to Protect Species (ecotourism)
Animals worth more alive than dead
Marine Sanctuaries Countries allocate offshore fishing zones (it regulates up to 200
nautical miles from shoreline) Boats may only fish here with permission “high seas”- ocean area beyond any legal jurisdiction (difficult to
monitor and enforce)
“Law of the Sea Treaty” Outlines who can fish where
Need to switch focus to protecting ecosystems, not just individual species Less than 1% of the ocean currently protected in marine reserves,
recommended to protect 30-50%
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Freshwater EcosystemsWetlands
Develop land areas away from them Permit required to fill in more than 3 acres Only 6% of remaining wetlands protected “mitigation banking”—may destroy wetlands as long as
recreate the same size in another area (not always effective)
Lakes and Rivers 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act—protects only 3% of US rivers
Preserve rivers in their natural “free-flowing” state Minimize exposure to invasive species, or work to remove those
already present Protect watersheds
Identify pollutant sources Damming rivers causes ecosystem disruption
Prevent fish species from spawning
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