Salmon River Ecosystem
Earthworms are the most tolerant and crawfish are the least tolerant of pollutions and reduced dissolved oxygen.
The loss of riparian areas from livestock grazing reduces the capacity of the river to clean itself. The addition of nitrogen from fertilizers causes acidization of the water. In addition to the polluted waterways, nitrogen contributes to smog and greenhouse gases, which are bad for human health and the economy. Costs are attributed to air pollution health and medical issues and cleanup efforts.
Deforestation can invite invasive plants into the ecosystem, reduce air quality around the rivers and streams, and increase the runoff, which further pollutes the water systems and decreases the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. The species that live in the aquatic ecosystems change as a result of the degraded water quality.
Ecosystems have the capacity to renew themselves and are able to overcome some pollution if the levels are not so high that they overcome the natural processes. When water moves through the soil in riparian forests and the wetlands, it is cleaned by the natural organisms and the physical filters of sand, gravel, root systems, and the like. Commercial agriculture deposits chemicals in the soil that is washed into the ecosystems, where some of it is eliminated and levels are reduced.
5. In order for salmon to be healthy in streams that are exposed to agricultural and industrial pollutants, it is necessary for the riparian forest conservation to be at 75 m or more, for pollution to remain above 4.0 parts per million (ppm), and for pollution levels to be at 3 or above. The best levels for maintaining the biodiversity of the Salmon River ecosystem are riparian forest conservation to be at 75 m or more, for pollution to remain above 4.25 parts per million (ppm), and for pollution levels to be at 2 or above. The crawfish and the fairy shrimp act as "marker" species for the riparian ecosystem (they are like the canaries introduced into mines),and when their numbers drop, it is an indication that the river sediment is carrying too much pollution and the fish are dying in higher numbers than is healthy for the ecosystem.
6. Organic farming could substantially reduce the amount of nitrate leaching that is contributing to nitrogen pollution. Research carried out by the Washington State University found that conventional fertilization techniques contributed to 4 to 5 times more nitrate leaching annually than did organic treatments.
Environmental Footprint
1. Use of services is the highest contributor to my environmental footprint, followed by food and shelter.
2. If everyone lived like me, it would take 4 and one/half earths to provide enough resources. A) My housing and transportation use does not include much alternative use of energy. As a result, my impact on the earth's climate due to dependence on oil and gas is greater than it might otherwise be. B) I don't greatly impact the health of ecosystems or biodiversity as I reuse, repurpose, and recycle. However, my home is built mostly of wood, which has a great initial impact on forests and ecosystems. C) I shop locally and garden seasonally, so my impact on human resources is less than it might otherwise be.
3. By eating fewer foods that come from animals, buying only recyclable products with less packaging, using energy efficient appliance and alternative sources of energy, and using public transportation instead of driving my car, I could reduce to 3.6 the number of earths needed to sustain my standard of living for everyone. If everyone reduced the services they require, which in this quiz are predominantly related to the gas, oil, and electricity consumption, the savings in terms of impact on the planet would be great. The forests would be able to regenerate, which would lead to cleaner water and air. In addition, growing food and eating food produced locally consumes much less petrocarbons and reduces spoilage and waste which go into landfills.
4. If I relocated to a place where the infrastructure provided better transportation options, I could significantly reduce my carbon...
Like most other animals, the artic fox's cot changes to reflect the summer arctic habitat, becoming a brown or gray color that matches the summer environment (National Geographic, 2008). The photograph by Norbert Rosing (National Geographic, 2004), demonstrates the usefulness of the animal's camouflage: (Norbert Rosing, National Geographic, October, 2004, online at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/finaledit/0410/,2008). The artic fox contributes to the balance of nature because its diet includes rodents, which have a
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