Evaluating Human Impact on the Environment
Purpose
In this assignment, you will use, evaluate, and discuss a simulation to highlight human impact on coral reef ecosystems.
Background Information
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They contain millions of species, both known and unknown. Not only are coral reefs important to organisms such as sharks and sea turtles, they are also important to the survival of 800 species of hard corals and 4,000 species of fish. Coral reefs provide benefits to humans as well. Some people who make a living by fishing catch and sell fish that live in these ecosystems. Coral reefs provide income to those who work in the tourism industry because people visit coral reefs to dive and snorkel. Coral reefs also protect coastal areas from the effects of waves and erosion. Finally, scientists believe that substances made by organisms in this ecosystem can be used in medicines. Before the spread of industry, Earth’s oceans had an average pH of 8.2. During the Industrial Age, energy began to be generated from the burning of fossil fuels. As these processes became more sophisticated, more uses for fossil fuels were discovered. When fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. About one-fourth of the carbon dioxide released is absorbed by the ocean. This causes the pH of the ocean to decrease. It is estimated that the pH of the ocean will decrease to an average of 7.6 by the year 2100 if nothing is done to counteract the effects of human activity.
Project Assignment
Step I:
Download --> Student Worksheet
Read over the Rubric <--
Click here <-- to launch the Coral Reefs 2 – Biotic Factors simulation.
Step 2:
Set up the simulation in the following manner.
- On the Data tab, check the boxes for Staghorn Coral, Boulder star coral, Sponges, Algae, Stoplight parrotfish and Queen Angelfish. (6 boxes total)
- Zoom out from the graph by clicking on the minus sign (–) on the right side of the graph. Continue clicking the minus sign until the graph shows 100 years on the x-axis.
- On the Conditions tab, set the storm severity to 20%, ocean temperature to 27°C, and ocean pH to 8.2.
- Run the simulation by clicking "Advance Year" until you reach 100 years on the graph..
- Take a snapshot of your graph, and then copy and paste it into space #1 on the student worksheet.
Step 3:
- Restart the simulation.
- Change the pH to 7.9 (keep all other conditions the same).
- Run the simulation for 100 years.
- Take a snapshot of your graph, and then copy and paste it into space #2 on the student worksheet.
Step 4:
- Restart the simulation.
- Change the pH to 7.6 (keep all other conditions the same).
- Run the simulation for 100 years.
- Take a snapshot of your graph, and then copy and paste it into space #3 on the student worksheet.
Step 5:
Complete the questions on the student worksheet and submit it through edgenuity.
Step 6
Make an appointment to discuss this project with your teacher. Your teacher will give you specific instructions to make the appointment or contact your teacher for directions.
You will be discussing:
- What does the simulation model? How do the components of the simulation model these ideas?
- What conclusion can you make about the relationship between the pH and the biodiversity of the coral reef ecosystem in the simulation? You will be asked to use data from your graph to support your answer.
- Watch this video on ocean acidification and coral reefs. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYvlbcBlTY)
- Read these articles on how climate change affects coral reefs: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html , https://www.epa.gov/ocean-acidification/understanding-science-ocean-and-coastal-acidification and https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification .
- You will be expected to be able to discuss these articles. Questions might include: What is a main cause of ocean acidification? Why does increasing acidity affect coral reef growth? What are some possible ways that humans’ negative impact on the pH of Earth’s oceans can be reduced? What are some possible solutions to these negative impacts?