In another case study relating to amphibians, scientists exposed species tolerant Bufo americanus (American toad) and the not tolerant Rana sylvatica (wood frog) to pond sediments in laboratory microcosms. Microcosms are experimental ecosystems created to simulate and predict the behavior of natural ecosystems under controlled conditions. The ecosystems had elevated sediment metal levels and chloride water concentrations. The reason for this experiment was to look at issues in rapidly urbanizing areas and the potential impact of stormwater runoff to natural bodies of water. Roof tops, roads, and parking lots are just a few examples of the typical urban and suburban areas that collect a wide range of pollutants such as metals, salts, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Councell et al., 2004; Davis et al., 2001; Marsalek, 2003; Pitt et al., 1995; Van Metre and Mahler, 2003). The stormwater ponds are a common feature in stormwater management plans, and are designed to detain (detention ponds) or retain (retention ponds) stormwater runoff, allowing pollutants like metals, sediments, and nutrients to be removed from the runoff and reducing the impact of flooding on natural bodies of water (Novotny, 1995; US Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Since stormwater ponds often have plants and vegetation, they are important in that they often provide habitat for …show more content…
But like case study 1, they sometimes have negative effects by exposing wildlife to pollutants they were designed to hold back (Bishop et al., 2000a,b; Campbell, 1994; Helfield and Diamond, 1997; Stahre and
In 1901, an Boston based invertor group opened up a steel mill on the southeast side of Sydney harbor in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This mill was named DISCO, or Dominion Iron and Steel Company Limited, which was ultimately a subsidiary of DOMCO, or the Dominion Coal Company Limited. DOMCO coal was mined in Dominion, near Glace Bay and was used to make coke. Coke is a hard, grey, porous material, man-made from the coal and is used to fuel the blast furnaces for smelting the iron ore. (Coke (fuel), 2012) DOMCO along with DISCO merged with the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company or SCOTIA to from the British Empire Steel Corporation or BESCO in 1920. The company soon reorganized and in 1930 under the name Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation or DOSCO. In 1957 it was purchased by Toronto based aircraft manufacturing company, A.V. Roe Canada and in 1962 was once again sold, this time to Hawker Siddeley Canada, where it become a subsidiary. (Sydney Steel Corporation, 29)
As if there weren’t enough problems for scientists trying to save the Great Lakes Eco System. Many non-native species have entered the eco system and many of them are harmful. Every species in itself has played a role in the eco system. These non-native species make it increasingly difficult for the Great Lakes Eco System to be regulated.
Policies are often put in place without regards for the effect it will have on other areas, people, or wildlife. Several examples of these unintended consequences are shown in the documentary Salmon: Running the Gauntlet, which explains the effects that human activity, dams, and attempts to repopulate the salmon species have been implemented and failed. With proper evaluation at the onset of a major project, these severe consequences may be avoided.
Conservation is needed, particularly in Orange County, because of the large-scale development of homes, businesses, and roads. The listing of the California Gnatcatcher as a "threatened" species and the dwindling numbers of other CSS dependent species are a testament to the need for whole-habitat preservation. For instance, CSS habitat includes other birds and organisms in need of protection, including the Coastal Cactus Wren and the Orange-throated Whiptail Lizard. The single species approach moves very slowly and often species go extinct before any listing is allowed. In the meantime, other species require protection and are placed as a last priority. The ESA, many conservationists argue, was always meant to be an act aimed at supporting multi-species preservation. With the leisurely pace at which legislation moves and with the single-species ...
...and especially to the ecosystem with the killing of those animals and primarily the poisons that they use can totally destroy an ecosystem and do much more harm than good.
They hold pollutants that could be exposed during swimming. Even low levels of pollutant exposure should be avoided. Ecosystems in these ponds can be somewhat fragile and very slim due to the amount of work that is going on through the pond. These ponds can easily be enjoyable for a nice place to sit but even then a pond may or may not turn green and be smelly during the summer heat. What matters is what the pond is doing to keep our streams healthy. There are more than 14,000 recorded storm water ponds in South Carolina. Experiments are run on these ponds by a multitude of people from University of South Carolina, or Clemson University. These ponds exemplify a new type of aquatic environment and are also known for Canadian geese which makes for highly experimental grounds. These ponds make for a little habitat for many types of species to thrive and for our streams to thrive as well. Our very own storm water pond, for example, is home to a fair amount of varieties of ducks and
Evidence provided to support these claims of human and wildlife harm is largely from laboratory studies in which large doses are fed to test animals, usually rats or mice, and field studies of wildlife species that have been exposed to the chemicals mentioned above. In laboratory studies, high doses are required to give weak hormone activity. These doses are not likely to be encountered in the environment. However the process of bioaccumulation can result in top-level predators such as humans to have contaminants at levels many million times greater than the environmental background levels (Guilette 1994). In field studies, toxicity caused by endocrine disruption has been associated with the presence of certain pollutants. Findings from such studies include: reproductive disruption in starfish due to PCBs, bird eggshell thinning due to DDT, reproductive failure in mink, small penises in alligators due to DDT and dicofol (Guillette 1994, Colburn et al 1996). In addition, a variety of reproductive problems in many other species are claimed to be associated with environmental contamination although the specific causative agents have not been determined. One recent discovery that complicates the situation is that there are many naturally occurring "phytoestrogens", or chemicals of plant origin that exhibit weak estrogenic properties.
Latham, A., Wright, E., & Tsang, A. (n.d.). Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section5group1/introduction_and_background
In addition to hurt people, the pollution hurts the wildlife. Part of the issue is caused by Texas industries that dump chemicals in the Gulf of Mexico or generate organic component
For example, if the state of California wants to build a new high school near the beach, there must be intensive among of research done to figure out all possible effects that it would have on the local environment. Building a new building in an environment inhabited by animals, is like aliens building a home in our backyards. So whenever we have to build any kind of structure or building, we should know exactly how it would affect the local wildlife that lives
• (1999). Final policy on the national wildlife refuge system and compensatory mitigation under the section 10/404 program . retrieved May 02, 2004, from www.epa.gov.
According to World WildLife Fund, many ecosystems around the world are being destroyed, eliminating many plant and animal species that inhabit them (“Pollution”).
Indiana University Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. (2010). Retrieved February 20, 2014, from Indiana University Bloomington: http://www.indiana.edu/~bses/faq.php
As urbanization continues to expand amphibian population are on a global decline. In many rural areas, the only wetland available for aquatic reproduction is artificial ponds. While some species are able to persist in such an environment the majority of amphibians are negatively affected. The introduction of non-native species along with habitat degradation affects the successful reproduction of these native amphibians. Therefore, an understanding of the relationship between these species and their habitat is essential for conservation. This research sets out to determine conservation priorities for pond breeding amphibians in the hopes of preserving their existing populations.
They play an important role in maintaining the balance of biodiversity by providing habitats for many species. The well-managed Pond in Viaduct Harbour provide sufficient amount of essential nutrients such as nitrate and phosphorus and clean water for wilds species (Figure 3). Ducks won’t live without them and will die from starvation. Urban open spaces also protect water quality. Bioswales(Figure4) are often situated next to site walks and used to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff by essentially moving stormwater from place to place through vegetation and soil filtration. By doing so, they ensure there are less likely to more pathogens, toxic chemicals, oil that directly transfer into the drainage system without being detected in the wastewater treatment plants and harming the water quality for both human and