Human Activity and its impact on the environment

Human Activity and its impact on the environment

B.Sc. Sarahí Pontón

Crude oil refining

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a cause for oil spills?

• careless mistakes

• equipment breaking

• natural disasters lik hurricanes

• careful planification of how to handle it

Multiple Choice

What is NOT an effect of an oil spill in the environment?

• Marine mamals like otters get covered in oil and lose their ability to insulate.

• Birds lose the water repellency of their feathers.

• The ability of fish to reproduce is affected

• Global warming

Open Ended

What did Texaco do that was so bad for the Ecuadorian Rainforest.

Mining

Multiple Select

Which of the following elements are part of the process of gold mining nowadays? (Mark all that apply)

• Making open pit mines to grab as much dirt as possible.

• Separating the gold dust from the dirt.

• Processing with cyanide, arsenic and mercury.

• Individuals breaking the rock and getting big pieces of gold

Multiple Select

Which of the following happened as a consequence of gold mining in Cajamarca-Peru? (Mark all that apply)

• Creation of waste water laced with cyanide, arsenic and mercury.

• Stomach cancer in people

• Decimation of fish population.

• Ilnesses in livestock

• Increased wealth for the people in Cajamarca-Peru

Multiple Choice

How does coal mining lead to the destruction of ecosystems?

• Miners blow up parts of the mountain with explosions

• It doesn't, it is only the burning of col that is bad for the environment.

• Miners just cut down trees, but later that ecosystem can recover.

• It doesn't since most of this mining happens underground

Multiple Choice

According to the video, how does coal mining kill organisms in the streams?

• Rock material ends up in the rivers where things like iron, magnesium and calcium get dissolved.

• Miners throw garbage into the rivers

• Miners introduced a new type of fish in the environment.

• Miners fish there so that they can eat.

Multiple Select

According to the video, what is an example of the toxicity of the water near coal mines? (Mark all that apply)

• You can take the water and set it on fire.

• The water is filled with parasites and bacteria

• One person went blind because of the water.

• Water tastes bad, but that is about it.

Overfishing

Multiple Select

How is modern industrial fishing done? (Mark all that apply)

• In big boats with tools like sonars and radars to catch huge amount of fish

• Relaxing in a tiny boat and patiently reeling in the day's catch

• Only near the coasts and on the top part of the ocean

• Further from the coasts and deeper than ever before.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best definition of by-catch?

• Unwanted animals that get caught and then are thrown back dead to the water.

• Caught fish that fishermen sell for less money.

• Fish that are raised in special places only for the purpose of eating them.

Multiple Select

How does overfishing lead to the disappearance of species and destruction of ecosystems? (Mark all that apply)

• Fishing species before they have enough time to reproduce and replenish.

• Targeting specific species like sharks for their fins.

• Catching only the species that they are targetting.

• Dragging nets the size of a foot-ball all over the ecosystem

Multiple Select

What can politicians and citizens do to help restore marine ecosystems and their species? (Mark all that apply)

• Governments can set limits of how, when, where and how much fishing occurs.

• Harmful practices such as bottom trawling can be banned.

• Buying shark fins and endangered fish species to eat.

• Establish marine reserves closed to all fishing

Multiple Choice

Why can't we stop chinese fishermen near the Galapagos Islands?

• The Ecuadorian government is not controlling the boats in that area

• Chinese fishermen have a special permit that allows the to fish there.

• Chinese fishermen are fishing in international waters near the reserve.

Agriculture and livestock

Multiple Select

How do agriculture and livestock affect the environment? (Mark all that apply)

• It is a major cause of habitat loss as forests are cut down to make space for crops.

• It takes tons of water to produce one kg of beef.

• It is good for people because they get more food options.

• Cows produce methane which contributes to global warming.

Multiple Select

How could we reduce the negative effects of agriculture and livestock? (Mark all that apply)

• Making environmentally conscious food choices such as eating less beef.

• Silvopasture- Raising cattle and trees in the same land so that they can balance each other out.

• There is nothing we can do about it, the problem is bigger than what one person can handle.

• Promoting less environmentally damaging food like vegan hamburgers

Urban sprawl

Open Ended

What is urban sprawl?

Multiple Choice

What is the main cause of urban sprawl?

• Excessive population growth in cities

• People moving to the countryside

• Construction of amenities like movie theathers and schools near people.

Multiple Select

Why is urban sprawl a problem? (Mark all that apply)

• Increase in air and water pollution

• Increase in water consumption

• Loss of forest land and wildlife

• People have more space, so they do more physical activity and get better health

Multiple Select

We can reduce the negative effects of urban sprawl by creating smart cities. Which of the following are characteristics of smart cities? (Mark all that apply)

• Cities that promote more walking, biking and public transport.

• Building houses that have space to park at least 2 cars.

• Cities that conserve green areas.

• Creating more amenities like pools, movie theathers, etc

Introduction of invasive species

Open Ended

What is an invasive species ?

Multiple Select

Why are invasive species a problem? (Mark all that apply)

• They don't have natural predators or parasites in their new home so their population grows uncontrollably.

• They outcompete the native organisms and they eat all of their food sources.

• The weather encourages their year-long survival and reproduction so their population grows uncontrollably.

• They cause pollution

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT an example of an invasive species?

• The kudzu vine in southeastern USA

• Burmese python in Florida's everglades

• Monkeys in the Amazon basin

• European rabbits in Australia

Multiple Choice

Why is the export and import of animals and plants tighly controlled?

• To maintain emblematic species unique to a country

• To avoid the introduction of invasive species

• Because they want to and they can.

Multiple Choice

Which species was threathened in the Galapagos islands by the introduction of goats?

• Native goats

• Humans

• Galapagos tortoise