environmental

Environmental Changes

The Important details you need to know.

Environmental Changes

Short and Long Term Changes

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WORLDWIDE.

Environmental problems

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not an abiotic factor?

• sun
• temperature
• soil
• grass

Learning Objective:

• We will explore how short-and-long-term environmental changes effect organisms and traits in subsequent populations.

Multiple Select

If we plant trees, ...

• we will fight deforestation.

• we will help endangered species.

• we will reduce air pollution.

• we will increase radioactive contamination.

Short Term Changes

• Changes that occur quickly in an ecosystem and affect organisms immediately.

• Does not give organisms time to adapt to changes.

• Forces populations to move or possibly risk death.

Poll

What do you think is an example of Short Term Environmental Change?

• Drought

• Flood

• Volcanic Eruption

Multiple Select

When we create conservation programmes...

• species are protected.

• new trees are planted.

• the soil is contaminated.

• water is consumed properly.

How Do Short Term Changes Affect Organisms?

• Drought – the severe lack of rainfall causes producers to die which eventually reduces food sources for all other organisms.

• Flood – organisms that are unable to escape the rising water are swept away and drown.

• Volcanic eruption – gas, ash, and lava covers a large area and destroys shelters, food sources,  and habitats of many organisms.

• Globalization reaches the natural environment since many of the environmental problems are global in scope and of general concern. For this reason, for several decades, different governments, environmental groups, and other sectors of society have been proposing alternatives to environmental problems of a global nature. 

  
  

Poll

Which Short Term Environmental Change are you most worried about?

• Drought

• Flood

• Volcanic Eruption

Multiple Select

We can solve environmental problems if we...

• dispose the waste properly.

• use solar or wind energy.

• put filters on factory chimneys.

• pollute the air.

Multiple Choice

How would you sum up Short Term Environmental Changes?

• They happen very fast.

• They happen very slowly.

• There is no way to predict them.

Long Term Changes

• Changes that occur slowly over time and affects organisms over several generations.

• Gradual changes that allow organisms time to adapt.

• Organisms become better adapted to survive in their environment.

Multiple Select

When farmers use chemicals, ...

• animals and humans are in danger.

• water is polluted.

• the soil is contaminated.

• the climate changes.

Multiple Select

Choose all the examples below you think are Long Term Environmental Changes:

• Climate Change

• Pollution

• Deforestation

Multiple Select

Environmental change: a change or disturbance of the environment most often caused by human influences and natural ecological processes.

Which do you think are examples of environmental changes?

(Click all that apply)

• Floods

• Droughts

• Fires

• Deforestation

• Overpopulation

How Do Long Term Changes Affect Organisms?

• Climate change – can cause a change in migration patterns, nesting, and hibernation of many different species.

• Pollution – chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers can poison air, soil, and water over time.

• Deforestation – contributes to habitat destruction of a large number of species.

Multiple Select

If we use renewable energy, ...

• the Earth's resources are protected.

• nuclear waste decreases.

• fossil fuels are depleted.

• forests are saved.

Multiple Choice

What can be said of Long Term Environmental changes?

• They happen quickly.

• They happen slowly.

• They can't be predicted.

Multiple Select

If we recycle, reuse and reduce paper, ...

• we will reduce deforestation.

• we will protect the planet.

• we will save the habitats.

• we will contaminate the soil.

Multiple Choice

According to that paragraph, any sector of society hasn't proposed something to solve the problems of the environment.

• TRUE

• False

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change allows organisms time to adapt?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Multiple Choice

The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter is the _____ variable.

• constant

• repetitive

• independent

• dependent

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change happens quickly?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Fill in the Blank

What is the main cause of global warming?

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change forces organisms to move or die?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change affects organisms over many generations?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change best describes an Ice Age?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change best describes Urbanization?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Short Term Environmental Changes

• Occurs quickly

• Affects organisms immediately

• Organisms move away or die

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change best describes Wildfires?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Kingdoms of Living Things

Multiple Choice

Which kingdom below is considered to be multicellular and photosynthetic?

• animalia

• plantae

• eukaryotic

• eubacteria

Multiple Choice

Which Environmental Change best describes a Blizzard?

• Short Term

• Long Term

Multiple Choice

According to the text, which of the following has not affected the environment?

• Low dimension of production.

• Industrialization.

• The creation of vehicles zero CO2 emissions.

• The increase in technologies.

Multiple Choice

What cause water pollution?

• People dump things in the countryside.

• Factories produce too much waste water and oil.

• Factories produce good products.

• Factories produce too much smoke.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following ideas is supported by Darwin’s observation of local variation among tortoises in the Galápagos Islands? 

• artificial selection
• adaptation
• acquired characteristics
• tendency towards perfection

• The increas e in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere. This problem is related to the process of global warming or intensification of the greenhouse effect, which is causing a gradual increase in the temperature of the planet and a global climate disturbance.  

• The deterioration of the quality of the continental and marine waters. This situation has caused the decrease of fishing resources due to pollution processes. 

Long Term Environmental Changes

• Occurs gradually

• Affects organisms slowly

• Organisms adapt or go extinct

Natural Selection

Multiple Choice

Darwin said that within a species there will be _________________________

• nothing different
• variation/differences

Multiple Choice

Bird's beaks evolve mainly due to the type of ___________________ available.

• food
• water
• shrubs
• mates

EVOLUTION

Multiple Choice

Change over time is

• evolution
• generation
• growth
• biogenesis

Multiple Choice

One of the consequences of the high levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is:

• The contamination of the continental waters.

• The global warming.

• The decrease of the greenhouse gas emissions.

• The deforestation.

Fill in the Blank

What problems can fertilizers and pesticides cause?

• The decrease in the number and variety of animal and plant species in the different continents, as a result of economic development processes not consistent with the care and protection of the environment. 

• The loss of the productive capacity of the soils, due, to a great extent, to intensive agricultural practices that do not allow an adequate regeneration of the soil. Much of the production of toxic waste, as well as its transport and final disposal of large industries, influence this problem by altering the composition of the soil to the point of desertification. 

Effects of Environmental changes

YOU will need to determine the effect (results) of the environmental changes.

Think of the environmental change as the "problem"

and the effect is how the organism will try to "fix it"

Food Chain

According to the text, what is causing desertification?

Multiple Choice

A population of mice lives in a barn community. A cat population has just joined the community. What will happen?

• Mouse and cat populations both go up?
• Mouse and cat populations both go down
• Mouse population goes down as cat population goes up
• Mouse population goes up as cat population goes down

Objectives

​To be able to know that non-renewable resources take time to make.

To be able to understand the length of time to make non-renewable resources means we should reduce our use.

​

* To be able to discuss whether the data suggests that Year 8 students need to learn more about recycling.

​

By Catherine Dayag

Open Ended

"If annual rainfall increased and caused ponds in a habitat to become deeper, how, after many generations might the traits of water lilies change?"

What is the environmental change in the question above?

Open Ended

"If annual rainfall increased and caused ponds in a habitat to become deeper, how, after many generations might the traits of water lilies change?"

Which part of the water lily is going to be most affected by the ponds becoming deeper? (Hint: look at the picture)

Multiple Choice

If annual rainfall increased and caused ponds in a habitat to become deeper, how, after many generations might the traits of water lilies change?

• Brighter flowers

• Longer Stems

• Wider leaves

• Thick roots

Fill in the Blank

What is the greenhouse effect?

Multiple Choice

What cause land pollution?

• People throw too much rubbish in the sea.

• People throw too much rubbish everywhere.

• People reduce making rubbish.

• People reuse things.

Fill in the Blank

How do rainforests help to control global warming?

Effects of Environmental changes

YOU will also need to predict the environmental change that caused the effect (results).

Think of the effect as the "fix" and the environmental change as what could have been the "problem"

Open Ended

"The Resurrection Fern can shrivel up into a ball and remain that way for many years. When moisture is abundant, the dry leaves absorb water and unroll. The plant will turn green and grow. Under which environmental conditions did his adaptation develop?"

What causes the resurrection fern to unroll?

Fill in the Blank

What type of soil do rainforests grow on?

Why is this a problem?

Open Ended

"The Resurrection Fern can shrivel up into a ball and remain that way for many years. When moisture is abundant, the dry leaves absorb water and unroll. The plant will turn green and grow. Under which environmental conditions did his adaptation develop?"

What would cause the fern to shrivel back up into a ball?

Multiple Choice

__________ means to use something again.

• reduce
• reuse
• recycle

Multiple Choice

The Resurrection Fern can shrivel up into a ball and remain that way for many years. When moisture is abundant, the dry leaves absorb water and unroll. The plant will turn green and grow. Under which environmental conditions did his adaptation develop?

• Atmosphere with little carbon dioxide

• High density of many competitor plant species

• Abundant insect pollinators of many varieties

• Climate including periods of prolonged drought

Fill in the Blank

Which countries use the most renewable energy?

Multiple Choice

A description of the Eastern cottontail rabbit species is below. The environment that supports an Eastern cottontail population is changed due to urban development. Much of the land is cleared and covered in concrete. How is this urban development most likely to affect the population of rabbits?

• The number of gray rabbits will increase because the brown rabbits will turn gray.

• The number of brown rabbits will increase because the gray rabbits will turn brown.

• The number of gray rabbits will increase because predators will see brown rabbits more easily.

• The number of brown rabbits will increase because predators will see gray rabbits more easily.

By Catherine Dayag

Multiple Choice

The Dead Sea has a 33% salinity, which makes it inhospitable for many aquatic organisms. During periods of abundant rain, the concentration of salt decreases to a level that certain species of algae can tolerate and they begin to grow. What can be expected when the salinity returns to normal levels?

• Increased algae growth

• Plant life flourishes

• Algae dies off

• Animals return to the area

Fill in the Blank

Why is taking the train better for the environment than planes?

Multiple Choice

Three-toed tree sloths are mammals which thrive in the jungles of Central and South America. A sloth’s diet is consists entirely of leaves and buds from trees. How will these organisms be affected as rain forests are destroyed by deforestation?

• Most sloths will become carnivores.

• The sloth population will likely decrease.

• Some sloths will start to hibernate.

• A cave-dwelling population will appear.

Multiple Choice

To help our environment, you should
 
 
  

• recycle, remember, and reduce.
• reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• reduce, repair, and recycle. 
•   reuse, replace, and recycle. 

Multiple Choice

Bank swallows are birds that make their nests on the edges of rivers. In the spring they lay four or five eggs. Bank swallows can’t swim or breathe underwater. What change in these birds will likely be brought about by flooding in their freshwater habitat?

• Laying more eggs in the spring.

• Building nests higher up the banks.

• Eating different kinds of insects.

• Learning to breathe underwater.

Fill in the Blank

What is more effective than recycling?

Multiple Choice

Catfish have dorsal fin spines to defend against predators and caudal fins, which help to propel the fish through the water. A swim bladder controls how high or low the fish sits in the water and gills allow the fish to breathe by taking oxygen out of the water. Catfish spend most of their lives at the bottom of freshwater lakes and streams. What catfish trait may change, over many generations, if the pond habitat in which it lives becomes significantly shallower?

• Dorsal fin

• Caudal fin

• Swim bladder

• Gills

Multiple Select

All of the coal in the world:

(Choose 2)

• is found in sedimentary rock

• forms from the nitrogen cycle

• was made at the same time

• are fossils

• gets its mass from the ground

Multiple Choice

Each year, an area of the Gulf of Mexico becomes very low in oxygen due to excessive runoff from the Mississippi River. How might marine organisms respond to this decrease in oxygen?

• Acquire the ability to breathe carbon dioxide.

• Migrate to an area with more oxygen.

• Establish a niche in a terrestrial ecosystem

• Compete with aquatic plants for space.

Open Ended

What environmental solutions do we have?

Multiple Choice

Carbon monoxide is released from...

• human body

• plants

• vehicles

• styrofoam

Open Ended

Which movie regarding the Environment / end of the world / climate change should we watch?

Fill in the Blank

Name three examples of fossil fuels

Multiple Choice

The ozone layer protects us from

• UV rays
• CFCs
• Increased atmospheric heat
• Decreased atmospheric heat

Multiple Choice

environmental change is described as

• breeding of organisms

• a disturbance in the environment

• changes in genetic material

Multiple Choice

Air pollution is one of the main causes of __________ disease

• bone

• respiratory

• diabetes

• kidney

Coal

Coal is a nonrenewable fossil fuel that is combusted and used to generate electricity. Mining techniques and combustion are both dangerous to miners and hazardous to the environment; however, coal accounts for about half of the electricity generation​

Multiple Choice

How much of water on Earth is FRESH SURFACE water?

• 0.3%

• 3%

• 97%

• 30%

Any environmental change that occurs in minutes to hundreds of years is considered a short-term change

Minutes to 100's of years (not 1000's of years)

Multiple Choice

A result of using radioactive elements from atomic enery stations.

• air pollution

• radiation pollution

• land pollution

• water pollution

Fill in the Blank

The oldest form of fossil fuel used for energy is ________.

Multiple Choice

What does the word 'pollution' mean?

• the surroundings and conditions where a person, plant or animal lives

• the presence or introduction to the environment of a substance that has harmful effects

• something done in a way that is planned

Multiple Choice

Exposure to high concentrations of which of the following substances can cause kidney and brain damage?

• Lead.

• Acid rain.

• Asbestos.

• Sulfur dioxide.

​Petroleum, also known as crude oil and oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface.

Crude Oil

​

Multiple Choice

Ozone depletion is caused by

• nitrous oxide.

• carbon dioxide.

• chlorofluorocarbons.

• methane.

• all of the above.

Multiple Choice

How many types of coal are there?

• Two

• Three

• Four

• Five

Multiple Choice

What is Pollution?

• an unhealthy diet

• global warming

• lands, people and plants

• harmful substance introduced to the environment

Multiple Choice

We take off the lids and rinse these items before we recycle them.

• Cardboard boxed

• Newspapers

• Old T-shirts

• Plastic containers and bottles

Multiple Choice

Affects organism immediately

• Short term impact
• Long term impact

Multiple Choice

Things that cannot be repaired, can be...

• rethink

• recycled

• reused

• reduced

Open Ended

Give one advantage of Crude oil

Multiple Choice

Is a deer an abiotic or biotic factor? 

• abiotic
• biotic

Open Ended

What is a crude oil?

Multiple Choice

Due to several days of downpours the rivers have overflowed their banks causing localized flooding.

• This is a long term impact.

• This is a short term impact.

Multiple Choice

One is NOT a product of petroleum

Multiple Choice

Which type of coal has the highest energy content and burns the cleanest?

• Anthracite

• Bituminous

• Lignite

• Peat

Poll

Gasoline, plastics, medicine, cleaning products, rubber, fuel, are just a few products made from coal.

• No

• Yes

• I don't know

Multiple Choice

Causes changes in DNA of the organism causing adaptations.

• Short term impact

• Long term impact

Environmental impacts

Multiple Choice

Which represents the greatest time frame in which a short-term environmental change can occur?

• days

• minutes

• over hundreds of years

• over thousands of years

Multiple Choice

The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, loss of biodiversity,contamination of soil and water

• This is a short term impact.
• This is a long term impact.

Multiple Choice

All are environmental impacts of petroleum EXCEPT

​Most coal mining occurs in:

​United States

​Russia

​China

​Australia

​India

Open Ended

Where does natural gas come from?

Multiple Choice

Temperature, light, air, water, and soil are all  _____  parts of the environment

• alive
• biotic 
• abiotic
• living

Open Ended

What does fracking mean?

Open Ended

One of the hazardous method of extracting the fossil fuel Natural Gas that causes mini earthquakes and can pollute drinking water is _________.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of mining?

• Underground mining

• Strip mining

• Mountaintop removal

• Luminous mining

Poll

We have an unlimited supply of fossil fuel.

• True

• False

• Undecided

Multiple Choice

When an environment changes, some organisms are better adapted to deal with the change. What will these organisms do?

• They will survive and reproduce, passing on their genetic traits.

• They will survive but they will not reproduce.

• They will not be able to pass on their genetic traits.

• None of the above

Tectonic plate movement:

• causes continents to move to different parts of Earth.

• causes some organisms to die.

• may lead to new species 

Tectonic plate movement is a long-term environmental change.

Multiple Choice

How do oil spills affect the environment?

• They do not affect the environment.

• They have a minimal impact on the environment.

• They pollute the environment and reduce populations of organisms.

• The pollute the environment but increase populations of organisms.

Multiple Choice

Where is the largest coal mine in the world?

• USA

• China

• India

• Australia

Multiple Choice

Changes to an environment may make it more difficult for an organism to find-

• food.

• shelter.

• water.

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

When changes to an environment happen, animals-

• move.

• perish.

• adapt.

• all of the above

Mountaintop Removal: Coal Mining

Multiple Choice

Which statement accurately describes tectonic plate movement?

• Tectonic plate movement can be prevented with planning.

• Tectonic plate movement does not cause environmental change.

• Tectonic plate movement does not affect organisms.

• Tectonic plate movement is a long-term environmental change.

Multiple Choice

Mining only affects the land directly around the mining sites.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which represents the greatest time frame in which a short-term environmental change can occur?

• days

• minutes

• over hundreds of years

• over thousands of years

Multiple Select

What do Federal Regulations require mining companies to do after collection is complete at a site? (Choose 2)

• Resculpt the land to look exactly the same as it was before mining began

• Replant trees and other vegetation

• Resculpt the land to have features similar to those prior to mining

• Put up warning signs of toxic materials

• Only to put up fences or doorways to prevent trespassing in dangerous areas

​Environmental Impacts of Surface Mining

Effects of Long-Term Environmental Change Long-term environmental changes can also have lasting effects.

• • Adaptation —a species attempts to adjust to a new environment.

• • Some individuals may be better suited to the new environment than others.

• • Speciation —a new species forms through evolution.

• • Extinction —a species that cannot adapt will die out.

Multiple Select

Which of the following ways are used to help clean up and reclaim mining sites?

• Replanting vegetation

• Smooth hillsides to decrease erosion

• Control grazing

• Setting up hiking trails and camping sites

• Draining runoff

Multiple Select

Which ecological processes can explain why life may not be found in abandoned mine areas? (choose 3)

• eutrophication

• ecological tolerance

• acid mine drainage

• ecological succession

• trophic cascade

Multiple Choice

Which natural occurrence is an example of a long-term environmental change?

• Lightning sparks a forest fire.

• An earthquake results in a tsunami.

• A river floods due to a strong thunderstorm.

• The peppered moth evolves from a light to a dark color.

Multiple Choice

Any sites that were abandoned before 1977 are the responsibility of ___ to reclaim.

• Mining companies + EPA

• Private landowners only

• the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• only mining companies

Multiple Choice

Which represents the greatest time frame in which a short-term environmental change can occur?

• days

• minutes

• over hundreds of years

• over thousands of years

Multiple Choice

What type(s) of product(s) can come from reclaimed land areas?

• Lavender oil

• Hand sanitizer

• Salts

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Pollution stops when mining stops.

• True

• False

Most of the questions that we deal with in this section are based on cuase and effect.

Be able to give a reason for the questions asked of you.

Multiple Choice

What other effects may occur after mining stops?

• Flooding

• Landslides

• Company Bankruptcy

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What year did the Federal Government start requiring mining companies to do cleanup and reclaimation?

• 1977

• 1982

• 1999

• 1925

Multiple Choice

Which statement accurately describes tectonic plate movement?

• Tectonic plate movement can be prevented with planning.

• Tectonic plate movement does not cause environmental change.

• Tectonic plate movement does not affect organisms.

• Tectonic plate movement is a long-term environmental change.

Multiple Choice

Which statement accurately describes long-term environmental changes?

• Long-term environmental changes cause changes in genetic makeup.

• Long-term environmental changes happen suddenly with little warning.

• Long-term environmental changes occur in hundreds of years.

• Long-term environmental changes immediately affect organisms in the environment.

Multiple Choice

Is the following a short term or long term environmental change: an Ice Age

• short term

• long term

Multiple Choice

Which is one way that a short-term environmental change will most likely affect organisms within an ecosystem?

• It will lead to larger populations.

• It will lead to speciation.

• It will lead to adaptation.

• It will lead to forced migration.

Multiple Choice

Is the following a short term or long term environmental change:

wildfire

• short term

• long term

Multiple Choice

What event might occur when favorable adaptations build up in a population over many generations?

• starvation

• extinction

• migration

• speciation

Multiple Choice

Is the following a short term or long term environmental change: Urbanization

• short term

• long term

Multiple Choice

What is a possible effect of long-term environmental changes?

• adaptation

• migration

• habitat loss

• starvation

Multiple Choice

Is the following a short term or long term environmental change:

blizzard

• short term

• long term

Multiple Choice

What event might occur when favorable adaptations build up in a population over many generations?

• starvation

• extinction

• migration

• speciation

Multiple Choice

How would beavers building a dam cause an increase in the fish population? The dam

• blocks a river and creates a lake.

• causes predators to hunt more fish.

• forces many birds to leave the ecosystem.

• removes trees from around the river.

Multiple Choice

All of the following are examples of environmental changes that can be caused by humans except - 

• clearing land for housing developments
• pesticides
• volcanic eruption
• pollution

Multiple Choice

An organism that cannot adapt to changes in the environment will most likely - 

• produce more offspring
• die
• change its traits to survive
• store more food