Marine Pollution Marine Pollution

Objectives:1. Explain how marine debris enters the ocean

ecosystem and the impact it has on the marine ecosystem

2. Explain how oil enters the ocean and its impact on marine life.

3. List possible oil clean-up methods.4. Discuss the concept of Gaia and global ecology.

Sources of Human Sources of Human contamination contamination

1. Agricultural ◦ Fertilizers ◦ Pesticides◦ Herbicides◦ Animal wastes

from farms and ranches

2. Domestic ◦ Chemicals◦ Trash and other debris◦ Sewage

3. Industrial◦ Chemicals from

mines, refineries, and manufacturing plants

◦ Heavy metals◦ Radioactive

wastes

4. Vehicles (automobiles and boats)

◦ Fuel emissions◦ Oil spills◦ Trash◦ Sewage

Impact of Chemicals in the OceanImpact of Chemicals in the Ocean

1. biomagnification –higher concentrations of chemicals as you move up the food chain

2. Eutrophication – excess nutrients enter the water, cause algal blooms which leads to oxygen depletion

3. Debris harm/kill marine life.

OilOil

Source of millions of gallons of oil

Oil clean-up methodsOil clean-up methods1. mechanical clean-

up (mop up)- absorbing oil

2. fire3. high pressure

washing4. bacterial break-

down (bioremediation)

Gaia HypothesisGaia Hypothesis

idea that our planet functions as a single organism