Category: IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS)

Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.

HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 2: Preserving Biodiversity (MS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science

Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

GwynneL.

Conservation of biodiversity as a strategy for improving human health and well-being SUMMARY: This article looks at whether or not increasing biodiversity in an ecosystem can decrease the prevalence of diseases. While the idea seems simple (more hosts for the disease, less incidences of the disease spreading to people), the issue is much more complicated.… Continue reading Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

Earth Science, HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Arguing Sustainability (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 4: Reducing Human Impact (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS)

Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

GwynneL.

Protozoa in wastewater treatment processes: A minireview SUMMARY: This is a short review of the role protozoa play in wastewater treatment plants. Most of the protozoa are ciliates and they graze on bacteria, excrete nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon waste, and are used as indicators of water quality. Toxins such as heavy metals, salts, and other… Continue reading Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

Earth Science, HSus 2: Managing Resources (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Carrying Capacity (HS), IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science

Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water

GwynneL.

Foam-forming bacteria in activated sludge effectively reduced by rotifers in laboratory- and real-scale wastewater treatment plant experiments SUMMARY: This article looks at using rotifers as a way to control a specific type of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatment plants. Overgrowth of this bacteria leads to foam and inefficient break down of waste by other microorganisms.… Continue reading Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water

Earth Science, HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 4: Reducing Human Impact (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science, Non-NGSS Articles, S&F 2: Body Systems (HS), S&F 3: Body Systems (MS), Structure and Function

Krill Digesting Microplastic

GwynneL.

Turning microplastics into nanoplastics through digestive fragmentation by Antarctic krill SUMMARY: This study found that krill were breaking down microplastic beads into smaller and smaller pieces in their digestive system. The krill were divided into two groups, one eating 80% plastic beads with 20% algae, the other eating 20% plastic beads and 80% algae. The… Continue reading Krill Digesting Microplastic

HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 4: Reducing Human Impact (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), M&E 5: Changing Ecosystems (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems

Effects of Antibiotics on Plankton

GwynneL.

Interspecies Interactions Reverse the Hazard of Antibiotics Exposure: A Plankton Community Study on Responses to Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride SUMMARY: Antibiotics that have made their way into aquatic ecosystems may have an effect on the food chains there. This study tested the effects of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride on 2 different types of algae (phytoplankton) and a species of… Continue reading Effects of Antibiotics on Plankton