Everglades Ecosystem Challenges

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Questions and Answers

What chemical composition primarily makes up the shells of marine calcifiers?

NaCl

SiO2

MgCO3

CaCO3 (correct)

What are coral polyps primarily dependent on for their survival?

Abyssal currents

Freshwater inputs

Deep-sea nutrients

Zooxanthellae algae (correct)

Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to coral bleaching?

Increased nutrient availability (correct)

Low pH levels

Salinity changes

Pollution

What consequence can result from coral bleaching?

Weakened coral and potential death Signup and view all the answers

What is one major threat to coral reefs mentioned in the content?

Overfishing and destructive fishing Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of plastic produced is recycled?

9% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a way plastics in oceans harm marine life?

They provide nutrients to marine organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is one risk associated with microplastics in marine environments?

They often harbor toxic substances. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to organisms that ingest plastics?

They can starve due to gut blockage. Signup and view all the answers

Which statistic reflects the total production of plastic by 2015?

8.3 billion metric tons Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum water temperature required for hurricanes to form?

80° F Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the 'assimilative capacity' of a water body?

The capacity of a water body to accept waste Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains saltwater intrusion?

Overuse of freshwater leading to saltwater mixing Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of global water use is attributed to agriculture?

69% Signup and view all the answers

What causes aquifers to experience a decrease in water supply?

Over-withdrawal and decreased infiltration Signup and view all the answers

What is surface water?

Any body of water above ground, like rivers and lakes Signup and view all the answers

How much water does agriculture use in the United States according to recent estimates?

42% Signup and view all the answers

What happens to wells when an aquifer suffers from saltwater intrusion?

They run dry or become contaminated with saltwater Signup and view all the answers

What is the most significant factor contributing to the decline in Florida Panther populations?

Habitat loss Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the concept of natural selection?

It is a nonrandom influence affecting survival and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following invasive species has been identified in the Florida Everglades?

Burmese Python Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of evolution is affected by factors such as genetic diversity and population size?

The pace of evolution Signup and view all the answers

How does the reproductive rate influence the pace of evolution?

Faster reproduction can lead to quicker changes in gene frequencies. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an endangered species in the context of the Florida Everglades?

Species facing significant threats leading to a declining population. Signup and view all the answers

What are alleles in the context of genetics?

Variants of genes that create diversity within a population. Signup and view all the answers

What factor is least likely to influence the pace of extinction?

Natural habitat preservation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary challenge associated with nonpoint source pollution?

It often arises from runoff and is difficult to address. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of combined sewer overflows (CSOs)?

Contamination of surface waters due to untreated sewage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of eutrophication primarily driven by?

Excess nutrients leading to increased biological productivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes hypoxia?

Inadequate oxygen levels detrimental to aquatic organisms. Signup and view all the answers

How does stormwater runoff contribute to water pollution?

It carries pesticides, sediments, and trash into aquatic systems. Signup and view all the answers

What strategy is NOT commonly proposed to address the issues of combined sewer systems?

Creating more combined sewer pipes. Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately happens to aquatic life as a result of eutrophication?

Decreased levels of dissolved oxygen leading to fish deaths. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a source of nonpoint source pollution?

Runoff from agricultural fields. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Everglades Restoration

Everglades restoration efforts aim to improve water quality and quantity, restore natural hydrological patterns, and reduce invasive species
Restore the natural flow of water from the Kissimmee River to Florida Bay
Provide more water to the Everglades and eliminate harmful effects of exotic species
Built and Natural Systems Compatibility: the Everglades and humans need to coexist
Future Changes include climate change, sea level rise, and population growth

Endangered Species

Endangered Species: include the wood stork, wood rat, and the Florida Panther (only about 200 left)
At least 11 Florida Panthers were killed by vehicles in 2024.
Habitat loss is the primary factor in the decline of panther populations.

Invasive Species

Burmese Python
Argentine Tegu
Brazilian Pepper

Pace of Evolution and Extinction

The pace of evolution and extinction is generally slow and varies based on multiple factors:
- Genetic Diversity
- Population Size
- Reproductive Rate (biotic potential)
- Generation Time
- Strength of Selective Pressure
Evolution: changes in gene frequencies within a population from one generation to the next
Extinction: complete loss of a species from an area
- Local extinction: gone from a specific area
- Global extinction: gone forever

Natural Selection and Evolution

Individuals within a population vary genetically, resulting in differential survival due to selective pressure
Genes: stretches of DNA that direct the production of molecules (usually proteins), impacting an individual’s traits
Alleles: variants of genes, contributing to the diversity of traits in a population
Selective Pressure: an environmental force that influences survival and reproduction
Evolutionary Biology: the study of how life on Earth has diversified and populations change
Natural Selection: organisms best adapted to their environment survive, reproduce, and leave more offspring
- Natural Selection is the primary driving force of evolution and is a slow process
Hurricanes form in tropical waters at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit

Long-term Relationship with Water and Humans

Human Water Needs:
- Acquire water: requires power (pumping)
- Drinking Water Treatment: requires power
- Wastewater Treatment: mostly requires power
- Assimilative Capacity: a water body's ability to accept waste
Groundwater: water underground, trapped in soil or porous rock
- Supplies can shrink due to over-withdrawal and decreased infiltration
- Aquifer: a permeable region of soil saturated with water
- Infiltration: water soaking into the ground, filtered as it travels through soil and rock
- Water Table: uppermost level of water in a saturated aquifer.
- Saltwater Intrusion: ocean water infiltrates a freshwater aquifer due to freshwater depletion
Surface Water: found above ground, including oceans, rivers, and lakes
- Provides freshwater to human communities
- Sources can run dry if water is removed faster than it is replenished

Global Water Use

Agriculture: uses 69% of global water
- The largest water user (72%)
- Over 90% of water usage in South Asia is for irrigation
- Agriculture withdrawals in the U.S. account for 42% of water use, with surface and groundwater contributing equally to irrigation
- The Ogallala (High Plains) Aquifer, the largest in North America, supplies 30% of U.S. water.
Effluent: wastewater discharged into the environment
Nonpoint Source Pollution: runoff entering water from overland flow
- Runoff is the leading cause of water pollution today
Stormwater Runoff: water from precipitation flowing over land
- Contains nutrients, pesticides, sediments, and trash from various sources like farms, lawns, and construction sites
- Also includes air pollutants that fall with precipitation
- CSOs (Combined Sewer Overflows): sewer systems connected to stormwater systems, pose a health hazard
  - Stormwater can overwhelm sewers, leading to diluted sewage bypassing treatment and spilling into surface waters

CSO Solutions

Separate stormwater conveyances from sewer pipes
Increase combined sewer system storage capacity: gray infrastructure
Reduce the amount of rain entering the system: green infrastructure

Eutrophication

Dissolved Oxygen (DO): the amount of oxygen in water
Hypoxia: low oxygen levels in water, harming aquatic organisms
Eutrophication: excess nutrients in aquatic ecosystems stimulate biological productivity, lowering oxygen content
- Dead algae and plants are decomposed by bacteria, consuming oxygen
- Result: lower oxygen levels, causing fish kills
Marine Organisms: even small pH declines affect the ability of marine organisms to produce shells
CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) is the chemical component of marine calcifier shells
Carbonic Acid: formed when CO2 dissolves in water, dissolves calcium-based materials and disrupts shell formation

Coral Reefs

Major Threats to Coral Reefs:
- Overfishing and destructive fishing practices
- Inland pollution
- Coastal development
- Thermal Stress: climate change-related heat stress
- Marine-based pollution
Coral: colonial marine animals that secrete hard outer shells, dependent on a mutualistic algal partner (zooxanthellae)
- Zooxanthellae: photosynthetic algae that provide food and color to coral
Coral Bleaching: a stress response where the algal partner is expelled, weakening or killing the coral
- Stressors: pollution, salinity changes, low pH, high temperatures

Plastic Pollution

5 Ways Plastic Pollution Harms Marine Life:
- Transporting organisms: to new locations, potentially causing invasive species
- Entanglement: in plastic debris
- Ingesting plastic: mistaking it for food, leading to starvation
- Toxic chemicals: plastics harbor toxins
Plastic Production: around 400 million tons produced annually, with only 9% recycled
Microplastics: found everywhere, potentially absorbing toxic substances from the surrounding water

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Description

This quiz covers critical topics related to the Everglades, including restoration efforts, endangered species like the Florida Panther, and the impact of invasive species. It also addresses the interplay between natural and built systems, as well as future changes due to climate and urbanization. Test your knowledge on these vital environmental issues!