16 - The Changing Environment Flashcards
1
Q
Natural events that cause environmental change
A
- Seasonal changes
- Natural disasters
- Natural climate changes due to orbit changes, solar variations
- Changes in species relationships
2
Q
Man made events that cause environmental change
A
- Land use/farming
- Deforestation
- Urbanisation
- Increasing population
- Pollution
- Climate change
3
Q
What are microbes critical for
A
- Colonising and promoting all animal life on planet
- Photosynthesis (5 groups contribute to carbon fixation)
- Recycle nutrients
- Enrich soils for plant growth
4
Q
Volcanic activity
A
- Dramatic effects on localised environment
- Volcanic gas and ash into atmosphere, react with atmospheric gases
- Lava flows damaging surrounding area
- Tsunamis
5
Q
Volcanic gas and ash reacting with atmospheric gases
A
- Conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulphuric acid
- Ozone destruction
- Increase in CO2
6
Q
Natural cycle of climate change
A
- The earth goes through naturally induced cooling and warming events
- Occur of very long periods of time
7
Q
Microbes and climate change
A
- Control biogeochemical cycling of all elements essential for life
- Generate and consume gases that effect climate
8
Q
Drought
A
- Prolonged drought leads to desertification and loss of microbial diversity and functionality
- 20% of the earths soil has been degraded by drought
- Has significant impact on
ability to grow crops
9
Q
Flooding
A
- Soils saturated in water have reduced microbial diversity
- Increase in methanotrophs, decrease in aerobic activity
- Leads to chemical contamination of soils and environment
10
Q
Effect of pollution on microbial communities
A
- Atmospheric pollution contains heavy metals that convert to more toxic compounds
- Farm land river run off increases nitrates in seas and river ecosystems
- Accumulation of inorganic waste in soils and in the ocean
- Fecal pollution from humans and farming effects diversity
and abundance of microbes in aquatic systems
11
Q
Primary pollutants
A
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulphur dioxide
- NItrogen dioxide
12
Q
Secondary pollutants
A
- Nitric acid
- Sulphuric acid
- Hydrogen peroxide
13
Q
Many infectious diseases are impacted by changing environment
A
- Land clearing can bring new diseases into proximity to new populations
- Air pollution can increase impact of viral respiratory infections
- Chemical pollution can make humans more susceptible to
infections - Climate change has increased range and indeicence of vector borne infections
14
Q
Airborne pollution and respiratory infections
A
- Airborne pollution has been shown to effect both the SARS and SARS-cov-2 disease symptoms
- Exposure to sulphur dioxide increases risk of influenza infections
15
Q
How do inhaled pollutants reduce host immunity
A
- Enhanced viral activation and entry
- Impaired TLR activation
- Impaired intracellular pathway activation
- Impaired antiviral immune signalling
- IMpaired immune cell function
