Föreläsning 8 Water Ecology Flashcards
What is the overshoot day?
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a
given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.
What are the challenges regarding water?
Water concerns: excess, shortage, pollution
- Climatic challenges
– Changes in precipitation patterns
– Increased frequency of extreme weather events
– Rising sea levels - Water use challenges (consumption: agriculture, industry and water supply)
– Reduce potable water
– Close water cycle
* Capture and store
rain water
* Wastewater
treatment and reuse
What is Eutrophication?
Eutrophication is a process where a water body becomes excessively rich in nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen, resulting in excessive growth of algae and other plants. This excessive growth can lead to oxygen depletion in the water and negatively impact the balance of the ecosystem, including fish kills and deteriorated water quality.
Eutrophication (or nutrient enrichment) of aquatic ecosystems, can be caused by surplus nitrogen, phosphorus, and degradable
organic substances.
Mention som impacts examples regarding water
- Thermoelectric power plant – Hot water discharge causes
thermal impact - Wastewater discharges in a river – water quality changes, pollution of the water body. Common pollutants discharged:
– Suspended solids
– Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
– Pathogens - Harbour/river dredging – resuspension of solids from the bottom, possible changes in metals concentration if pH changes…
- Dams – changes in flow, sediments, upstream water quality
(lotic to lentic system), aquatic fauna mobility,…
What is Virtual water
The study calculates the water footprint for each nation of the world for the period 1997–2001.
The four major direct factors determining the water footprint of a country are: volume of consumption (related to the gross national income); consumption pattern (e.g. high versus low meat consumption); climate (growth conditions); and agricultural practice (water use efficiency).
The water footprint of an
individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.
Give some examples on water footprints (ex. coffe, beef, cheese)
- Coffee water footprint: 140 liters for 1 cup of coffee
- Beef water footprint: 15500 liters for 1 kg of beef
- Cheese water footprint: 5000 liters for 1 kg of cheese
- T-shirt water footprint: 2700 liters for 1 t-shirt
Describe Biological diversity and Biological resources
- Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia,
terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems
and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. - Biological resources include genetic resources, organisms or parts of, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity.
Which are the three levels as we use to measure biodiversity?
- Genetic diversity - Includes all the variety of genes and genotypes in a particular specie.
- Species diversity - number and relative abundance of all species
of a certain region or area, also known as interspecific diversity. - Ecosystems - set of different environments occupied by a number
of species and their diverse interactions, varying on the size and
characteristics.
Why is biodiversity important?
- Biological resources
– Food
– Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
– Wood products
– Ornamental plants
– Breeding stocks, population reservoirs - Social benefits
– Research, education and monitoring
– Recreation and tourism
– Cultural values
– Landscape - Ethical issues
– Biocentric vision – All species have the same right to exist
– Ecocentric vision – in order to preserve all living forms ecosystems need to be preserved as well - Ecosystem services
– Protection of water resources
– Soils formation and protection
– Nutrient storage and recycling
– Pollution breakdown and absorption
– Contribution to climate stability
– Maintenance of ecosystems
– Recovery from unpredictable events
Give some examples on mitigation measures connected to biodiversity
- Measures to restore terrestrial connectivity
- Wildlife passages
- Measures that avoid or reduce pollution, erosion and drainage
- Dune bridge
- Reduction of the barrier-effect
- Fish ladder
- Construction site:
– Access to construction site
– Protection of vegetation and sensitive areas
– Physical delimitation of construction site
– In pre-construction - seeds bank for certain vegetation
– Manipulation of soil
– Limitation of activities during sensitive periods (e.g. nursing) - Translocation of plants, animals and communities
- Ecosystem rehabilitation (recreation of habitat)
- Creation of new habitats
What is the definition of nature based solutions?
Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are sustainable approaches that utilize natural processes and ecosystems to address various environmental challenges.
”Actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural
or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges (e.g. climate change, food and water security or natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously
providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.”
IUCN, 2016
“Nature-based solutions aim to help societies address a variety of environmental, social and economic challenges in sustainable ways. They are actions inspired by, supported by or copied from nature.”
Horizon 2020 Expert Group on NBS
Mention some Nature Based Solution related concepts
– Biomimicry - an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and
strategies.
– Ecological Engineering - the design of sustainable
ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both.
– Green/Blue infrastructure - A strategically planned
and managed, spatially interconnected network of multi-functional natural, semi-natural and man-made
green and blue features including agricultural land, green corridors, urban parks, forest reserves, wetlands, rivers, coastal sand other aquatic ecosystems’.
- Implement infiltration trenches, they consist of excavated channels filled with permeable materials such as gravel or crushed stone. By promoting infiltration, infiltration trenches help to recharge groundwater, reduce the risk of flooding, and mitigate the impacts of urbanization on water quality. Additionally, they can support biodiversity by creating habitats for various plant and animal species.
Others: green roofs, constructed wetlands, pervious pavements, retention and infiltration basins, green walls/vertical gardens/Living walls, hybrid systems – greywater treatment
