For a printable copy of this page click here.

Hogs, Chickens and More!

Scenario: Local and national headlines related to industrial-scale livestock and poultry farming introduce biological concepts such as eutrophication, biogeochemical and nutrient cycling, community and ecosystem ecology, and biological diversity human impacts.

Concepts Taught:

Icon Key:

activity

animation

diagram

quiz

text explanation

• Nutrient cycling
• Water cycle
• Ecosystem function
• Freshwater biomes
• Coastal marine biomes
• Eutrophication
• Community Ecology
• Biological Diversity
• Biomagnification
• Limiting factors

Concept Map:

• Hogs, Chickens, & More

Concepts Reviewed:

• Metabolism
• Food web
• Trophic level/ Energy pyramid
• Energy flow in ecosystems
• Pathogenic organisms
• Population growth and density
• Carrying capacity
• Cyanobacteria

Examples of In-Class Discussion and Thought Questions: 

• What are the issues (causes/effects) associated with raising livestock and poultry on an industrial-scale?
• What do population, consumption and technology have to do with hogs and chickens?
• What is the ecological significance of eating mainly meat rather than vegetables and grains?
• What happens to animal waste that is not quickly decomposed and the nutrients recycled?
• Why is animal waste in water a problem? Is it the only problem?
• Besides animal and human waste, where else do excess plant nutrients in water come from?
• Why are nitrogen and phosphorus needed by organisms?
• What happens if excess nitrogen and phosphorus enter lakes, streams and estuaries?
• What happens when algae die en masse?
• What are some other ways, besides eutrophication, that humans impact aquatic ecosystems?
• How does eutrophication fit into "the big picture"?
• What happens to aquatic communities undergoing eutrophication? Do all organisms benefit equally from
        extra nitrogen and phosphorus?
• What is biodiversity?
• What is the value of genetic diversity in any species? Ecological diversity? Species diversity?
• What types of organisms tend to accumulate the highest tissue levels of human pollutants such as heavy
         metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, etc.) and organic compounds (pesticides, other petrochemicals)?
• Suggest two or more hypotheses to explain coral bleaching, and design experiments to test them.
  

Thought Questions/Homework:

• Who/what is mostly responsible for eutrophication? Is it heavy industry? Individuals? Someone/something else? What should be done about it, if anything?
• Is eutrophication really a serious problem? Why or why not? Do you see any signs of eutrophication near where you live? If so, what is/are the source(s)?
• Is short term economic gain more (less? equally?) important than pollution prevention and healthy (aquatic) ecosystems?
• Explain in your own words the importance, differences and relationship between species diversity, ecological diversity and genetic diversity.
• Why are biogeochemical cycles necessary? Is there an equivalent cycle for energy? Explain.
• What are the societal implications of the fact that scientists can rarely prove with absolute certainty what causes complex phenomena such as ecosystem and global climate changes?
• If the projected human population increase to about 10 billion during the next century (from the current 6 billion) proves true, what are the implications for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, agriculture, etc.

Major Terms Introduced:

Lab 12: How does sewage affect benthic and algal species
               diversity in streams?

Lab 13: How is anoxia caused in polluted streams?

Click here for Textbook Readings!

Corresponding Essential Study Partner Segments:

The Essential Study Partner is part of the McGraw-Hill Web Site. To access it go here. Then follow these relevant paths below:

• Ecology > Populations >
  • Growth
  • Size Regulation
  • Human Populations
    
• Ecology > Ecosystems >
  • Trophic Levels
  • Energy Flow
  • Nutrient Cycles
  • Biomagnification
• Ecology > Human Impact >
  • Water
  • Biodiversity
• Ecology > Communities >
  • Introduction

 

Many of these are figures and accompanying text, but some are video clips that should help you see the process in action.

The site for your textbook Life by Ricki Lewis

source	Focus: Livestock Legacy An article containing a discussion of the livestock industry with respect to lagoon spills, chronic seepage and runoff, airborne health effects, waste regulation, and solutions to management problems
source	Biological Stream Assessment This site is designed to help you develop general information about the quality of freshwater streams and rivers
source	GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) Contains a list of watershed education resources on the internet
source	Beneficial Use of Bio-Solids (Sewage Sludge/Septage/Animal Manure) Contains many links concerning the beneficial uses of bio-solids
source	Fact-Finding Tour House Republicans Plan Fact-Finding Tour Of Agricultural Sites in N.E., S.W. Okla.
source	The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Earth Sciences Resources Earth Sciences Resources, lots of helpful links
source	Water Pollution discusses 3 types of water contaminants
source	How sewage is regulated in the U.S. and the State of Washington discusses federal, state, and local governmental responsibilities in sewage regulation
source	Microbial Menaces article on microbial conatimination of water sources
source	Sewage Problems Alternatives to traditional Sewage treatment facilities
source	Toxic and Harmful Algal Bloom goes into more depth about "Red Tides"

The website for your textbook has flashcards organised by chapters. You are only responsible for topics discussed in class. For this scenario, flashcards with the Major Terms Introduced can be found in:

Chapter 1: What is Life?
Chapter 21: Protista
Chapter 24: Animalia I--Sponges Through Echinoderms
Chapter 42: Populations
Chapter 43: Communities and Ecosystems
Chapter 44: Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems
Chapter 45: Environmental Challenges

Bibliography:   

1. Meadows, R. 1995. Livestock Legacy. EHP monthly journal:103(12).
2. Coral bleaching
   - National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Admin.; Press release 1998
3. House Republicans Plan Fact-Finding Tour Of Agricultural Sites in N.E., S.W. Okla.12/16/97.