View the media: Water Pollution from Nitrates (Activity) (http://media.pearsoncm
ID: 299136 • Letter: V
Question
View the media: Water Pollution from Nitrates (Activity) (http://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_campbell_biology_7/media/interactivemedia/activities/load.html?54&E)
Bookmark Select one of the following Graphit activities to complete: Media: Age Pyramids and Population Growth (Graphit) . (https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/in/iwu/1269712993/media_files/age.html )
Download and review the Critical Summary Instructions file.
Critical Summary Instructions The purpose of this assignment is to write a critical summary of the graphing activity and/or resource(s) found in the assignment. A critical summary shows full comprehension of the activity by including a thoughtful and thorough summary with evidence of critical thinking. Summary The summary aspect of this assignment draws out “big picture” ideas from the graphing activity and briefly summarizes the main points of the data. The focus should be on the main points, and details should be used sparingly to illustrate points. For example, if the activity is called Introduction to Graphing, then the analysis should mostly focus on the graphs in the activity and include information such as the components of a graph, what the data shows, etc. Critical Thinking Critical thinking is demonstrated in the activity when it is clear that the author thought through and understood the questions and prompts, especially graphs which are not explained in the activity. This would include making predictions about data trends. It is also important to look for any assumptions or potential bias that might be found in the data and mention how they will affect any conclusions drawn. Assumptions or bias would include such things as correlation versus causation, how graph scaling can influence viewed results, how models are based on predictions and not 100% accurate, etc. A critical analysis can also draw in outside resources or include the author’s own insight and what the author found most interesting or what was learned. Guide Questions Below is a list of questions to help as you are writing your critical summary. You do not need to answer every question, but they can act as a guide as you write. What is the main point of the graph(s) or activity? What are the main components of the graph(s)? What does the data in the graph(s) show? For example, is the data increasing or decreasing, and what does this indicate? What conclusions can be drawn from the data? What are the limitations or assumptions made in this data? What would you predict would happen if the data continued into the future? What would be the environmental results? How does this data/graph or activity relate to environmental science or impact the environment?)
Write a 250- to 500-word critical summary of what you learned in the two activities (the media activity that you chose and the Water Pollution from Nitrates activity). Be sure to discuss the quantitative nature of the Graphit activity. Also, use the activities above and Chapters 8, 12, and 14 in the textbook, Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future, to briefly discuss population growth, consumption, and pollution in your response.
Explanation / Answer
Graphing Activity:
The graphing activity shows population growth and its related information in the form of graphs. From graphs we can understand the problem easily and takes little time to come to the conclusion based on text reading.
What is the main point of the graph(s) or activity?
The graph shows here the population growth, male, female, infant and old age population details. The graph format is easy to understand. It gives quick idea about population growth and their relation to age and gender.
What are the main components of the graph(s)?
The main component of the graph here of population and their growth. The graph displays growth of population in relation to age and gender.
What does the data in the graph(s) show?
The data used for making graph contains age from 0 to 85+, male and female category in this age.
For example, is the data increasing or decreasing, and what does this indicate?
The age pyramid graph shows population increasing when it is having wide bottom and sharp conical top. The tapering pyramid shows population decrease due to slow production rate. The graph pyramid with base narrow than reproduction age shows declining population.
What conclusions can be drawn from the data?
The Greece 2000 population pyramid base is narrow shows decline in population.
The Colombia 2000 population pyramid graph has base wide and top narrow shows rapid growth of population.
What are the limitations or assumptions made in this data?
The data graphs give few informations only. Like population growth or decline with respect to age.
What would you predict would happen if the data continued into the future?
If this data continued in future the population growth in Colombia will grow very rapidly and the population growth in Greece decline rapidly
What would be the environmental results?
How does this data/graph or activity relate to environmental science or impact the environment?)
The increasing population of Colombia shows very favourable and healthy environment, so population is growing.
At the same time it seems that the environment in Greece not good so the population growth is declining.
WATER POLLUTION FROM NITRATES:
Water pollution is a by nitrate is one of the major problem facing all living things. Human activity causing nitrate pollution in water bodies effecting all biodiversity in the ecosystems. We absorb nitrogen from food from plants and plants in turn get them from soil concentrated by bacteria. Decomposers convert proteins from dead organisms into nitrates which are absorbed by plants.
Human activity like fossil fuels use, gases from industries, fertilizers use and manure etc are producing nitrogen pollution. Algal blooms in nitrate rich rivers grow rapidly and die on which bacteria feed by consuming oxygen. These low oxygen areas are becoming killing grounds for fish. A dead zone of low oxygen called hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana covering 7,000 sq.km probably caused by nitrates washed down by the Mississippi river.
Nitrate poising causing various diseases in livestock such as bluish or brownish discolouring of the mouth and eyes. Animals show sluggish, staggering growth, rapid heart beat, frequent urination and laboured breathing and collapse symptoms due to nitrogen poisoning. Nitrogen in drinking water reduces oxygen and carried to human brain causes baby syndrome in the infants and may causes death. Recent studies shown that nitrate poisoning by drinking water causing goiter and swelling in the neck. Nitrate also causing risk in insulin dependent diabetes as it contains moderate nitrate in water supplies.
The EPA recommended level of nitrate in drinking water should be 10 ppm (max.). The 1995 survey Shows 9% drinking water wells contain higher percentage of nitrate levels. Nitrates are common problem throughout the country. EPA 1995 study says that 20% of rivers are within standards and 40% of lakes and rivers are unsafe for fishing and swimming.
So the government should take stringent action to minimise the nitrate pollution. Reducing fossil fuels use and fertilizers use may help in reducing the nitrate poisoning.
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