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Pollution marine ecosystem effects
Dangerous health hazards of ocean pollution
Pollutions effect on ocean ecosystems
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Ocean pollution has been an issue for years but what are the causes and effects of this issue? Ocean pollution has caused many sea life deaths, and have caused many garbage piles. In passage two, the author says that their is so much plastic in the ocean now that, “...every square mile of ocean has 45,000 pieces of plastic floating in it.” There are many causes that create these types of issues and these problems have many effects. The causes and effects that ocean pollution has on sea life is that dumping waste or littering cause fish growth to hinder, toxic waste causes many sea life deaths, and chemicals can leave long-lasting, damaging effects on food chains.
The first cause and effect that pollution has on ocean life is that dumping waste or littering cause fish growth to deteriorate. There is a huge amount of waste in the oceans today and this hasn’t had a great effect on the sea life. In passage one, the author claims that, “Ballast water tends to proliferate and transfer organisms that debilitate the growth of naturally occurring fishes in a particular oceanic area.” This proves that water with waste inside them have caused the fishes growth to stop or decline. Waste being dumped into water has caused many oceanic deaths and is still causing the
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Toxic waste is a very dangerous material and even a little bit of this can have a large effect. In passage two, the author claims that, “Radioactive waste and industrial waste such as acids and toxins often reach the ocean adding to the pollution and substantial loss of marine life.” This shows how just a little bit of this waste can cause many fish to perish. In passage 2, the author also says, “Toxic metals reach the ocean and contribute to ocean pollution, destroying reproduction, behavior, growth, and the biochemistry of the ocean’s marine life.” This proves how the toxic waste and chemicals changes fishes
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest garbage dump in the world. According to estimates made by experts, the patch holds approximately three and a half million tons of garbage. Majority of this garbage is made of plastic. This waste is a threatening problem to the patch’s surrounding wildlife. Many animals are caught in the floating pieces of trash and it is the cause of the deaths of about one million birds and about one hundred thousand other sea animals. Due to the oceans nature and constant moving currents, the trash is also constantly moving. Therefore the size of the patch never stays the exact same. However, scientists believe it be approximately two times the size of Texas. The plastic is mostly broken down from larger materials into small pieces. The patch has been referred to as one scientist as a, “plastic soup”. This garbage poses such a threat mainly because it does not biodegrade. These plastics will be in the ocean essentially forever. Many plastics also contain chemicals, and absorb other chemicals and pollutants they become exposed to. These newly absorbed toxins are then leaked and distributed back into the ocean over time. The chemicals can directly enter the bodies of the animals which consume them. A study was being conducted by scientists of the fish that inhabit the area around the patch. What the researchers found inside the belly of one fish (that was no larger in size than that of a finger), was eighty four small fragments of plastic. It does not take scientists to recognize the impact of this problem, Zach Gold, who is sixteen, is from Santa Monica California. Zach enjoys s...
Once again, I was horrified to the amount of trash that was around the pond, as well as in it that I soon found out. This was my first official time going fishing, so all I was expecting to catch was a fish. Not long after being there, I felt a tug at the line, so I reeled it in, I had caught a cup. This same type of thing kept happening, and I was constantly reeling in trash, but no fish. At one point, I actually reeled in a shoe. I had always seen movies and pictures with guys catching boots and cans, but I had always just thought that it was a joke. I now know that it was a true depiction of the current waterways. This got me to thinking about the fish. What is happening to them? Are they being poisoned from all the trash thrown into the waterways? Are they getting buried underneath everything? To me Kaza's quote " it is not easy to gaze clear – eyed at these troubling manifestations of human activity," (63), is exactly right. After seeing this site, and thinking about the fish it was a hard concept to
Which means their obviously bad for the aquatic marine life environment & are cause many different forms of damage for them & us as one. On p.g. 23 of The New York Times upfront magazine “Birds,fish, sea turtles, & others are getting tangled in plastic bags or mistake them for food & choke”. Someone else might argue that they could the plastic bags in landfills instead of oceans. But that counter- argument is flawed because you’re just polluting by burning plastic which is bad on our part we’re not doing our part to support & taking care of the earth. Plastic in the ocean isn't just bad for plants & animals but for humans too because of the food chain some of us eat animals as a meat source such as aqua marine life like fish. If the fishermen catch fish that have been eating plastic then it's in our food supply if we eat that fish it's gonna be bad for us so many will end up getting sick from the plastic inside of the fish then what will we do our aqua marine food supply will go down the drain we couldn’t eat the fish since it's basically contaminated with plastic that we’re dumping there instead of trying to fix it & getting rid of plastic bags for good for the good of the earth. We’re causing damage towards the earth by dumping all that plastic into the ocean which damages our water supply it’ll poison us although we clean the water it depends on how big the plastic particles are, it’ll make us sick & sense it’s been lying in the oceans could bring in new pathogens &
Do you know that people are polluting oceans in so many ways, and what we are doing about it. First, my evidence shows that two billion people within thirty miles of the coast create 100 million metric tons of coastal plastic waste (Doc.1). In my own words, this evidence show that all this pollution is really harmful to ocean creatures and us. More evidence is that the North Pacific Gyre has collected lots of these pollutants, so it is nicknamed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (O.I.). This shows how we are polluting the oceans. My next evidence shows that a Beach Act was passed in 2000 saying the EPA or the Environmental Protection Agency will help states test and monitor coastal water pollution to protect swimmers (Doc.2). This evidence
Marine debris can be defined as “any manufactured or processed solid waste material that enters the marine environment from any source” (Ten Things). Usually, we just call it litter. But, where does this litter come from? All marine debris comes from man-made waste. Most of this makes its way into our waterways from land, while 20% comes from ocean-based sources, such as fishing vessels and cargo ships (Problem). Once this waste enters the ocean it moves from currents and wind. It does not stay put, and it is usually carried far from its origin, which makes it difficult to determine where this waste comes from. Not only is it difficult to locate because of relocation, but this debris comes in many different forms, ranging from small plastic cigarette buds to 4,000-pound fishing nets (Ten Things). Plastic, rubber, Styrofoam, glass, metal, rope; the list is innumerable. The most known of all these, is plastic. “Plastic marine debris affects at least 267 species worldwide; 86 percent of all sea turtles, 44 percent of all sea bird species, and 43 percent of marine mammal species” (Problem). Other than plastic, these are just a few things that marine animals might mistake as food and ingest. On top of that, we can accidentally eat marine animals that have ingested this waste, causing us to get sick. Marine animals might even become entangled and can lead to suffocation, starvation, drowning, increased vulnerability to predators, or other injuries (Impacts).
Ocean Pollution is a serious issue in today's global politics. The delicate balance of Earth's ecosystem is put in jeopardy when the ocean is not clean. Problem evolving from ocean pollution directly harm marine life and indirectly affect human health and the Earth's many valuable resources. Ocean Pollution is a Broad term that encpompasses any and all foregin matter that directly or indirectly makes its way into the ocean. This includes everything from the extreme: oil spills, Toxic Waste dumping and industrial dumping-- to the small scael: human activities and basic carelessness. Because the oceans and all other water bodies are invariably, somehow connected, and because they account for 3/4 of the Earth's surface, they are an ideal method of transportation for pollution, allowing the rapid spread of seemingly far away toxins into a river near you! It is increasingly important that we educate ourselves as to what, exactly, ocean pollution is, so that we can identify the causes at their source and take action in small and large ways, and hopefully, prevent this terrible form of pollution from getting any worse than it is today.
This is used to restore oceans and strengthen coastal economies. It helps make fish abundant and has proven to be successful with species such as the red snapper, ...
A fact that is tragically unknown by much of the human population is that marine debris has a large effect on sea turtle populations throughout the world during various stages of the sea turtles’ lives. This type of pollution has proven detrimental to the habitats of sea turtles, as well as to their lives. Marine debris can be defined as any manufactured or processed solid waste imported into the marine environment (Campani, et al., 2013). Various examples of marine debris are fishing nets, plastic bags, cans, bottles, and tires ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). At the beginning of a sea turtle’s life, debris on shores makes it difficult for freshly hatched turtles to complete their journey into the ocean (Triessing, et al.). Their inability to bring this hugely important task to fruition inevitably results in horrifying consequences for the turtles. Once they leave the beach, they commonly mistake plastic bags floating in the ocean for squid or jellyfish, which is why they consume them ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). The ingestion of marine debris by sea turtles proves harmful because the debris provides a false sense of fullness for the turtles and, as a result of this pseudo-fullness, they starve to death. Additionally, the sea turtles often get caught in the marine debris which then drowns or suffocates them ("Marine debris impacts," 2012). The consumption of marine debris increases the amount of nitrogen in the diets of sea turtles (Slip & Burton). Scientists have found marine debris in 35% of loggerheads examined from the Adriatic Sea as of 2010 (Lazar & Gračan 2011). Because of the composition of marine debris, it has many effects on sea turtle populations such as: hindering baby ...
"Ocean Pollution." MarineBio Conservation Society ~ Marine Biology, Ocean Life Conservation, Sea Creatures, Biodiversity, Research... Web. 19 May 2014.
The ocean is an abundant source of life. It is home to thousand of different creatures, provides a great source of food, and provides the earth with about one half of the oxygen needed to sustain life. (National Geographic) Pollution especially plastic, is a catastrophic problem. Ironically plastic, which is a material designed to last forever is generally used for things we tend to throw away. Every year about one hundred to two hundred billion pounds of plastic are manufactured. Only 31% of that plastic is actually recycled. Biomass packaging estimates 10% of that plastic ends up in the ocean annually. About 20% of it coming from ships and other platforms, and the other 80% coming from land derived sources, such as international garbage dumping, winds or tides either way it finds its way to the ocean.(Biomass Packaging Co., et al)
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
Pollution not only have an impact on the sea turtles themselves but also their food they eat. An example is how research suggests that a disease called fibro papilloma now killing many sea turtles may be linked to pollution in the oceans and in near shore waters. This human threat destroys feeding habitats for sea turtles due to the fact that pollution contaminates and kills aquatic plant and animal life. Estimated 36 percent of all marine pollution from all comes through drains and rivers from cities. Fertilizers are another huge marine pollutant. Farms and lawns cause runoff causing and explosion of algal blooms that can deplete the waters oxygen and suffocate marine life which is called eutrophication. Another cause of this is improper sewage disposal. Instead of pollutants becoming diluted and dispersed to safe levels, some toxins become more concentrated as the break down and enter the food chain. For example, plankton absorb those chemicals s they feed, then the chemicals accumulate in these animals’ bodies, which makes the toxins much more concentrated than in the surrounding water. These small animals are then consumed by larger animals, like sea turtles, which continue to increase concentration levels of chemicals and
These results agree with the hypothesis that our “untouched and super-productive world” is affecting marine life ecosystems (Vannela, 2012). All of these results combined confirm the overall hypothesis that pollution is getting worse in the ocean and more marine life ecosystems are being affected, but there
By the oceans being polluted not only are animals affected humans are too. What some people don't know is that they are killing of and disturbing offspring by polluting waters. "Ocean pollution results in smaller catches of fish all over the world, either by killing fish directly, preventing them from breeding, or causing birth abnormalities. Seabirds are unable to breed and whales are poisoned. Pollution also seems to be responsible for a new disease among seals. Without even swallowed, plastic can kill seabirds, turtles, and other creatures by trapping them. People drinking water from polluted seas can become sick. Deadly infectious diseases like cholera and typhoid can break out." There are many different types of sizes of plankton everywhere in our ocean waters.
Did you know that more than 90 percent of all organisms that have ever lived on Earth are extinct? According to Pandey, the author of Humans Pushing Marine Life toward ‘Major Extinction’, nearly 10,000 species go extinct each year, and this rate is estimated to be 1,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate (1). Human beings are causing irreversible damage to the oceans and their wildlife, which is being led by two major reasons: Commercial fishing or over-fishing, which damaged the marine environment and caused a loss in the marine life diversity, and pollution, which is a primary way of the extinction causes that drastically modifies the marine life habitat. As a result of the commercial fishing and pollution, many of the marine species will start disappearing of the oceans. Briggs emphasizes that over-fishing “has induced population collapses in many species. So instead of having less than a hundred species at risk, as was the case some 30-40 years ago, there are now a thousand or more (10).”