BIO 227 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Bioaccumulation, Eutrophication, Starfish
Document Summary
Feminization of fish, amphibian, and reptile populations: ex. Atrazine- herbicide, 10-30% affected can give birth: may have human side effects (ex. Loss of coral from the great barrier reef is primarily due to: Note: pollution is a kind of degradation. Herbicides, trash, oil, factory emissions: classic pollution- trash, other kinds, nutrient pollution- eutrophication and dead zones , persistent pollutants- bioaccumulation, bio-magnification, mercury, ddt. 12 lbs per square kilometer, 20 tons per year of plastic. Layson albatross (globally endangered fish), 60-70% live in atoll, fed 5 tons/yr on plastic. Soup of tiny plastic pieces, mostly below surface. Sea turtles may mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. Nutrient pollution- clear blue lakes have very low productivity. Eutrophic (non-clear, murky) lakes can kill fish due to lack of oxygen. Primary source is emissions from coal-burning power plants. Illegal gold mines are a significant local source. Atrazine- herbicide primarily used on corn, most commonly found pollutant in u. s. water.
