Transcript Marine Pollution

Marine Pollution
Human Effects on the Marine
Environment
Alteration of bottom by dredging;
shoreline alteration and filling
 Introduction of toxic substances
 Eutrophication through nutrient
enrichment
 Thermal pollution from power plants
 Invasive or nonindigenous species
 Important Marine Legislative Acts

Characteristics of Pollution
Acute vs. Chronic Pollution

Acute (short term) – ex. is an oil spill, the
effects of which diminish with time

Chronic (long term) – ex. is nutrient input
Pollution – Point and Non-Point

Point source – from a single sewer pipe or
factory waste-water outfall

Non-point source – effects cannot be
attributed to any single spot and thus
harder to control; exs. Runoff of toxic
substances or fertilizer after a rain;
Using Organisms to Monitor Pollution
Determining species diversity – diversity
usually declines in strongly polluted
habitats
 Bioassay species; exposure of certain
species to varying concentrations of toxic
materials; crabs and mussels often used
 Degree of evolved resistance

Biodegradeable vs. Inert Toxic
Substances
Inert toxic substances biomagnify up the
food chain whereas biodegradeable
materials do not;
 Substances that biomagnify

– heavy metals - cadmium, mercury and lead
– Pesticides made of chlorinated hydrocarbons
– kepone, DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, dioxin
– PCB’s - used as lubricants
Biomagnification of Inert Materials
Important Toxic Substances
Sources- mines, sewage, insecticides, fungicides and
industry
 Oil
 Mercury (methylmercury) – see the story in the text on
“Minamata disease”
 Cadmium – from electroplating and battery
manufacturing plants
 Lead
 Chlorinated hydrocarbons
 PCB’s

Oil Pollution
- Sources
Leaks from marine terminals and in
harbors
 Leaks from offshore drilling
 Leaks from breakup of oil tankers and
barges
 Washout of oil into storm drains

Sources of Oil Pollution
Some Major Oil Spill
Catastrophies
The Components and Effects of Oil
Minamata Disease – see lecture text
Potential Results of Pollution
A reduction in biodiversity
 Stress on populations that are already
threatened or endangered

Endangered or Threatened
Marine Species
Radioactive Wastes
Waste Radionucleotides - DeepSea Disposal Sites
Nutrient Input and
Eutrophication
Eutrophication Leads to Dead
Zones
Human Activity and Dead Zones
Nutrient Enrichment Leads To …

Algal blooms which can lead to …
– High antiherbivory toxin production such as
 red tides (Dinoflagllates) which effect shellfish and
vertebrates
 Populations of Pfisteria
Dinoflagellates
cause
Green
Brown
Yellow
Too!
Opportunistic
Highly adaptable
Cysts
Free-swimming
Parasitic to fish
Toxins
24 recognizable life stages!
Did these protists evolve in 1997?
Dinoflagellates
“Toxic Tides”
Are these “new” species of protists?
Are they opportunistic protists?
What is common
among algal
blooms?
Dinoflagellates
“Toxic Tides”
What environmental stimuli promote their
growth?
Thermal Pollution
Invasive Species

Sources of invasive species
– Ship ballast
– Aquaculture
– Academia and public aquaria
– Pet and aquarium stores
– Recreational boating and fishing
– Special activities – transporting dry docks, oil
rigs and barges
Invasive Species in Coastal Regions –
Questions Asked

Questions related to Species Richness
–
–
–
–
What species are in our estuaries?
How many are non-native in each estuary?
How is species composition changing over time?
Which regions have the highest rate of new
invasions?
– Which taxa have the highest proportion of non-native
to native species?
Questions Cont’d.

Questions on Impact
– Impacts on ecosystem productivity,
biodiversity, community structure, and
ecologically sensitive habitats?
– Which non-native species are a particular
threat to native communities?
– How does human-mediated habitat
disturbance and hydrological alteration modify
the impact of non-native species?
Factors That Mediate Invasion Success
How is propagule pressure related to
invasion success?
 Which vectors are responsible for the most
invasions, or those of the most highimpact invaders?
 Are different taxa more likely to be
introduced by different vectors?
 ?????????????????

Invaders – Intrinsic Traits
How does the live history stage or
genetics of a species affect its invasive
abilities?
 How does the ecological role of a species
affect the rate and pattern of its spread?
 Are populations of selected introductions
genetically isolated from other
populations?

Marine Legislation
Six Important Acts
Important Legislation






National Marine Sanctuaries Act - (1972) (NMSA)
Fisheries Management and Conservation Act
(1976)
Clean Water Act – (1977)
Endangered Species Act
Estuaries and Clean Water Act (2000)
The Oceans Act (2000)
National Marine Sanctuaries Act of
1972
Authorizes the Sec. of Commerce to designate
and manage areas of the marine environment
with nationally significant aesthetic, ecological,
historical or recreational values as National
Marine Sanctuaries .
 The primary objective is to protect marine
resources while facilitating “compatible” public
and private uses of those resources.

Fisheries Management and
Conservation Act - 1976
The primary law dealing with fisheries resources
and fishing activities in federal waters (extends
from edge of State waters out to the 200 mile
limit).
 Primary goals include conservation and
management of fisheries resources,
development of U./S. domestic fisheries and
phasing out foreign fishing activities within the
200 mile conservation zone adjacent to the U.S.
coastline.

Clean Water Act of 1977
Unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a
point source into navigable waters unless
a permit (NPDES) is obtained
 EPA has authority to set effluent standards
 Also unlawful to discharge dredged or fill
materials into wetlands without a permit

Endangered Species Act
Provides for the conservation of
threatened and endangered plants and
animals and the habitats in which they are
found.
 The law prohibits any action,
administrative or real, that results in a
“taking” of a listed species, or adversely
affects habitat.

Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000
Encourages the restoration of estuary
habitat through more efficient project
financing and enhanced coordination of
Fed. And non-Fed. restoration programs
 Establishes a Estuary Habitat Restoration
Council to develop a comprehensive
approach

Oceans Act of 2000
Establishes a commission to make recs. for
coordinated and comprehensive national ocean
policy.
 Issues will include coastal hazards, stewardship,
marine pollution prevention, enhancing marinerelated commerce and transportation, research
and education and the use of technology to
address coastal issues.

FINIS