Williams 1302 DB 6 and 7

DB 6

Earth’s oceans are vast, covering about 70% of our planet’s surface. Humans are having increasing effects on the structure and function of the Earth’s oceans, ranging from unsustainable fisheries to pollution and climate change. Discuss at least two ways in which we, as a society, can lessen our impact on ocean life. In what ways can you personally reduce your impact on ocean life? For some insight, please see the video below from NOAA on the importance of phytoplankton in ocean ecosystems and the formation of “dead zones” by pollution (click on the “expand” button on the bottom right to expand the view of the video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB1FADETAyg&t=3s

DB 7

The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: What good is it? – Aldo Leopold

Hi folks. The ecological services provided by conservation areas are diverse and sometimes not easily understood or appreciated by the general public who may desire quantifiable, economic measures of their value. How would you persuade someone who believes that ecological services are unmeasurable and provide no value to human society that they are in fact valuable?  For inspiration, check out this video on ecosystem services featuring E.O. Wilson, who, as you remember from Unit V, is a coauthor of the theory of island biogeography (please click cc on the bottom right of the video to access closed captioning):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duOzXGTuUrA&t=1s