Biodiversity of species (Secondary) - Lesson Two
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Lesson Two – What is threatening biodiversity?
This lesson covers the issue of pollution, including plastics, chemicals, oil and noise.
Learning activities:
Discuss the implications of pollution.
Research an endangered species, which threats contribute to its status and what is the impact on the ecosystem.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
What is threatening
biodiversity in the ocean?
biodiversity in the ocean?
Slide 3 - Mind map
Ask students “What do you think is threatening biodiversity in the ocean?”
Slide 4 - Slide
One of the threats is pollution.
Ask students: “What do you think we mean by pollution?”
Ask students: “What do you think we mean by pollution?”
Slide 5 - Slide
The first type of pollution in the ocean is plastics. There are actually thousands of types of plastics made today, all with a specific purpose in mind. Most are made from chemical substances that, when submerged in water, could leach chemicals into the environment.
Up to 90% of marine debris is believed to be plastic based.
Each year over 12 million metric tons of trash finds its way into the ocean. This is the equivalent of at least one garbage truck full of plastic rubbish every 40 seconds being dumped into the ocean. (That is 788,400, garbage trucks of rubbish every year, at approx 15.2 tonnes per truck).
The amount of rubbish going into the ocean is still increasing. In the coming years this could soon be two garbage trucks a minute. This poses a huge risk for marine wildlife that either ingests or becomes entangled in the rubbish.
Ask students: “How do you think plastic pollution impacts marine species?”
Up to 90% of marine debris is believed to be plastic based.
Each year over 12 million metric tons of trash finds its way into the ocean. This is the equivalent of at least one garbage truck full of plastic rubbish every 40 seconds being dumped into the ocean. (That is 788,400, garbage trucks of rubbish every year, at approx 15.2 tonnes per truck).
The amount of rubbish going into the ocean is still increasing. In the coming years this could soon be two garbage trucks a minute. This poses a huge risk for marine wildlife that either ingests or becomes entangled in the rubbish.
Ask students: “How do you think plastic pollution impacts marine species?”
Slide 6 - Slide
Abandoned, Lost and Discarded (ALD) fishing gear makes up a significant portion of plastic in the ocean. Researchers have found that around 46% of plastic in the North Pacific gyre is from commercial fishing gear. Globally over a fifth of the plastic in the ocean comes from commercial fishing gear.
What does ALD mean?
Abandoned – the deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear, it is intentionally left behind.
Discarded – the deliberate disposal of fishing gear. Damaged or illegal gear thrown overboard before heading to port.
Lost – means accidental loss at sea, for instance during a storm.
640,000 tonnes of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ends up in the ocean each year.
Ask students: “What are the risks to marine species and habitat of fishing gear being left in the ocean?”
What does ALD mean?
Abandoned – the deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear, it is intentionally left behind.
Discarded – the deliberate disposal of fishing gear. Damaged or illegal gear thrown overboard before heading to port.
Lost – means accidental loss at sea, for instance during a storm.
640,000 tonnes of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ends up in the ocean each year.
Ask students: “What are the risks to marine species and habitat of fishing gear being left in the ocean?”
What types of chemicals are
ending up in the ocean?
ending up in the ocean?
Slide 7 - Mind map
The next type of pollution is chemicals.
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“What kind of chemicals do they think end up in the ocean, where do they come from?”
Examples include:
Household cleaning products.
Cigarettes butts.
Medications.
Pesticides, herbicides and weed killer used by the agriculture industry.
Industrial chemicals from factories.
Chemicals that leach from plastics.
Sunscreen – chemicals in sunscreens are damaging coral reefs and kill fish.
Petrol chemicals – oils and fuels from cars and boats.
Ask students: “What impact do you think chemicals in the ocean will have on marine wildlife?”
High levels of chemicals, like mercury, PCB’s, DDT and other chemicals are found in fish, especially apex predators – whales, dolphins, sharks and tuna.
This could have long term impacts on the health of the individual animal or the species.
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“What kind of chemicals do they think end up in the ocean, where do they come from?”
Examples include:
Household cleaning products.
Cigarettes butts.
Medications.
Pesticides, herbicides and weed killer used by the agriculture industry.
Industrial chemicals from factories.
Chemicals that leach from plastics.
Sunscreen – chemicals in sunscreens are damaging coral reefs and kill fish.
Petrol chemicals – oils and fuels from cars and boats.
Ask students: “What impact do you think chemicals in the ocean will have on marine wildlife?”
High levels of chemicals, like mercury, PCB’s, DDT and other chemicals are found in fish, especially apex predators – whales, dolphins, sharks and tuna.
This could have long term impacts on the health of the individual animal or the species.
Slide 8 - Slide
Another type of pollution is oil, which can spill into the ocean from oilrigs or ships after an accident. These can leak into the ocean for days before clean ups can properly stop the oil from flowing into the ocean. The result is hundreds or thousands of tonnes of oil contaminating the ocean.
Ask students: “What they think the impacts of oil spills would be on marine wildlife and the ecosystem?”
Slide 9 - Slide
The next type of pollution is noise pollution.
Ask students “What type of activities would cause noise pollution in the ocean?”
Examples include:
Tourist vessels, leisure boats, jet skis – anything with a motor.
Larger cargo ships and cruise ships
Sonar from navy ships – ships and submarines use sonar which emits a sound that can be detected in the water by marine wildlife.
Survey ships for oil and gas – these use air guns that create a seismic blast. They are used to map the ocean floor and detect what might be under the surface.
Ask students “What type of activities would cause noise pollution in the ocean?”
Examples include:
Tourist vessels, leisure boats, jet skis – anything with a motor.
Larger cargo ships and cruise ships
Sonar from navy ships – ships and submarines use sonar which emits a sound that can be detected in the water by marine wildlife.
Survey ships for oil and gas – these use air guns that create a seismic blast. They are used to map the ocean floor and detect what might be under the surface.
Slide 10 - Video
Optional video – this video (46.22min) starts with the Deepwater Horizon disaster and its impact on the Gulf of Mexico, and then discusses the first stage of the fight to stop oil rigs in the Great Australian Bight in 2016. Showing the Great Australian Bight and species at risk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCFlzTlyTes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCFlzTlyTes
Slide 11 - Slide
This item has no instructions
Slide 12 - Slide
Refer Lesson Guide for activity suggestions.