How are humans causing extinction of species? (Secondary) - Lesson Two

• Social Studies
• History
• +3
• 11th,12th Grade

Introduction

Lesson Two – What causes mass extinction events? This lesson discusses how manmade issues are contributing to the extinction of species, focusing on climate change and pollution. Learning activities:  Discuss what type of pollution students are contributing to.  Research and write a report on a type of pollution.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 2 - What causes mass extinction events?

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. 

What you already know...

You are going to learn...

Action required!

Evaluate your knowledge

Click on the image

Watch  the video

During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

SIGNS OF EXTINCTION EVENT

• Climate change
• Ocean warming and acidification
• Changes in sea levels
• Loss of land masses
• Movement in tectonic plates
• Super Volcanos were active
• Invasive species were thriving
• Extinction of species was at higher than normal rates

We discussed last lesson some of the signs that indicate a mass extinction event is occurring. This included:
    Climate change
    Ocean warming and acidification
    Changes in sea levels
    Loss of land masses
    Movement in tectonic plates
    Super Volcanos are active
    Invasive species are thriving
    Extinction of species at higher than normal rates

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

What is causing extinction of species?

What causes these events to take place?

From the research we know that while we don’t have definitive causes for each of the previous mass extinction events scientists believe that some were triggered by geological events as tectonic plates moved and super volcanos were active, changing the atmosphere, others speculate that meteors may have hit the planet triggering events.

This time is different, those events have not been the trigger.  There is one key difference between those previous and this one.  

Ask students “What do you think that difference is?

What are the main issues
contributing to extinction
of species in the ocean?

This event is the first since we appeared on this planet. Not only are we here to see and document it, but this time we are also likely the cause.

Since the industrial revolution our impacts on this planet have rapidly increased, leading to rapid rates of change.

For this lesson we will focus on the changes that are impacting the ocean and marine species.

Ask students: “What do you think are some of the main issues, that we are contributing to, that are increasing the rate of extinction in the ocean?”

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

Climate change

The first, which is impacting our entire biosphere is manmade climate change.

Ask students: “What does climate change mean and what is the key cause behind this?”

Climate change is a global change in climate patterns. The contributing cause is increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and ocean.   The key cause is believed to be from fossil fuels, but there are other contributing factors, such as climate changing gases produced by animal agriculture.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The increase in CO2 levels is resulting in:

• Increased air temperatures
• Increased ocean temperatures
• Increasing the level of acidification in the ocean
• Increased sea levels

The increase in carbon dioxide levels is resulting in:
    Increased air temperatures - which is increasing the rate at which the polar ice caps are melting
    Increased ocean temperatures – changing the ocean environment – where species live, including for example habitats like coral reefs.
    Increasing the level of acidification in the ocean, which alters the ph level impacting corals and crustacean.
    Melting ice caps increases sea levels, increasing tide and water levels along coastal areas.
Ask students: “What do you think are the impacts of these changes on marine species?

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

What types of pollution are in the ocean?

In addition to carbon pollution there are other types that are contributing to the loss of marine wildlife.

Ask students: “What types of pollution are you aware of?”

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

POLLUTION

• Plastic pollution – from plastic products (eg single use plastics) and fishing gear.
• Agriculture – chemical run off from farming.
• Industrial chemicals
• Oil spills
• Noise and chemical pollution from oil and gas exploration
• Noise pollution from shipping, ports, sonar, leisure boats.

Other types of pollution include:
    Plastic pollution – from plastic products (eg single use plastics) and fishing gear.
    Agriculture – chemical run off from farming.
    Industrial chemicals
    Oil spills
    Noise and chemical pollution from oil and gas exploration
    Noise pollution from shipping, ports, sonar, leisure boats.

This video (9 min) provides an example of the level of plastic pollution in the ocean and its impacts.  It shows a Sea Shepherd campaign in the Cocos Keeling Islands to remove marine debris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfBK7HwgvFM&t=45s

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.