Clams Are Great Pollution Detectors By Susan Linville

When ever you go to the beach, do you ever think about what can happen to an animal and the water when you leave a wrapper in the sand or a plastic bottle in the water? If you think about it, even a small piece of plastic can harm a fish. The fish could mistake it for food. This could potentially kill the fish. There are other things that people d that pollutes the ocean. An oil spill from a boat can get fish sick (Doc.2). Also, solid waste, plastics, glass, and foam (OI). Marine life can get trapped in any of these items (OI). There are many things we can do to prevent this, like, reducing plastic waste in stream, improve solid waste management, and increase, capture, and reuse (Doc.1). These are just a few of the many things we could do to

Our oceans are vast and they are some of the most mysterious and diverse places on earth. They provide food and shelter for countless organisms, they also provide a key factor to life; water. Unfortunately, pollution is dangering Marine life and slowly destroying the oceanic ecosystem. We have always had this notion that because of the sheer size of the ocean, that dumping our trash and other toxins into the sea would have no major consequences. As we have seen, that is entirely inaccurate. Oil spills, floating trash, toxic spills are just some of the various factors that contribute to the pollution of the oceans (Heimbuch, 2009).

Although the amount of pollutants from a single town or construction site may seem insignificant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, streams and wetlands. When things such as: human and animal waste, decaying plants and animals, discarded litter, or food waste enter surface waters, either dissolved or suspended in stormwater runoff, they can deplete the supply of dissolved oxygen in the water. When dissolved oxygen is reduced below a certain critical level, it can impair or kill aquatic plants and animals (CNYRPDB, 2011).

The ocean produces 70% of the earth’s oxygen source.[6] Unfortunately, we pollute the water with multiple factors that can harm the organisms living in it. Some objects that are thrown into the water include plastic bags, plastic bottles, and styrofoam. These materials can get caught around the organisms as well as harm them when eaten.

The Collier County Health Department has confirmed that all of these pollutants are present in Naples Bay, some to an alarming degree. Each year, volunteers pick up several tons of general trash from the Naples Bay area, all in one cleanup day! Over 70 water areas in South Florida have been posted for dangerous levels of Mercury, a bad actor in the heavy metals category. Pollution is a silent killer, because it takes expensive sampling and measurement to determine its presence, after the fact. For those people that eat fish (probably 99% of us), the risks of illness are very real. Even if a fish was caught offshore or down south in the 10,000 Islands it may have spent earlier years surviving in a polluted environment. Our clam industry left southwest Florida a long time ago. These bivalves are noted for their early-warning features; sort of our

The exponential growth of human population, caused an unprecedented problem for the global ecosystem. (Carolina EcoKits, 2012) The increase in pollution brought upon great fear and concern about what types of contaminants were in the foods and water supply for citizens. In 1977, the Clean Water Act was passed, the act ensured that any release of pollutants at toxic levels into any water source was forbidden. (Carolina EcoKits, 2012) It allowed for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set guidelines and standards for how pollutants were emptied in navigable waters. (Carolina EcoKits, 2012)

With the vast diversity of pollutants being introduced to these waters, it is becoming more and more difficult to analyze and identify the exact effects each pollutant has on the water quality as well as the organisms living in them (Howe and Clark, 2014). Scientists, though, have discovered new ways of identifying these negative effects the pollutants have by analyzing certain

-I am an ecophysiologist interested in studying the biological impacts of ocean acidification and other anthropomorphic (man-made) environmental stressors. I use field and laboratory experimentation and observation (utilizing ocean pH sensors) to predict how key marine species will respond to future ocean change. I am currently collaborating with the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in Seward, Alaska. We are conducting ocean acidification experiments on juvenile geoduck clams with the aim of determining their potential vulnerability to ocean acidification.

When looking at the ocean pollution caused by people it impacts animals and ourselves as humans. For many years, the unregulated dumping of chemicals, toxins and other waste directly into lakes, rivers, streams and oceans triggered disease and other risks to humans and wildlife(Calhoun 89). This can affect

Also organic pollutants at low concentrations can result in birth defects, genetic disorders, and cancer. These toxic pollutants listed above are all a result of people and industries improperly disposing of their waste. (Cunningham 404-406) To add on, fertilizers, which is a water pollutants, contain high concentrations of nitrates and phosphates; as a result, algal blooms can form. Also, eutrophication is a process that happens when waters are rich in organisms and organic material and become very nourished. As a result, the “process turns the water green, clouds the water, causes odor problems” (Lake Champlain Basin, 1998). Pollutants can pollute surface water by dissolving into the it, but they can also pollute groundwater. When the fertilizers or lawn/garden chemicals enter the water they can make there way into the fresh groundwater. Once the groundwater is polluted people/countries would have to pay more to get there groundwater

Without many people even realizing it, overfishing is one of the biggest causes of decreased marine life. This fish-depleting tactic has severely impacted many aspects of not only marine life but also human life. However, overfishing is not the only problem that threatens the oceans. Some have taken the other side by claiming that pollution is the major problem of decreased marine populations around the world. This has sparked debate on which cause has affected sea creatures the most. Even though overfishing is one of the biggest causes of depleted fish populations, pollution also plays a big factor because it affects the fish’s food cycle, and reduced marine populations is a big issue because fish is a primary source of protein for 17% of the world.

Ocean pollution is one of the most urgent issues in our world today. The ocean is crucial to our ecosystem and it is being severely damaged at an alarmingly increasing rate. In this paper I will educate about the role the ocean plays in our beautiful Earth, why it is being so widely ignored and dismissed, the causes of pollution, and its effects on animals and humans alike.

Marine biologist play a key role in understanding climate change and identifying sustainable and profitable ways humans can use the sea and its resources. Marine biologist understand marine organisms needs in their habitats, ultimately helping protect species and reduce human threats. As experts in understanding marine habitats, marine biologist often form essential parts of relief teams. They respond to oil spills and chemical leaks, helping other scientist restore normalcy to local habitats. Sometimes, marine biologists influence other spheres, such as economics and law. They might analyze the effect of sonar on whales and seals, for instance, recommending best practices for reducing harm on those sensitive populations. Marine biologists understand how the ocean supports basic needs, and in turn relay that information to lawmakers, who establish protocols regarding human use of ocean waters and marine organisms. Marine biologist help develop ocean technology too, improving waste elimination, energy sourcing and extraction of key sources. A brief review of components of the marine environment, world food resources, climate control, air and water quality, transportation, and the ecosystem balance are important features that are studied by marine biology. So, understanding why marine biology is important is foundational to integrating a balanced approach toward management of the sea and proper stewardship of organisms,

As the world develops and the human population grows there is more pollution being dumped into the oceans, causing major problems to marine life and ecosystems. Major causes of marine pollution involve non-point pollutants, marine garbage, toxic ocean pollutants and sewage disposal in oceans. From heavy metal poisoning including lead and mercury killing predators such as sharks and whales, to waste getting trapped in the digestive tracts of marine animals, this essay focuses on how human interference causes horrifying problems to the marine life, but also how to fix it. It will also explore the normal activities of people including farming and how this can cause an imbalance in an ecosystem. Everyday activities can cause massive nutrient

Global pollution is increasing due to the variations in natural and anthropogenic activities, leading to contaminations in various aquatic and