Chapter 1.2, Problem 4MI

Summary Introduction

To determine:

An environmental issue and the importance of studying that issue.

Introduction:

In biology, the study of the environment is mainly focused on determining the impact of abiotic factors on the survival of organisms.

Explanation of Solution

Issue: Ozone depletion.

Importance:The ozone layer is a gaseous atmospheric layer in the stratosphereof the Earth’s environment. This layer is important for blocking the harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays coming from the sun. In casethe ozone layer continues to deplete, it would lead to the entrance of UV-B on earth. This light is so harsh that it may cause a reduction in crop production, as crops will not be able to flower properly and survive and may affect the aquatic environment as well. The UV-B can adversely affect the early developmental stages of fish, shrimps, crabs, amphibians and other marine organisms.

There are many animals, which have larval stages in their life cycle. The larval stages are very vulnerable to mutations and it may lead to decreased development or malformed organisms. Additionally, an increase in UV radiation may also cause changes in the skin of many animals, especially those animals who are involved in sunbathing. UV can cause mutations and tumors, which might lead to cancer in some cases. So, an increase in UV radiation will be a limiting factor for many organisms, which would eventually lead to a decrease in population size.