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Environmental Issues In Hasting's Point

Decent Essays

At Hasting’s Point it was evident from the ecosystems visited that there exist many, possible future implications due to human impacts. The value of these ecosystems to us as a resource is immense, however human activity, in particular tourism, threatens to undermine this value. Tourism is comprised of several damaging factors: directly interacting with ecosystems; pollution; development of the area and increased popularity. We rely on these ecosystems for food, relaxation, medicine (scientific research), natural balance and, paradoxically, tourism. However if nothing is done to rectify and/or control this issue, these ecosystems in Hasting’s Point, like many others, run the risk of being destroyed and losing their value as a resource. It …show more content…

Hasting’s Point is surrounded by farm lands and development areas that result in run-off containing plastic, microbial contaminants from sewerage, sediments, heavy metals, fertilisers (contain phosphorus and nitrate), pesticides, car exhaust, motor oil and gasoline. All of these run-off materials are toxic and can greatly harm all ecosystems. Mangroves, which filter heavy metals, phosphorus and sediments, can have oils smother ‘breathing’ roots and hinder functions. Consequently, the run-off would enter the ocean, harming organisms on the rocky shore and sea. Excess nitrate and phosphorus based chemicals in the ocean exponentially increases the growth of algae and plants, resulting in an algal bloom and eutrophication. Any organism below the algae cannot perform photosynthesis (no sunlight) and suffocate from oxygen depletion due to strained respiration and decomposition of dead plants by bacteria. As such, a whole ecosystem, or ecological niche, can be destroyed, much like 2011’s marine die-off along the Pacific coast [12]. These suffocating organisms can also contribute to ocean acidification for respiration produces CO2 (which reacts with water to produce carbonic acid: (H2CO3)), therefore increasing the acidity of the ocean (alongside excess atmospheric CO2)[13]. Acidic waters at Hasting’s Point, and anywhere else, would corrode an organism’s protective shell (calcium) and pressure species to adapt, or die, to the altered chemistry

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