Research Assignment For Natural Resources Class Students ✓ Solved

Research Assignment For Natural Resources Classstudents Are To Comple

Research Assignment for Natural Resources Class Students are to complete a written assignment that requires the research and reporting of an identified environmental crisis facing our earth. The project should include a topic within the Course Outline and should be verbally approved by instructor prior to initiating your research. The written report should be from 3-5 pages with the task of explaining your thoughts and critique of the article/document. The project shall be due by May 6, 2020. The Environmental crisis must be narrowed down to a more main topic, for example you cannot just write about pollution. There is more to pollution that is causing problems, be more specific. Format is MLA and do not Plagiarize, essay must be in your own words. Essay will be turned into Turnitin.com.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Environmental crises are vast and multifaceted, impacting ecosystems and human life in numerous ways. To effectively address these issues, it is essential to narrow down broad topics like pollution into more specific and manageable areas of concern. This paper explores the specific environmental crisis of plastic pollution in oceans, examining its causes, impacts, and potential solutions. The focus on oceanic plastic pollution exemplifies the importance of targeting particular environmental problems for effective research and action.

Understanding Oceanic Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution in oceans has become a critical environmental issue over the past few decades. According to Thompson et al. (2004), millions of tons of plastic waste find their way into marine environments annually, primarily originating from land-based sources such as improper waste disposal, stormwater runoff, and maritime activities. Much of this waste consists of single-use plastics like bottles, bags, and microplastics, which persist in the environment for hundreds of years due to their durability (Jambeck et al., 2015).

This pollution has devastating effects on marine life. Marine animals often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion that can cause injury, starvation, or death (Cole et al., 2011). For example, sea turtles frequently ingest plastic bags, which they mistake for jellyfish. Moreover, microplastics have entered the food chain, posing risks to human health through seafood consumption (Rochman et al., 2013). These impacts underscore the gravity of how specific pollutants within the broader issue of pollution are damaging ecosystems and posing human health risks.

Sources and Causes of Plastic Pollution

The primary sources of plastic pollution are land-based activities, encompassing improper waste management, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and littering practices. Urbanization and increased plastic consumption have amplified the volume of waste, with only about 9% of all plastic produced being recycled globally (Geyer et al., 2017). Maritime activities such as shipping, fishing, and offshore drilling also significantly contribute, especially through accidental spillage and discarded fishing gear (Derraik, 2002).

Furthermore, the durability and low cost of plastics make them highly attractive for various uses, leading to their proliferation in daily life. However, this widespread use contributes to environmental leakage, with plastics entering waterways and eventually reaching the oceans. The lack of effective waste management systems in many developing countries exacerbates this problem, allowing vast quantities of plastic debris to bypass proper disposal mechanisms.

Impacts of Oceanic Plastic Pollution

The ecological, economic, and social impacts of plastic pollution in oceans are profound. Ecologically, plastic debris alters habitats, introduces toxic chemicals into marine organisms, and causes injury or death among wildlife (Lusher et al., 2013). As plastics degrade into microplastics, they become insidious contaminants that infiltrate the entire food web, impacting species diversity and ecosystem stability (Browne et al., 2011).

Economically, plastic pollution affects fisheries and tourism industries. Beaches littered with plastic waste deter tourists, leading to revenue loss for coastal communities. Fisheries suffer due to entanglement and damage to fishing gear, as well as the decline of fish stocks affected by ingestion of plastics (Seabrook, 2016). Additionally, cleaning up plastic debris entails substantial costs for governments and organizations, diverting funds from other vital environmental initiatives.

Socially, the presence of plastics in the ocean raises concerns about food safety and public health. Microplastics have been detected in seafood consumed worldwide, prompting questions about potential health risks associated with ingesting contaminated marine food sources (Smith et al., 2018).

Solutions and Mitigation Strategies

Effective solutions to marine plastic pollution require a multifaceted approach. Prevention strategies include reducing plastic use through policies that promote biodegradable alternatives, banning single-use plastics, and encouraging consumers to adopt sustainable behaviors (Jambeck et al., 2015). Improving waste management infrastructure globally is critical, especially in developing countries, to prevent plastics from reaching waterways (Lebreton et al., 2017).

Public education campaigns can raise awareness about the consequences of plastic pollution and promote community participation in clean-up activities. Legislative measures, such as bans on microbeads and extended producer responsibility programs, hold corporations accountable for waste generation and disposal (UNEP, 2018).

Innovative technological solutions include the development of advanced recycling techniques and the organization of ocean cleanup initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup project, which aims to remove plastics from ocean gyres using automated systems (The Ocean Cleanup, 2021). Collaboration among governments, industries, and NGOs is crucial for creating sustainable policies and effective cleanup efforts.

Conclusion

Focusing on oceanic plastic pollution as a specific environmental crisis reveals the complexity and urgency of addressing pollution at targeted levels. The causes stem largely from human activity, and the impacts threaten marine ecosystems, economies, and public health. A combination of policy changes, technological innovations, community engagement, and international cooperation is essential to combat plastic pollution effectively. By narrowing the focus to this specific crisis, stakeholders can implement targeted strategies that lead to tangible improvements in ocean health and overall environmental resilience.

References

Browne, M. A., Galloway, T. S., & Thompson, R. C. (2011). Microplastic debris in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(9), 3795–3803.

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2011). Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(12), 2588–2597.

Derraik, J. G. (2002). The污染的海洋：一种全球问题. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44(9), 842-852.

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of plastic waste. Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782.

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcock, C., et al. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-771.

Lebreton, L. C., van der Zwet, J., Damsteeg, J.-W., et al. (2017). River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans. Nature Communications, 8(1), 15611.

Lusher, A. L., McKechnie, S., & Ocegueda, L. (2013). Microplastics and their impacts in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 77(1-2), 2–3.

Rochman, C. M., Tahir, A., Williams, S., et al. (2013). Microplastic debris in fish and shellfish. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(15), 8820–8827.

Seabrook, R. (2016). Plastic pollution in marine environments: Sources, impacts, and solutions. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 105(1), 234–241.

Smith, M., Love, D. C., Rochman, C. M., & Neff, R. A. (2018). Microplastics in seafood and potential human health effects. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(23), 14263–14270.

The Ocean Cleanup. (2021). Our mission. Retrieved from https://theoceancleanup.com/