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| BACKGROUND: Anthropogenic Modifications to our Environment.
Anthropogenic = of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature . So where do we fit in in terms of our own contribution to abiotic and biotic impacts in our environment? In this exercise we take a critical look at the Race Rocks Ecosystem, and actually measure and calculate one part of the Anthropogenic impact. In it you will also encounter some examples of bioremediation and restoration, some interesting history and some mysteries. Most certainly you will discover the history of how human activities can have a big abiotic impact on an island ecosystem. |
| There are probably few places left on earth where Anthropogenic Impact has not affected the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment, and consequentially Biodiversity of species. In another assignment in the OceanQuest series on Biogeochemical Cycles, you are able to investigate this happening on a global scale. Here on Race Rocks, for centuries we have been consumers of the biotic components. First Nations people used the resources as an important part of their food supply and culture, and today we use the island for a number of reasons related to conservation, education, research and marine safety and navigation, otherwise, some of the Ecosystem Services which is the topic of another assignment in this series. |
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1. In the pictures below, you see an example of how human actvities can have a large physical impact on the amount of area previously "removed" from the ecosystem. On Race Rocks, it has been happening since the 1860 when the light station was first installed. Fortunately however the story does not end there. In this file we document the story of restoration of this and other sites on the island over the past few years .. It shows how we can try to lessen our impact if we make a decision to do so. How significant a process is ecological restoration in reducing human Anthropogenic Impact? |
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| 2. In this part of the assignment, we are going to see some of the trade-offs we have had to make in order to obtain the ecosystem services of Race Rocks. Using the aerial image map of the island below, devise an exercise that allows you to calculate the Anthropogenic footprint on the island. Literally, what percentage of the island is removed from habitat and ecological productivity by the effects of the human activities. | ||||||||
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Detailed Directions for using the Software ImageJ for measuring from a picture. a. Be sure to have either the program ImageJ installed on your computer. This project is made available freely by the Research Services Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Download ImageJ b.Click on the island imag quadrant pictures above. Download to your download file, the four pictures that make up the island c.Open the program ImageJ d. From the ImageJ header, choose File open and then find quarter1nw.jpg e. In order to do measurements on the picture, you will need to first calibrate your measuring tool. You will need to know the length of some item in the picture: We have chosen the boathouse as our metre stick. The length of the boathouse at the head of the docks is 10 metres. f. From the ImageJ Tool Bar, choose the fifth box, the Straight Line Selection Tool. Place the cursor on one end of the boatouse roof and drag it to the other end. Then release. g.. Next choose Analyze/ Set scale... For Known Distance type in 10 , for Unit of Length type in metres. then click OK h.Next choose Image/ Type/8-bit color..This simplifies the color profile of the picture. i. Next choose either the Segmented Line selection tool for straight edged objectsor the freehand line selections tool for irregular objects. . Trace around the object you wish to measure, j.Choose Analyze/ calibrate. k.etc. l. Repeat steps above for all four quadrants and then add up the totals to determine the percentage of coverageof the island by human-created materials. |
| 3. The Anthropogenic impact on your own ecosystem can be measured using this technique. If you are able to get an aerial image, all you need is a known measurable unit that is visible to calibrate distance in order to calculate the percentage of the area taken up by human built features |
| 4. Extension: The Anthropogenic impact of a city. can also be measured using this technique. You may look for a city on the GIS image of the OceanQuest program, Victoria, Sidney, Vancouver and Bellingham are all visible. All you need is a measured unit to calibrate you distance in order to calculate the percentage of thee areas taken up by human habitation and industry. Use the scale on the lower right hand side of the GIS image for this measurement. |
| 5. Extension: below you will find a few other examples of Anthropogenic modifications to other ecosystems. Choose One example and contrast it with the findings from your analysis of the Race Rocks Case Study. |
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Anthropogenic modifications to the St. Lawrence: Anthropogenic modifications to the St. Lawrence: |
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