Global Environmental Issues

Assignment #2

Toxic Contamination and Biodiversity

Write a 5-page paper with 5 citations (minimums) in which you identify a form of toxic contamination and discuss its effect on biodiversity. You will need to be specific with respect to the toxics, its mechanism of action and its effect on biodiversity. For example, if the toxic were a form of radioactive waste, you would need to discuss the specifics of the contamination (e.g., how it is occurring) and identify the specific sites at which the contamination is occurring (if there are many pick one example from a news report or journal article citation). Then you will need to identify the mechanism by which radioactive waste effects biodiversity (again citing relevant material) and show how it leads to a reduction in biodiversity (again at a specific site via a literature citation).

Possible Toxics Topics:

Radioactive waste

Fertilizer contamination

Biocides (pesticide, herbicide, fungicide)

Acid Rain

Hazardous waste

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in cases where they are modified to produce a toxin such as bacillus thuringiensis. I will also accept genetic contamination as a form of toxic contamination for the purposes of this paper.

Particulates

Waste Runoff and debris (e.g., Mountaintop Removal)

Trash (e.g., Landfills, plastics)

Military contaminants (e.g., depleted uranium ordinance, nerve gasses, land mines)

Oil or other mineral exploration and processing effluvia

Drug or medical wastes

Choose from one of these or other toxics issues.

Assignment Due Date: Friday of Finals Week

Please email this assignment or deliver to my Geography Department Mailbox, 14^th Floor Patterson Office Tower