Cause and Effect

URBANIZATIONFIELD GUIDE

M I C H A E L V A U G H A N

The purpose of this book is to show the cause and

effect of urbanization on animals and plants.

You will choose:

2 animal or insect species and

2 plant species

URBANIZATION FIELDGUIDE

Ants help to aerate the soil and decompose organic material. These processes lead to more healthy soil for growing food and cleaner water for drinking. “As the ants move through the soil, they create tiny air pockets. According to one gardening enthusiast,

Plant roots need a loose soil texture to spread both horizontally and vertically for ample oxygen, nutrients and moisture. Without ant soil activity, the soil may not have the spaces necessary for roots to get the air and water they need. This causes roots to grow upward, causing the plant to decline (Rodriquez).

W h a t A n t s e a t i n N a t u r e ( C a u s e )

Almost Any Organic Material

Dead insects, animals, etc.

2

• A nts i n N atu r e •

Ants help the soil (Effect)

As ants tunnel within the soil,

they naturally move soil particles,

much like an earthworm

Ants can carry chemicals, and unnatural objects that take hundreds of years to biodegrade under ground. These things find their way into the soil, our crops, and our water supply. According to a study, “human activities had a strong, negative influence on ant species richness and abundance” (Urban Wildlife). Without proper organic material in the soil, ants are unable to aid in aeration and soil can become polluted and stagnant.

What ants eat in Urban Areas

(Cause )

1. Unnatural foods

2. Trash

3. Chemicals

4. Pollutants

3

Ants in Cities

Why this matters: The soil is harmed

(Effect)increasing pollution increases the

acidity of soil and causes a

decrease of total biological

activity of soil (petal 101)..

Quack grass is found growing naturally throughout the Continental United States. However, few homeowners enjoy seeing quack grass and readily attempt to eradicate it. This especially occurs in large urban and suburban areas where people want uniform looking lawns. Many people are misguided in their attempts to get ride of quack grass, as it has many benefits.

Quack grass is used for many things and has been done so for hundreds of years. It helps to control erosion ( Jackson) and can be used in gardens to hold soil in place. This is also useful in areas where unstable soils may cause structures to sink or collapse. Quack grass can also be ingested. According to Naoimi Jackson, author of The Joy of Quack Grass, The long quack grass rhizomes can be cleaned and dried and ground into a flour, a means of making bread in hard times. Or,

roast them and brew them as a coffee substitute. Raw rhizomes can be chewed as a quick garden snack. They are mildly sweet and extremely fibrous, so bring your dental floss. You can also juice the rhizomes for a spring tonic...

I would not eat it but it is an alternative if one is starving.

The use of pesticides on quack grass does irrevocable damage to a cities water supply and any wildlife that comes into contact with chemicals used to eradicate the weed.

4

Natural Inhabitant

Appearance

Scientific Name

(Elytrigia repens)

Pesticides

Quack Grass

5

• pesticide deaths: not just bees •

Recently thousands of birds have been found dead due to poison and pesticide exposure.

death (effect)Diet: Specs:

northern mockingbird

This insecticide is extremely popular among farmers because its effectiveness at killing pests and easiness to apply.

neonicotinoids (cause)

Mockingbirds are one example of a local species that

has been effected by poisons and pesticides. The

European Union enacted a 2 year ban on

Neonicotinoids, according to a report published by The

Guardian. However, The US has decided to continue to

allow use despite many other European nations

banning the substance.

Nitrates from chemicals used in Pesticides seep into the soil and eventually make their way into groundwater, streams and rivers. These waterways are used by cities and private home owners fro drinking water. Studies have proven that ingesting nitrates can lead to various diseases, especially in infants and young people.

Cause

1. Pesticide Use by Farmers

Effect

1. Infiltrates the natural food chain, killing insects, birds, and animals

Cause

2. Humans Use Poison to Kill Ants

Effect

2. Pollutes Ground Water

Cause

3. Home owners and businesses use fertilizers on lawns

Effect

3. pollute water supply, kill usefully plants and weeds

6

• Cause •

Effect

Pale or Blue Skincaused by trouble

Lethargic Eyes

Blue Baby Syndrome

Jackson, Naomi. "The Joy of Quack Grass." Hampden Park Co-op. Acquia, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http:// www.hampdenparkcoop.com/node/567>.Monbiot, George. "Ban Neonicotinoids Now – to Avert Another Silent Spring." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com %2Fcommentisfree%2F2014%2Fjul%2F15%2Fban- neonicotinoids-another-silent-spring-pesticide-moratorium>.Petal, Joanna. "ADAPTATION OF ANTS TO INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION." P O L IS H A C A D E M Y OF SCIEN CES 29 (1978): 99-108. Web. <http://rcin.org.pl/Content/26227/ WA058_24549_P4753_Mem-Zool-29-10.pdf>.Rodriguez, Amy. "Do Ants Aerate Roots?" Home Guides. SF Gate, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ants- aerate-roots-72684.html>."Urban Wildlife." - US Forest Service Research & Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.fs.fed.us/research/ wildlife-fish/themes/urban-wildlife.php>.

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Works Cited