Reflection
1: How does the story of Borneo exemplify the idea of ecosystems and the interaction of organisms (specifically the importance of all organisms in that ecosystem)?
The story of Borneo tells us that all species within an ecosystem interact with one another. If one species is harmed, it will affect other species.
2: How does the story exemplify how humans (in our attempt to fix one thing), cause unforeseeable problems in ecosystems?
Humans do things to fix one thing without thinking about the affects it will do to our ecosystem in the future. For example DDT is good for killing mosquitos, but causes other problems to our environment when sprayed.
3: Explain how a toxin in a food web will harm some while killing others- why did the mosquitos and cats die while other things lived? (hint: research bioaccumulation & biomagnification)
Toxins in a food web harm it because the toxins harm one specie while harming others also. When that species is harmed other species that consume them will get intoxicated also.The mosquitos died because those toxins were made to kill them, and the cats died because those toxins spread throughout the food web.
4: Explain why you think DDT has been banned in the U.S. but is still in production and used in countries all over the
world.
I think DDT has been banned in the U.S. because it's more harmful to us humans and species than it is in other countries
5: If DDT is still being used around the world, but not in the U.S.- are we still exposed to it? (Discuss).
Even though DDT isn't used in the U.S. we are still exposed to it because it's used all over the world it can spread to us by the infected animals (food) imported to us.
6: Do you think scientists should have sprayed the island with DDT? If not, what should they have done about the Malaria issue?
I think scientists shouldn't have sprayed the island with DDT because those toxins affect our food web. To solve the Malaria issue, the should of instead create some type of cure for it.
The story of Borneo tells us that all species within an ecosystem interact with one another. If one species is harmed, it will affect other species.
2: How does the story exemplify how humans (in our attempt to fix one thing), cause unforeseeable problems in ecosystems?
Humans do things to fix one thing without thinking about the affects it will do to our ecosystem in the future. For example DDT is good for killing mosquitos, but causes other problems to our environment when sprayed.
3: Explain how a toxin in a food web will harm some while killing others- why did the mosquitos and cats die while other things lived? (hint: research bioaccumulation & biomagnification)
Toxins in a food web harm it because the toxins harm one specie while harming others also. When that species is harmed other species that consume them will get intoxicated also.The mosquitos died because those toxins were made to kill them, and the cats died because those toxins spread throughout the food web.
4: Explain why you think DDT has been banned in the U.S. but is still in production and used in countries all over the
world.
I think DDT has been banned in the U.S. because it's more harmful to us humans and species than it is in other countries
5: If DDT is still being used around the world, but not in the U.S.- are we still exposed to it? (Discuss).
Even though DDT isn't used in the U.S. we are still exposed to it because it's used all over the world it can spread to us by the infected animals (food) imported to us.
6: Do you think scientists should have sprayed the island with DDT? If not, what should they have done about the Malaria issue?
I think scientists shouldn't have sprayed the island with DDT because those toxins affect our food web. To solve the Malaria issue, the should of instead create some type of cure for it.