A EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School Lesson Plan > www.epa.gov/enviroatlas Connecting ecosystems and human health These materials are part of EPA Report #EPA/6oo/R-17/310. Student Name: Part 1: Engage Ecosystem Services 101 with Hankr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2whWWYSh6M video questions (vlogbrothers) 1. According to Hank in the video, the concept of ecosystem services is based on which main idea? List some examples. 2. In New York, a decision was made to restore the health of an ecosystem to filter the water as opposed to spending $6-8 billion to build a water filtration plant to filter the Key Words/Vocabulary aesthetics benefit biodiversity conservation ecosystem ecosystem services habitat human health mitigation recreation water. Placing dollar values on ecosystem services combines ecology and which other field? 3. What was the worth of all of the world's ecosystems, as determined in 1997? trillion dollars 4. What argument does Hank make that ecosystem services are good for the economy? Ecosystem Services, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCHiGre3Mgo video questions (California Academy of Sciences) 5. What are the three main ways in which biodiversity is crucial to humans? 1. 2. 3- 6. List some of the things that we get directly from biodiversity on the planet: 7. Name one direct service from nature: US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 1 ------- Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School 8. Rosy periwinkle is a plant with extracts that are used to treat which childhood disease? 9. List some of the services of mangrove forests: 10. The video discusses the source water to New York City and how it was contaminated. How much was it going to cost just to build a water filtration system to clean up the water? $ 11. What was the cost going to be to restore the wetlands in upstate New York to clean the water through means of natural filtration? $ 12. After watching the video, describe why the last ecosystem service, the aesthetic and ethical ecosystem service, could be considered the most important: 13. Describe a place where you like to go outdoors (you can name it if you know the name!) that makes you feel relaxed, happy, or calm. Remember, that's an ecosystem service, too! Part 2: Explore, Outdoors Lesson Answer the questions after going outside and discussing ecosystem services. o How do you feel being outdoors? Be descriptive if you can. o Are those feelings technically an ecosystem service? Explain why or why not. o List and describe some of the ecosystem services you experienced outdoors: Example: tree cover reduces air and water temperatures a. b. c. US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 2 ------- Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School Use the Student Instruction Sheet for Parts 3 and 4: Explain and Elaborate, Eco- Health Relationship Browser Answer the questions below using the Eco-Health Relationship Browser, STUDENTS: LOOK UP 2 HEALTH OUTCOMES ON YOUR OWN. THEN PAIR-SHARE WITH YOUR GROUP OR CLASSMATES TO FILL IN THE REST OF THE CHART. Air Quality: AQ Water Hazard Mitigation: WHM Heat Hazard Mitigation: HHM Aesthetics & Engagement with Nature: AEN Water Quality: WQ Recreation & Physical Activity: RPA # Human Health Outcome All associated Ecosystem Services How does the ecosystem play a role in the health outcome? (look at the info in the (+) signs and then think about how the ecosystem is related to the health outcomes) THIS SHOULD BE JUST A SHORT SUMMARY. Example bronchitis AQ and WHM (see above for acronyms) -bronchitis rates: 2.2X up in the most polluted Swiss city compared to the least polluted city. (How ecosystems help: Forests filter pollution, Urban tree cover can remove PM from the air) - the odds of bronchitis for children were increased 14% when dampness and/or mold were present in the home (How ecosystems help: Flooding can increase mold in the home, and wetlands and forests serve to buffer flood impacts...) 1 2 US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 3 ------- Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School # Human Health Outcome All associated Ecosystem Services How does the ecosystem play a role in the health outcome? (look at the info in the (+) signs and then think about how the ecosystem is related to the health outcomes) THIS SHOULD JUST BE A SHORT SUMMARY. 3 4 5 Part y. Evaluate. At this point, your teacher may do a class share-out exercise with string. While you're waiting, begin to work on the questions below. Talk with your group members about the following questions. Then, in complete sentences and citing evidence from your chart and the string exercise, describe in your own words (using a separate sheet of paper): 1. How important ecosystems are to human health; 2. How two ecosystems can affect the same human health issue. Give at least one example of a human health issue that is affected by two different ecosystems and the services that those ecosystems provide; 3. At least one way that you might think differently about ecosystems when you're outdoors or in a local ecosystem; 4. At least one thing that surprised you during this lesson (or the string exercise if your class did the string exercise) US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 4 ------- Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School, ANSWER KEY EnviroAtlas people 0 health 4 nature 4 economy www. epa. gov/enviroatlas Connecting ecosystems and human health Student Name: ANSWER KEY Key Words/Vocabulary aesthetics ecosystem mitigation benefit ecosystem services recreation biodiversity habitat conservation human health Part 1: Engage Ecosystem Services 101 with Hankf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2whWWYSh6M video questions (vlogbrothers) 1. According to Hank in the video, the concept of ecosystem services is based on which main idea? List some examples. That all of life on Earth does "useful stuff" for people. Examples: providing pharmaceuticals, regulating the weather, filtering the water, cleaning the air... 2. In New York, a decision was made to restore the health of an ecosystem to filter the water as opposed to spending $6-8 billion to build a water filtration plant to filter the water. Placing dollar values on ecosystem services combines ecology and which other field? Economics 3. What was the worth of all of the world's ecosystems, as determined in 1997? 33 trillion dollars 4. What argument does Hank make that the ecosystem services are good for the economy? They provide the services for free. Ecosystem Servicesr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCHiGre3Mgo video questions (California Academy of Sciences) 5. What are the three main ways in which biodiversity is crucial to humans? 6. List some of the things that we get directly from biodiversity on the planet: Food. clothing, housing, transportation, many medicines and medical supplies, energy... US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 5 1. Direct services 2. Indirect services 3. Aesthetic/Ethical Effect ------- Student Handout: Connecting ecosystems and human health Middle School/High School, ANSWER KEY 7. Name one direct service from nature: Shelter 8. Rosy periwinkle is a plant with extracts that are used to treat which childhood disease? Leukemia 9. List some of the services of mangrove forests: Protect the ocean from wave action. nurseries for aquatic species 10. The video discusses the source water to New York City and how it was contaminated. How much was it going to cost just to build a water filtration system to clean up the water? $6 billion 11. What was the cost going to be to restore the wetlands in upstate New York to clean the water through means of natural filtration? $1 billion 12. After watching the video, describe why the last ecosystem service, the aesthetic and ethical ecosystem service, could be considered the most important: Answers will vary, but should describe a human element 13. Describe a place where you like to go outdoors (you can name it if you know of the name!) that makes you feel relaxed, happy, or calm. Remember, that's an ecosystem service, too! Answers will vary Part 2: Explore, Outdoors Lesson Answer the questions after going outside and discussing ecosystem services. o How do you feel being outdoors? Be descriptive if you can. Answers will vary o Are those feelings technically an ecosystem service? Explain why or why not. Technically, positive feeling's inspired by the outdoors are classified as a human benefit. while the ecosystem service is providing the opportunity for engaging with nature. Often, this ecosystem service is paired with opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. o List and describe some of the ecosystem services you experienced outdoors: Example: tree cover reduces air and water temperatures Examples: Trees filter air for healthful breathing: trees offer habitat for wildlife: plants alongside a stream or creek can prevent erosion of sediments into the water: wooded areas provide recreation for hunters, fishermen, and people that eniov being outdoors US Environmental Protection Agency | May be reproduced for educational purposes only 6 ------- |