Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
9
Chapters
219
Notes
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment
IB Resources
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Acid Soil Effects: Life's Underfoot Drama

Word Count Emoji
514 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Introduction

Hey there, nature nerds! Buckle up because we're going on a deep dive into the ground - literally! We're going to chat about how acidity affects all those tiny critters under our feet: fungi, bacteria, earthworms, and even fish. Sound strange? Well, get ready because it's about to get stranger.

Soil acidity & its critters

We all know about pH, right? It's a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Lower numbers = more acidic, higher numbers = more basic. Now, soil can also have pH, and its level can seriously mess with the ecosystem living in and around it.

 

Let's say the soil's acidity increases. This means the pH drops. What happens then? It's like a bad party - guests start leaving. And by guests, I mean fungi, bacteria, and earthworms. They can't tolerate the harsh, acidic conditions and start to disappear. Imagine if you lived in a place where it constantly rained lemon juice. Not so pleasant, right?

 

Real-world Example: Think of a pine forest, where the fallen needles make the soil quite acidic. As a result, you'll see fewer bacteria and earthworms compared to a less acidic environment like a grassy meadow.

Heavy metal rockstars - aluminium & mercury

Here's where the plot thickens. Certain heavy metals like aluminium and mercury can reduce the number of soil microorganisms. It's like having a toxic celebrity at the party. Even the hardcore guests, who could tolerate the acid rain, might decide it's time to leave.

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IB Resources
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Acid Soil Effects: Life's Underfoot Drama

Word Count Emoji
514 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Introduction

Hey there, nature nerds! Buckle up because we're going on a deep dive into the ground - literally! We're going to chat about how acidity affects all those tiny critters under our feet: fungi, bacteria, earthworms, and even fish. Sound strange? Well, get ready because it's about to get stranger.

Soil acidity & its critters

We all know about pH, right? It's a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Lower numbers = more acidic, higher numbers = more basic. Now, soil can also have pH, and its level can seriously mess with the ecosystem living in and around it.

 

Let's say the soil's acidity increases. This means the pH drops. What happens then? It's like a bad party - guests start leaving. And by guests, I mean fungi, bacteria, and earthworms. They can't tolerate the harsh, acidic conditions and start to disappear. Imagine if you lived in a place where it constantly rained lemon juice. Not so pleasant, right?

 

Real-world Example: Think of a pine forest, where the fallen needles make the soil quite acidic. As a result, you'll see fewer bacteria and earthworms compared to a less acidic environment like a grassy meadow.

Heavy metal rockstars - aluminium & mercury

Here's where the plot thickens. Certain heavy metals like aluminium and mercury can reduce the number of soil microorganisms. It's like having a toxic celebrity at the party. Even the hardcore guests, who could tolerate the acid rain, might decide it's time to leave.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟

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