Changes in Habitatsby Denise Carroll

Let’s Save Our Earth!

Habitat

• The place where an animal or plant lives and grows is called its habitat.

• A habitat is where and animal finds the food, water, and shelter it needs to live.

How are animal habitats destroyed?

• Droughts• Floods• Lightning and Forest Fires• Land, Air, or Water Pollution • Storms, Hurricanes, Tornadoes• Trees are cut down to build houses, buildings,

roads, furniture, and paper products.

THINK: What would happen if an animal’s habitat was destroyed?

Many habitats are destroyed by people or by nature.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Droughts are when an area does not get rain for a long time.

• The ponds or streams will dry up.• Most pond plants will die.• Many pond animals die or move to

other ponds.• Some crops will not grow.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Floods are when an area gets a lot of rain for a long time.

• Plants and animals get too much water.

• Many plants die.

• Many animals die or move to drier places.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Sometimes lightening strikes a tree in a forest, causing forest fires.

• Plants and trees are burned and destroyed.• Some animals die, others may be able to move

quickly to safer places.• It takes many years for a forest to grow back.

Pollution• Pollution is waste that harms land, water,

or air.

• Pollution is harmful to people, animals, the environment, and destroys many habitats.

1. Land Pollution2. Air Pollution3. Water Pollution

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Land pollution effects the land destroying life, the environment, and its habitats.

• Trash that people do not put in a trash can is called litter.

• Litter kills plants and causes animals to get sick or die.

We need land to grow our food.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .• Air pollution effects the air we

breathe.

• Plants and animals need clean air.

• Factories and cars put harmful smoke and fumes in our air.

• Air pollution causes major damage to our health and the environment.

Forests are nature’s air cleaner. We need forest to help keep the air clean.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Water pollution effects the water and marine life.

• Water pollution destroys water habitats.

• Water pollution has caused animals to become endangered.

• All living things need clean water. • Water is nature’s perfect drink!

Water is a valuable resource that no one could do without.

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Storms

• Hurricanes

• Tornadoes

Habitats are destroyed by . . .

• Pollution• Litter• Construction: new

houses, buildings, and roads

• Clearing forest to make wood and paper products.

• Droughts• Floods• Lightning and Forest

Fires• Storms, Hurricanes,

Tornadoes

People Nature

Think:

What would happen if an animal’s habitat were

destroyed?

Endangered or Extinct?

• The number of people in the world is growing at an alarming rate.

• But this is not true for all animals.• In some cases, there are only a few

of one type of animal left in the wild. These animals are endangered, or at risk of dying out.

• If they die out completely, they become extinct.

Why does this happen?

There are lots of reasons why animals become endangered or

extinct.

The most common are:• loss of habitat (forests cut down, rivers

drying up).• pollution poison the animals.• hunting (for sport, their fur, tusks or meat).

Caring for the Environment

• It is in our own best interests to look after the world we live in.

• If a habitat is lost or damaged, it has an effect on everything.

• Remember - once something becomes extinct, it’s gone forever!

Think: What can you do to help the environment?

• Recycle means to change something so it can be used to make something new.

• Reuse means to use something more than once.

Recycle or Reuse

Ways People Help the Environment

• Plant trees• Recycle or reuse things• Don’t litter• Don’t pollute• Walk or ride a bike• Develop national parks• Learn more about habitats• Making laws to protect habitats• Setting aside land for wildlife

People can take care of their environment and keep it clean.

Congratulations!

• You are on your way to building a safe and healthy environment for us to live.

Resources

• http://images.search.yahoo.com• http://office.microsoft.com/clipart