Human Impact on the environment. 2 RESOURCES RESOURCE- something used to take care of a need ...
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Transcript of Human Impact on the environment. 2 RESOURCES RESOURCE- something used to take care of a need ...
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RESOURCES
RESOURCE- something used to take care of a need
TYPES:1. Non Renewable- can’t be replenished;
available only in limited amountsEx: fossil fuel coal, oil, natural
gas2. Renewable- are replaceable by
natural processes Ex: fresh water, trees
RenewableNon-
Renewable
Resources
tin Silver Phosphorus Nitrogen Air
freshwater Topsoil Oil Forests Trees
Biodiversityrefers to the variety of species in ecosystems, and the genetic variation.
• Over-hunting • Habitat loss • Invasion of non-native species
• Pollution • Climate change
Threats to Biodiversity
PollutionContamination of
soil, water, airResult of human
activityAffects organisms
and their habitats.
Ozone DepletionReduction of the ozone(O3) layer which protects the earth from UV radiation
Caused by …CFCs emitted from aerosol cans and A/Cs destroy ozone(O3)molecules
Effect- Harmful UV rays
penetrate the earth’s atmosphere
- Increase in skin cancer
Solution-don’t use aerosol cans
Global WarmingIncrease of the average temperature of the earth
Caused by … increased amounts of greenhouse gases and burning of fossil fuels
Effect - Increase in the average
temperature of EARTH
Solution - Reduce CO2 emissions - Decrease electricity
usage.
Acid RainRain containing nitric and sulfuric acid
Caused by … burning of fossil fuels releases nitrogen and sulfur compounds that combine with water and form sulfuric and nitric acid precipitation
Effect - Changes in soil chemistry
which prevent plant growth- Destruction of pond
ecosystems
Solution -burn less fossil fuels
Bio-magnificationIncreasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at
higher trophic levels
Caused by … non biodegradable chemicals (i.e DDT) introduced into ecosystems
Effect - Build up of non biodegradable
toxins - Increase of toxin
concentration in top predators- Possible species extinction
Solution - Use biodegradable
pesticides- The US banned the use of
DDT
Soil ErosionThe wearing away of topsoil
Caused by … wearing away of soil by water and wind; deforestation; overplowing
Effect - Loss of topsoil which is the
most fertile soil on the planet and takes a long time to recover
Solution - Contour plowing - Plant cover to
replenish nitrates in the soil
Deforestation
The destruction or loss of forests
Caused by … Overlogging
Effect - loss of trees- Loss of forest ( biodiversity
reduction- Soil erosion- Prevention of tree regrowth
due to a change in soil- Habitat fragmentation
Solution - Selective tree harvesting- Protection of old growth forests- Replant trees
Desertification
Creation of a desert with sand for soil
Caused by … Farming, overgrazing; drought
Effect - Decrease in soil, increase in
sand- Changes to ecosystems and
the species able to live in the environment
Solution - Reduce soil erosion- Don’t leave plowed fields
open without vegetation
Invasive Species
Non-native species introduced to new habitats take over and kill native organisms to the area
Caused by … importation of new species into new ecosystems
Effect - Possible destruction of
ecosystems- Inability to control the
population of non-native species
- Habitat fragmentation
Solution -import natural predators of invasive species