WHAT ARE SOME MAJOR HUMAN IMPACTS ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS?

Kakakakimmi & Geoffrey

Leaching

Natural leaching: nutrients seeps out of soil and causes it to flow into rivers and streams without the help of humans.

Chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides tend to leach and make the water unsuitable for life.

Sulfurous compounds make water more acidic and can cause acid rain.

Oil can cover plants and animals making them unable to fly or photosynthesize

Deforestation

Eliminates plants whose roots hold soil in place

Causes runoff and increases rate of erosion

Sediment from runoff clouds up water and affects photosynthesis

May cause floods from the lack of absorption into the soil

Dams

Affect fish migration and mating.

Floods ecosystems and dries others.

Excess nutrients

Fertilizers or other sources of nutrients raise the nutrient level and cause algae blooms.

Dead algae sinks and takes out oxygen from the water.

Agriculture and Irrigation

Grazing promotes runoff and increases sediment

Livestock have contaminants and potentially dangerous bacteria that can kill plants and animals.

Irrigation lowers water levels of rivers and streams

Debris (aka litter)

Choking hazard for birds and fish

Blocks sunlight from penetrating water

May seep out chemicals

Clogs waterways

Alien species

May become invasive and kill off native plants an animals

May cause extinction