Human Impacts on the Environment. Part One Ecosystem Services and Human Impacts.
-
Upload
madlyn-hood -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Human Impacts on the Environment. Part One Ecosystem Services and Human Impacts.
Human Impacts on the Environment
Part One
Ecosystem Services and Human Impacts
Ecosystem Services
Anything the environment does for humans that helps us survive for free
Categories:SupportingProvisioningRegulatingCultural
Value of trees
What’s different between the two halves of this image?
What’s are some environmental consequences of changing the environment?
How do humans impact the environment? Hunting and gathering
Agriculture
Industry
Urban development
Article
Read the article: “Is Human Impact Accelerating Out of Control?” and complete the article review in your notes turn in the article with your notes
Human Impacts
Part 2 Renewable and Non-renewable resources
Resource
An environmental good or serviceRenewable – can be regenerated or
renewed through biogeochemical cycling• Example:
Non-renewable – cannot be regenerated by natural processes in a “usable amount of time”
• Example:
Human interactions with the environment Human activities can affect the quality
and supply of renewable resources Land, forests, fisheries, air, fresh
water Sustainable development – a way of
using natural resources without depleting them and of providing for human needs without causing long term environmental damage
Land ResourcesProvide: Space for human
communities
Raw materials for industry
Soil to grow crops
Harmed by: Soil erosion – wearing
away of surface by water and wind
Desertification – the process by which fertile land becomes a desert Caused by:
• Overuse of land for farming and grazing
• Drought
Forest ResourcesProvide: Wood for building,
cooking, and industry
Ecological services: Produce oxygen Provide habitats
for organisms Moderate climate Limit soil erosion Protect freshwater
supply
Harmed by: Deforestation –
loss of forest land Due to over
logging Conversion of
lands to farming or human communities
What has changed between 1975 and 2007?
Has Guatemala or Belize protected their forest resources better? How can you tell?
Guatemala GuatemalaGuatemalaBelize Belize
Fishing Resources
Provide: Food - 15% or
more of the protein intake for 4.3 billion people
Recreation Tourism income for
people around the world
Harmed by: Over fishing –
harvesting fish faster than they can be replaced by reproduction
How has the condition of the worlds fisheries changed from 1950 to 2003?
Fishery Resources Sustainable
development of fisheries Has guidelines
for:• Size limits• Catch limits• Reproduction
protections
Aquaculture: Raising of aquatic animals for human consumption Help offset
demand for fish and protect wild resources
Can pollute the environment if not managed properly
Air ResourcesProvides: Oxygen Ozone Layer
protects us from UV radiation
Clean air is critical for human health
Harmed by: Pollutants – a harmful
material that can enter the biosphere through land, air, or water
Lead to: Smog: a mixture of
chemicals that cause grey/brown haze
Acid Rain: acidic rain formed when water combines with certain pollutants
FreshwaterWater is used for: Photosynthesis
Agriculture Drinking Washing Industry Maintaining habitat
Harmed by: Pollution Overuse Non-sustainable
development practices Example: putting
lawns in a desert
Energy Resources
Investigate Energy Resources by completing the packet. Turn the completed packet in with
your notes
Human Impacts
Part 3: Biodiversity
Biodiversity Biodiversity is one of Earth’s greatest
natural resources
Types:Ecosystem – variety of habitats,
communities, and ecological processesSpecies – number of different species in
the biosphereGenetic – sum total of all the different
forms of genetic information in the biosphere
Value of biodiversity
Foods Industrial products medicines:
Pain killersAntibiotics Heart drugsAntidepressantsAnticancer drugs
Threats to Biodiversity
Human Activities lead to: Extinction Endangered
Species
Caused by: Habitat alteration Demand for
wildlife products Pollution Introduced
species
Threats to BiodiversityHabitat alteration:
changes to the habitatHabitat fragmentation:
splitting ecosystems into pieces
Demand for wildlife products
People value animal products more than the live animals
Threats to Biodiversity
Pollution Can damage the
environment and poison organism
Biological magnification – concentrations of harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels
Threats to Biodiversity
Introduced Species Compete with
native species for resources
Invasive species – reproduce rapidly and take over the environment
Conserving biodiversity Conservation – term used to describe
the wise management of natural resources, including the preservation of natural habitats
Focus on protecting entire ecosystems as well as single species
Wolves and Conservation
Read the articles and answer the questions that accompany themTurn the articles in with your notes
Human Impacts
Part 4: Future Problems
Future Problems
Researchers gather data about important earth systemsOzone LayerGlobal Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Global Climate Change
Change in the average temperature of the planet Modern climate change is due to
human activity
Future Problems
Read the articles and complete the worksheetTurn in at the end of class