Human Impact on Ecosystems Mr Garside Mr Jones Mr Schumacher Mr Wilcox © 2008 McDougal Littell Human Impact on Ecosystems I As the human population grows, the demand for Earth’s resources increases Human Impact on Ecosystems A Earth’s human population continues to grow Earth’s human carrying capacity is unknown Human Impact on Ecosystems Technology has helped to increase Earth’s carrying capacity a gas-powered farm equipment b medical advancements Human Impact on Ecosystems B The growing human population exerts pressure on Earth’s natural resources Nonrenewable resources are used faster than they form a coal b oil Human Impact on Ecosystems Renewable resources cannot be used up or can replenish themselves over time a wind b water c sunlight Growing use of nonrenewable resources may lead to a crisis Resources must be properly managed Human Impact on Ecosystems C Effective management of Earth’s resources will help meet the needs of the future Earth’s resources must be used responsibly Careless use of resources makes them unavailable to future generations Easter Island is an example of irresponsible resource use Human Impact on Ecosystems An ecological footprint is the amount of land needed to support a person The land must produce and maintain enough a food and water b shelter c energy d waste Human Impact on Ecosystems Several factors affect the size of the ecological footprint a amount and efficiency of resource use b amount and toxicity of waste produced Human Impact on Ecosystems II.Fossil fuel emissions affect the biosphere Human Impact on Ecosystems IV The impact of a growing human population threatens biodiversity Human Impact on Ecosystems A Preserving biodiversity is important to the future of the biosphere The loss of biodiversity has long-term effects a loss of medical and technological advances b extinction of species c loss of ecosystem stability Human Impact on Ecosystems B Loss of habitat eliminates species Habitat fragmentation prevents an organism from accessing its entire home range a occurs when a barrier forms within the habitat b often caused by human development Human Impact on Ecosystems Habitat corridors are a solution to the problem – corridors can be road overpasses or underpasses – allow species to move between different areas of habitat Human Impact on Ecosystems C Introduced species can disrupt stable relationships in an ecosystem An introduced species is one that is brought to an ecosystem by humans a accidental b purposeful Invasive species can have an environmental and economic impact Human Impact on Ecosystems Invasive species often push out native species a Burmese python (Florida Everglades) Human Impact on Ecosystems Invasive species often push out native species a mice (Australia) Human Impact on Ecosystems a kudzu (southeastern United States) Human Impact on Ecosystems V Conservation methods can help protect and restore ecosystems Human Impact on Ecosystems A Sustainable development manages resources for present and future generations Sustainable development meets needs without hurting future generations a resources meet current needs b resources will still be available for future use Human Impact on Ecosystems The timber industry has started to adopt sustainable practices Global fisheries have adopted several sustainable practices a rotation of catches b fishing gear review c harvest reduction d fishing bans Human Impact on Ecosystems B Conservation practices focus on a few species but benefit entire ecosystems The Endangered Species Act works to protect individual species from extinction A listed species is often called an umbrella species a the habitat in which the species lives must be protected b other species are protected because they share the ecosystem Human Impact on Ecosystems C Protecting Earth’s resources helps protect our future The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created in 1970 The EPA develops policies and regulations to protect the environment Legislation helps to protect the environment and endangered species a Clean Air Act b Clean Water Act c Endangered Species Act Human Impact on Ecosystems The National Park Service helps manage public lands The park system includes over 390 areas, covering 84 million acres Human Impact on Ecosystems There are several ways that people can help protect the environment a control population growth b develop sustainable technology and practices c protect and maintain ecosystems [...]... absorb longer wavelengths d Greenhouse carbon dioxide (CO ) gas molecules methane (CH ) water (H O) rerelease infrared radiation 2 4 2 Human Impact on Ecosystems 4 Global warming refers to the trend of increasing global temperatures North Pole Human Impact on Ecosystems III Pollution of Earth’s freshwater supply threatens habitat and health Human Impact on Ecosystems A Water pollution affects ecosystems. .. including humans, are most affected Human Impact on Ecosystems IV The impact of a growing human population threatens biodiversity Human Impact on Ecosystems A Preserving biodiversity is important to the future of the biosphere 1 The loss of biodiversity has long-term effects a loss of medical and technological advances b extinction of species c loss of ecosystem stability Human Impact on Ecosystems. .. relationships in an ecosystem 1 An introduced species is one that is brought to an ecosystem by humans a accidental b purposeful 2 Invasive species can have an environmental and economic impact Human Impact on Ecosystems 3 Invasive species often push out native species a Burmese python (Florida Everglades) Human Impact on Ecosystems 4 Invasive species often push out native species a mice (Australia) Human. .. native species a mice (Australia) Human Impact on Ecosystems a kudzu (southeastern United States) Human Impact on Ecosystems V Conservation methods can help protect and restore ecosystems Human Impact on Ecosystems A Sustainable development manages resources for present and future generations 1 Sustainable development meets needs without hurting future generations a resources meet current needs b resources... Pollution can put entire freshwater ecosystems at risk Human Impact on Ecosystems 2 Indicator species provide a sign of an ecosystem’s health a amphibians b top predators Human Impact on Ecosystems B Biomagnification causes accumulation of toxins in the food chain 1 Pollutants can move up the food chain a predators eat contaminated prey b pollution accumulates at each stage of the food chain 2 Top consumers,... Legislation helps to protect the environment and endangered species a Clean Air Act b Clean Water Act c Endangered Species Act Human Impact on Ecosystems 4 The National Park Service helps manage public lands 5 The park system includes over 390 areas, covering 84 million acres Human Impact on Ecosystems 6 There are several ways that people can help protect the environment a control population growth... will still be available for future use Human Impact on Ecosystems 2 The timber industry has started to adopt sustainable practices 3 Global fisheries have adopted several sustainable practices a rotation of catches b fishing gear review c harvest reduction d fishing bans Human Impact on Ecosystems B Conservation practices focus on a few species but benefit entire ecosystems 1 The Endangered Species Act.. .Human Impact on Ecosystems A Pollutants accumulate in the air 1 Pollution is any undesirable factor added to the air, water, or soil 2 Smog is one type of air pollution a sunlight interacts with pollutants in the air b pollutants produced by fossil fuel emissions c made of particulates and ground-level ozone Human Impact on Ecosystems 3 Smog can be harmful to human health 4 Acid... caused by fossil fuel emissions a produced when pollutants in the water cycle cause rain pH to drop b can lower the pH of a lake or stream c can harm trees Human Impact on Ecosystems A Air pollution is changing Earth’s biosphere 1 The levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide rise and fall over time 2 High levels of carbon dioxide are typical of Earth’s warmer periods Human Impact on Ecosystems 3 The greenhouse... species 1 Habitat fragmentation prevents an organism from accessing its entire home range a occurs when a barrier forms within the habitat b often caused by human development Human Impact on Ecosystems 2 Habitat corridors are a solution to the problem – corridors can be road overpasses or underpasses – allow species to move between different areas of habitat Human Impact on Ecosystems C Introduced species