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