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Chapter 6: Humans in the Biosphere A. Renewable Resources: resources that can regenerate quickly and can be replaced Ex. Freshwater, trees B. Nonrenewable Resources: resources that cannot be replenished by natural processes Ex. Fossil fuels C. Importance of Biodiversity: Food (fruits, vegetables, meats, fish) Industrial products (woods, paper) Medicine (plants – aloe) Stability to the environment 1. Negative Impact on Biodiversity a. Soil Erosion: loss of soil and nutrients effects autotrophs b. Deforestation or Habitat Fragmentation: loss of forested areas or splitting up a habitat for human use Decrease in space and food available to organisms Leads to soil erosion Increased competition c. Pollution or Habitat Degradation: 1. Acid Rain: burning fossil fuels or pollutants are trapped in the rain water damages leaves pollutes soil and water changes the growth rate of organisms (increase or decrease), disrupting food chains/webs 2. Global Warming: increase in the earth’s temperature due to trapping of greenhouse gases Causes a rise in water levels threatening land organisms Melts ice caps (arctic organisms) Heats up oceans causing changes in food webs Change in weather patters that will disrupt food webs 3. Depletion of Ozone Layer: damage to the atmospheric layer that protects the earth from UV radiation due to pollution (CFC’s) increased risk of cancer decrease resistance to disease mutations in organisms 4. Biological Magnification: the amount of pollutants trapped in the organism increases as it is passed through the food chain Chemicals are not released from the body Remain trapped and poison the organism Ex. Bald eagle (DDT) d. Invasive/Exotic/Non-native Species: organisms that are introduced to a new area from another area Take over the niche of native species No natural predators Overpopulate Ex. Zebra mussels e. Demands on Wildlife 1. Threatened Species: a species whose numbers have decreased rapidly 2. Endangered Species: a species that is on the verge of extinction 3. Extinction: when the last members of a species dies out f. Resource Depletion: overuse of essential resources Pollution, habitat loss g. Human Exploitation: killing, endangering, or over harvesting organisms for human benefit Causes decrease in biodiversity, extinction D. Conservation of Biodiversity 1. Habitat Corridor: connecting fragmented areas Increases food, reproduction, space Decreases competition 2. Reforestation: planting trees/autotrophs in place of those that have been cut down Increases biodiversity Stable food chains Restores habitats 3. Captivity and Reintroduction Programs: protects organisms that would die in the wild or who are endangered and teaches those who have been rehabilitated how to live in the wild Protects the few remaining Increases biodiversity 4. Laws: a. Hunting: protects endangered species, helps balance overpopulating species b. Pollution: prevents the destruction of ecosystems and biological magnification by restricting the amount of pollution c. Endangered and Threatened Species List: created to protect organisms whose numbers have declined from being killed and conserves biodiversity 5. Recycling: reusing materials Conserves nonrenewable resources Decreases pollution 6. Biological Controls: using natural living organisms to control overpopulating pest No use of pollutants 7. Seed Banks: placing seeds of threatened or endangered plants in a protected “bank” for future use If the plants ever become extinct the seeds are available for repopulating the species 8. Sex hormones/radiation: using hormones or radiation to sterilize pest populations so they don’t reproduce Not polluting environment Only affects pest population 9. Parks, Preserves, and Protected Areas: areas that are set up to conserve biodiversity Cannot be used for human exploitation Conserves biodiversity 10. Education of Ecology: knowing the demands and affects on the environment allows us to make the appropriate choices