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Changes in Habitats
by Denise Carroll
Let’s Save Our Earth!
Habitat
• The place where an
animal or plant lives
and grows is called
its habitat.
• A habitat is where
and animal finds the
food, water, and
shelter it needs to
live.
How are animal habitats destroyed?
Many habitats are destroyed by people or by nature.
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Droughts
Floods
Lightning and Forest Fires
Land, Air, or Water Pollution
Storms, Hurricanes, Tornadoes
Trees are cut down to build houses, buildings,
roads, furniture, and paper products.
THINK: What would happen if an animal’s
habitat was destroyed?
Pollution
• Pollution is waste that harms land, water,
or air.
• Pollution is harmful to people, animals, the
environment, and destroys many habitats.
1. Land Pollution
2. Air Pollution
3. Water Pollution
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Land pollution effects the
land destroying life, the
environment, and its
habitats.
• Trash that people do not put
in a trash can is called litter.
• Litter kills plants and causes
animals to get sick or die.
We need land to grow our food.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Air pollution effects the air we
breathe.
• Plants and animals need clean air.
• Factories and cars put harmful
smoke and fumes in our air.
• Air pollution causes major damage
to our health and the environment.
Forests are nature’s air cleaner. We need forest to help keep the air clean.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Water pollution effects the water
and marine life.
• Water pollution destroys water
habitats.
• Water pollution has caused
animals to become endangered.
• All living things need clean water.
• Water is nature’s perfect drink!
Water is a valuable resource that no one could do without.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Sometimes lightening strikes a tree in a forest,
causing forest fires.
• Plants and trees are burned and destroyed.
• Some animals die, others may be able to move
quickly to safer places.
• It takes many years for a forest to grow back.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Deforestation
• Deforestation is when forests are cut down for
many reasons, but most of them are related to
money or to people's need to provide for their
families. The biggest driver of deforestation is
agriculture. Farmers cut forests to provide more
room for planting crops or grazing livestock.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Oil Spills
• An oil spill is the release of a oil into the
environment, especially in the ocean, and is a
form of pollution. Spills can occur on land too.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
Natural Disasters
Storms
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Droughts are when an area does
not get rain for a long time.
• The ponds or streams will dry up.
• Most pond plants will die.
• Many pond animals die or move to
other ponds.
• Some crops will not grow.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
• Floods are when an area gets a lot of rain
for a long time.
• Plants and animals get too much water.
• Many plants die.
• Many animals die or move to drier places.
Habitats are destroyed by . . .
People
• Pollution
• Litter
• Construction: new
houses, buildings,
and roads
• Clearing forest to
make wood and
paper products.
Nature
• Droughts
• Floods
• Lightning and Forest
Fires
• Storms, Hurricanes,
Tornadoes
Think:
What would happen if an
animal’s habitat were
destroyed?
Endangered or Extinct?
• The number of people in the world is
growing at an alarming rate.
• But this is not true for all animals.
• In some cases, there are only a few of
one type of animal left in the wild.
These animals are endangered, or at
risk of dying out.
• If they die out completely, they become
extinct.
Why does this happen?
There are lots of reasons why animals
become endangered or extinct.
The most common are:
• loss of habitat (forests cut down, rivers
drying up).
• pollution poison the animals.
• hunting (for sport, their fur, tusks or meat).
Caring for the Environment
• It is in our own best interests to look
after the world we live in.
• If a habitat is lost or damaged, it has an
effect on everything.
• Remember - once something becomes
extinct, it’s gone forever!
Recycle or Reuse
• Recycle means to change
something so it can be
used to make something
new.
• Reuse means to use
something more than once.
Think: What can you do to help the environment?
Ways People Help the Environment
People can take care of their environment and keep it clean.
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Plant trees
Recycle or reuse things
Don’t litter
Don’t pollute
Walk or ride a bike
Develop national parks
Learn more about habitats
Making laws to protect habitats
Setting aside land for wildlife
Congratulations!
• You are on your way to building a safe and
healthy environment for us to live.
Resources
• http://images.search.yahoo.com
• http://office.microsoft.com/clipart