Download Human population growth Habitat Alteration

Human Impacts
on the
Biosphere
Learning Targets
I can:
• Explain effects of human population growth,
habitat alteration, introduction of non-native
species, pollution and overharvesting on the
biosphere in North Carolina.
• Explain effects of invasive non-native species on
a North Carolina ecosystem.
• Summarize ways to mitigate human impact on
the biosphere.
Why is biodiversity so important?
• Biodiversity has an intrinsic value that is worth
protecting regardless of its value to humans.
This argument focuses on the conservation of all
species, even if they are ecologically equivalent
species.
• Biodiversity performs a number of ecological
services for humankind that have economic,
aesthetic or recreational value.
• Global Biodiversity Outlook - 2010
Human population growth
Habitat Alteration- The 21 Most Endangered U.S.
Ecosystems (red = North Carolina)
1. South Florida Landscape
2. Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir
Forest
3. Longleaf Pine Forest and Savanna
4. Eastern Grasslands, Savannas,
and Barrens
5. Northwestern Grasslands and
Savannas
6. California Native Grasslands
7. Coastal Communities in the Lower
48 States and Hawaii
8. Southwestern Riparian Forests
9. Southern California Coastal Sage
Scrub
10. Hawaiian Dry Forest
11. Large Streams and Rivers in the
Lower 48 States and Hawaii
12. Cave and Karst Systems
13. Tallgrass Prairie
14. California Riparian Forests and
Wetlands
15. Florida Scrub
16. Ancient Eastern Deciduous
Forest
17. Ancient Forest of Pacific
Northwest
18. Ancient Red and White Pine
Forest, Great Lakes States
19. Ancient Ponderosa Pine Forest
20. Midwestern Wetlands
21. Southern Forested Wetlands
Noss, R. F., and R. L. Peters. 1995. Endangered
ecosystems: a statusreport on America's
vanishing habitat and wildlife.Defenders of Wildlife.
Habitat alteration-N.C. example
• Mount Mitchell; Spruce-fir forest above 5500’
• Second most endangered ecosystem in U.S.
• Major Threats:
– Climate change
– Invasive species (balsam wooly adelgid)
– Pollution (Acid rain, snow & fog)
Invasive species-Mountain ecosytem
• Balsam wooly adelgid;
introduced in 1908 from
central Europe.
• Vast stands of spruce-fir
forests in U.S. have been
destroyed by this invasive
pest.
Invasive species-Piedmont ecosystem
•
•
KudzuIntroduced in
1900 from
Japan.
Out-competes
many other
native plants.
Invasive species-Coastal ecosystem
• Hydrilla-Invasive
aquatic plant.
Introduced in 1960
through the aquarium
trade.
• Grows in dense mats
that interfere with
wildlife habitat.
• North Carolina meets the federal standards for
four criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act:
–
–
–
–
Nitrogen Dioxide,
Sulfur Dioxide,
Lead, and
Carbon Monoxide
Pollution
• North Carolina exceeds the federal standard
for ground-level ozone. Ozone at the ground
forms when man-made pollutants combine in a
chemical reaction driven by sunlight and heat.
• Ozone exposure can trigger respiratory
difficulties, including a tight feeling in the chest,
difficulty drawing a deep breath, throat and eye
irritation, and coughing. Ozone can trigger
asthma attacks. Some health experts describe
the effects of breathing ozone as "a sunburn
inside the lungs".
• Ozone pollution can damage plant tissues,
reducing growth rates and agricultural yields.
Daily Ozone Forecast for NC
Water Pollution
Nutrient pollution in
the form of Nitrogen
Oxide contributes to
algal blooms,
reduced oxygen
content of water,
and fish kills.
Overharvesting
• In North Carolina, overharvesting of oyster
beds has led to shortages.