Download Human Impact on the Ecosystem - ABC

Human Impact on the
Ecosystem
Smog


Gray or brown
haze that contains
many airborne
pollutants
People with
Respiratory
diseases are
especially sensitive
Acid Rain

Caused by burning fossil fuels
• Oil coal natural gas

Problem
• Pollutants collect in clouds
• Returns to Earth in raindrops

Effects:
• Kills organisms

Lowers the pH of water (makes it more acidic)
• Wears away at stone

Buildings, statues. Etc.
Ozone Layer


Protects us from
harmful UV rays
Problem:
• Being depleated
because of pollution
from CFCs

Effect:
• UV rays can
Damage DNA and
cause mutations
• Causes cancer (skin
cancer)
Global Warming

Caused by trapped carbon dioxide gasses
in the atmosphere
• CO2 is a heat-trapping gas (greenhouse gas)


Problem- increasing Earth’s Temperature
Effects
• Hotter temps melting the ice caps
• Causing species to become
endangered/threatened at a rapid rate
• Will cause rising sea levels and extinctions
• Will is cause loss of seasons?
Water Pollution


Caused by sewage,
fertilizer run-off,
industrial pollution
Problem:
• Contaminates water
• Harmful to fish
• Humans eat
contaminated fish

Effects
• Can’t drink/swim in
water
Land Pollution


Caused by chemicals,
improper disposal of
waste/garbage
Problem:
• Harm to organisms
• Contaminates water
and soil

Effect
• Soil remains
contaminated for many
years
• Enters the water supply
by run-off
• Waste sent to landfills

Unsightly appearance
and odor
Habitat Destruction/Fragmentation


Caused by clear cutting sections of
forests
Problem:
• Animals cannot find food/shelter/mates

Effects:
• Animals die from starvation
• Animals have to cross roads to get to
next patch of forest
• Animals enter neighborhoods

Bears are problems in NJ
Invasive Species***


Introducing non-native species into
an environment and takes over the
ecosystem (Virus, animal, plant)
Problem
• Disrupts ecosystem
• Poses a threat to native organisms

Effects
• Decreases biodiversity
• Causes populations of native species to
decrease
Threatened Species

Likely to become
endangered in the
future
• If not protected,
will become extinct

Causes:
• Over hunting, over
fishing, damage to
ecosystems, habitat
fragmentation,
global warming
Conservation


Protecting ecosystems and
biodiversity
Effects
• Cleaner water, land, air
• More stable ecosystems
• Possibly removing species from
threatened and endangered lists

Less species go extinct
The 3 R’s

Reduce
• Do not be wasteful


Ex: Turn off the lights when not in a room
Reuse
• Reuse items over and over again


Ex: Cloth shopping bags
Recycle
• Sort trash and place items in recycling
bin

Glass/plastic/metal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZbw8waVwk
Renewable Resources

Use renewable resources instead of
non-renewable ones
• Solar power
• Wind power
• Hydro power
• Geothermal power