Humans in the Biosphere

1. Humans in the Biosphere Ch. 6

2. Human Interaction • There are four main activities by which humans affect the biosphere: • Hunting and Gathering • Agriculture • Industry • Urban Development • What are some of the effects we see/experience as a result of these activities?

3. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources • Renewable Resources – resources that can be replenished or regenerate in a relatively short amount of time • Ex: trees, water, nutrients, etc. • Although they are renewable, some of the are limited resources (not always readily available) • Ex: Water can become a limited resource when there is a drought

4. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources • Human activity can affect the quality and supply of renewable resources such as • Land • Forests • Fisheries • Air • Fresh Water

5. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources • Nonrenewable Resources – resources that cannot be replenished by natural processes • If they can be replenished, it takes millions and millions of years to replace it • Ex: fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

6. Biodiversity • Biodiversity – the variety of organisms that are found on Earth • Types of biodiversity • Ecosystem diversity • Species diversity • Genetic diversity • Human activity can threaten and alter biodiversity

7. Threats to Biodiversity • Habitat alteration • Demand for wildlife products • Pollution • Biological magnification – concentrations of harmful substances increase in organisms higher in the food chain • Introduced species • Invasive species – non-native species that rapidly reproduce and “choke out” native species • Ex: kudzu

10. Conserving Biodiversity • Conservation efforts usually focus on protecting various: • Species/Populations • bald eagle, koala, etc. • Ecosystems • National Parks • Wilderness Areas • Nature/Wildlife Preserves