How Do People Change Ecosystems?

1. How Do People Change Ecosystems?

2. Ecosystems change by themselves. Plants and animals are born, grow, and die.

3. Some of the biggest changes in ecosystems are made by people though.

4. People change the ecosystem to make room for buildings, housing subdivisions, schools, malls, etc. In doing so, they had to destroy the ecosystem. This is known as habitat reduction.

5. People have also changed ecosystems by adding pollution from their daily trash.

6. Air pollution from cars and factories hurts plants and animals.

7. Land pollution, such as trash and litter, also hurts living things.

8. Water pollution kills many living things in lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans too.

9. Farmers who add chemicals to their crops year after year, decrease the nutrient composition in the soil and increase pest resistance.

10. Adding nutrients to the land also increases algae growth in bodies of water due to runoff. This blocks sunlight and ultimately reduces photosynthesis.

11. People don’t always destroy ecosystems. They can change ecosystems without destroying them.

12. Many people help ecosystems, for example, by planting new trees.

13. Many people also recycle their trash such as paper, aluminum and plastic.

14. Let’s Review… • Humans change ecosystems by: • Reducing habitats due to the development of land • Adding pollutants to water, air and land which kills animals • Using fertilizers (nutrients) on farm crops can increase algae growth in water bodies (from runoff) which reduces photosynthesis • Using pesticides on farm crops will eventually create nutrient-poor soil and an increase in pest resistance • Being helpful • Planting trees • Recycling