Ch. 6: Humans in the Biosphere

1. Ch. 6: Humans in the Biosphere

2. Objective: • Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate changes, human activity, & the introduction of invasive, non-native species.

3. Loss of Biodiversity • 99% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct • The current rate of species loss is approaching 1000 times the “typical” rate

4. Humans Reduce Biodiversity • Altering habitats • Hunting • Introducing invasive species • Releasing pollution into food webs • Contributing to climate change

5. Altering Habitats • Natural habitats are eliminated for agricultural or urban development • Habitat fragmentation:splitting an ecosystem into pieces (ex. Oakleaf area was once a forest!) • Causes species to be more vulnerable to other distrubances

6. Hunting • Decreases genetic diversity • Lessens the species chances of surviving ecological disturbances • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned the international trade in products on the endangered species list

7. Invasive Species • Not normally found in that area • Have no predators in the new area • Kill the species that are suppose to be in the area • Reproduce uncontrollably because of no known predators or limiting resources • Python Hunt • Lionfish Hunt

8. Climate Change • Get a textbook, open to page 177-179 • Read the case study #3: climate change

9. Human Activity • Agriculture: • Monoculture: practice of clearing large areas of land to plant a single highly productive crop year after year • Impacts fresh water and fertile soil • Fertilizer production and farm machinery consume large amounts of fossil fuels.

10. Human Activity • Development: • Consumes farmland and divides habitats into fragments • Dense human communities produce large amounts of wastes • Wastes are NOT disposed of properly • Affects air, water, and soil resources

11. Human Activity • Industry: • Most energy obtained by burning fossil fuels • Coal, oil, and natural gas (methane) • Discard wastes from manufacturing and energy production directly into the air, water, and soil

12. Objective: • Evaluate the costs & benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources (water, energy, fossil fuels, wildlife, forests).

14. Objective: • Discuss the need for adequate monitoring of environmental parameters when making policy decisions.

15. Conserving Biodiversity • Protecting individual species: • AZA: carefully select and manage mating pairs of animals to ensure maximum genetic diversity • SSP: protect threatened and endangered species; reintroduce them into the wild • Preserving habitats and ecosystems • Ex) setting aside parks and reserves • Considering local interests • Offering rewards or other beneficial things for preserving the habitats

16. Objective: • Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles affect sustainability.

17. Sustainable Development • Provides for human needs while preserving the ecosystems that produce natural resources • Should cause NO long-term harm to the soil, water, and climate • Consume as little energy as possible • Must be flexible • Must take into account human economic systems as well as ecosystem goods and services • Must do more than just enable people to survive, it must improve their situation