Human Impact and Conservation

1. Human Impact and Conservation

2. Hey Mom!! That’s me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Human Impact • Humans now live in almost every kind of ecosystem on Earth. … and pop growth is a big deal

4. Edge effect

5. Renewable vs. Nonrenewable resources • Nonrenewableresourcesresources that form slower than they are used. • Most of our energy today comes from fossil fuels -- nonrenewable energy formed from remains of organisms that lived long ago. • Renewableresources can be replaced at the same rate at which they are consumed. • However, can still be used up if it is used faster than it can be renewed.

6. Pollution 1) Air Pollution 2) Water Pollution 3) Soil Pollution

7. 1) Air Pollution • causes respiratory problems for people, • Causes: • Acid Rain • Ozone • Global Warming

8. Acid Rain Sulfur and nitrogen compounds react with water in air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid Acid rain removes calcium, potassium, from soil, depriving plants of their nutrients

9. Ozone protects life on Earth from the sun’s UV rays • The ozone layer has been damaged by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). • CFCs are chemicals in: • refrigerators • air conditioners • Aerosol cans.

10. Global Warming • Earth warms b/c greenhouse gases(CO2 and water vapor) trap heat. • Most scientists think that this increase in temperatures is caused by an increase in CO2 …. From burning of fossil fuels

11. Global Warming the gradual increase in the average global temperature A continued increase in global temperatures has the potential to cause a number of serious environmental problems

13. 2) Water Pollution

14. 2) Water Pollution • Eutrophication -- fertilizers /pesticides run off--- inc water nutrients---algae blooms– delete oxygen---fish die  • livestock farms • industrial waste • oil runoff from roads, • unlined landfills. • Leaky septic tanks unhealthy healthy • Percolation– gets to groundwater

15. 3) Soil Pollution • soil erosion (process where Earth’s surface gets worn away, transported from one place to another by wind, gravity, or water) • destroys fertile soil that we need in order to produce food. • Roots help hold soil together / protect from erosion. • Many farming methods -- lead to soil erosion • by loosening topsoil /removing plants • Great Dust Bowl

16. Biological magnification the increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as trophic levels increase in food chain mercury

17. Foreign Species • Threats Biodiversity • intentionally or unintentionally introduced to a new habitat --- can become a factor in the extinction of natives species. Hawaii – zoo only

18. Conservation preserving/ renewing natural resources so they’ll be around

19. Air conservation • Decrease CO2 emissions • Decrease sulfur and nitrogen emissions • Alternate energy • Decrease CFC production

20. Water Conservation • Contain contaminated runoff • Decrease amount of water use in residential /commercial buildings

21. Soil Conservation • Terracing: change a steep field into a series of flat steps • Crop rotation • Contour plowing: rows are plowed in curves along hills instead of in straight lines-- act as a series of dams- prevents water from eroding the soil.

22. Biological Augmentation • Adding natural predators to a degraded ecosystem is called Ladybugs help control aphid populations.