The Human Impact Ecosystems & Humans

The Beginning Looking at the environment around us there are some key terms … Ecology: the study of the relationship between living organisms in an environment Ecologist: Someone who studies these relationships So for example… If a certain population of animal (a frog for example) begins to die off ecologists would study the ecology to determine a cause

Needs What are our needs we require everyday to live ..? Think about what you do on a daily basis

Food Habitat Air (Gas Exchange) Water Needs What are our needs we require everyday to live ..? Think about what you do on a daily basis Food Habitat Air (Gas Exchange) Water

Adaptations Living things seem to be best suited for certain environments We have come to know these as being adapted That is to say, well suited to live where they live Adapatations Inherited characteristics that help an organism survive and reproduce where they live Things like … Claws Fur Needing less water Etc

Relationships Many different animals and creatures in the environment actually work together (sometimes) and form different types of relationships across species Symbiosis Two species live closely together in a relationship that lasts over time Here are the different types…

Relationships Many different animals and creatures in the environment actually work together (sometimes) and form different types of relationships across species Here are the different types… Mutualism (Symbiotic Relationship) Both parties benefit from the relationship Great white shark and Remora Fish Great white gets cleaned Remora gets fed and protected

Relationships Many different animals and creatures in the environment actually work together (sometimes) and form different types of relationships across species Here are the different types… Parasitism One organism benefits the other organism is harmed Tape worm and people Tape worm is a parasite that absorbs nutrients from the small intestine The human/animal is the host and is harmed because it loses those nutrients

Relationships Many different animals and creatures in the environment actually work together (sometimes) and form different types of relationships across species Here are the different types… Parasitism One organism benefits the other organism is harmed Tape worm and people Tape worm is a parasite that absorbs nutrients from the small intestine The human/animal is the host and is harmed because it loses those nutrients

Relationships Many different animals and creatures in the environment actually work together (sometimes) and form different types of relationships across species Here are the different types… Commensalism One organism benefits the other organism is not harmed but does not gain either Orchid Plant and Tall Tree Orchid gets water from trunk and safety because it is up high … tall tree does not gain or lose

Environmental Impacts Sometimes even small things to us are actually a large scale impact Beaver Dams A beaver builds a dam Water rises on one side and drops on the other This changes the ecosystems on both sides How?

Fort Saskatchewan

Fort Saskatchewan

Human Impact Natural Resources? Materials & products – found in nature to meet our basic needs Any guesses? Human Impact

Human Impact Natural Resources? Examples? Materials & products – found in nature to meet our basic needs Examples? Trees Water Oil Minerals

Increasing Populations Increasing populations put … More strain on the natural sources More pollutants into the environment More land is taken up How do you think this has effected us? Other life?

People & Nature – Forever Changing Back in the day … (like 1700-1800 and early 1900s) There were no stores No markets No Computers No Cellphone Fewer People Our Impact on the environment was minimal. What we needed we found in the environment

People & Nature – Forever Changing Back in the day … (like 1700-1800 and early 1900s) There were no major stores No markets No Computers No Cellphone Fewer People Our Impact on the environment was minimal. What we needed we found in the environment

Our Society: Need vs. Want – Difference? Needs Wants

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import)

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import)

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import)

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import)

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import)

Example: Foods (Local vs. Import) Minimal Environmental Impact!

How about now? Draw what todays more commonly looks like!