Human Impacts on Ecosystems Anthropogenic - of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature

Climate change/ Global Warming – Historically the Earth’s climate has continuously changed, however, now due to anthropogenic effects it is changing more rapidly than in most past cases. This is adversely affecting many biotic and even abiotic aspects of the planet. Other Examples

Biotic – Many organisms can not adapt to the change in climate quickly enough and are in danger of becoming extinct as they cannot adapt to new environmental conditions quickly enough. Other Examples

Deforestation/Land Loss Species of all types are being destroyed or left without suitable environments in which to thrive due to humans destroying their habitats for our own needs/ wants.

Deforestation in Borneo with Projection for 2020

Causes of deforestation Deforestation is typically done to make more land available for housing and urbanization, timber, large scale cash crops such as soy and palm oil, and cattle ranching. The World Wildlife Fund reports that much of the logging industry that contributes to deforestation is done illegally (about half of it used for firewood).

Poaching/Illegal Hunting Animal poaching is when an animal is killed illegally. It usually occurs when an animal possesses something that is considered valuable (i.e. the animal’s fur or ivory).

Poaching/Illegal Hunting Some examples of illegal wildlife trade are well known, such as poaching of elephants for ivory and tigers for their skins and bones. However, countless other species are similarly overexploited, from marine turtles to timber trees.

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution

Abiotic – the non-living parts of our biosphere are also being affected, especially the sea level. As the polar ice caps melt, freshwater is increasing the volume of the oceans causing a rise in sea level.

Tide-gauge records dating back 100 years indicate a rise in global mean sea level that amounts to one to two inches every 25 years and is increasing. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now predicts a global sea-level rise of about 10 to 15 inches by the year 2025 and an additional 20 inches to more than six feet by 2100.