Ecology Ch. 6

Tragedy of the commons Any resource that is open to everyone – such as the air or parts of the oceans – will eventually be destroyed because everyone can use the resource, but no one is responsible for preserving it.

Resources and Sustainable Use Two types – Renewable – can regenerate and therefore replaceable. Nonrenewable – one that cannot be replenished by natural processes. Sustainable use – a way of using natural resources at a rate that does not deplete them Ex. Alternative methods of pest control such as using lady bugs to get rid of aphids.

When good Resources go bad Land Soil erosion – the wearing away of surface soil by water and wind Desertification – The combination of dry climates, farming, overgrazing, and drought turning land into desert Forest Deforestation – loss of forests, leads to erosion and loss of nutrients in topsoil Air Smog – a mixture of chemicals that occurs as a gray-brown haze in the atmosphere Acid Rain – the combination of nitrogen and sulfur compounds forming acid compounds in the atmosphere

Biodiversity Biodiversity – the sum total of the genetically based variety of all organisms in the biosphere. Human activity can reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting species to extinction, introducing toxic compounds into food webs, and introducing foreign species to new environments.

Conservation Focus is on protecting entire ecosystems as well as individual species. Wise management of natural resources Protection and management of individual species Preservation of habitats and wildlife.

A natural variation in climate The results of human activity Global Warming Global warming is A natural variation in climate The results of human activity Melting the ice caps.