Human Impact on Ecosystems

OBJECTIVES…I can… Identify the causes and effects of having excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Identify alternative energy sources. Identify the causes and effects of depletion of the ozone layer. Identify the causes and effects of acid precipitation. Define biodiversity and explain its value. Identify current threats to biodiversity. Describe the goal of conservation biology.

Impact on Land Pollution Loss of topsoil due to erosion (less topsoil = less food) Deforestation – clear-cutting of forests

B. Impact on Water Pollution Acid rain – caused by factory emissions, changes the pH of ecosystems which causes organisms to die

C. Impact on Air Pollution Global Warming / Climate Change– caused by the Greenhouse Effect which is caused by excess CO2 from burning fossil fuels.

Air – continued Ozone Depletion – CFC’s from aerosal spray cans destroy the protective ozone layer causing increased radiation from the sun to reach the earth, resulting in more skin cancers

CFU What are the causes and effects of global warming and ozone depletion?

D. Impact on Living Organisms Invasive or introduced species – non-native species “take over” due to no natural enemies Less biodiversity = less variety of living things Habitat destruction

Impact on Living Organisms – con’t Biological magnification – There are increasing concentrations of harmful substances in organisms at higher tropic levels.

What Can We Do? Reduce what we use. Reuse things. Recycle materials.

What’s Your Footprint on the Earth? www.myfootprint.org