Human Impact on Ecosystems: Land Development SVN3E

Habitat Loss The biggest impact on wildlife from land development is habitat loss. Habitat: the natural home or environment of an animal or plant

Habitat Fragmentation Also significant is the fragmentation (breaking apart into small areas) of habitat.

Habitat Fragmentation Habitat fragmentation affects the ability of animals to move to find food and shelter and mates and the ability of plants to reproduce by seeds.

Microclimates Land development can also create microclimates (e.g. asphalt will heat up more than grass). microclimate: the climate of a small area

Changing Producers How humans use land also changes the balance of species by adding specific producers to the developed land. E.g. more lawns means that we have more grasses and animals that prefer grasses (such as Canada geese)

Changing Predators Humans will also remove predators, which can have ripple effects, altering the landscape. E.g. the removal of wolves has led to an overpopulation of deer, which eat tree bark and saplings, destroying forest growth.

Other Disruptions Changes can also be more subtle, disrupting the flow of an ecosystem, especially the flow of water. A concrete-lined drainage ditch

Wetlands Very vulnerable to disruption of flow are wetlands, lowland marshes or swamps that are saturated with water (holding as much as possible).

Wetlands Wetlands capture, store, and slowly release (cleaner) water to surrounding areas.

Wetlands When wetlands are filled in, surrounding areas can get flooding (excess water) or drought (not enough water). Flooding on the Red Hill Expressway