 Human use of ecosystems:  Humans have decreased biodiversity of ecosystems at a very fast rate

 5 factors affecting biodiversity:  1. Habitat change  Humans alter a habitat enough that the native species can no longer live there  The species either die or move to another habitat  We change habitats for agriculture, forestry, and urban development  Sometimes habitats are only changed slightly which forces species to live among houses, buildings, and small forest areas

 2. Overexploitation  We use resources faster than they can be replaced  Can lead to extinction  ex. Over fishing has reduced the number of fish in the world’s ocean Shark Alert: Species Struggle!

 3. Climate change  Average temperature, rainfall, and wind increase or decrease  Individuals need to adapt to new conditions in order to survive  Major cause of loss of biodiversity around the world  Global warming is an increase in the earth’s average temperature  Mainly caused by carbon dioxide emissions

Climate Change

 4. Invasive species  Introduction of non-native species to all parts of the globe  This species can cause harm to an ecosystem because they compete with native species  They would also have no predators in a new ecosystem  Ex. Asian long horn beetle in this area has damaged trees and caused them to be removed Zebra and Quagga Mussels

 5. Pollution  Any substance added to the environment that produces a condition that is harmful to organisms  ex. – solid waste that can’t be recycled - CO 2 gas in the air – produced from cars, air planes, power plants, and factories - fertilizer run-off from farms - salt run-off from roads

 In Canada, pollutants come from mining and refining metals, electric power generators, oil and gas operations, and cars  Nitrogen and sulphur are the most common pollutants in those emissions  The emissions combine with water vapour in the air to form acids (this forms acid rain)  Affects soil, vegetation, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial and aquatic animals  Acid rain can damage the waxy coating that protects leaves and it can seep into the soil and burn the skin of earthworms

 Soil Profile:  1. topsoil  Uppermost layer in soil  Contains decaying organic matter, rock particles, bacteria, fungi, insects, worms  2. subsoil  Layer below topsoil  Has roots from trees and bacteria  3. bedrock  Bottom of the soil  Is solid rock and water can’t pass through it  Therefore, acid rain would affect the topsoil and subsoil

 Acidity is an abiotic factor that is connected to the chemical environment of soil  Acids are very common in our life, for example, in orange juice we drink  pH scale is a measurement of the acidity of substances  ex. Sour taste in lemons - water is said to be neutral, pH = 7  Low pH means substance is very acidic, ex. pH = 2  Acidic soil can damage plant growth