1. Human Impact on Ecosystem
Day 5
Human Impact on Ecosystem

2. Ecology: Human Impacts
The increasing population humans is currently altering ecosystems. The following are affects of increased human population growth:

3. Ecology: Human Impacts
Consumption of Resources: humans consistently consume a greater amount of resources than is sustainable.

4. Ecology: Human Impacts
Production of waste and pollution: with increased consumption comes increased waste production and pollution.
The average person generates 4.3 pounds of waste per day.
This is 1.6 pounds more than most produced back in 1960.
Approximately 110 million tons of waste generated each year in the United States ends up in one of the over 3,500 landfills.

5. Ecology: Human Impacts
Habitat Destruction: process in which natural habitat is unable to support its naturally dwelling species. Significantly reduces biodiversity.
Biodiversity: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

6. Ecology: Human Impacts
Deforestation: is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses.
Increases water-runoff and soil erosion.

7. Ecology: Human Impacts
Pesticide and Fertilizer Use: contain high levels of nitrates and phosphates which can get mixed into water run-off and swept into lakes and ponds.
Can cause algae blooms which are harmful for aquatic animals such as fish.

8. Ecology: Human Impacts
Acid Rain: Caused by sulfates in factory smoke getting into the atmosphere and condensing to form acidic rain.
Causes harm to aquatic life.
Happens at high altitudes and can cause trees to die from lack of nutrients.

10. Ecology: Human Impacts
Mountains NC

11. Ecology: Human Impacts
Hog Farms: can cause water pollution due to the overflowing of waste into river and streams.

12. Ecology: Human Impacts
Hog Farms NC
Excrement from a chicken CAFO leaks from an inundated barn, contaminating water draining into the Neuse River near Seven Springs, North Carolina. (Photo: Waterkeeper Alliance via Ewg.org)

13. Ecology: Human Impacts
Hog Farms NC
Many hog waste lagoon in the state became flooded after Hurricane Mathew, such as this one near the La Grange River. Photo courtesy of Travis Graves. 

14. Ecology: Human Impacts
Toxins in an ecosystem:
Bioaccumulation: Occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost.

15. Ecology: Energy Transfer
Toxins in an ecosystem:
Biomagnification: the process whereby toxic substances move up the food chain.
Affects the top of the food chain the most. Has the highest concentration.

16. Vocabulary:
Pfiesteria – harmful algal blooms and fish kills. Pfiesteria complex organisms (PCOs) were claimed to be responsible for large fish kills in the 1980s and 1990s on the coast of North Carolina and in tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay Dutch Elm Disease – caused by a member of the sac fungi (Ascomycota) affecting elm trees, and is spread by elm bark beetles. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease was accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native populations of elms that did not have resistance to the disease. AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

17. Human Impact Continued
Day 6
Human Impact Continued

18. Ecology: Human Impacts
Introduction of Invasive (Non-Native) Species:
Invasive species: An invasive (non-native) species is a plant, fungus, or animal species that is not native to a specific location (an introduced species), and has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment.
Have no natural predators in their new environment.

19. Ecology: Human Impacts
Introduction of Invasive (Non-Native) Species:
Lionfish: aggressive predator and has threatened biodiversity in the Atlantic ocean where it has no natural predators.

20. Lionfish

21. Ecology: Human Impacts
Introduction of Invasive (Non-Native) Species:
Kudzu Plant: grows faster than surrounding plants and has a woody stem which is hard to cut/burn.

23. Ecology: Human Impacts
In order to maintain the stability of our ecosystems, we must take action.
Sustainable actions: actions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

24. Ecology: Human Impacts
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to minimize the depletion of resources.

25. Other Positive Impacts
National Parks, Wild Life Protection Acts
Protection of Endangered Species, Clean Air Acts
Finding Alternative Fuels
Carpool, Walk, Mass Transit, Bicycle
Reduce your carbon footprint
Reclamation of mining lands