1. Unit 5 Human Impact on the Environment
Access Biology
Section 5

2. Essential Questions/Big Ideas for this Unit
What kinds of natural disasters impact our world?
What man-made disasters are influencing our world?

3. Standards for this section
SC.912.L.17.20 Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles affect sustainability.
SC.912.L.17.In.8 Describe ways the lifestyles of individuals and groups can help or hurt the environment.
SC.912.L.17.Su.8 Identify ways individuals can help the environment.
SC.912.L.17.Pa.7 Recognize a way to help the local environment.

4. Humans are also a population and we have impacted the ecosystem

5. We have learned about ways animals interact with the ecosystem
We have learned about ways animals interact with the ecosystem. What are ways we interact with the ecosystem?
After viewing the video list positive and negative impacts humans have on the environment.
Positive Impacts
Negative Impacts

6. Environmental Sustainability
When the demands placed on the environment can be met without reducing its capacity to allow all people to live well, now and in the future.
Environmental Sustainability

7. Sustainability, click on image to launch…

8. 10 Ways Humans Impact the Environment
Read article discussing negative impacts humans have on the ecosystem.

9. How do human activities affect the environment?

10. Human Impacts on the Environment
Population Growth
Populations grow when birth rate exceeds rate of mortality
Human Impacts on the Environment

11. Learn more about population growth…

12. Human Impacts on the Environment
Global warming
Use of machines by humans seems to be increasing CO2 levels in the air.
CO2 prevents heat from escaping, causes slight world wide temperature increases
Human Impacts on the Environment

13. Learn more about global warming…

14. Human Impacts on the Environment
Deforestation
Caused by demand for wood products, need for space, farmland, housing, roads
Animals and plants are forced out of their homes and into confined areas
Human Impacts on the Environment

15. Learn more about deforestation…

16. Human Impacts on the Environment
Ozone Depletion
Caused by aerosol chemicals called CFC’s
Escapes into atmosphere, breaks down the ozone (a protective layer around the Earth)
UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause harm to many organisms

17. What is ozone depletion?
Read the article and view the video

18. Human Impacts on the Environment
Fishing activities
Demand for fish and shellfish
Commercial fishing techniques harm sea life
Pollution in the ocean

19. Video and article on overfishing…

20. Human Impacts on the environment
Invasive species
introduced by people accidentally or intentionally
Can cause problems if no natural enemies are present
Cane toad was introduced to Australia to control cane beetles, pest insects that destroy sugar cane crops
Human Impacts on the environment

21. Invasive animals and plants in the Everglades

22. Human Impacts on the Environment
Exotic pet trade
Capture and sell wild animals from exotic locations
Animals removed from their habitat causes an imbalance in the ecosystem
Pythons were once pets and the released in the Everglades when they got too big and are now killing the native animals
Click image to see news story on pythons
Human Impacts on the Environment

23. Importance of the Environment
Biodiversity
Many different types of organisms
Organisms depend upon one another
Interfering with one organism can have a ripple effect to many with in the habitat
Click on image to play a video on biodiversity

24. Importance of the environment
Natural resources:
Non-renewable includes fossil fuels (petroleum, coal)
Renewable includes animals, plants, water, wind, etc.
Even the renewable resources can run out
Importance of the environment

25. What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable
What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable? Click to play…

26. Importance of the Environment
Natural resources
Renewable energy sources include wind power, geothermal energy, ocean currents

27. Natural Resources

28. Pollution: Agricultural Homes Industry Fertilizers
Animal wastes (nitrogen)
Homes
Strong cleaning agents
Industry
Toxic gases and wastes
Acid rain

29. Pollution in our waters…

30. Click image to launch…