Human Activities
Habitat Destruction
Climate change includes:
- As of March 2016, the human population was approximately 7.4 billion
- Humans inhabit all ecosystems of the Earth
- Human activities include
- Agriculture
- Irrigation
- Fishing
- Meat Production
- Mining
- HIPPCO – Impacts of human activities of the environment and biodiversity/ An acronym that explains how and why humans are negatively impacting the environment
- Habitat destruction
- Invasive species
- Population growth
- Pollution
- Climate Change
- Overpopulation
Habitat Destruction
- Scientists say that the greatest threat to wildlife is habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation
- The greatest eliminators of species are:
- Deforestation in tropical areas
- Clearing wetlands
- Loss of coral reefs
- Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are alien to the ecosystem
- Threaten native species
- An estimated 7100 species introduced into the US have caused ecological and economic harm
- Human population growth and excessive and wasteful consumption of resources have caused premature extinction of species
- Improved health-care and sanitation have extended human life expectancy
- May not be enough resources to sustain the human population
- Many families in poverty may want more children
- Must consider cultural tradition and religious beliefs
- Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change
- Air, water, nutrient, light, and noise pollution all harm organisms
- Pollution can be natural (Volcanoes), or anthropogenic, or made by humans
- Air pollution can cause respiratory problems
- Water pollution can cause disease
Climate change includes:
- Global Warming
- Frequency and severity of storms
- Changing ocean current patterns
- Loss of ice lands
- Rising sea levels
- Greenhouse Effect
- Natural greenhouse effect warms the Earth
- Greenhouse gasses create a layer around Earth that traps solar radiation
- Results in Earth’s surface getting hotter
- Overfishing and Overhunting
- Commercial extinction – when it is no longer profitable to continue fishing the affected species
- Bycatch – Non-target species caught in fishing – Comprises of 1/3 of all catch
- About 3079 animals and 2655 plants are endangered
- Some species are hunted purely for fur and horns
- Some species have (obviously) become extinct
- The endurance of systems and processes to make natural resources could last indefinitely
- 3 Pillars of Sustainability – Economy, Society, and Environment