THE EFFECT OF HUMANS ON OUR

ECOSYSTEM

Malaika Ahmed
 BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity = the variety of all the different species of organisms on

Earth or within an organism
An area with large populations of just a few species is not biodiverse. However, areas
like tropical rainforests have millions of different species and are very diverse.
A high level of biodiversity helps to ensure the stability of ecosystems. It is done by
reducing the dependence of one species on another for:
� food
� shelter
� maintenance of physical environment
 MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY

• Conservation = preservation of ecosystems and the organisms that

live within them
• Conservation helps reverse the reduction of biodiversity.
• Biodiversity has a value to humans because we are so dependent on it for our
general well-being. Biodiversity forms the backbone of ecosystems on which we
depend on for basic necessities.
• The ecosystems in which these organisms live in need to be protected and
maintained to a good standard so that they can live in peace and harmony along
with the nonliving organisms.
• One of the most effective ways to maintain biodiversity is to protect areas that
are biodiverse. One of the largest threats to biodiversity is habitat loss and
degradation. Therefore, protecting these areas is very important.
 MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY

• Ecosystem = the living organisms in a particular area, together with the

non-living components of the environment
• Scientists along with members of the public help maintain biodiversity by:
� establishing breeding programs to help preserve endangered species
� protecting and developing new endangered habitats
� replanting hedgerows because there is higher biodiversity in them than the fields
that surround them
� reducing deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases
� recycling rather than dumping waste in landfill sites
 HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH

Exponential = A set of numbers that increase more and more rapidly

The population of the world is currently rising very quickly and very evidently,
not slowing down.
This is mostly due to modern medicine and farming methods, which have reduced
the number of people dying from disease and hunger.
This is great for us humans, but it means we are having a bigger effect on the
environment we live in.
 HOW IS THE INCREASE IN
POPULATION AFFECTING
BIODIVERSITY?

• Population = All the members of a single species that live within a

specific geographical area
• The rapid growth in the human population and also in the standard of living has
meant that more resources are used and unfortunately, more waste being
produced.
• Scientists think that humans will run out of food, fresh water or other resources
and only then will the earth’s population stop increasing, but still will remain
high.
• As the population grows, the pollution we produce also increases, which may
cause significant issues.
 THE IMPACT OF CHANGE

• Distribution = The way in which something is shared out among a group or

spread over an area

• Environmental factors are said to be closely linked to the distribution of organisms. These are:
� availability of water
� temperature
� concentration of dissolved atmospheric gases in water
• A change in the environment can cause a change in the distribution of organisms in the area.
These may be natural or could be the result of human activity.
 THE IMPACT OF CHANGE

• Altitude = the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground

level
• Seasonal changes - In temperate parts of the world, some factors change dramatically
between the seasons.
� temperature
� availability of water
� levels of dissolved gases in water
� hours of daylight
Geographical changes – Many animals have specific adaptations that allow them to survive
in certain locations.
� differences in pH + structure + soil
� altitude
� saltiness of water
� availability of water
 AIR POLLUTION

• Combustion = The process of burning by heat

• Air pollution can occur from smoke and acidic gases.
• Solid particles of soot (carbon) are called particulates. These can cause many
problems:
� If they are inhaled, they can get stuck in the lungs and this could lead to
respiratory damage.
� They themselves, or the clouds they help to produce, reflect sunlight back into
space. This means that less light reaches the Earth – causing global dimming.
 LAND POLLUTION

• Fertiliser = A chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to

increase its fertility.
• As we make more and more things, we produce more and more waste,
including waste chemicals. Unless this waste is properly handled, more
harmful pollution will be caused. Pollution kills animals and plants, reducing
biodiversity.
• We use toxic chemicals for farming – for example, pesticides and herbicides.
• We also bury nuclear waste underground, and we dump a lot of household
waste in landfill sites.
 WATER POLLUTION

• Sewage = wastewater and excrement conveyed in sewers

• Water pollution is caused by sewage, fertilisers and toxic chemicals.
• Untreated sewage that is pumped out into the sea also causes high levels of
nitrates in the water.
• Some plants die naturally, however, some die because there is so much
competition for light that they are not capable of photosynthesising.
• Because there is an increase in decomposers after death, it leads to a fall in the
levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. This then means that there isn’t enough
oxygen to support all the organisms.
 DEFORESTATION

• Deforestation = The decrease in forest areas across the world that

are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands or mining
activities
• Due to the increase in human population and the development of industrial
machinery, it has meant that much larger areas of woodland have been cleared.
• Because of the large-scale deforestation in tropical areas, it has provided land for
cattle and rice fields. It has also allowed for the growth of crops for biofuels.
• Deforestation destroys the habitats of the organisms that live there, and this kills
many individual species. This means that deforestation is causing extinctions
and is dramatically reducing biodiversity.
 PEAT BOG DESTRUCTION

• Peat = a brown deposit, formed in the wet conditions of bogs, and

often cut and dried for use as fuel
• Bogs are muddy, wet areas of land without trees in which different types of moss
grow. They are acidic and usually have very low levels of nutrients. Because
decomposition is very low in bogs, peat is formed from partially decayed plants.
• For many years, peat was removed from bogs for gardeners to add to their soil
or to burn as fuel. This dramatically reduced biodiversity. Because peat takes
such a long time to form, it is a non-renewable energy resource.
• Peat bogs are a very important store of carbon (carbon sinks). If all the peat was
removed and burned this would quickly release a huge volume of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere and would therefore contribute to the greenhouse effect.
 GLOBAL WARMING

• Global Warming = long-term heating of Earth due to human

activities, mainly fossil fuel burning, which increases greenhouse
gas levels in Earth's atmosphere
• Levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are increasing and
are, as a result, contributing to global warming.
• Both global warming and a rise in sea levels will have biological
consequences:
� Loss of habitat when low-lying areas are flooded
� Changes in distribution patterns of species in areas where temperature or
rainfall has changed
� Changes to the migration patterns of animals