SMK PUTRAJAYA PRESINT 8(1)

BIOLOGY PAPERWORK

ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM

HOW WE CAN HELP THE WORLD?

Prepared by:

BALQIS BINTI MD RUSLAN

From 4 SAINS TULEN

 OBJECTIVES

The reasons why this paperwork is being done is due to several

objectives as stated below:-

 To instill awareness among humans about the significances of

preservation and conservation of the ecosystem.

 To make humans realize how bad are the effects of humans’

activities towards the environment.

 To increase efforts on creating a safer environment for ourselves

and for the future generations.

 To deduce the time for the depletion and destruction of the

environment due to various environmental problems caused by

human beings.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I would like to introduce myself. I am Balqis

Binti Md Ruslan from Form 4 Sains Tulen and I am glad indeed to be

studying biology which is the most intriguing subject ever. Now, I have

completed a paperwork or a folio on the topic “Endangered Ecosystem”

based on the last chapter in the Form 4 Biology syllabus. I have gone

through many laughs and sobs throughout the progression in completing

this folio. Nevertheless, I felt relief and grateful of having such

wonderful companions who are my lovely Biology teacher, herself, Puan

Ratiah, my parents, my helpful friends and my siblings.

I would like to thank the mentioned people whom have been very

supportive and helpful in giving me extra information, tips and ideas to

make this work a satisfying piece. Not to forget, my headmistress, Datin

Suwarni Binti Hassan, for giving us, the students, this opportunity to do

this folio. Last but not least, thank you once again for all the

commitments and supports. May all of you live in a blissful life.

Human Activities That Endanger an Ecosystem

 Human activities that threaten the ecosystem

The world’s population might reach to 10 billion in the next fifty

years. Hence, when there are increments in the number of the world’s

population, it generally means that there is an increasing demand for

shelter, food, medicine, transport and raw materials. Today, due to

expectation of modern living and industrial revolution, the world has to

confront the destruction of forests to build more houses, to being use as

plantation areas and to build roads; just to fulfill humans’ needs.

Unplanned developments and mismanagement of ecosystem give rise to

vast amounts of environmental crisis. Among those environmental

problems are greenhouse effect, global warming, pollution, soil erosion,

landslide, flashflood and ozone depletion. The human activities that we

are talking about are like agriculture, burning or combustion,

industrialization, urbanization and last but not least, deforestation.

 Impact of Human Activities on the

Ecosystem

Human activities made many drawbacks to the environment. Whether

we like them or not, these cons of the human activities have made all of

us now leaving in a hardship.

The impacts can now be clearly seen by looking at our devastating

environment conditions.

What are the impacts? Let us see for ourselves….

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 DEFORESTATION

Large areas of forests are cleared for extracting timber or fuel

wood, agriculture needs, and for the sake of urbanization. The impacts

are enormous and outrageous. Let see what are the drawbacks of

deforestation.

a) Soil erosion flow is blocked. Thus, water flows inland and causes

flash floods in, flash floods and landslides.

 When it rains for a long time especially during rainy seasons, the

top layer of soil loosens and slides down, thus causing landslides.

 Clearing of trees causes the loss of tree leaves that protect the soil

from a massive impulsive force of heavy raindrops and also causes

the loss of tree roots to hold the soil in place.

 The wide exposure to the raindrops’ forces, give arise to soil

erosion. Here, the top layer of soil is easily being washed away by

heavy rainfall. The eroded soil, is then, deposited in rivers or

streams.
  During heavy rains, rainwater flows harshly into rivers because

there is a non-existence of retention of water by plant roots as well

as proper water catchments areas.

 Due to silting in the rivers, the water flow is blocked. Thus, water

flows inland and causes flash floods in low areas.

 In addition, soil erosion contributes in the depletion of minerals in

the soil, causing the land trouble to be used as a place for

cultivation.

b) Extinction of flora and fauna

 The most worrying disadvantage from deforestation is the loss of

habitats for many species flora and fauna.

 When this happens, there will be an increment in the rate of

extinction of plants and animals. As a result, it reduces biodiversity

and the source of food together with the sources of valuable

medicines for humans.

c) Greenhouse effect and global warming

 Generally, deforestation causes weather and climatic changes.

 When enormous scales of trees are cut and burnt, rainfall will be

reduced, the rate of transpiration as well as the rate of using carbon

dioxide during Photosynthesis by plants.

 Clearing and burning of forests release vast amounts of greenhouse

gases including carbon dioxide gas (CO2) into the atmosphere,

which is said about 20% to 30% of all carbon dioxide gas emission

into the atmosphere for every year.

 Everyone knows that carbon dioxide can prevent heat from

escaping from the atmosphere. Thus, when the level of carbon

dioxide increases, so does the global temperature. Increasing of

global temperature, giving rise to the greenhouse effect, and not to

mention, global warming too.

 Increasing global temperature may result in an imbalanced

ecosystem.
 FARMING

In order to fulfill the demands of today’s food supplement, large

areas of lands have been used and will be used for farming

purposes.

Excessive use of land for farming and stock rearing lead to infertile

land and may expose the soil to erosion by wind or heavy rainfalls.

Inorganic fertilisers usage in farming also results to eutrophication.

URBANISATION

Dumping of domestic waste as well as sewage discharge from

houses cause pollution.

Waste materials in landfills act as toxic substances which pollute

nearby water sources.

INDUSTRIALISATION

Industrial plants give off industrial waste and heated waste water

causing water pollution and thermal pollution.

Toxic gases released by industries contribute to a major concerning

problem; air pollution.

BURNING

Human activities like open burning of rubbish, farms and forests

release more carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere which

aggravates greenhouse effect.

 Burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution as well as increase the

carbon dioxide content. As the final result, global warming will

also need to be comprehended.

THE MAJOR IMPACT OF POLLUTION

Pollution is defined as an undesirable change in the chemical,

physical and biological characteristics of the natural environment. When

there is pollution, there must be its pollutants. Now, what is pollutants?

On the other hand, pollutants are substances, any substances that is

present in an excessive amount in the environment due to human

activities. They hold damaging effects on living organisms. They might

be toxic, like pesticides or natural constituents, such as carbon dioxide.

They affect the soil, water sources as well as our atmosphere.

 Generally, there are four main types of pollution which disturb our

used-to-be safe environment. What are they? They are, air pollution,

water pollution, thermal pollution and noise pollution. Let us go briefly

to every each of them.

The importance of proper management of

development activities

Way to balance the needs for resources with the needs to conserve

the natural resources.

To make a sustainable development without jeopardising or

depleting the natural resources.

Ensure that short-term gains be balance with the long-term effects

on the environment.
 To exploit natural resources in a sustainable way, so these

resources can be replenished and renewed for future generations to

continue to use them.

To minimize the negative effects of development towards the

environment.

REFERENCES

M.D Norhayatee, et al, 2005 Science

Textbook