HUMAN IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

Miss Vanessa Parra

 Remember that…

“Ecology”
Is the study of the
interactions of
organisms w/ its
environment.
Ecology of Populations
Humans are part of the Earth's
Ecosystem.
Human activities
can either deliberately or
inadvertently
alter the balance
of an ecosystem.
 What do you Think?

How do human
activities affect the
environment?
With more info…
Will you change your
perspective or will
you feel the same
way?
 Human impacts on the Environment
Global warming
Use of machinery by
humans seems to
be increasing CO2
levels in the air.
CO2 prevents heat
from escaping,
causes slight world
wide temperature
increases. Rising water temperatures
causes coral bleaching
 Human impacts on the environment
Deforestation
• Caused by demand for wood
products, need for space,
farmland, housing, roads.
•Deforestation causes habitat
fragmentation.
•Animals and plants are forced into
confined areas.
 Human impacts on the Environment
Ozone depletion
•Caused by aerosol chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
•CFC’s Escape into atmosphere, reacts
breaking down the ozone (O 3, a protective
atmospheric layer).
•UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and
cause harm to
many organisms.
“HOLE” in
the ozone
(O3)
 Human impacts on the Environment
Fishing activities
•Large demand for fish and shellfish.
•Commercial Fishing can be harmful to
environment in many ways.
 Human impacts on the environment
Invasive species (EXOTIC SPECIES)

introduced by people accidentally or intentionally

can cause problems if no natural enemies are
present.

Cane toad was introduced in

Sonora to control cane beetles,
and other insects that destroy
sugar cane crops.
Human impacts on the Environment
Exotic pet trade
• Capture and sell wild animals from
exotic locations.

• Wealthy buyers and collectors desire

illegal animals.

• Animals removed from their habitat

causes an imbalance in the ecosystem.
 Manure
– Environmental Effect:
 decomposers increase rapidly due to sufficient food
supply
 O2 content in water decreases
 cause suffocation of fish & other organisms
Human impacts on the Environment
Agriculture wastes

 Inorganic Fertilizers
– Environmental Effect:
 cause rapid growth of algae (e.g. red tides)
 use up lots of O2 in water
 fish & other organisms die from suffocation
Industrial Wastes

Soluble Poisonous Heavy Metal Elements

– Environmental Effect: accumulate along the
food chain & cause death when in high
concentration
 Noise
 Sources
• domestic
• industrial
• constructional
• traffic

 Effects:
Health Effect: causes psychological stress, irritation,
nervous fatigue, ear less sensitive & even deafness
 Importance of the Environment

• Organisms depend upon one another and

interfering with one Organism can have a big
effect w/in the habitat
 Importance of the Environment
Natural resources:
Non-renewable
includes fossil fuels
(petroleum, coal)
• Renewable includes
animals, plants,
water, wind, etc.
• Even renewable
resources can run out .
 Importance of the Environment
Natural resources
Renewable energy sources include wind
power, geothermal energy, ocean
currents.
Why we need Conservation ?

Rapid growth of population has led to

increase in demand for land & thus
destruction of natural habitat.
 Conservation

Can be achieved with:

• wise use of natural resources,
• least disturbance to the
environment and
• Will give good quality of life to
man.
 Ways of DOING Conservation
 Recycling of Used Materials
• e.g. recycle paper & aluminum cans

 Economical Use of Natural Resources

• e.g. develop other energy sources like solar energy & nuclear
energy

 Pollution Control
• e.g.  content of lead & sulphur in petrol
• e.g. install catalytic converter in motor cars
• e.g. sewage treatment
 Sewage Treatment

 Sedimentation
• settle down solid substances to form sludge
 Decomposition
• aerobic respiration of microorganisms in
aeration tank by bubbling air in order to
oxidize organic compounds into inorganic
compounds
 Ways of Conserving

• Legislation
• control the amount of pollutants discharged
• Education
• by mass media (besides normal schooling)