Biology

Grade: 11
Time: 9:00– 10:10 (Tuesday)
Week 1: 12th – 16th Sept, 2022
Date: 13th Sept, 2022
Resources

Resources are the features of the environment that can be used up by human society. Resources

are categorized under two headings: renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable

resources are resources that can be replaced over time due to natural processes. Examples of

renewable resources are timber and forms of energy such as solar, wind.

Non-renewable resources are those resources when used up, are not easily replenished. Examples

include fossil fuel and minerals.

The Impact of Human Activities on Natural Resources

Humans make an impact on the natural resources of the Earth through overpopulation, pollution,

burn of fossil fuel and deforestation.

a. Fossil Fuel- Human activities have caused numerous oil spills on land and water. Oil on

the surface of bodies of water is harmful to aquatic organisms because it prevents

sunlight from penetrating the surface and reduces the level of dissolved oxygen present in

the water.

b. Fisheries- Due to overfishing, the amount of fish present in the oceans have reduced.

Additionally, coral reefs have been destroying due to use of dynamite to catch fish.

c. Forest resources- Timber is used as building materials, paper production, firewood and

charcoal as fuel. Deforestation has led to flooding, soil erosion, habitat destruction and

more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

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Pollution

Pollution is the contamination of land, water or air. Any harmful substance released into the

environment is called a pollutant.

Pollution Effects Control of Pollutant

Pollution from Agricultural  Mutations  Use of less toxic

Practices  Eutrophication in substances

rivers and lakes  Replace with

 Disrupt the balance of biological control

food chains and webs

Pollution from Industries  Becomes more  Screen all wastes to

concentrated in remove toxic

organisms as they materials before

ascended the food releasing them into

chain the environment

 Toxic to aquatic

organisms

Pollution from Improper  Bacteria will multiply  Use of bins

Garbage disposal  Spreading of diseases  Treating sewage

before releasing it into

the environment
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Marine and Wetland Environments and Pollution

Living organism depend on water for survival. Life is able to be sustained on Earth because of

the presence of water. However, due to human activities, the Earth has become hotter, drier and

polluted. Some effects of Human activities in the Caribbean include:

- Destruction of Mangrove swamps – Mangroves protect the coastline. Fishing, pollution,

deforestation and coastal development have damaged them, leaving the coastline exposed

to flooding.

- Destruction of coral reefs – Coral reefs provide fish for human consumption as well as

tourist attraction. However, fishing has destroyed coral reefs due to explosives

(dynamites), pollution of bodies of water and the breaking of coral reefs by humans as

souvenirs or for sale.

- Destruction of wetland environments- A wetland is an area of land that is covered by

water. Examples of wetlands are ponds and the edge of a lake or ocean. Wetlands are

considered to be the most productive habitat of Earth. Wetlands support rice cultivation.