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  • Lesson 7 - Humans Affecting Drought

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    A Gyves
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    Here are two impacts of drought on ecosystem functioning with examples: 1. Wetland ecosystems: - Loss of habitat for wetland plants and animals as water levels drop - Increased risk of wildfires as wetland vegetation dries out - Loss of water filtration services as wetlands shrink in size - Release of stored carbon from dried out peatlands as CO2 emissions - Loss of flood protection as wetlands can no longer absorb excess water 2. Forest ecosystems: - Tree mortality as drought stress weakens trees and makes them vulnerable to pests/disease (e.g. pine beetle infestation in western US forests) - Increased wildfire risk as dry vegetation acts as fuel (

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    Here are two impacts of drought on ecosystem functioning with examples: 1. Wetland ecosystems: - Loss of habitat for wetland plants and animals as water levels drop - Increased risk of wildfires as wetland vegetation dries out - Loss of water filtration services as wetlands shrink in size - Release of stored carbon from dried out peatlands as CO2 emissions - Loss of flood protection as wetlands can no longer absorb excess water 2. Forest ecosystems: - Tree mortality as drought stress weakens trees and makes them vulnerable to pests/disease (e.g. pine beetle infestation in western US forests) - Increased wildfire risk as dry vegetation acts as fuel (

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    3 views16 pages

    Lesson 7 - Humans Affecting Drought

    Uploaded by

    A Gyves
    Here are two impacts of drought on ecosystem functioning with examples: 1. Wetland ecosystems: - Loss of habitat for wetland plants and animals as water levels drop - Increased risk of wildfires as wetland vegetation dries out - Loss of water filtration services as wetlands shrink in size - Release of stored carbon from dried out peatlands as CO2 emissions - Loss of flood protection as wetlands can no longer absorb excess water 2. Forest ecosystems: - Tree mortality as drought stress weakens trees and makes them vulnerable to pests/disease (e.g. pine beetle infestation in western US forests) - Increased wildfire risk as dry vegetation acts as fuel (

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 16

    How can humans affect the

    risk of drought?
    Human impacts on drought
    Task: Read the article and make notes on:
    • How have humans affected rivers?
    • What does this put at risk?
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/sep/29/human-impact-world-rivers-water-secur
    ity
    Human impacts on drought
    What type of human interference has taken place at
    each river?
    https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/gallery/2016/sep/22/worlds-threatened-rivers-pollution-industry-agriculture-in-
    pictures
    Human impacts on drought
    • Deforestation a permeable or porous
    rock which stores water
    • Overgrazing
    • Polluting water supplies
    • Over-abstraction of reservoirs, rivers and aquifers
    • Building dams
    • Changing land use
    • Increasing populations (high BRs, falling DRs)
    Applied examples 
    Task:
    • In pairs, you will teach an applied example to the other
    pair. Consolidate the information on your hand-outs
    and prepare a 3 minute PP presentation (mostly
    pictures and include a map) to teach the others.
    • You only have 10 minutes so will need to work quickly!
    • You cannot dictate points for the other pair to write out
    verbatim, you need to teach them.
    Impacts of drought
    on ecosystems
    Ecosystems
    What is an ecosystem?

    Why are they valuable?


    Wetlands
    Benefits of wetlands
    WETLANDS ARE A BIG DEAL!!
    Impacts of drought on wetland ecosystems
    NB. Dessication = to dry out.
    Forest ecosystems

    • Cover 30% of the earth


    • Store 45% of our carbon
    Value of forest ecosystems
    Impacts of drought on forest ecosystems
    The Forest
    Around Los
    Alamos (New
    Mexico) Before
    and After
    Drought Stress 
    Summary
    • The causes of drought, both meteorological (short-term
    precipitation deficit, longer trends, ENSO cycles) and
    hydrological.
    • The contribution human activity makes to the risk of
    drought: over-abstraction of surface water resources and
    groundwater aquifers ( Sahelian drought, Australia).
    • The impacts of drought on ecosystem functioning
    (wetlands, forest stress) and the resilience of these
    ecosystems.
    Homework: answer this exam question:
    Using named examples, suggest two impacts of drought
    on ecosystem functioning.

    Tip: try to come up with 5 points for each, and explain


    the impacts clearly and step by step.

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