1. Human impacts on the Environment

2. Humans are part of the Earth's ecosystem. Human activities
can either deliberately or
inadvertently
alter the balance
of an ecosystem.  

3. How do human activities affect the environment?
What do you Think???
How do human activities affect the environment?

4. Will you change your perspective or will you feel the same way?
With more info…
Will you change your perspective or will you feel the same way?

5. 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, believed to cause slight world wide temperature increases
Rising water temperatures causes coral bleaching

6. 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

7. Habitat Fragmentation

8. Human impacts on the Environment
Ozone depletion
Caused by aerosol chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
CFC’s
Escape into atmosphere, reacts breaking down the ozone (O3, a protective atmospheric layer)
UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause harm to many organisms

9. “HOLE” in the ozone (O3)

10. Human impacts on the Environment
Fishing activities
Demand for fish and shellfish
Commercial Fishing can be harmful
to environments in many ways

11. 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 to Australia to control cane beetles, pest insects that destroy sugar cane crops

12. Human impacts on the Environment
Exotic pet trade
Capture and sell wild animals from
exotic locations
Wealthy buyers and collectors desire
obscure animals
Animals removed from their habitat
causes an imbalance in the ecosystem

15. Pollution: Agricultural Homes Industry DDT Fertilizers
Animal wastes (nitrogen)
Homes
Strong cleaning agents
Industry
Toxic gases and wastes
Acid rain

16. Importance of the Environment
Biodiversity = Many different types of organisms
Organisms depend
upon one another
Interfering with one
organism can have a
ripple effect to many
w/in the habitat

17. What can humans do to help?

18. Reduce –
Buy products that don’t have a lot of packaging
Borrow if possible if it is something you will not use often
Use public transportation, car-pool, walk or ride a bike if possible.
Turn off lights, appliances your not using, water while brushing your teeth
Cancel subscriptions you can get on the internet and stop junk mail from coming to your house
Reuse - Instead of throwing things away, try to find ways to use them again!
Recycle - Many of the things we use every day are made out of materials that can be recycled. Recycled items are put through a process that makes it possible to create new products out of the materials from the old ones.

19. - http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0775891.html -