1. How Humans Influence Ecosystem
Wetlands are special ecosystems
high biodiversity
filter many impurities out of the water that slowly flows through them
sometimes called the “kidneys” of the Earth
their water-logged soil hold large amounts of water, which can help prevent flooding
Up to 70% of the wetlands in the lower Fraser Valley have been lost
Up to 85% of the wetlands in the South Okanagan have been lost.
Land use is how humans use land around us for urban development, agriculture industry, mining and forestry
Resource use refers to the ways we obtain and use naturally occurring materials (BC -sulfur/coal/lumber)
Land and Resource Use has been the cause many BC wetlands to disappear

2. Habitat Encroachment Two Terms:
Habitat loss refers to loss of habitats due to human activities.
Habitat fragmentation is the splitting of large habitats into many smaller
ones, resulting in disrupted natural activities for plants and animals.

3. Agriculture
can remove entire ecosystems and leaves the area exposed to wind/water (erosion, affecting healthy topsoil)
agricultural usually only plants 1 species (monoculture)
This reduces biodiversity, and leaves the crop vulnerable to pests or disease
Polycultures, of many plant species, are more economically and biologically diverse (sustainable)
the soil compaction happens due to farm animals and vehicle
With no room for water to enter the soil it then runs off and increased erosion can occur
Aeration = remove small plugs of soil
Addition of farm fertilizers and pesticides to the area has adverse effects on the ecosystem

4. Deforestation
the clearing or logging of forests such that the land is never reclaimed or replanted
Leading to soil degradation, where wind and water erode topsoil and leave bare unfertile land

5. Resource Exploitation
Humans depend on resource exploitation for jobs, materials, food, shelter and energy
Resource collecting can lead to habitat loss, soil degradation and contamination of water supplies
Overexploitation is the extraction of resources until they are gone
This can result in extinction, such as with the passenger pigeon
Many mining and resource exploitations require reclamation efforts
reduces environmental impacts of exploitation, and tries to restore the original (or at least functional) habitats

6. Sustainability Two ways:
The ability for an ecosystem to sustain ecological processes
- continued biodiversity and healthy ecosystem
People using an ecosystem to meet their needs today without reducing the function or health of the ecosystem in the future
Example:
Returning young coho salmon to rivers near Port Alice can help maintain sustainability
With sustainability can bring:
Economic opportunity
biodiversity
healthy ecosystem