Environmental Changes & Human Impact

Environmental Changes & Human Impact

1Long-Term Environmental ChangeEnvironmental change that occurs slowly over time and affects organisms over generations.

Short-Term Environmental ChangeEnvironmental change that occurs quickly and affects organisms immediately.Examples: floods, fire, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions

BiodiversityThe number of different species of plants and animals in an area.

AbundanceThe number of one type of species in an area.

EndangeredOccurs when a species becomes low in numbers within its natural habitat

ExtinctOccurs when a species no longer exists

How do Humans Impact the Environment? Agriculture crops and livestock

Resource Consumption lumber, petroleum

Pollution air, water, land

Agriculture crops and livestock

Crops for food

Crops for feeding livestock

Livestock for food

Resource Consumption lumber, petroleum, various products

Lumber for construction

Petroleum for many products and to power our industry and vehicles

PollutionWhen a natural environment is contaminated with harmful substances.

Air pollution substance in the air that can be harmful to humans and the environment

Water pollution contamination of water bodies (lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, and groundwater)

Land pollution contamination of land by litter, garbage, or harmful substances

RunoffLiquid that drains or flows off, such as rain that flows over land

Urban runoff occurs in cities, and is caused by paved surfaces which cause water to run over the pavement instead of percolating down into the soil.

Agricultural Runoff Bacteria in the manure can contaminate the water and harm the organisms living there. Nitrogen in the fertilizer can cause algae in these bodies of water to grow out of control, which can cause the fish to die, and bacteria to reproduce in greater numbers.

Runoff can also carry agricultural wastes (manure) and fertilizers (containing nitrogen compounds) into streams, rivers, & lakes.

Importance of Oceans

Human Impact -- Artificial ReefA man-made, underwater structure that promotes marine life

Over-HarvestingHarvesting more of a resource than can be replaced by reproduction or re-growth

InvasiveSpeciesIntroduced, alien species that lives outside of its native environment and causes damage or disruption to the native species within an ecosystemZebra Mussel

Dead ZoneA dead zone is an area in the ocean where fertilizer-laden runoff has caused an algae to grow out of control, causing low or no oxygen in the water. This results in the death of marine animals.

Dead Zone

Y O G O EYou Only Get One Earth