How has humans impacted landscapes?

How has humans impacted landscapes?

• How has humans impacted landscapes?

• Agriculture

• Development

• Industries

In order to preserve nature, in Hawaii for every tree cut down, you must plant two.

• In order to preserve nature, in Hawaii for every tree cut down, you must plant two.

• You cannot fish during spawning season.

What is Oxford and other parts of Southern Chester County known for?

• What is Oxford and other parts of Southern Chester County known for?

• Farming

• What is Kennett Square known for?

• Mushroom farms

Agriculture: Farming

• Agriculture: Farming

• One of the most important inventions in the world.

• Before farming, Native Americans lived off the land and refused to plant crops.

• Monoculture:

• Practice of clearing large areas of land to plant a single highly productive crop year after year.

Urban cities have become over crowded.

• Urban cities have become over crowded.

• Philadelphia.

• More and more people are moving out of the city, and moving to the suburbs. (Delaware county and now Chester County)

• Think of Oxford 10 years ago. No Walmart!

Renewable resources:

• Renewable resources:

• Can be produced or replaced by a healthy ecosystem.

• Example:

• Trees and plants

• Nonrenewable resources:

• Natural processes cannot replenish them within a reasonable amount of time. (could be gone forever)

• Example:

• Coals, oil, and natural gas.

In the 1930’s, poorly managed farms and severe drought badly damaged fertile soil.

• In the 1930’s, poorly managed farms and severe drought badly damaged fertile soil.

• The area eventually turned into desert.

• Thousands of people lost their jobs.

• Healthy soil supports both agriculture and forestry.

Desertification:

• Desertification:

• Dry climates, over farming, overgrazing, seasonal drought, and climate change turns farmland into desert.

What is happening to our forests across the world?

• What is happening to our forests across the world?

• Deforestation

Deforestation:

• Deforestation:

• Loss of forests.

• Can lead to severe erosion.

• Can change local soils and microclimates.

• Can prevent tree growth.

Humans depend on fresh water and freshwater ecosystems for goods and services.

• Humans depend on fresh water and freshwater ecosystems for goods and services.

• Drinking water, industry, transportation, energy, and waste disposal are all very important.

• Fresh water can be damaged by pollutants.

• Pollutants:

• A harmful material that can enter the biosphere.

Who here eats fish?

• Who here eats fish?

• Why do some people not eat fish anymore?

• High amounts of mercury.

If a small fish has mercury in its system and gets eaten by a bigger fish… the bigger fish now has a higher amount of mercury in its system.

• If a small fish has mercury in its system and gets eaten by a bigger fish… the bigger fish now has a higher amount of mercury in its system.

• The amount of mercury increases as the small fish gets consumed and moves up a food chain.

• Biomagnication:

• Occurs if a pollutant, is picked up by an organism and is not broken down or eliminated from its body.

Atmosphere is important for oxygen, regulating global temperature, and absorbs harmful radiation.

• Atmosphere is important for oxygen, regulating global temperature, and absorbs harmful radiation.

• Common forms of air pollution are

• Smog

• Acid rain

• Greenhouse gases

Smog:

• Smog:

• A gray-brown haze formed by chemical reactions among pollutants released into the air by industrial processes and automobiles.

In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China, there was a strong concern for health due to intense smog.

• In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China, there was a strong concern for health due to intense smog.

When we burn fossil fuels in our factories and homes, we release nitrogen and sulfur compounds.

• When we burn fossil fuels in our factories and homes, we release nitrogen and sulfur compounds.

• Eventually forms acid rain.

• Acid rain:

• Airborne acid.

Automobile emission standards and clean air regulations have improved air quality in some regions.

• Automobile emission standards and clean air regulations have improved air quality in some regions.

What is biodiversity?

• What is biodiversity?

• Bio-living

• Diversity- variation

• Biodiversity:

• Total of all the genetically based variation in all organisms in the biosphere.

Ecosystem diversity:

• Ecosystem diversity:

• Variety of habitats, communities and ecological processes.

• Species diversity:

• The number of different species in the biosphere or in a particular area.

• Genetic diversity:

• Sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species.

Benefits society by medicine, agriculture, and the provision of ecosystems goods and services.

• Benefits society by medicine, agriculture, and the provision of ecosystems goods and services.

• Medicine such as antibiotics, penicillin, and to treat heat disease are found in plants.

• Plants help farming with genetic engineering.

• In ecosystems, variety of species help sustain productivity and value in humans.

Scientists estimate that over 99% of the species that have ever lived are now extinct.

• Scientists estimate that over 99% of the species that have ever lived are now extinct.

1. Habitat fragmentation:

• 1. Habitat fragmentation:

• Splits ecosystems into pieces.

2. Hunting and the Demand for Wildlife Products

• 2. Hunting and the Demand for Wildlife Products

• In the 1800s, hunting wiped out the Carolina parakeet and passenger pigeon.

Recently in 2015, the last male White Rhino was guarded by marines 24/7.

• Recently in 2015, the last male White Rhino was guarded by marines 24/7.

3. Introduced Species:

• 3. Introduced Species:

• Organisms that are introduced to a new habitat.

• These introduces species can outcompete native species and destroy the local area.

• Ranches and farmers lose $120 million dollars to certain pests.

4. Pollution

• 4. Pollution

• Many pollutants threaten biodiversity. DDT prevents birds from laying healthy eggs.

• Increase carbon dioxide making chemicals more acidic.

5. Climate Change

• 5. Climate Change

• Major threat to biodiversity.

• Organisms are adapted to live in certain areas.

• If conditions change the adapted organisms are more likely to die off.

1. Protecting Individual Species

• 1. Protecting Individual Species

• 2. Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems

• Ecological hotspot:

• Place where significant number of species and habitats are endanger of extinction.

• 3. Considering Local Interests

Ecological footprints:

• Ecological footprints:

• The total area of functioning land and water ecosystems needed both to provide the resources an individual or population uses and to absorb and make harmless the wastes that individual or population generates.

• Ecologists use footprint calculations to estimate the biosphere’s carrying capacity for humans.

Which countries have the highest ecological footprint?

• Which countries have the highest ecological footprint?

The united states has an ecological footprint over four times larger than the global average.

• The united states has an ecological footprint over four times larger than the global average.

Ecology can help us sustain our future by…

• Ecology can help us sustain our future by…

• 1. Recognizing a problem in the environment.

• 2. Researching the problem to determine its cause.

• 3. Using scientific understanding to change our behavior, and make a positive impact.

What are these?

• What are these?

• Aquaculture:

• Farming of aquatic animals.

What is happening to the Earth’s average temperature?

• What is happening to the Earth’s average temperature?

• Increasing!

• What do plants take in for photosynthesis?

• Co2

• What is happening to our plants.

• They are being destroyed.

• Global warming:

• Increase in average temperature

• In roughly a million years from now the Earth will explode.