Select 4 human impacts you are most interested in learning about. List the following information for how each impact affects ecosystems: a. Describe how the human impact you selected affects the ecosystem. b. Summarize some of the quantitative (graph) data that provide evidence of humans’ impact on the ecosystem. c. Describe specific types of evidence people should look for in their own ecosystem to determine whether humans are changing the local environment. d. How do you think this impact will change over the next 100 years?
The correct answer and explanation is :
Here are four significant human impacts on ecosystems and their consequences:
1. Deforestation
- Effect on Ecosystem: Deforestation reduces biodiversity, disrupts water cycles, and contributes to soil erosion. Loss of trees decreases oxygen production and increases carbon dioxide levels, exacerbating climate change.
- Quantitative Data: Graphs show a steady decline in global forest cover, with an annual loss of around 10 million hectares. Satellite imagery and data from organizations like the FAO highlight major deforestation hotspots.
- Local Evidence: People should look for reduced tree cover, soil degradation, increased temperatures, and declining wildlife populations.
- Future Projection: If deforestation continues at the current rate, ecosystems will suffer severe biodiversity loss, desertification will expand, and climate change will intensify.
2. Plastic Pollution
- Effect on Ecosystem: Plastic waste contaminates water bodies, endangers marine life through ingestion and entanglement, and releases microplastics that enter food chains.
- Quantitative Data: Graphs indicate a rise in global plastic production, exceeding 400 million tons annually, with only about 9% being recycled.
- Local Evidence: Litter accumulation in waterways, plastic waste in urban areas, and microplastic contamination in soil and water.
- Future Projection: Without intervention, plastic pollution will worsen, leading to toxic environments and irreversible harm to marine ecosystems.
3. Climate Change
- Effect on Ecosystem: Rising global temperatures cause habitat loss, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and species migration.
- Quantitative Data: Temperature graphs indicate a 1.2°C increase since pre-industrial times, with CO2 levels surpassing 420 ppm.
- Local Evidence: Unusual weather patterns, shifting plant blooming seasons, and changes in animal migration.
- Future Projection: If emissions continue, ecosystems will face extreme heatwaves, biodiversity collapse, and unpredictable climate patterns.
4. Overfishing
- Effect on Ecosystem: Overfishing disrupts food chains, reduces fish populations, and depletes marine biodiversity.
- Quantitative Data: Fisheries data show a 90% decline in large fish populations over the last century.
- Local Evidence: Fewer fish in local markets, declining catch sizes, and disruption of marine habitats.
- Future Projection: Overfishing will collapse fisheries unless sustainable practices are adopted.
Here is the generated illustration depicting four major human impacts on ecosystems: deforestation, plastic pollution, climate change, and overfishing.