Human Impact on the Biosphere Biodiversity Biodiversitythe amount

Human Impact on the Biosphere

Biodiversity • Biodiversity-the amount of different species on the planet (Biosphere). • Is a measure of how healthy an environment is (the more diverse, the better-WHY? ) • Biosphere-area on the planet available for supporting life

Threats to Biodiversity • Economics • Rapid destruction of habitats – disasters – human expansion – pollution – deforestation – bad land-management

What is a biome? / 2. 7 • Area of the globe characterized by specific temperature and rainfall. • These factors lead to a specific set of biotic (living) and abiotic(non-living) factors. • Example: Tundra – Low temperatures and low precipitation – Biotic Factors: few plants, arctic hare, penguins, polar bears – Abiotic Factors: permafrost, snow, glaciers

Biome Video and Coloring

Terrestrial Biomes • Tundra-Cold, polar, permafrost • Taiga-coniferous, cold but non-polar, larger vegetation than tundra • Temperate Biomes. Grasslands and Chapparal w/short vegetation(little rainfall, and Deciduous and rainforests w/more annual rainfall • Tropical-Savannas w/ short vegetation but tropical climate and Rainf forests w/ dense, tall trees and lots of diversity. • Deserts-occur all over the globe, because of climate and geologic features allowing for little to no rainfall

Latitude and climate • The distance from the equator has an effect on the climate. • The closer to the equator, the warmer the climate. • The further North/South, the colder the climate. • Biodiversity decreases from equator to poles

North Carolina Geographic Regions (What the state calls NC Biomes) • Microclimate-mini • In NC: patterns of – Mountains weather/temp within – Foothills a larger biome – Piedmont • Geographic regions – Sandhills in NC have their own – Coastal Plain microclimates and different geologic features

Human Impact Stations

Human Impact Stations Conclusion

Pollution/Pollutants • Point Source pollution-single source of pollution that can be easily identified and managed – Ex: pipe, factory smokestack • Nonpoint Source pollution-pollution that comes from many sources and is spread over a larger area by water, air, runoff, seepage, etc – Ex: oil spills in large waterways

Human Impact on the Environment • Human population growth has led to most environmental problems. – Loss of resources, destruction of habitats, deforestation for agriculture • • • Carbon Dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. – Carbon Dioxide is a major greenhouse gas. Production of these gases create a blanket that holds in heat=Global Warming – Emissions also mix with water to form acid rain damaging terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by lowering p. H = acid rain Habitat destruction can be caused by many factors: new construction, agriculture, pollution, invasive species CFC’s deplete the Ozone Layer increasing UV radiation.

• Maintaining the Natural Balance Pollution - the contamination of any part of the environment; includes air, water, and land – Ozone Depletion • Ozone in the outer atmosphere absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun. • Average thickness=300 Dobson Units (width of two pennies) • Ozone is destroyed by CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) from coolants, aerosols. – Land Pollution - garbage • 1. Biodegradable Waste - can be broken down by natural processes. • 2. Nonbiodegradable Waste - waste that can hang around for hundreds to thousands of years!

– Water Pollution • 1. Industrial wastes – chemicals from factories • 2. Sewage - Addition of nutrients leads to eutrophication • 3. Runoff - Fertilizers, pesticides, sediments lead to overgrowth of plants and clogging of waterways • 4. Temperature – Hot water from power plants • 5. Groundwater Pollution • LUST - Leaking Underground Storage Tank – EX. – Air pollution: 1. Gases-carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ground level ozone, etc. 2. Particulatessmog

– Greenhouse effect • Gases (primarily CO 2) in the atmosphere act to trap heat energy from the sun. • Carbon Cycle is out of balance. See overhead! • Leads to global warming, rise in sea level and uncharacteristic weather patterns. • MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT GLOBAL WARMING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OZONE LAYER!!!! – Acid precipitation-carbon dioxide in the air mixing with water • Effects of acid precipitation – 1. Damage plant tissue – 2. Damage lake ecosystems – 3. Rob the soil of minerals and nutrients needed by plants

• Acids and Bases • How do we know if a substance is acidic or basic? ? – p. H - measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is. – p. H Scale • 0 -------7 -------14 • Lime can be added to acidic soil and water to neutralize the p. H (bring to 7).

Invasive Species • A plant or animal not native to an area • They have no natural predators and can therefore outcompete native species • Has a tendency to spread (INVADE!) • Example: Kudzu

• Sustainable practice is the use of resources for profit and production that also replenishes the environment. • Practices include: – Farming: crop rotation, contour farming – Atmospheric Policy-Clean Air Act (1967) • CFC use outlawed in many countries – Population Control • Advances in technology and medicine • Hunting regulations for game populations – Resource management: limited use of nonrenewable resources, research into renewable fuels/power