Bieber - Human Impacts Gallery

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Visual Guide to Human Impacts

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Humans Convert Natural Habitat

Humans change natural habitats into:

• yards
• parks
• roads
• parking lots
• factories
• farms
• golf courses

Native species cannot live in these places.

Changing the Ecosystem

Habitat Conversion

Humans Change Ecosystems into Farms

Farms are used to raise livestock or produce crops that are not native species. Humans affect ecosystems by:

• Plowing fields
• Adding fertilizers
• Spraying pesticides
• Using pasture lands
• Polluting streams
• Nitrogen from cow manure and fertilizers
• Using lots of water for their crops

Farms lower Biodiversity

Farming

Humans break large ecosystems into small chunks

Many species have difficulty:

• finding food
• migrating
• finding mates
• moving to new hunting territory

Fragmentation causes lots of edge habitat which is good for some species but not good for most species.

Fragmentation causes native species to struggle

Habitat Fragmentation

More about edge effect

Humans build surfaces that change how water flows

Permeable surfaces allow water to pass through. These can be:

• wetland
• forest
• wild meadows

Impermeable surfaces do not allow water to pass through. These are surfaces such as:

• paved roads
• lawns
• roofs

Impermeable Surfaces disrupt the water cycle

Impermeable Surfaces

Humans have big energy needs that affect climate

Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are burned to produce heat or energy. But they release carbon dioxide which traps the sun's heat.Some alternative energy sources such as solar or hydroelectric produce energy without making carbon dioxide. But each has effects on ecosystems as well.

Fossil Fuels produce Carbon Dioxide and warm the Planet

Energy Needs

Humans Add harmful substances to Ecosystems

Types of pollution include:

• land ex: litter
• water ex: fertilizer
• air ex. carbon dioxide
• noise ex. vehicles
• light ex. street lights

Pollution can cause species to starve or change migration habits. Soil that is contaminated may kill plants and disrupt food webs.

Pollution damages ecosystems

Pollution

Reducing Impacts of Habitat Conversion

Federal goverment funding allows states to build or improve wildlife structures

• wildlife crossings to provide places for animals to cross busy highways
• naturalized areas and brush piles to provide spaces for wildlife to survive

People are coming up with new ideas to Reduce Impacts

How can we save our Ecosystems?

Reducing Impacts of Habitat Damage

Provide native spaces for wildlife like community gardens Practice sustainable farming To reduce energy needs and pollution, you can:

• walk or ride a bike
• turn off lights
• use proper disposal

People are changing their Habits to Reduce impact

How can we Fix Our Ecosystems?

Community Alliances form Strong Support

To see how Grow Pittsburgh is using urban farms

Watch the video

Click the Link

To read a list of 15 ways that Green Philly suggests you can take action this year

Link

Making Changes in Pennsylvania

The video to the left by the PA Game Commission about building brush piles

Watch the Videos

The video below is a news story about buildng wildlife corridors across busy highways in PA.

This article talks about current critter crossings in PA

Read the Article

Link

Urban Fragmentation

Central PA Air Pollution in 2023

Fossil Fuels and Alternative ENergy

Sustainable Farming

Effects of Impermeable Surfaces

Video: Habitat Loss