Human Impact
start
Other Vocab
Biodiversity
Healthy Ecosystems have a high amount of biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
- Biodiversity is the variety or varietability of plants, animals, microorganisms, including ecosystem, species and genetic diversity.
- Ecosystems with a lot of diversity are healthier, and better able to withstand changes. High biodiversity = Healthy ecosystem
Certain human activities can impact the biodiversity of ecosystems. Let's look at some examples on the next page.
Other Vocabulary:
Invasive Species
Overharvesting
Conservation
A species that cannot be naturally found in that environment; An organism that inhabited a non-native land and is thriving off the resources
Overharvesting is the act in which humans collect, or harvest, more resources than they need. Examples are overfishing and logging.
Conservation is to converse, or reduce the usage of certain resources. Examples would be to reduce waste or reduce energy usage.
Click on one of the human impacts to learn more about them.
Eutrophication
Ozone
Deforestation
Pollution
Decomposer Death
Climate Change
Population
Urbanization
Deforestation
HABITATS OF ORGANISMS CAN BE DESTROYED,FRAGMENTED, AND DEGRADED BY HUMAN activity
Deforestation is the clearing of forests and trees, and is a serious environmental problem with far-reaching consequences such as1. Habitat destruction2. Soil Erosion 3. Accelerating Climate Change 4. Water Cycle Disruption 5. Resource Loss (wood as fuel, timber, food, medicine) It's crucial to protect forests and promote sustainable forest management to mitigate these negative impacts and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. Click the links to learn more about deforestation and its effects on the environment.
Ozone
WHy is the ozone layer important?
The Ozone is 10-30 km above the earth's surface. It's like walking from Liberty to Wakeland HS (9 miles!) The Ozone is important because this layer absorbs a significant portion of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UVB rays. It regulates Earth's temperature by balancing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the planet. Without this layer, our eyes would not function (cataracts formed) , skin cancers would be occur more frequently and plants would not survive. Click the links to learn more
Pollution
WHat is pollution?
Pollutants are substances that contaminate the environment and can have harmful effects on living organisms. They can be introduced into the environment naturally or by human activities. Pollutants can harm ecosystems by destroying habitats, contaminating food chains, and can affect greenhouse gases. Click the eye for examples:
Excess of Nutrients
Eutrophication is a natural process, but it is dramatically accelerated by human activities that are related to the excessive release of nitrogen and phosphorus into water systems. The most common types of human activities that increase euthrophication include:
- Agriculture - Largest Contributor
- Fertilizer Runoff or Leeching & Animal Manure
- Wastewater & Sewage
- While Water Treatment Facilities remove pollutants, many household products (detergents, human wastewaste etc) can still be released into local waterways.
- Urban & Suburban Runoff
- Lawn Fertilizers and Pet Waste can also contribute to runoff into local waterways
- Atmospheric Causes
- High Fossil Fuel use can cause acid rain and contaminated snow to fall on land and significantly increase the nutrients in the area (usually in costal areas)
Population / Overcrowding
How can overcrowding affect an ecosystem?
Overcrowding is a situation where there are too many people in a given space, which can lead to issues with safety, health, and quality of life.This can lead to: 1. Resource depletion 2. Increased competition 3. Disease outbreaks 4. Habitat Destruction 5. Waste Accumulation Click Info to see today's population data:
+info
Urbanization
What is Urbanization?
Urbanization is the process of cities growing larger and more complex. As people move to cities, they often clear land for the construction of housing, businesses, and infrastructure, leading to significant ecological effects. While some cities make an attempt to support biodiversity, there are still major effects to urbanization such as: 1. Introduction of invasive species: i.e. non native grasses introduced 2. Urban heat island effect: Pavement holds heat and makes the city warmer. 3. Pollution: Air, water and noise pollution occur in cities 4. Habitat Destruction: Areas must be cleared to build Click the links to learn more
Mass Death of Decomposers
Role of Decomposers
Decomposers play a critical role in the flow of energy through an ecosystem. They break apart dead organisms into simpler inorganic materials, making nutrients available to primary producers.
What would happen if we did not have decomposers? Nutrients would become locked up: The vital nutrients contained within dead organisms and waste would remain trapped, unavailable for plants to absorb from the soil. Starvation for producers: Plants (producers) would quickly run out of the nutrients they need to grow, leading to a decline in their health and population. Since all food chains are built on producers, this would starve the entire ecosystem.
- Accumulation of dead, organic matter:
- absence of decomposers would result in a world buried in waste. This would not only be a visual problem but would also create a breeding ground for diseases as pathogens would no longer be properly broken down.
- Collapse of the food chain
- Producers would die off from a lack of nutrients, herbivores would run out of food, carnivores would suffer.
Climate Change
Imagine Earth as a giant greenhouse. The sun warms the planet, and the atmosphere traps some of that heat, keeping us comfortable. This natural process is called the greenhouse effect. The Problem: Humans are releasing too much of a gas called carbon dioxide into the atmosphere due to factory emmissions. This extra gas acts like a thicker blanket, trapping more heat. This extra heat is causing Earth's temperature to rise. Watch the video for an explanation of Climate Change: Click problem and solution to view more.
+Solutions
Problem
"Biodiversity is our most valuable but least appreciated resource."- Edward O. Wilson
The Consequences: Rising temperatures can lead to:
- Extreme weather: More intense hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and floods.
- Rising sea levels: Coastal cities could be flooded.
- Changes in ecosystems: Many plants and animals might struggle to survive.
Pollutants Chart
View the chart below to see examples of the 5 different types of pollution
What can we do?
1. Reduce emissions: Use renewable energy sources like solar and wind power instead of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).2. Conserve energy: Turn off lights when you leave a room, and walk or bike instead of driving. 3. Support sustainable practices: Choose products that are made in ways that are good for the environment.
What can cause the Death of Decomposers?
- Chemical Pollution
- Pesticides and Fungicides
- Heavy Metals
- Plastic Pollution
- Climate Change & Environmental Shifts
- Extreme temperatures, Drought
- Ocean Acidification
- Habitat Destruction and Alteration
- Deforestation and Soil Compaction
Ozone Scientists Fun Fact
Henri Buisson , leftmost person, (French: [ɑ̃ʁi bɥisɔ̃]; 1873–1944) was a French physicist. Buisson and Charles Fabry, rightmost person, discovered the ozone layer in 1913. Buisson was born on 15 July 1873 in Paris and died on 6 January 1944 in Marseille, at age 70.
At the University of Marseilles, France, they measured the absorption of ultraviolet light in the atmosphere and discovered the thickness of the ozone column.
Biodiversity & Human Impact
Daphne Mintz
Created on November 7, 2025
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Transcript
Human Impact
start
Other Vocab
Biodiversity
Healthy Ecosystems have a high amount of biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
- Ecosystems with a lot of diversity are healthier, and better able to withstand changes. High biodiversity = Healthy ecosystem
Certain human activities can impact the biodiversity of ecosystems. Let's look at some examples on the next page.Other Vocabulary:
Invasive Species
Overharvesting
Conservation
A species that cannot be naturally found in that environment; An organism that inhabited a non-native land and is thriving off the resources
Overharvesting is the act in which humans collect, or harvest, more resources than they need. Examples are overfishing and logging.
Conservation is to converse, or reduce the usage of certain resources. Examples would be to reduce waste or reduce energy usage.
Click on one of the human impacts to learn more about them.
Eutrophication
Ozone
Deforestation
Pollution
Decomposer Death
Climate Change
Population
Urbanization
Deforestation
HABITATS OF ORGANISMS CAN BE DESTROYED,FRAGMENTED, AND DEGRADED BY HUMAN activity
Deforestation is the clearing of forests and trees, and is a serious environmental problem with far-reaching consequences such as1. Habitat destruction2. Soil Erosion 3. Accelerating Climate Change 4. Water Cycle Disruption 5. Resource Loss (wood as fuel, timber, food, medicine) It's crucial to protect forests and promote sustainable forest management to mitigate these negative impacts and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. Click the links to learn more about deforestation and its effects on the environment.
Ozone
WHy is the ozone layer important?
The Ozone is 10-30 km above the earth's surface. It's like walking from Liberty to Wakeland HS (9 miles!) The Ozone is important because this layer absorbs a significant portion of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UVB rays. It regulates Earth's temperature by balancing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the planet. Without this layer, our eyes would not function (cataracts formed) , skin cancers would be occur more frequently and plants would not survive. Click the links to learn more
Pollution
WHat is pollution?
Pollutants are substances that contaminate the environment and can have harmful effects on living organisms. They can be introduced into the environment naturally or by human activities. Pollutants can harm ecosystems by destroying habitats, contaminating food chains, and can affect greenhouse gases. Click the eye for examples:
Excess of Nutrients
Eutrophication is a natural process, but it is dramatically accelerated by human activities that are related to the excessive release of nitrogen and phosphorus into water systems. The most common types of human activities that increase euthrophication include:
Population / Overcrowding
How can overcrowding affect an ecosystem?
Overcrowding is a situation where there are too many people in a given space, which can lead to issues with safety, health, and quality of life.This can lead to: 1. Resource depletion 2. Increased competition 3. Disease outbreaks 4. Habitat Destruction 5. Waste Accumulation Click Info to see today's population data:
+info
Urbanization
What is Urbanization?
Urbanization is the process of cities growing larger and more complex. As people move to cities, they often clear land for the construction of housing, businesses, and infrastructure, leading to significant ecological effects. While some cities make an attempt to support biodiversity, there are still major effects to urbanization such as: 1. Introduction of invasive species: i.e. non native grasses introduced 2. Urban heat island effect: Pavement holds heat and makes the city warmer. 3. Pollution: Air, water and noise pollution occur in cities 4. Habitat Destruction: Areas must be cleared to build Click the links to learn more
Mass Death of Decomposers
Role of Decomposers
Decomposers play a critical role in the flow of energy through an ecosystem. They break apart dead organisms into simpler inorganic materials, making nutrients available to primary producers.
What would happen if we did not have decomposers? Nutrients would become locked up: The vital nutrients contained within dead organisms and waste would remain trapped, unavailable for plants to absorb from the soil. Starvation for producers: Plants (producers) would quickly run out of the nutrients they need to grow, leading to a decline in their health and population. Since all food chains are built on producers, this would starve the entire ecosystem.
Climate Change
Imagine Earth as a giant greenhouse. The sun warms the planet, and the atmosphere traps some of that heat, keeping us comfortable. This natural process is called the greenhouse effect. The Problem: Humans are releasing too much of a gas called carbon dioxide into the atmosphere due to factory emmissions. This extra gas acts like a thicker blanket, trapping more heat. This extra heat is causing Earth's temperature to rise. Watch the video for an explanation of Climate Change: Click problem and solution to view more.
+Solutions
Problem
"Biodiversity is our most valuable but least appreciated resource."- Edward O. Wilson
The Consequences: Rising temperatures can lead to:
Pollutants Chart
View the chart below to see examples of the 5 different types of pollution
What can we do?
1. Reduce emissions: Use renewable energy sources like solar and wind power instead of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).2. Conserve energy: Turn off lights when you leave a room, and walk or bike instead of driving. 3. Support sustainable practices: Choose products that are made in ways that are good for the environment.
What can cause the Death of Decomposers?
Ozone Scientists Fun Fact
Henri Buisson , leftmost person, (French: [ɑ̃ʁi bɥisɔ̃]; 1873–1944) was a French physicist. Buisson and Charles Fabry, rightmost person, discovered the ozone layer in 1913. Buisson was born on 15 July 1873 in Paris and died on 6 January 1944 in Marseille, at age 70.
At the University of Marseilles, France, they measured the absorption of ultraviolet light in the atmosphere and discovered the thickness of the ozone column.