EffEct of Mans activity on thE ecosystem

Presentation Prepared by:

Muhamad Nabeel Uddin

Syllabus objective/contents Section E

4.1. Recycling of biodegradable and non-biodegradable

materials 5.1 Negative impact of human activity on the environment 5.2 Pollution of marine and wetland environments 5.3 Conservation

Population growth
The table below shows the growth of human population from 1650 to 2012

Year

Population (billions)

1650
1930

0.5
1

1965
1980 2012

3.5
4.5 7

Is such an increase in population beneficial or harmful? Justify your response

Complete the table below- Benefits or harm of rapid human population growth
Benefits Harm

A typical growth curve e.g. of bacteria

What are some possible negative effects of rapid growth in human population?
Increase in demand for food, and increase in number of

people dying of starvation and people suffering from deficiency diseases (demand more than supply)
Increase in demand for energy

More land space will be needed for housing and agriculture

Increase rate of deforestation increase effects of climate

change

Factors affecting growth of Natural Populations

Competition for food, water, oxygen and space:

Resources available can only support a finite number of organisms. However, competition may also help

to keep the number of organisms in check (prevent overpopulation of one type of species). This is an advantage in some cases e.g. in human digestive system.
Effect of disease and pests: E.g. Black death/Bubonic

plague killed 30-60% of Europe's population in the 14th Century. Pest may damage crops causing famine

1918 Flu pandemic-Killed over 50 million persons worldwide (wikipedia)

Factors affecting growth of Natural Populations

Natural Disasters: Fires, flood, hurricanes and volcanoes

for example can wipe out several populations at once in a short time (overnight maybe). E.g. Tsunami (caused by an earthquake) in Indian Ocean in 2004 killed more than 230,000 humans and many other species of living organisms.

2004 Tsunami

Is Georgetown in a suitable location?

Waste products from Human Activities

Biodegradable Can be recycled by biological means e.g. by bacteria They are generally organic matter e.g. plant matter or animal waste Can be recycled to make fertilizers (organic), or biofuel (e.g. methane gas) Simple method: Compost

 Non-Biodegradable wastes Cannot be decomposed by biological means E.g. synthetic plastics, metals, synthetic Styrofoam Can be recycled e.g. Plastic bottles When recycling, one need to consider

Cost of recycling Storage cost/space Collection and transport

Pollution
Types Water pollution: e.g. chemical, thermal, or physical. Air pollution: release of harmful gases Land pollution: disposal of solid waste

Negative impact of Human Activities on the environment-Water pollution

Pollution by agricultural activities Pesticide runoffs affects aquatic organisms and humans who consume them
Eutrophication : process where water bodies receive

excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant or algae growth (algal bloom)

Eutrophication

Some harmful effects of Inorganic/synthetic pesticides

Death of aquatic organisms Cancer/tumors in animals or humans who consume

affected animals Reproductive problems and birth defects Genetic change (Mutation) Nerve disorders

Industrial Waste
Mercury in gold mining may affect aquatic organisms

(cause mental retardation and paralysis in humans)

Heated water into river: from power stations Other chemicals in river, streams e.g. oils used in

heavy duty machines

Any other ?

Oil spills
Toxic to marine life, and birds Prevent flight in birds Damage beaches and surrounding ecosystem

Water pollution-Industrial Waste

 Improper sewage and garbage disposal Release of raw, untreated sewage can cause Eutrification but more importantly, lead to spread of water borne disease
Improper disposal of garbage may lead to blockage of

drainages, causing flooding. Flood may lead to loss of livestock, spread of diseases and loss of property

Biomagnifications
Concentration of pollutants increase at each trophic

level of the food chain.

Review
Human population growth is very rapid Large population increases demand for resources Factors such as food, competition, disease and natural

disasters affects/limits population growth Water pollution can cause Eutrophication and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)/lack of oxygen in water Heavy metals e.g. Mercury and lead are toxic, and may result in Biomagnifications

Today
Air Pollution Climate change Reducing pollution and conservation

Air Pollution
Mainly from burning of fossil fuels, release of gases

from factories, or dust particles

E.g. of air pollutants: Carbon dioxide (Greenhouse gas) Carbon monoxide Oxides of sulphur (results in?) Oxides of nitrogen (results in?) Lead from car exhaust CFC in aerosols. Break down ozone layer

What does air pollution cause?

Acid rain Global climate change/global warming Affects health: increase asthma, respiratory disorder,

cardiovascular disease

Effect of Acid rain on Monuments

Both marble and limestone consist of CaCO3, which reacts with acid rain in an acidbase reaction to produce CaSO4. Because CaSO4 is somewhat soluble in water, significant damage to the structure can result.

Marine Pollution
Marine ecosystem: includes oceans, estuaries and

lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs, the deep sea and the sea floor
Marine pollution occurs when harmful chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste Noise (due to industrial activities) invasive organisms enters into the marine habitat

A lagoon- a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by barrier islands or reefs.

Examples of Marine Pollution

Invasive species can take over an ecosystem

(dominate) and facilitate the spread of new diseases, jeopardize the ability of native species to obtain food.
Due to climate change ocean water is becoming more acidic (suggest effects) Water temperature is increasing

Wetlands
A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water,

either permanently or seasonally e.g. mangroves

Destruction and pollution to wetlands may be due to: Commercial development : tourism Drained wetland for agriculture Polluted water affects entire ecosystem Sea level rise: species of mangrove become submerged and die

Wetland

Wetland

Commercial development at a river bank

Global Warming Video

Global climate change

Direct observations find that CO2 is rising sharply due

to human activity.
Ocean and surface temperature measurements find

the planet continues to accumulate heat.

Satellite and surface measurements find less energy is

escaping to space at CO2 absorption wavelengths.

(this is as a result of increase CO2 levels)

The Greenhouse Effect

Video-Greenhouse effect

Industrial Revolution

How do climate scientist know about CO2 concentration for million of years ago?
Ice core Drilling

http://www.southwestclimatechange.org/files/cc/figures/icecore_records.jpg

Health consequences of Global Climate change

Some of the health consequences of climate change

are straightforward:
warmer temperatures changes in the hydrologic cycle and enhanced pollen production (increase asthma) alter patterns of infectious disease (e.g. more malaria) and compromise air quality.

Is there a solution to global climate change?

Write at least three (3)

Summary of Previous session -Global warming

Cause Major cause: anthropogenic effect i.e. effect caused by human activity Effects Sea level rise Solutions Use less vehicles

Increase temperature of Plant more trees ocean and land reforestation Use alternative sources of energy Reduce or stop using CFCs

Minor cause: climate Increase spread of change occurs naturally, diseases e.g. because of solar activities More intense storms, and unpredicted weather pattern

Reminder
66 Days remaining before 26th May: Paper 2 According to Psychologists, learning is better when the

same amount of study is spread out over periods of time than it is when it occurs closer together or at the same time.
You will learn more if you space your learning,

compared to if you wait to cram at the last minute before your exam.

Environmental conservation
Conservation means to preserve, and keep unchanged It is about reducing pollutants, and to minimize their

effects on the environment

Reducing Pollution
Treatment of effluents Use of emission control device to remove SO2, NO2

etc. Use cleaner fuel Modification of processes so that less pollutants are produced Recycling waste : biodegradable and nonbiodegradable Reuse e.g. plastics, glass bottles Use alternative energy sources

Soil conservation
Reduce overgrazing: this may remove fertile top soil

and cause erosion (deserts)

Reclamation after mining e.g. in area of bauxite

mining
Use of best farming practice: e.g. contour farming on

slopes

Contour Farming

Contour Farming

Soil conservation
Plant windbreaks: Windbreaks prevent soil erosion by

slowing the force of the wind over open ground

Restore wetlands. They prevent soil erosion. Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and preventing it from carrying the soil away. provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife

Conserve natural Environments

Maintain mangrove swamps: Mangrove forests

protects us against heavy winds, soil erosion, and flooding

Designate National Parks : no mining, hunting etc. can

be done in these areas. E.g. Kaieteur National Park

Protect endangered species

Humans may remove wild plants and animals until the

population is too low to breed (endangered)

Enact laws to protect species whose population is low Develop breeding programs to increase number of

species in natural ecosystems

Have systems in place to monitor population

Extinct Species