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Human Impacts on the Environment (Pollution (Air (Acid rain from sulphates…
Human Impacts on the Environment
Pollution
Air
Acid rain from sulphates from air pollution
Methane released from decomposition of human fecal matter
Burning fossil fuels disrupting carbon cycle
Water
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Oil spills
Chemical runoff
Land
Landfills and waste management
War (cf. Zone Rouge in France)
Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants
Invasive and Exotic Species
Causes
Bought as pets
Niches need to be replaced because a native species went extinct
Species riding on mass transportation (i.e. airplanes, boats)
Effects
Bring in exotic diseases that native species are unprepared for
Create an environment where more invasive species can infect ecosystem
Compete with native species for food
Case Study: Humans
Spread from Africa to all the continents minus Antarctica
Destroy all natural ecosystems in the way of their metropolises and other artificial ecosystems
Use lots of natural resources, driving species to extinction
Loss of Biodiversity
Deforestation
Less tree cover, so more sunlight
Loss of habitat and/or microecosystems
Disrupts carbon cycle
Climate Change
Rising sea levels destroys intertidal ecosystems
Modifies abiotic factors of precipitation, which can lead to reclassification of biomes
Rising ocean temperatures bleaching corals
Agriculture
Soil degradation from overuse of resources
Divert natural water sources (e.g. Aral Sea)
Replace ecosystems with fields of one species (e.g. cow, wheat, etc.)