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Human Impact on Biodiversity an Conservation and Biodiversity - Coggle…
Human Impact on Biodiversity an Conservation and Biodiversity
Water pollution
In some parts of the world, open sewers can lead into water courses, such as streams and rivers, which can cause serious illness in humans that may drink the contaminated water.
Some farmers use too many fertilisers, which can run off fields during heavy rain. This can pollute nearby streams and rivers leading to eutrophication. Some water pollution even comes from toxic chemicals released illegally by factories.
these plants die because they are unable to carry out photosynthesis without light
microbes such as bacteria increase in number as they decompose the dead plants, using and reducing the oxygen content in the water during respiration as they do so
the algae form a bloom over the water surface, preventing sunlight reaching other water plants
the low oxygen levels can cause aquatic insects and fish to suffocate, and eventually the lake may be left completely lifeless
increased nitrates in the water increase the growth of algae and plants
Overuse of fertilisers can cause eutrophication and reduce biodiversity
As the human population increases, we need more food and increased use of fertilisers has impacted on the biodiversity of aquatic environments through eutrophication. Nitrates in the fertilisers run off from fields into rivers and lakes causing the overgrowth of algae. The light is blocked so plants cannot photosynthesise so they die. This causes bacteria to decompose the plants and use up most of the oxygen in the water. Without oxygen, animals such as fish will die. This is a negative impact as the biodiversity of the river or lake will decrease.
Fish farming can reduce biodiversity
Fish are farmed in large nets or tanks within lakes or in the sea.
Farm waste, chemicals, pathogens and parasites are released into the surrounding water, harming other marine life.
Carnivorous species of farmed fish, such as salmon, need high amounts of protein in their diet. They are often fed on wild fish, reducing their populations.
Sometimes fish can escape and compete with indigenous wild species and compete for resources, resulting in reduced biodiversity. Predators of the fish such as sea lions can become trapped in the nets and die.
Introduction of non-indigenous species can reduce biodiversity
A non-indigenous species does not live in an area and may be introduced by humans for a particular purpose such as removal of pest species or for hunting. However, the new species may out-compete or kill indigenous or naturally occurring species. These may be reduced in number, resulting in reduced biodiversity or maybe extinction.
Conservation and Biodiversity
The increase in the human population and waste it produces, deforestation, peat bog destruction and global warming are all reducing biodiversity.
Conservation helps reverse this. Conservation is the preservation of ecosystems and the organisms that live within them.
Scientists and concerned members of the public help maintain biodiversity by:
breeding programs to help preserve endangered species, like the panda
protection and development of new endangered habitats, often by making national parks
replanting hedgerows because there is higher biodiversity in them than the fields they surround
reducing deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases
recycling rather than dumping waste in landfill sites