Chapter 6
Humans in the Biosphere
Beginning in the late 1700’s
settlers arrived in Hawaii. They
imported dozens of invasive
species. They cleared forest,
planted plants that require a lot
of water, and the population
grew rapidly.
The Effect of Human Activity
Humans rely on Earth’s life support
system.
Humans affect our environment when we
obtain food, eliminate waste products,
and build places to live.
Humans affect regional and global
environments through agriculture,
development, and industry. These all have
a impact on Earth’s natural resources
such as soil, water, and the atmosphere.
Living on Island Earth
Modern agriculture practices have enabled
farmers to double world food production.
◦ Monoculture- which is the practice of clearing
large areas of land to plant a single highly
productive crop year after year. (soybeans)
Development/ Industrial Growth
as modern society developed many people
began to move into cities.
Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s
Agriculture
Goods- are items that can be bought and
sold
Services- are processes or actions that
produce goods.
Ecosystem good and services are the
goods and services produced by
ecosystems that benefit the human
economy.
◦ Breathable air and drinkable water
Sustainable Development
Renewable- can be produced or replaced
by a healthy ecosystem. (TREE)
Nonrenewable- cannot replenish within a
reasonable amount of time. (COAL)
Sustainable development- provides for
humans needs while preserving the
ecosystems that produces natural
resources.
◦ Using natural resources to meet our needs
without causing long term environmental harm.
Renewable and Nonrenewable
Resources
Section 2
Using Resources Wisely
Soil is a very important resource. WHY?
Healthy soil supports both agriculture and
forestry.
◦ The nutrient and mineral rich part of the soil is
called TOP SOIL.
◦ It is very important that soil is manage
correctly.
◦ Years of poorly managed farming in addition to
drought in the 1930’s eroded the Great Plains.
The area eventually turned into a desert.
◦ (DUST BOWL)
Soil Resources
Dust Bowl of 1930’s
Soil erosion is the removal of soil by water or
wind.
◦ Desertification
◦ Deforestation
◦ It is possible to minimize soil erosion through
careful management of both agriculture and
forestry.
Ex: Leaving stems and roots of crops in the soil help
hold the soil in place between plantings. Alternating
the shape of the land helps stop erosion as well.
Soil Erosion
◦ Pollutant - is a harmful material that can enter
the biosphere.
◦ Point source pollutant - is when pollution
comes from a singe source. (oil spill)
◦ Non Point source pollutant - pollutants enter
water supply from many different sources.
(Grease and oil washed off the streets by rain)
Freshwater Resources
What are primary sources of water
pollution?
Industrial and Agricultural Chemicals
Bio magnification- occurs when a pollutant is
picked up by an organism and its body doesn’t
not break the chemical down. The chemical
stays in the body tissue of the organism.(DDT)
pg 161
Residential Sewage
Freshwater Resources
What are the major forms of air pollution?
◦ Air pollution - is what happens when the
quality of Earth’s atmosphere is reduced.
◦ Common forms: smog, acid rain and
greenhouse gases.
◦ Smog - is a grey brown haze formed by
chemical reactions among pollutants released
into the air by industries and automobiles.
Atmospheric Resources
Section 3
Biodiversity
Biodiversity - is the total of all the
genetically based variation in all
organisms in the biosphere.
Types of Biodiversity
◦ Ecosystem diversity
◦ Species diversity
◦ Genetic diversity
The Value of Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Medicine
Biodiversity and Agriculture
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity
Humans reduce biodiversity by altering
habitats, hunting, introducing invasive
species, releasing pollution into food
webs, and contributing to climate change.
Habitat fragmentation - leaving habitat
◦ When development splits ecosystems into
pieces.
Threats
To conserve biodiversity, we must protect
individual species, preserve habitats, and
make certain that human neighbors of
protected areas benefit from participating
in conservation efforts.
Ecological Hot Spot - is a place where
significant numbers of spices and habitats
are in immediate danger or extinction.
Conserving Biodiversity
Section 4
Meeting Ecological Challenges
Ecological footprint - describes the total
area of land and water ecosystems
needed to provide the resources an
individual or population uses
Ecological
Footprints
How can ecology guide us toward a
sustainable future?
1- recognizing a problem in the environment
2- researching that problem to determine its
cause
3- using scientific understanding to change out
behavior
4- We can have a positive impact on the global
environment.
Ecology in Action
