Human Impacts on the Human Impacts on the EnvironmentEnvironment

The effects of The effects of industrialization and the industrialization and the

loss of biodiversityloss of biodiversity

Exponential Human Population GrowthExponential Human Population Growth

As civilization As civilization advanced life advanced life

became easier became easier and the and the

population population started to growstarted to grow

..

The Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s was a key point in The Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s was a key point in historyhistory

Better nutrition, sanitation, medicine, healthcare, etc.Better nutrition, sanitation, medicine, healthcare, etc.

Patterns of Human Population GrowthPatterns of Human Population Growth

The scientific study of human population is The scientific study of human population is DemographyDemography

Birthrates, death rates, and the age structure of a Birthrates, death rates, and the age structure of a population help predict why some countries have high growth population help predict why some countries have high growth

rates while other countries grow more slowlyrates while other countries grow more slowly

Demographic TransitionDemographic Transition

A dramatic change from A dramatic change from high birth and death rates high birth and death rates

to low birth and death ratesto low birth and death rates US, Japan, and Europe US, Japan, and Europe

have completed the have completed the transitiontransition

The age structure in the US shows The age structure in the US shows an equal number of people in each an equal number of people in each

age group suggestion slow, but age group suggestion slow, but steady growth. Mexico, however, steady growth. Mexico, however, shows more younger children and shows more younger children and teens which predicts a population teens which predicts a population

doubling in about 30 years.doubling in about 30 years.

Human population growth is growing Human population growth is growing exponentially. As the population grows, exponentially. As the population grows,

industrialization and demand for our natural industrialization and demand for our natural resources also growsresources also grows

Population growth leads toPopulation growth leads to IndustrializationIndustrialization

– Global WarmingGlobal Warming– Acid RainAcid Rain– Water PollutionWater Pollution– Pesticides and biomagnificationPesticides and biomagnification– Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

Loss of BiodiversityLoss of Biodiversity– Deforestation and Deforestation and

habitat losshabitat loss– PoachingPoaching– Exotic SpeciesExotic Species

Industrialization leads to an increase inIndustrialization leads to an increase in PollutionPollution

Water PollutionWater Pollution– Oil SpillsOil Spills– Gasoline spillsGasoline spills– Gets into drinking waterGets into drinking water– GarbageGarbage

Air PollutionAir Pollution– Acid RainAcid Rain– Global WarmingGlobal Warming– Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

Air Pollution can lead to:Air Pollution can lead to: Global Warming Global Warming

Increase in COIncrease in CO22

Increase in greenhouse Increase in greenhouse effecteffect

Increase in global Increase in global temperaturestemperatures

Greenhouse gases such Greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide trap as Carbon Dioxide trap heat in our atmosphere heat in our atmosphere and heats up earthand heats up earth

Industrialization can lead toIndustrialization can lead to Acid Rain Acid Rain

Burning of fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels releases sulphates and releases sulphates and nitrates into air (nitrates into air (Air Air PollutionPollution))

Sulphates and nitrates mix Sulphates and nitrates mix with water vapor in air and with water vapor in air and form sulphuric acid and form sulphuric acid and nitric acid that falls to eath nitric acid that falls to eath and pollutes are water and pollutes are water ((Water PollutionWater Pollution))

Acid rain can result inAcid rain can result in Acidification of Lakes Acidification of Lakes

Lakes and ponds can become so acidified that Lakes and ponds can become so acidified that no life can live in them!no life can live in them!

An example ofAn example of Water Water Pollution: Exxon ValdezPollution: Exxon Valdez

Industrialization can lead to increased use ofIndustrialization can lead to increased use of Herbicides and PesticidesHerbicides and Pesticides

We spray pesticides We spray pesticides and herbicides with out and herbicides with out knowing the knowing the consequencesconsequences

DDTDDT

DDTDDT

Claimed to be a Claimed to be a miraclemiracle

Claimed to have No Claimed to have No effect on humanseffect on humans

Disastrous to bird of Disastrous to bird of prey populationsprey populations

Can build up in the Can build up in the environmentenvironment– Biological magnificationBiological magnification

BioaccumulationBioaccumulation

Accumulated to such Accumulated to such levels in top predators levels in top predators that it started having that it started having lethal effects.lethal effects.

Endangered many Endangered many species of birds, species of birds, Including our Bald Including our Bald Eagles. Eagles.

Industrialization can lead to an increaseIndustrialization can lead to an increase Ozone depletionOzone depletion

Ozone layer protects us Ozone layer protects us from UV radiationfrom UV radiation

In the ’80’s it became In the ’80’s it became apparent that the ozone apparent that the ozone layer was disappearinglayer was disappearing

It was confirmed that is It was confirmed that is was directly caused by was directly caused by human activityhuman activity

Increased use of CFC’sIncreased use of CFC’s

What is a CFC?What is a CFC?

Carbon-Flouro-Carbons Carbon-Flouro-Carbons in aerosols were leaking in aerosols were leaking into the atmosphere and into the atmosphere and eating away the ozoneeating away the ozone

Freon is also a CFCFreon is also a CFC

Loss of biodiversity can be caused byLoss of biodiversity can be caused by Deforestation Deforestation

Population growth leads to Population growth leads to the loss of natural habitatsthe loss of natural habitats

Cut down trees to build Cut down trees to build new homes/agriculture new homes/agriculture (“slash and burn”)(“slash and burn”)

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

Loss of oxygen producers Loss of oxygen producers and COand CO2 2 eliminatorseliminators

Loss of biodiversity can be caused byLoss of biodiversity can be caused by PoachingPoachingThe illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local The illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local

and international conservation and wildlife management laws and international conservation and wildlife management laws

• Many endangered animals are hunted for fur, skin, teeth, horns, or Many endangered animals are hunted for fur, skin, teeth, horns, or clawsclaws

• Many animals that have seasons to hunt can still be considered Many animals that have seasons to hunt can still be considered poached if too many are killed or they are killed out of season.poached if too many are killed or they are killed out of season.

Loss of Biodiversity can be caused fromLoss of Biodiversity can be caused from

Exotic (invasive) SpeciesExotic (invasive) Species

http://www.slideshare.net/guestbd44d7/exotic-species-2118746

Is it too late ????Is it too late ????

What can be done?What can be done?

Humans can help protect the Humans can help protect the natural populations and natural populations and

communities around them. communities around them. This is called This is called conservationconservation. . Conservation is the careful Conservation is the careful use and preservation of our use and preservation of our natural resources. Some natural resources. Some

kinds of conservation include: kinds of conservation include: resource renewal, habitat resource renewal, habitat

management, pollution management, pollution management, and species management, and species

monitoringmonitoring. .

Species ProtectionSpecies Protection

• Laws and treaties to save Laws and treaties to save threatened and endangered threatened and endangered species and their habitatspecies and their habitat

• Captive breeding programsCaptive breeding programs

• Animal reintroductionsAnimal reintroductions

• Species monitoringSpecies monitoring

Habitat ManagementHabitat Management… … for the protection of for the protection of plants and animalsplants and animals

It includes setting up national parks or areas where no one is allowed to It includes setting up national parks or areas where no one is allowed to build houses, hunt, or collect plants or animals. build houses, hunt, or collect plants or animals.

Governments and developers are also looking at something called Governments and developers are also looking at something called sustainable development.sustainable development. Sustainable development looks at long-term Sustainable development looks at long-term use of land and natural resources. It is the process of developing land to use of land and natural resources. It is the process of developing land to meet the needs of a community today without negatively impacting the meet the needs of a community today without negatively impacting the

ability of future generations to meet their needs. ability of future generations to meet their needs.

In Virginia, communities in coastal areas must obey the In Virginia, communities in coastal areas must obey the Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Preservation ActPreservation Act which requires local governments to protect and which requires local governments to protect and

manage local water habitats and resources from the harmful effects of manage local water habitats and resources from the harmful effects of economic development and growth.economic development and growth.

Pollution ManagementPollution Management

involves reducing and cleaning up pollution, and is involves reducing and cleaning up pollution, and is expected to be one of the fastest growing industries of the expected to be one of the fastest growing industries of the

future. Local, state, and federal governments have future. Local, state, and federal governments have significant roles in managing and protecting resources as significant roles in managing and protecting resources as

do individuals and corporations in the private sector. do individuals and corporations in the private sector.

Some of the laws are:Some of the laws are:

• Clean Air ActClean Air Act

• Clean Water ActClean Water Act of 1972 on the Federal level of 1972 on the Federal level

• Virginia Air Pollution Control LawVirginia Air Pollution Control Law of 1966 of 1966

• Ground Water Protection Strategy for VirginiaGround Water Protection Strategy for Virginia in 198in 198

• Virginia Water Quality Improvement ActVirginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997. of 1997.

Follow these Follow these guidelines for a guidelines for a

cleaner, healthier cleaner, healthier environmentenvironment

Renewable ResourcesRenewable ResourcesIn an effort to reduce pollution and use less fossil fuels, alternative In an effort to reduce pollution and use less fossil fuels, alternative energy sources are being considered. There are 5 major types of energy sources are being considered. There are 5 major types of renewable resources:renewable resources:

SUN:SUN:

WIND:WIND:

WATER:WATER:

GEOTHERMAL:GEOTHERMAL:

BIOMASS:BIOMASS:

Non-Renewable Non-Renewable Resources:Resources:

• Coal * Coal *

• Natural gas *Natural gas *

• Petroleum/oil *Petroleum/oil *

• NuclearNuclear

* = Fossil Fuel* = Fossil Fuel

What can you do?What can you do?

List 5 ways YOU can List 5 ways YOU can help protect your natural help protect your natural

resourcesresources