Endangered ecosystem

An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as

well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such
as air, soil, water, and sunlight. It is all the organisms in a given area, along with the non-living (abiotic)
factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment.

l ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM.
consists;

CAUSE, EFFECTS &WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

related to the impact of human activities on the ecosystem.

SUB-TOPICS:)
1. DEFORESTRATION

What is Deforestation?
Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of rainforest or related ecosystems into less bio-
diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or plantations (Kricher, 1997). 

What are the causes of deforestation?

I.   Logging

II.  Mining

III. Oil and gas extraction

IV. Cattle ranching

V.  Agriculture: Cash crops

VI. Local, National, and International factors: development, land titles, government subsidies to attract
corporations into developing countries, trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA), civil wars, debt, lack of
resources, and lack of law enforcement. 

Facts:

 Did you know that tropical rainforests, which cover 6-7% of the earth's surface, contain
over half of all the plant and animal species in the world
What are the consequences of deforestation?

Environmental:

1. Extinctions (loss of biodiversity of microbes (bacteria), plants, insects, animals, indigenous

peoples, etc. 
2. Habitat fragmentation.  This disturbes the animals' habitat and may force them to enter habitats
which are already occupied.  This can pose many problems such as territorial conflicts,
homelessness (loss of habitat), lack of food availability, migration disturbances, etc.
3. Soil erosion occurs when trees and plants are removed; the rain water washes the nutrients in the
top soil away. 
4. Changes in watershed geomorphology.
5. Desertification (dry, hot, arid conditions).
6. Edge effects can change microclimates (small climates) which affect endemic species (native
species which can only live in specific environmental and habitat conditions).
7. Climate change (more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, thus increasing the effects
of global warming).
8. Pollution (ground, water and air pollution from oil extraction and mining chemicals).

Social impacts:

1. Loss of culture (indigenous peoples subsistence living in the rainforest).  People who live in the
rainforest depend on the natural environment for food, shelter, materials for cooking, clothing,
etc.  If the forest is cut down or if their environment becomes polluted from oil extraction and
mining, they are forced to move or risk starvation and sickness.   
2. Displacement of people (loss of farmland, forest resources, etc).
3. Social conflicts and struggles over land and natural resources.
4. Conflicts over racial and ethnic rights.
5. Poisoning from oil and mining waste.
6. Economic uncertainty (price fluctuations and high interest rates on outstanding international loans
with The World Bank and International Monetary Fund. 
2. AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution occurs when there is an increase in pollutants such as gas, smoke, dust and soot in the
atmosphere which harmful to human, animal and plant lives.

Factories and industries ( burning fossil fuel, petroleum, diesel and gas)
• source

• factories and industries

• pollutants
• sulphur dioxide
• effect
• irritates the eyes, respiratory tracts and lungs
• dissolves in rain to form acid rain. Acid rain lowers the pH of the soil making the soil
infertile for plants as well as damaging trees and crops. Acid rain lowers the pH of lakes
causing the death of aquatic organisms. It corrodes metal structures in bridges and
buildings.
• Pollutant
• Oxides of nitrogen
• Effect
• Causes bronchitis and cancer of respiratory organs
• Damages lung tissues
• Eye, lung, nose and throat irritation
• Dissolves in rain to form acid rain
• Pollutant
• Dust
• Effect
• Dirty buildings
• Worsen the symptoms of asthma and can cause lung disease
• Blocks stoma pore and is deposited on leaves. This prevents gaseous exchange and
lowers the rate of photosynthesis
Souce
Motor vehicle

• Pollutant
• Carbon monoxide

Combine wit haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin causing less oxygen to be transported by

haemoglobin, causing death.

- In small amount, it can impair alertness, causes headaches

Lead
- Causes mental retardation in children
- Causes coma or death
Soot, smoke
- Causes haze
- Interferes the respiratory process because it irritates the nose and lungs as well as damages the
cells lining the alveoli
- Reduces visibility
 - Blocks the stoma pore, thereby, reducing rate of photosynthesis

BURNING OF RUBBISH, SOLID WASTE, FOREST AND FOSSIL FUEL

Carbon dioxide
- Causes the greenhouse effect and the global warming
- Increases the atmospheric temperature
- Changes the climate
- Polar ice caps melt, causing floods
Smoke, soot
- Haze causes conjunctivitis, sore throat and flu
- Causes inflammation of the respiratory tract which lead to bronchitis
- Prevent light from reaching earth’s surface
- Block stoma pore, thereby, reducing photosynthesis

ARGICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Agro chemical substances

- Can be passed on in the food chain and causes harm to organisms when accumulated in the
body

3. WATER POLLUTION + EUTROPHICATION

Eutrophication is when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients. This can be a problem
in marine habitats such as lakes as it can cause algal blooms.

 Fertilisers are often used in farming, sometimes these fertilisers run-off into nearby
water causing an increase in nutrient levels.
 This causes phytoplankton to grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms.
 This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem functioning and causes many problems.
 The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life.
This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen
in the water to live.
 The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the
water surface.
 Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life. This can
cause problems along the food chain and affect any animal that feeds on them.

Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces pollutants that are extremely harmful to
people and the environment.

 Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and
into rivers, lakes and oceans.
 Pollutants from industrial sources include:
 o Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic. Asbestos
fibres can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung
cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer.
o Lead – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Lead is harmful to the health of many animals,
including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.
o Mercury – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as it can
cause illness through mercury poisoning.
o Nitrates – The increased use of fertilisers means that nitrates are more often
being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can
cause eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.
o Phosphates - The increased use of fertilisers means that phosphates are more often
being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause
eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.
o Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life.
o Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the
water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light
for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.
o Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine
life.

Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause

pollution of many lakes and rivers.

 Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faeces, urine and laundry
waste.
 There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority.
 Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these
areas don’t have access to sanitary conditions and clean water.
 Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause
diseases such as diarrhoea.
 Sewage in developed countries is carried away from the home quickly and hygienically
through sewage pipes.
 Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the sea.
 Sewage is mainly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment.
 In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical
and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet. When people are ill, sewage often carries
harmful viruses and bacteria into the environment causing health problem
Oceans are polluted by oil on a daily basis from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs and
dumping.

* Oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean. The rest come from shipping
travel, drains and dumping.

* An oil spill from a tanker is a severe problem because there is such a huge quantity of oil
being spilt into one place.

* Oil spills cause a very localised problem but can be catastrophic to local marine wildlife
such as fish, birds and sea otters.

* Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the water. This suffocates fish, gets
caught in the feathers of marine birds stopping them from flying and blocks light from
photosynthetic aquatic plants.
4. THERMAL AND SOUND POLLUTION

5. ACID RAIN
6. GREEN HOUSE EFFECT + GLOBAL WARMING
7. THINNING OF OZONE LAYER (OZONE DEPLETION)
8. THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER MANAGEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES & THE ECOSYSTEM