7.3.1

Human Interactions with Ecosystems

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Humans and Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of all the different species in a given space. Sufficient biodiversity is important for the future of humans. However, we have had a historically difficult relationship with biodiversity:

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Industrial revolution

  • For some time, and especially since the industrial revolution, humans have conducted many activities that have caused a severe decline in biodiversity on a global scale.
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Warning signs

  • An awareness of the detrimental nature of these activities has existed for several decades.
  • However, because of the pursuit of economic gain, the warning signs have largely been ignored.
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Attitude shifts

  • Attitudes have recently begun to change and measures are being taken to prevent further damage being done and to regain pre-existing biodiversity.

Waste Management

The human population has rapidly expanded in recent decades. Resource use has increased accordingly. This has led to to huge amounts of industrial waste and pollution, which is affecting:

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Water

  • Sewage and toxic chemicals, which are produced by industrial practices, as well as excess fertiliser from agriculture, all find their way into the Earth’s water sources.
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Land

  • Toxic herbicides and pesticides used in farming, buried nuclear waste and household waste in landfill sites are all land pollutants.
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Air

  • Smoke and gases are being added into the atmosphere constantly, particularly by power stations and cars.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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