Human use of ecosystems: Humans have decreased biodiversity of ecosystems at a very fast rate 5 factors affecting biodiversity: 1. Habitat change Humans alter a habitat enough that the native species can no longer live there The species either die or move to another habitat We change habitats for agriculture, forestry, and urban development Sometimes habitats are only changed slightly which forces species to live among houses, buildings, and small forest areas 2. Overexploitation We use resources faster than they can be replaced Can lead to extinction ex. Over fishing has reduced the number of fish in the worlds ocean Shark Alert: Species Struggle! 3. Climate change Average temperature, rainfall, and wind increase or decrease Individuals need to adapt to new conditions in order to survive Major cause of loss of biodiversity around the world Global warming is an increase in the earths average temperature Mainly caused by carbon dioxide emissions Climate Change 4. Invasive species Introduction of non-native species to all parts of the globe This species can cause harm to an ecosystem because they compete with native species They would also have no predators in a new ecosystem Ex. Asian long horn beetle in this area has damaged trees and caused them to be removed Zebra and Quagga Mussels 5. Pollution Any substance added to the environment that produces a condition that is harmful to organisms ex. solid waste that cant be recycled - CO 2 gas in the air produced from cars, air planes, power plants, and factories - fertilizer run-off from farms - salt run-off from roads In Canada, pollutants come from mining and refining metals, electric power generators, oil and gas operations, and cars Nitrogen and sulphur are the most common pollutants in those emissions The emissions combine with water vapour in the air to form acids (this forms acid rain) Affects soil, vegetation, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial and aquatic animals Acid rain can damage the waxy coating that protects leaves and it can seep into the soil and burn the skin of earthworms Soil Profile: 1. topsoil Uppermost layer in soil Contains decaying organic matter, rock particles, bacteria, fungi, insects, worms 2. subsoil Layer below topsoil Has roots from trees and bacteria 3. bedrock Bottom of the soil Is solid rock and water cant pass through it Therefore, acid rain would affect the topsoil and subsoil Acidity is an abiotic factor that is connected to the chemical environment of soil Acids are very common in our life, for example, in orange juice we drink pH scale is a measurement of the acidity of substances ex. Sour taste in lemons - water is said to be neutral, pH = 7 Low pH means substance is very acidic, ex. pH = 2 Acidic soil can damage plant growth