How humans affect the environment: Waste/Deforestation Flashcards
What is ecology?
the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment
Why are humans affecting ecology?
human population is increasing
What are the implications of an increasing population?
- demand better standard of living
- more waste, pollution and loss of raw materials (non-renewable)
Name four ways humans reduce land for plants and animals
- building
- quarrying
- waste
- farming
Name three types of pollution that human activities have caused
- water
- air
- land
How is water being polluted?
- sewage - can cause high level of nitrates
- fertiliser
- toxic chemicals - landfills - killing organisms - fish
How is air being polluted?
- smoke
- gases e.g. carbon/sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide leading to acid rain
How is land being polluted?
- toxic chemicals/sewage need to remove gut parasites
- pesticides/herbicides - washed away from land into water
- fertilisers
- farming methods
What are used as indicators of air pollution?
lichens (algae/fungus) - bushier, cleaner air
What are used as indicators of water pollution?
presence or absence of invertebrate animals
freshwater shrimps only live on unpolluted water
How is sulpur and nitric oxides formed?
- burning of fossil fuels
- high temp of car engines
How do they form acids?
- dissolve in rainwater react with oxygen
Effects of acid rain
- lakes- kills fish
- trees - leaves/soil
- breathing
- corrodes limestone
How to control acid rain
- catalytic converters
- low sulfur petrol/diesel
- chimney clean flue gases in power stations
What is deforestation?
removal/destuction of areas of woodland/forests
