Relationship between humans and the environment Flashcards
how are poorer persons dependent on the environment?
The poor are often dependent directly on the environment, as in the use of rain as irrigation, or the planting of seeds saved from the previous year’s harvest. Hence, they are much more vulnerable to environmental changes.
ways in which humans adapt to the environment they live in
- Wearing protective clothing to protect themselves
- Minimizing outdoor activities at the hottest time of day
- Growing crops that are best suitedto the local climatic conditions
- Constructing shelters to protect themselves from heat or cold
- Engaging in recreational activities which take advantage of the local environmental conditions
why do some people have greater lung capacity?
they live at higher altitudes and have thinner air
what is acclimitization?
Acclimitization is the response to an immediate change in the environment. It is short term.
role of ecosystems
• Regulate the climate (regulate global temperature, precipitation)
• Provide a consistent water supply to ensure the storage and movenment of freshwater through watersheds
• Cycle nutrients to be available for plants and animals
• Regulate populations (control overabundance of animals and plants, predators to maintain species)’
• Provide genetic resources
• Provide areas of recreation
threats to ecosystem
• Land use changes which reduce biodiversity or interfere with nutrient cycling
• Introduction of exotic species
• Pollution
what are abiotic factors?
Abiotic factors are non-living factors which affect living organisms in terrestial and aquatic living systems
meteorological abiotic factors
temperature
precipitation
winds
sunlight
humidity
soil abiotic factors
pH
nutrient availability
water abiotic factors
salinity
pH
why are alluvial lowlands densely populated?
due to favorable conditions for production of food
why are marginal lands sparsely populated?
the poor soils are unstable and infertile
what is a biotic factor?
Biotic factors are living factors which affect living organisms in terrestial and aquatic ecosystems.
examples of biotic factors
predation
disease
parasites
role of biotic factors
They play a role in population regulation and determining where humans engage in particular activities.
