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Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Gajah

Berang

Title: Chapter 9: Endangered Ecosystems

Name: Lok Boon Ket

Class: 4SC1

Teacher : Pn Goh Chwee Mei

Teachers Signature


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Cotent

No. Title Page

1 Objective 12 Introduction

3 Human activities that

endanger an ecosystem

4 Impact of human activities on

the ecosystem

5 Effect of unplanned

development and

mismanagement of the

ecosystem

6 Pollution

7 Greenhouse effect andthinning of the ozone layer


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Objective

1. Evaluating human activities that endanger an ecosystem.2. Understanding the greenhouse effect and the thinning of the ozone layer.

3. Realizing the importance of the proper management of developmentactivities and ecosystem.


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Introduction

An ecosystem is a natural unit that consists of all the living and non-living components within it.It includes plants, the wildlife that depend upon them for habitat, and the non-living parts such as the

soil, and the dead organic matter. An ecosystem functions as a unit, capturing energy and cycling it

through its system. The continuous cycling of energy maintains the health of an ecosystem.

There is no limit to how large or small an ecosystem can be. An ecosystem can be as large as an

ocean or as small as a puddle. Very large ecosystems are known as biomes. An important point

to recognize about ecosystems is the interaction between a grouping of plants and animals and

their non-living environment and how the two strive to achieve a balance.

Ecology relates to the study of ecosystems. Scientists who study the differentcomponents of ecosystems and how they are related to one another are called ecologists.

Ecologists have determined that the populations of many species if left undisturbed by humans

will remain relatively unchanged over time. Why then are so many species becoming extinct?

Today, extinction rates are thousands of times greater than the natural rate.

To better understand the reasons for this, it is first important to learn about the different

factors affecting the living and non-living components of ecosystems and how they are inter-

related.

One factor which has a great impact on an ecosystem is the number of living organismsthere are in a particular ecosystem. The number of individuals of each species present in the

ecosystem is determined by that species' rate of population growth. There are three factors

involved in how the size of a species population changes over time. They are birth, death and

migration. Well, other factor also include Habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, global warming,

pollution, hunting, Invasive species.


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Human activities that endanger an ecosystem

The worlds population has grown to over 6 billion today, so conflicts arise

between the need to meet the immediate human demands in the short term and

the need to protect and conserve ecosystem from long-term damage.

Most of the problems related to the environment are the results of human

activities and human interference with the ecosystem function.

Human activities if unplanned and mismanagement of ecosystem result in

various environment problem ; air and water pollution, the greenhouse effect,

global warming and the depletion of natural resources

These problems bring about negative effects that increasingly threaten theeconomic resources, health and survival of ecosystem.


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Impact of human activites on the ecosystem

Deforestation:

Tropical rainforests is theoldest ecosystem on the Earth and home to almost half of theworlds flora and fauna. It contains many unique species which provide food, medicine and

other resources for human. It regulates the world climate. It also act as a carbon sink of the

Earth because they absorb vast amount of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and at the

same time release oxygen into the atmosphere. It also acts as water catchments areas.

After deforestation, the impacts include soil erosion, landslide, flashflood, climatic changes,

lost of biodiversity, greenhouse effect will occur.

Human activities that endanger an ecosystem

Deforestation

Leads to:

soil erosion,landslide,flashflood,

climaticchanges, lost of

biodiversity,greenhouse

effect.

Burning of fossilfuels

Lead to:

greenhouse

effect, globalwarming, air

pollution.

Dumping ofdomestic and

industrial waste

Lead to:

waterpollution

Overuse offertiliser in

intensive farming

Leads to:

eutrophication,water pollution.


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Burning of fossil:

Burning of fossil fuels contribute most of the carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. It

increases the level of carbon dioxide in a short while. It will leads to the occur of

greenhouse effect and global warming.

Dumping of domestic and industrial waste:

When human population increases rapidly, it causes the increases in domestic and

industrial waste which include the dumping of waste and discharge effluent. It will then

pollutes ground and water resource.

Overuse of fertiliser in intensive farming:

When continuous cultivation of the same plot of land, the ploughing of the land down

the slope instead of along the slope contours will occur. Overgrazing by livestock of this

will not permit the grass to grow back. It will leads to the Erosions of topsoil by flowing

water when it rains. This will cause the loss of topsoil nutrients and also causing flash flood.


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Pollution

Pollution can be defined as any undesirable changes in physical, chemical and

biological characteristics of the natural environment, brought about when harmful

substances or energy are released by human activities.


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Air pollutions:

Sources : 1) Factories that pump large amounts of carbon monoxide, oxides of

nitrogen and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere.

2) Exhaust fumes from vehicles that contains soot, lead, carbon

monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbon.

3) Open burnings that release suspended solids and pollutant gases

such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Pollutant: 1) Burning of fossil fuels

High level of carbon particles. High level of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur

dioxide.

2) Industrial plants and factories

Large amount ofcarbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphurdioxide

3) Open Burning

Large amount of suspended solids. Large amount of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.


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Effects : destroy lungs cell, irritates eyes, bronchitis, asthma attack, corrode the skin.

Solution : 1) Reduce Air Pollution by changing the design and use of motor vehicles

Method to overcome : 1) Reward car-pools and car-sharing plans

2) Provide generous development grants and tax incentives for all non-

polluting transportation alternatives.

3) Road Tolls and increased gasoline and vehicle registration taxes.

Water Pollution:

Pollutants : sewage and fertilizers contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. yPathogens

y Chemical and other contaminants

y Thermal pollution

Source : Crude oil spills that cover the water surface reduce water dissolved oxygenand water light intensity.Industrial and domestic activities discharging untreatedwaste materials that dissolve or suspend in water and deteriorate the water quality.

The run-offs of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides from agricultural activities into

lakes and rivers affect the freshwater ecosystems

Effect : 1) Shifts in biodiversity of animals and plants in polluted ecosystem.

2) Large scale death of aquatic and terrestrial animals

3) Increased incidence of diseases.


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Solution : 1) Reducing Nutrient and Pesticide Pollution

2) Improve sewage treatment

3) Stopping Deforestation

Method to overcome :1) Governments, should Slapping fines on motored vehicles which emitan excessive amount of fumes into the atmosphere and banning open burning by the public.

Thermal Pollution

Pollutants : excess heat which is released into the environment harms the living organisms and the

environment itself

Source : 1)effluect of industrial process

2) electrical power station of cooling agents

3) reflection of sunlight by mirror

Solution : 1)

End shoreline

deforestation by

restricting the removal of

trees near the shore.

2)

To prevent soil

erosion, plow fields

in a circular motion

and use ground

cover.

3)Instead of using nuclear

power use wind power,

hydroelectric power,

solar power, or hydrogen

fuel cells because it uses

less excess heat.


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Method to overcome : 1) government should control the use of nuclear power

2) government should plow fields in a circular motion and use ground cover.

Noise pollution :

Pollutants: excessive or disruptive human-made noises

Source : man's activities as a result of the modern lifestyle. Added to this are also natural causes like the

volcanoes, anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, atmospheric reactions, etc.

Effect : 1)Safe noise level is 50 decibels (dB) but above 80 dB can cause deafness

2) Development and aggravation of stress related problems such as high blood pressure,

coronary disease, ulcers, depression and headaches

Solution : 1.Have large size banners or boards with no horn or limited horn symbols

2. Educate students, employees, drivers of all vehicles about the noise pollution in masses.

3. Start off huge rallies against noise pollution

Method to overcome : 1) Punish those who violate this rule by imposing fine.

2. Keep factories far from cities areas.

3. Proper city management of cities and towns should be done.


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Greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effects is Phenomenon to increase the Earth temperature.Without it the Earth

would be too cold for the survival of living organisms .

Causes : gases like carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxide that contribute by thecombustion of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) and other human activities such asincreased deforestation and industrial production

Effects: rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the

atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energyfrom the sun.

Way to reduce : Turn off lights when you leave a room

If you have a car, don't use it for short journeys

Basically, anything at all that uses less energy


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Thinning of the ozone layer

The ozone layer is a region in the stratosphere between 17 and 25 kilometres above the

Earth surface. Ozone layer contains high concentrations of ozone molecules (O3) that

absorb UV radiation and shield organisms from its damaging effect. The destruction of

ozone layer is due to the increasing levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the

atmosphere. CFCs are used as coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators, as

propellants in aerosol cans and as foaming agents in the making of Styrofoam packaging

CFCs are a group of chemical compounds that contain chlorine, fluorine and carbon.


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