Ecosystem degradation.docx

7/27/2019 Ecosystem degradation.docx

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Ecosystem degradation

Wheel of interacting forces affecting any ecosystem

The above is an illustration of the different factors involved in ecosystems degradation. The

biggest responsibility involves the policy planners and implementors at the national, regional,

provincial and municipal levels. The community (townsfolks, students, public officials,

media and private entities) should play an important roles in the local use of the resources

within each ecosystem. The role each one should play could be policing, reporting,organizing and taking hands-on-action to abate further loss of a tree, orchid, medicinal plants,

bird and other animal species in an ecosystem. All of these are part of our national heritage.

The conservation of which can be as joyful as the successful captive breeding of the

Philippine Eagle or as sad as the plight of the Tamaraw. Much of the future of Philippine

ecosystems depends on how we develop the social system which affects the ecological

system.

If left alone and not irreversibly damaged, an ecosystem has the capacity to regenerate itself.

Impact of human activities on different ecosystems


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Ecosystem Activities Problems-Issues

1. Forest Ecosystem

6.7 million ha

Clear-cut logging Continuous loss of forest cover

Mining Rate of extraction at 100,000 ha/yr

Slash-and-burn activities Loss of soil nutrient

Forest slopes soil

exposed to onslaught

of varying climatic

conditions

Forest harvesting of wood/non

wood products

Loss of soil fertility

Varied activities of forest

dwellers

Loss of plant/animal resources

2. Grassland

Ecosystem 10.6

million ha

Forest tires Grassland areas further degrades

Kaingin practices Soil erosion rate (an average

Harvesting of non-timber

products

of 73 ha per year)

Mining activities Increased surface run-off

Herbivore production Loss of plant/animal resources

Human activities aggravating

conditions of watershed areas

3. Freshwater

Ecosystem 0.90million ha

Mining Loss of critical watersheds (19 out

of 58)

Operations of mini-hydro power

plants

Erosion

Establishment of swimming

resorts using natural springs

Increased silt-load

sedimentation of freshwater

Ecotourism activities bodies and adjoining zones

Domestic agro-residential

industrial sites of water

Affects water quality

Aquaculture Affects yield regulation service for

diminishing water agro-industrial-

domestic uses; power generation

capability

Navigation Loss of ecotourism value

Open fisheries Encroachement of exotic species

Drainage and conversion to

agriculture

Loss of native plants/animals

Eutrophication of lakes

Biologically dead rivers; drainage


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channels

High level of organic and other

polluants

4. Rural-urban

Ecosystems11.8million ha

Rural-urban community

activities

Affecting life support system

Domestic; agro-industrial

production

Drought/floods/brown-outs

Recreation/leisure Lack of quality water

Transportation No water

Navigation traffic

Loss of lives, properties and

industries

Decreased agricultural andindustrial production

5. Mangrove

Ecosystems

Mangrove harvesting Affect mangrove productivity

Remnant 310,375 ha Trading/commerce Decreasing yield of fishery

resources,

Land conversion for human

settlement areas

Loss of habitat

Loss of nutrients

Conversion of mangrove areasinto impoundments for fishy

shrimp 210,456 ha

Loss of biodiversity

Conversion of 100,000 ha

mangrove swamps into salt beds

industrial and agricultural area

for coconut and rice production

Erosion/sedimentation

6. Coral Reef

Ecosystems Remnant

2,245 kms

Open fisheries Affect coral reef productivity

Dynamite fishing Depletion of economicallyimportant fishing grounds

Coral reef harvesting Pollution

Muro-ami activities Loss of biodiversity

Scuba diving

Sea-ranching

Habitat and niche


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Habitat and niche

Habitat = address or home of an organism

The area where an animal lives or its home, usually an ecosystem or anarea within an ecosystem.

Habitat relates mostly to the non-living physical or chemical conditionsof the area such as temperature, rainfall, salinity, sunlight, soil and

elevation.

Habitat and the preservation of biodiversity

Habitat conservation is directly related to species conservation. The protection of habitats is a

more systematic and comprehensive way or preserving species. By protecting any givenhabitat, a host of species will automatically be protected. This is often more useful than trying

to preserve a single species. The loss of habitat is the main cause of species loss in the world.

For example, the preservation of mangrove habitat protects those plants and animals that are

associated with it.

Niche = occupation of an organism in its community

A species niche is composed of its habitat, plus the biological or livingthings found the habitat. The living component (plants and animals) of a

habitat is called a community.


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Biological factors include location on the food chain (producers,herbivores, carnivores, etc.) predator/prey relationships and reproductive

requirements.

Interrelationships and interactions are important aspects of niche. Forexample, tall trees provide shade for plants and animals living under it;

birds help disperse seeds of certain trees; and, worms help to aerate thesoil.

Temporal activities are also important in understanding niche. Activitieswhich relate to temporal cycles such as day and night, lunar or seasonal

cycles help to define the niche of an organism.

Specialized vs generalized niches

Specialized niches apply to species which have very well-defined or narrow physical,

biological or chemical requirements for survival. If an organism can only be found within

very limited or specific conditions, it is considered to have a very specialized niche. Thedugong is an example of an animal with a specialized niche. It requires seagrass beds for food

and warm, calm waters for rearing its young. Animals such as the dugong with a specialized

niche are more susceptible to extinction than animals with a generalized niche.

Generalized niches apply to species which can exist in a broad range of conditions. Humans

are the best examples of species with a generalized niche. In the Philippines, as elsewhere,

humans live in diverse conditions with an almost infinite variety of interrelationships. Other

animals that are considered to have generalized niches are cockroaches, flies and rats.

Competitive exclusion principle

The fact that no two species can occupy the same niche is called the competitive exclusion

principle. For example, two different species of Kingfisher may share the same habitat but

may feed on different organisms at different times of the day or in different places.

Niche and ecosystems changes

Understanding the niche of species within an ecosystem will provide insights as to what the

consequences of change may be. Two of the more common changes are the elimination of a

species and the introduction of exotic or foreign species. The removal of a species whether

through extinction or habitat loss can have many undesirable effects. This is often seen whenpesticides eliminate beneficial as well as harmful insects. The result can be the removal of an

important predator of harmful insects and subsequent increases in the pest population.

Understanding the niche of the various organisms in a given habitat will help to predict

potential effects of change. The introduction of exotic or non-native species can also bring

about detrimental effects. If the introduced species is known to be very resilient and

competitive and has a generalized niche, it may colonize-large areas to the detriment of

native species. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is an example of this in the Philippines.

Health consequences of environmental degradation


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Health consequences of environmental degradation

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Beware! Nature is fighting back against the abuses we have inflicted upon it. Environmental

crisis has set in our midst. The food we eat, the air we breathe end the wafer we drink contain

in varying degrees harmful substances or pollutants. The generation of wastes has surpassed

the capacity of the land, water and atmosphere to assimilate them.

There are four types of pollution, namely:

1. Air Pollution - undesirable changes in the physical and chemicalcharacteristics of air. Smoke emissions of industrial plants, motor

vehicles, methane gas from waste/refuse combustion make the air

unclean.

2. Water Pollution - when water contains more harmful bacteria andpoisonous chemicals that it can naturally get rid oft The dumping

of domestic and industrial wastes in to water bodies, floods, mine

fatlings can pollute our waterways.

3. Land/Soil Pollution - when harmful substances are introduced intothe soil making it unable to sustain plant life. Use of excessive


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chemical fertilizers and pesticides depletes nutrients. hardens the

texture, increases toxicity, making the soil less productive.

4. Noise Pollution - too loud, so sudden, persistent and unpleasantsounds that become an assault to the body causing mental or

physical harm. The roaring of motor vehicles, grating sound of

jackhammer, squeaking tires, blaring TV sets, radios and stereosand even loud shouts are noise pollutants.

There are three major factors that affect environmental health which can be manifested by the

correlation between and among human behavior, environmental degradation and human

health impacts.

Rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization

These changes bring about environmental degradation due to: population pressure in the cities and its consequences such as insufficient

human settlements, conversion of agricultural land at the fringes of cities

into human setllement areas, pollution, overcrowding, poor solid waste

disposal, poor sewerage system and water shortage;

health problems in slum areas mount where basic health services cannotsatisfactorily address; and,

conversion of forests to agriculture and other uses which can increase soilerosion, cause landslides and aggravate floods.

Health consequence of environmental degradation

The common health problems/diseases brought about by pollution are:

Air respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis, common coughs and colds, TB,

eye, nose and throat irritation, cancers

Water-borne - gastro-intestinal diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, infections,

hepatitis, food poisoning and even death (i.e., mercury deposits in kidneys and brain)

Soil-borne - parasitism, malnutrition, skin diseases end cancers.

Messages

The human health consequences do not affect everyone equally. Children are more affected by environmental degradation than adults. Similarly, the poor are at greater risk than the rich. Adult's negligence of the environment is stealing the right of the young to

health.

Documents

Ecosystem degradation.docx