HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT ESSAY The greatest threat to biodiversity is the destruction of habitats. Describe how various human activities may lead to habitat loss. Content: 17 Synthesis: 3 Urbanisation – land is cleared for housing, industries and roads leading to habitat fragmentation which eventually lead to a decrease in genetic diversity causing populations to become extinct Poor farming methods – monoculture allows only a few species of animals to survive, losing a large amount of plants and animals which would have been present if the crops were varied Overgrazing of land leads to loss of topsoil/erosion decreasing spoil fertility Use of pesticides which kills secondary consumers and fertilisers which when washed to rivers disturbs the ecosystem of the river leading to extinction of some populations Golf estates require plenty of water and vast clearance of vegetation to make way for the lawn, in which only a few species will exist Mining results in degradation of ground water as well as a change in the pH of the water around the area, emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere and also causes soil erosion. The environment is altered in such a way that organisms can no longer exist in the area Deforestation – the demand for wood products cause many trees to be cleared, this destroys the ecosystems within the forest area leading to extinction of some populations. Destruction of wetlands and grasslands – these areas have been cleared for human inhabitation reducing the biodiversity of organisms surviving entirely on wetlands or grasslands LIFE SCIENCE ACADEMICS - 2014
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:28:19 +0000
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