Topic Eight: Human Impact

Human Impact: Human ______can have both a negative or positive impact on the environment.

A)The primary reason humans have a______impact on the environment is because the human population is growing, which places a greater demand on ______such as food, water and space.

B)There are no easy solutions to any ecological ______. Every ______can have negative consequences. Choosing the “right” actions requires weighing the ______with the risks.

C)______actions that generally have a negative impact on the environment include:

  1. Development/______
  2. Pollution
  3. Farming
  4. ______/overgrazing
  5. Clear cutting/______
  6. Introduction of ______species

Word Bank

negativeindustrialization solutionresourcesdeforestation actions benefits problem human overhunting foreign

D)Actions being taken by humans to reduce or repair ______to the environment include:

  1. Recycling ______
  2. Conserving ______resources
  3. Using ______resources (ex: solar over fossil fuels)
  4. ______of habitats and endangered species
  5. Use of biological controls instead of pesticides and ______
  6. Farming native plants (ex: cocoa in the rainforest)
  7. Planting ______to replace those cut down.
  8. Rotating crops or planting cover crops to reduce soil ______.
  9. Passing ______to control pollution, land management, hunting, fishing, etc.

Word Bank

availabletrees lossdamageprotection wastescleaner herbicides laws

  1. Specific Environmental Problems:

A)Acid rain

  1. Cause: Burning fossil fuels which emit ______and SO2 which react with water to form acid.
  2. Negative effect: ______of soil and water which kills plants and wildlife.
  3. What can be done: Reduce use of ______fuels. Use air scrubbers to reduce ______. Use ______to neutralize acid. ______have a pH level between 0 and near 7. Bases have a pH level from near 8 to 14. A pH of 7 is ______.

Word Bankacidification fossil NO2 acids emissions buffers neutralbases

B)Depletion of ozone layer

  1. Cause: Using CFC’s in coolants and ______sprays.
  2. Negative effect: Increases skin ______.
  3. What can be done: ______using CFCs.

C)Industrialization

  1. Cause: Change from agriculture to factory or ______.
  2. Negative effect: Increased ______. Uses more land and ______.
  3. What can be done: ______to regulate pollution, recycling, set aside land for preservation and state and national ______.

Word Bank

stopresourcesaerosol parkspollution industry cancerlaws

D)Loss of habitat (ex: ______)

  1. Cause: Industrialization, farming and housing
  2. Negative effect: Species lose habitat which is a loss of biodiversity and possible ______. This may disrupt the food chain and ecosystems.
  3. What can be done: ______the development of industries. Preserve the ______and national parks.

E)Loss of bio diversity

  1. Cause: ______loss, overhunting/harvesting, pollution, climate change and introduction of new species.
  2. Negative effect: Extinction. Ecosystems become less ______. Potential loss of valuable ______.
  3. What can be done: Regulate hunting / fishing / ______. Endangered species act ______endangered species. Breeding programs to increase ______.

Word Bank: habitat resources stable protects population extinction regulate land collecting deforestation

F)Global warming

  1. Cause: Greenhouse gas ______(CO2) from fossil fuels.
  2. Negative effect: May lead to habitat loss, loss of biodiversity, extinction and climate ______.
  3. What can be done: Reduce emissions. Use ______fuels and alternative energy. ______energy. Plant trees. Use new ______.

G)Introduced ______

  1. Cause: ______species brought to new ecosystems by human travel and trade.
  2. Negative effect: Alien species can outcompete______species. Reduces biodiversity.
  3. What can be done: Use biological controls to ______species or limit population. Control trade and sale of ______plants and animals. Screen cargo ships, planes, etc. for “______.”

Word Bank: technology emissions conserve change species native exotic cleaner remove foreign hitchhikers