Transcript Chapter 27 – Human Impacts on Earth Resources

Chapter 27 – Human Impacts
on Earth Resources
Resources and Organisms
• The oxygen you breathe in and the carbon
dioxide you exhale are examples of natural
resources you use everyday
• Most organisms have adapted to their particular
environment and live in balance with it
• Other organisms change the environment to meet
their needs
– Some positive, some negative
Asian Carp
• Carp 1
• Carp 2
Resources and Population Growth
• Any type of organism can have an impact
if the population becomes too large
• As population grows, the demand for
resources increases
• Population growth is defined as an
increase in population size over time
J-shaped Curve
• Normally, a growing population can be
shown by a J-shaped curve
Limits to Population Growth
• Earth’s resources are limited, so
population cannot grow forever
• Limiting factors can be: food, water, or
clean air
• Number of organisms an environment can
support is its carrying capacity
S shaped curve
Carrying capacity
Environmental Factors
• Storms, extreme changes in temp,
droughts, floods and pollution can all affect
population size
• Disease, parasites, and lack of food can
also affect it
Urban Development
• 70% of the North American population live in
either urban or suburban areas
• Development of land or new construction can
cause environment problems
– Destroys old habitats
• Development also takes away from farmland
and adds pressure to remaining farmland
– Increase chance of flooding because of increase of
asphalt and concrete
– Increase in solid waste
Solutions
• Developers put barriers around new
construction
• Modern landfills