The Impact Humans Has On the Ecosystem Shanty DePriest Everest University Online EVS 1001-44 October 26, 2012 The Impact Humans Has On the Ecosystem There are three Cycles in the Ecosystem that are impacted by Humans. They are the Carbon Cycle, the Phosphorus Cycle, and the Nitrogen Cycle. First cycle that human has a very significant impact on is the Carbon Cycle. The Carbon Cycle is the circulation of carbon between living organisms and their surroundings. For instance Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere is synthesized by plants, which is ingested and metabolized by animals, which is converted to Carbon Dioxide during respiration and decay.
Fossil Fuels were formed very long ago from plant or animal remains that were buried, compressed, and transformed into oil, coal, or natural gas. The carbon is said to be "fixed" in place and is essentially locked out of the natural carbon cycle (www.koshland-science-museum.org). Humans intervene during by burning the fossil fuels. During combustion in the presence of air, carbon dioxide and water molecules are released into the atmosphere. Phosphorus enters the environment from rocks or deposits laid down on the earth many years ago.
Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of leguminous plants reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonium using ATP and reduced NAD. The ammonium ions released into the soil are oxidised by nitrifying bacteria firstly to nitrite, and then to nitrate. This oxidation increases the nitrogen content in the soil which plants can use to produces many useful molecules including amino acids, proteins, DNA and ATP. The formation of these ions forms part of the ecological nitrogen cycle which plays a key role in sustaining life on this planet. Plants are the producers for an ecosystem.
Soil microorganisms act as sinks and sources of available P in the biogeochemical cycle. [1] Locally, transformations of PO4 are microbially driven; however, the major transfers in the global cycle of P are not driven by microbial reactions, but by tectonic movements in geologic time. [2] Further studies need to be performed for integrating different processes and factors related to gross phosphorus mineralization and microbial phosphorus turnover in general. Ecological function Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals in the form of ions. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms.
I believe decomposers are the most important trophic level in an ecosystem. In my opinion without the work of these animals, insects, and bacteria our planet would be overrun with rotting carcasses of animals and enormous piles of vegetation. The earth would cease to be able to sustain life because of poisoning of the land and waterways by decaying matter. The decomposers speed the process of decomposition in turn supplying them with food and returning vital nutrients to the earth starting the process all over. What is Biodiversity?
Power plants are the main resource for the burning of coal and oil. When they are burned it releases a substance called sulfur dioxide and can affect the environment including our live stock, plants, animals, the air that we breathe and our water sources. Recycling becomes more important on large scales. Used consumer goods are collected, converted back into raw materials and are remade into new consumer products. Examples of materials commonly recycled are, office paper, steel from old buildings, plastic containers and aluminum cans.
The following summary is how human activities have contributed to disruption of biogeochemical cycles (M Moses et al., 2010): Use of phosphorus fertilizers: Human influences on the phosphorus cycle come mainly from the introduction and use of commercial artificial fertilizers. Use of fertilizers mainly has affected the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles. Plants may not be able to use all of the phosphate fertilizer applied; as a consequence,
Rainforest in reality have shallow and relatively infertile soil. The reasons behind this soil having these qualities is because heavy rainfall causes important nutrients needed for a fertile environment to be washes away and/or dissolved into the lower layer of the soil (leaching) thus leaving the forest floor infertile. Once leaching has occurred and removed these nutrients, trees become unable to access fertile soil and remain healthy. Many rainforest trees have developed adaptations which allow them to reach down into the lower levels of soil and receive these nutrients. Such adaptation is known as a “Buttress Roots”.
The living part of the ecosystem is referred to as biotic. Biotic and biotic constituents are linked together by nutrients cycling and energy flow. Sun is the main source of energy in an ecosystem. Energy is transferred through an ecosystem through food chain. Human activities such as industrialization and agricultural practices have adversely affected the ecosystem.
This essay clarifies several parts: how human activity influences the climate change, the role of human activity, the impact of natural events. Human activity that is most likely to have a strong impact on the climate change is the burning of the fossil fuels and deforestation. An example of this is the carbon dioxide emissions. A recent report (UNEPWMO, 2004, P10) stated, a great number of carbon dioxide emissions are the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas which used for transportation, manufacture, industrial uses as well as electricity generation. Owing to the development of industry and the use of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has produced and the average global temperature seems to have risen.