The impact of human The impact of human activities on natural activities on natural

ResourcesResourcesCSEC Biology - Section A (Living Organisms in the CSEC Biology - Section A (Living Organisms in the

Environment)Environment)Teacher/Tutor: Miss T. BartleyTeacher/Tutor: Miss T. Bartley

Our Resources are Our Resources are beneficialbeneficial

A natural resource is anything from nature that A natural resource is anything from nature that we can use for our benefit.we can use for our benefit.

These include: living organisms, water, land, These include: living organisms, water, land, wood, fossil fuel, minerals, wind, sunlight.wood, fossil fuel, minerals, wind, sunlight.

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources A renewable resource is easily replaced in A renewable resource is easily replaced in

nature.nature.

Non-renewable ResourcesNon-renewable Resources A non-renewable resource is used up faster than A non-renewable resource is used up faster than

it can be replaced. it can be replaced. Oil, natural gas and coal are all non – renewable Oil, natural gas and coal are all non – renewable

resources.resources.

Human activit ies impact Human activit ies impact natural resourcesnatural resources

Human beings find use for water, plants Human beings find use for water, plants animals minerals and fossil fuels. animals minerals and fossil fuels.

The overuse of renewable and non – The overuse of renewable and non –

renewable resources have a negative renewable resources have a negative impact on these resources and limits the impact on these resources and limits the global availability.global availability.

EnergyEnergy The burning of fossil fuels increases the The burning of fossil fuels increases the

amount of carbon dioxide in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and also leads to depletion of atmosphere and also leads to depletion of fuel sources.fuel sources.

DeforestationDeforestation We cut down trees for timber to make furniture We cut down trees for timber to make furniture

and paper and paper products. Some of these and paper and paper products. Some of these practices leave the forest floor bare and practices leave the forest floor bare and increases the possibility for flooding due to soil increases the possibility for flooding due to soil erosion. Some living organisms also lose their erosion. Some living organisms also lose their habitat.habitat.

Water Activit iesWater Activit ies Saltwater and freshwater resources are Saltwater and freshwater resources are

used for transportation by sea of cruise used for transportation by sea of cruise ships or goods for industry, recreation, ships or goods for industry, recreation, cooking and hydro-energy generation. cooking and hydro-energy generation.

FishingFishing Animals from the marine environment are Animals from the marine environment are

hunted as food by other animals and hunted as food by other animals and humans. Over-fishing can lead to a humans. Over-fishing can lead to a reduction in animal numbers and human reduction in animal numbers and human activities lead to pollution of marine waters activities lead to pollution of marine waters and destruction of habitat.and destruction of habitat.

PollutionPollution

Air PollutionAir Pollution The release of harmful substances that are difficult to The release of harmful substances that are difficult to

remove from the environment is called pollution.remove from the environment is called pollution.

We pollute the air with many greenhouse gases such as We pollute the air with many greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons. They contribute to methane and chlorofluorocarbons. They contribute to global warming. global warming.

Global WarmingGlobal Warming Global warming causes rise in global temperature and Global warming causes rise in global temperature and

changes in rainfall patterns. This can cause droughts in changes in rainfall patterns. This can cause droughts in some places, floods in others, erosion of beaches and some places, floods in others, erosion of beaches and destruction of habitats.destruction of habitats.

Global warming impacts the Caribbean negatively due to Global warming impacts the Caribbean negatively due to erosion of beaches and coral reefs. erosion of beaches and coral reefs.

As a result, less money is generated from tourism which As a result, less money is generated from tourism which is a major product of many Caribbean countries.is a major product of many Caribbean countries.

Water PollutionWater Pollution Nitrates from organic fertilizers, phosphates from detergents, Nitrates from organic fertilizers, phosphates from detergents,

organic wastes and solid wastes are the main pollutants of organic wastes and solid wastes are the main pollutants of freshwater. Nitrates and phosphates accumulate and cause freshwater. Nitrates and phosphates accumulate and cause eutrophication. Eutrophication decreases the amount of oxygen eutrophication. Eutrophication decreases the amount of oxygen present in the water.present in the water.

Marine waters are usually polluted by oil spills from oil rigs or from Marine waters are usually polluted by oil spills from oil rigs or from ships during transfer across the sea. The oil can be harmful to plant ships during transfer across the sea. The oil can be harmful to plant and animal life in the waters. and animal life in the waters.

Solid waste PollutionSolid waste Pollution

The sea may also be polluted by solid waste from land due to bad The sea may also be polluted by solid waste from land due to bad sanitary practices of humans. When people dump garbage into sanitary practices of humans. When people dump garbage into gullies and drains these have the potential to enter the sea. gullies and drains these have the potential to enter the sea.

Solid non – biodegradable waste may accumulate in the marine Solid non – biodegradable waste may accumulate in the marine environment and cause physical damage to plant life. environment and cause physical damage to plant life.

Organic waste matter from untreated sewage and factory effluents Organic waste matter from untreated sewage and factory effluents

can also pollute the coastal waters of many countries. Many can also pollute the coastal waters of many countries. Many chemicals may become absorbed into the tissues of aquatic animals chemicals may become absorbed into the tissues of aquatic animals and hence move up the food chain via consumers of these animals. and hence move up the food chain via consumers of these animals.

Pesticides used by farmers are harmless in small amounts.Pesticides used by farmers are harmless in small amounts. However these can remain on plants and enter the food chain and However these can remain on plants and enter the food chain and

accumulate in body tissue when these plants are eaten repeatedly accumulate in body tissue when these plants are eaten repeatedly by animals and humans.by animals and humans.

Food for thoughtFood for thought

How will pollution of the marine and How will pollution of the marine and wetland ecosystems in our Caribbean wetland ecosystems in our Caribbean states impact the organisms in these states impact the organisms in these habitats? What effect will this activity habitats? What effect will this activity eventually have on the tourism product eventually have on the tourism product and hence the economy? and hence the economy?