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Human activities have a big effect on both land and water ecosystems. However, these effects show up in different ways and influence plants and animals in unique ways.
Cutting Down Trees (Deforestation): One major problem is deforestation. This is when trees are chopped down for farming, building cities, or logging. When trees are removed, animals lose their homes, carbon dioxide levels rise, and this can lead to climate change. A well-known example is the Amazon Rainforest, which is often called the "lungs of the Earth." It is threatened by logging and farming.
Harmful Waste (Pollution): Land ecosystems also get hurt by chemicals and trash. Pesticides and fertilizers can soak into the soil and harm the plants and animals that live there. This can mess up food chains and even cause some species to disappear.
City Growth (Urbanization): As cities grow, natural green areas are replaced by buildings and roads. This change can alter how animals move around and often leads to fewer local animal species.
Polluted Water: Water ecosystems face serious dangers from pollution, especially from runoff. Runoff is when rain carries fertilizers and harmful substances into rivers, lakes, and oceans. For example, when too many nutrients flow into water, it can cause algal blooms, which suck up oxygen and harm fish and other sea life.
Too Much Fishing (Overfishing): Water ecosystems also deal with overfishing. This happens when too many fish are caught from the ocean, leading to fewer fish and disrupting the food web. Certain fish, like Atlantic cod, have seen their numbers drop a lot because of unsustainable fishing methods.
Destroying Habitats: Building near coastlines and activities like dredging can ruin important habitats, like coral reefs and mangroves. This leads to a loss of different kinds of life in those areas.
In conclusion, both land and water ecosystems are harmed by human activities, but the ways they are affected are different because of their environments. Understanding these differences is crucial for creating ways to protect and preserve our planet’s diverse ecosystems.
Human activities have a big effect on both land and water ecosystems. However, these effects show up in different ways and influence plants and animals in unique ways.
Cutting Down Trees (Deforestation): One major problem is deforestation. This is when trees are chopped down for farming, building cities, or logging. When trees are removed, animals lose their homes, carbon dioxide levels rise, and this can lead to climate change. A well-known example is the Amazon Rainforest, which is often called the "lungs of the Earth." It is threatened by logging and farming.
Harmful Waste (Pollution): Land ecosystems also get hurt by chemicals and trash. Pesticides and fertilizers can soak into the soil and harm the plants and animals that live there. This can mess up food chains and even cause some species to disappear.
City Growth (Urbanization): As cities grow, natural green areas are replaced by buildings and roads. This change can alter how animals move around and often leads to fewer local animal species.
Polluted Water: Water ecosystems face serious dangers from pollution, especially from runoff. Runoff is when rain carries fertilizers and harmful substances into rivers, lakes, and oceans. For example, when too many nutrients flow into water, it can cause algal blooms, which suck up oxygen and harm fish and other sea life.
Too Much Fishing (Overfishing): Water ecosystems also deal with overfishing. This happens when too many fish are caught from the ocean, leading to fewer fish and disrupting the food web. Certain fish, like Atlantic cod, have seen their numbers drop a lot because of unsustainable fishing methods.
Destroying Habitats: Building near coastlines and activities like dredging can ruin important habitats, like coral reefs and mangroves. This leads to a loss of different kinds of life in those areas.
In conclusion, both land and water ecosystems are harmed by human activities, but the ways they are affected are different because of their environments. Understanding these differences is crucial for creating ways to protect and preserve our planet’s diverse ecosystems.