Name:__________________

Date:_________ Period____

Human Impact on the Environment

Pollution Pollution Continued Habitat Loss 1 Habitat Loss 2 Invasive Species
Directions: Go to the above sites and find the information for each topic below. The left column is the ideas you need
to look for and the other columns are the types of human impact. Make sure to put it in your own words. There should
be 3 bullet points in each box. When asked for specifics, answer as specifically as possible with the information given
and your prior knowledge.
Pollution (air, soil/land,
Habitat Degradation
Invasive/Introduced species
water)
Causes
Industries and
Redeveloping conservation
Species that are introduced do
and/or types
burning of fossil
lands to promote
not coevolve with the other
fuels causes air
agriculture increases
species in the environment, or
pollution.
habitat loss.
evolve in response to each other.
Agriculture and
Habitat loss occurs form
Humans may bring species in
agricultural
humans developing land for
order to control another invasive
activities cause
things such as offices and
species, but then backfires.
pollution and
houses.
Humans using an introduced
contamination of
Creating dams and other
species as a pet, and then being
the soil.
water divisions causes
unable to care for it so releasing
Residential waste,
changes in hydrology and
it into the environment.
and the
water chemistry.
construction of
homes can cause
pollution.

Implications
on
environment

Implication
on humans

Pollution can cause

acid rain, which
can change the
composition of
bodies of water,
which can kill the
species living in it.
Pollutants can
block respiration
for plants and be
absorbed through
the soil.
Nitrogen and
phosphates in
water increasing
can cause and
increase in toxic
algae growth.
Environmental
pollution can cause
cancer in humans.
Humans can get
respiratory

problems such as
allergies, asthma,
irritation of the
eyes and nasal
passages, or
other forms
infections.

Rare, but possible

diseases, could
include diseases

include hepatitis,
typhoid
affections,

Habitat destruction/loss
reduces or ruins habitats so
animals can no longer
protect their young.
Plants are unable to grow
because soil quality and
composition changes.
Runoff can occur from
construction, leading to
pollution, ruining habitats.

Reduction in trees increases

carbon dioxide in the air.
Construction and habitat
destruction cause climate
change and global
warming.
Reduction of resources
occurs because we are
cutting down trees and
causing endangered or
extinct species from their
ruined habitat.

Invasive species can destroy the

habitat they are introduced to.
They can lead to species
extinction when there is no
predator in their new
environment, due to coevolution.
Invasive species can make the
environment more favorable for
them, but in turn, less favorable
for the native species.

Invasive species may contain

toxins that are harmful when
consumed,
They can contain diseases or
bacteria harmful to humans.
They can cause a high economic
cost to control.

diarrhea and
hormonal
disruptions.

Possible or
In-Place
Solutions

Specific
Examples of
implications
(3)

We can help by
conserving energy,
such as turning off
lights and other
electronics when
not in use.
To reduce pollution,
the idea of reduce,
reuse, recycle
could help.
Use carpooling or
public
transportation to
reduce pollution.
Increase in traffic
and transportation
causes an increase
in air pollution.
Rapeseed is a plant
used to make oil
and provides little
output compared
to the amount
space needed.
A leak during the
transportation of
petrol can cause
pollution of soil.

We could help to rebuild

and sustain the
environment, and create
refuge for species from lost
habitats.
We could preserve natural
resources and learn how to
regulate use.
We can provide education
on how important
biodiversity is to our
environment.

Humans fill wetlands to

build on top of them,
destroying species and
habitats.
Trees are cut down to
manufacture paper goods
and furniture, etc.
Agriculture requires a vast
amount of land in order to
grow the demand for crops.

There are laws and regulations,

as well as education to people, to
restrict humans from transporting
species.
Some places have rewards for the
harvesting or hunting of invasive
species.
Possible solutions are traps to
catch invasive species of animals,
and herbicides or mechanical
destruction to get rid of invasive
plant species.
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is an
invasive insect from Asia that
rapidly kills infested hemlock
trees, causing near extinction of
the trees.
Burmese Pythons in the
Everglades can eat almost any
animal they come into contact
with, lowering mammal and bird
population drastically.
Zebra Muscles contain toxins that
can move up the food chain to
animals consumed by humans.