ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM

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CLASS :
TEACHERS NAME :
HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT THREATEN
THE ECOSYSTEM
1. Deforestation
2. Burning of fossil fuels
3. Overuse of fertilisers in intensive farming
4. Dumping of domestic and industrial waste

THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES

ON THE ECOSYSTEM
1.DEFORESTATION AND ITS EFFECT
In general, deforestation results in

a. Soil erosion
b. Flash floods
c. Landslides
d. Disruption to the carbon and nitrogen cycles
e. Severe climatic changes
f. The loss of biodiversity

2.BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS AND ITS EFFECT

a. The burning of fossil fuels adds about 75% of carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere.
b. An increase in carbon dioxide level is associated with the greenhouse
effect and global warming.

3.INTENSIVE FARMING AND ITS EFFECT

a. Excessive use of land for intensive farming decreases the space and
resources available for other species.
b. In intensive farming, farmers often use inorganic fertilisers, which
contain nitrates, phosphates and potassium ions, to improve crop yields.
c. Since nitrate and ammonium ions are highly soluble, they do not remain
in the soil for long and are quickly leached into the surrounding rivers
and lakes.
d. This leads to eutrophication. Eutrophication is discussed later in the
section on water pollution.

4.THE EFFECTS OF AN INCREASE IN DOMESTIC WASTE

AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE
a. An increase in human population generates an increase in both
domestic and industrial waste.
b. The dumping of waste in the landfills poses a great danger to living
organisms as toxic substances and other pollutants from the dumpsites
leak into the ground and eventually pollute the nearby water sources.

POLLUTION
1.AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is caused by the release of harmful pollutants into the air as a
result of burning of fossil fuels at home, industries or from motor vehicles.

ACID RAIN
1.Causes of acid rain
a. The combustion of fossil fuel (coal, air and gas ) in power station,
factories, domestic boilers and internal combustion engines releases large
quantities of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

b. Both sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen combine with water vapour
in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively.

c. Then they fall to Earth as acid rain.

2.Effects of acid rain

a. The soil become acidic and unsuitable for cultivation of crops.

b. Acid rain causes insoluble aluminium ions to accumulate in lakes and

rivers. The concentration of aluminium ions eventually reaches a toxic
level which can kill a quatic organisms such as fish and invertebrates.

c. Acidic soil releases the ions of certain heavy metals such as cadmium,
lead and mercury which may contaminate the supply of drinking water.

d. Limestone, stonework and marbles monuments are eroded due to

chemical weathering.

3.Ways to reduce acid rain

a. Cleaning up emissions from power stations and industrial plant with
scrubbers.

b. Cleaning up emissions from vehicle exhausts through the use of

catalytic converters.
Air Pollution Index (API)
1. The Air Pollution Index (API) is used as a measure of air quality.

2. It normally includes the major air pollutants which could cause potential harm to human health.

3. In Malaysia, the air pollutants included are ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide
and suspended particulate matter.

4. This index is calculated by using the concentrations of major air pollutants, but it is developed in easily
understood ranges of values as shown below.
Air Pollution Index

API Status Level of pollution

0-50 Good Low, no ill effects on health
51-100 Moderate Moderate pollution, no ill effects
on health
101-200 Unhealthy Mild aggravation of symptoms
among high risk groups
201-300 Very unhealthy Significant aggravation of
symptoms and decreased
exercise tolerance among high
risk groups
301-500 Hazardous Severe aggravation of
symptoms and a danger to
health
Above 500 Emergency Severe aggravation of
symptoms and a danger to a
health
WATER POLLUTION

Sources, Components, Effects, Solution of water pollution

Sources Components Effects Solutions

Agricultural Nitrates and Lead to eutrophication Control the use of fertilisers
run-off phosphates a) Applying only when crops are
and growing.
waste b) Not applying in empty fields.
c) Not spraying when there is a
forecast of rain.
d) Not disposing of them into rivers
and ponds.
e) Reducing the usage of excess
nitrates from fertilisers and
ammonia.

Herbicide and -Have toxic effects on -Use biodegradable pesticides

pesticide residues organisms in water and -Use alternative method
human (biological pest control)
-Pesticides levels can be -Planting genetically modified
magnified as they pass crops that can resist attacks by
through food chain insects as this may reduce the
-Accumulation of need to use chemical pesticides
pesticides in consumers
may kill them or affect
their metabolism
-Lead to lower sperm
counts, decreased
ovulation, inability to
conceive and birth
defects.

Untreated Suspended solids Reduce light penetration -Treat sewage before it enters
 sewage -High demand for oxygen rivers
human faeces -Prevent slurry (liquid manure)
and from farms from entering rivers
domestic and ponds
waste
Nitrates and Leads to eutrophication
phosphates
Detergents -Hard detergents create -Use biodegradable detergents
foam which reduces the with low phosphate contents
availability of oxygen to
organisms living in the
water
-Soft detergents are
biodegradable but may
contain high levels of
phosphates which can
lead to eutrophication
Microorganisms - Cause cholera -Drink properly treated and
(viruses, bacteria, boiled water
and protozoa)
Effluent from Heavy metals -Highly toxic accumulate -Treat effluents before
industries (copper, mercury, in the organisms via food discharging into water sources
-Electronics and zinc, and chains -Taking legal action against
electroplating chromium), oil, -Mercury causes acute illegal dumping of toxic wastes
plants grease, and nervous disorder in
-Food and suspended solids, humans.
beverage waste water
processing contains numerous
industry contaminants,
-Rubber (including
products hydroxide
processing sulphide).
industry
Underground Lead (highly toxic -Accumulate in the tissues -Replace lead pipes used in
pipes heavy metal) of living organisms plumbing with copper-based
-Impair the mental pipes.
performance of children

Eutrophication
Defination: Artificial nutrient enrichment of an aquatic system with organic material or inorganic nutrients,
causing an excessive growth of aquatic plant life.

Causes by
a) Leaching of inorganic fertilisers, especially nitrates and phosphates, from agricultural lands
b) Input of untreated sewage as well as discharge from sewage treatment plants
c) Run-off of animal waste from pastures and farmlands into lakes, rivers or ponds.

Process of eutrophication
1) Run-off of excess nutrients into water encourage rapid growth of algae, results in a population explosion known
as an algae bloom
2) At night, high respiration rate of the algae results in a high demand for oxygen.
3) Excessive growth of algae restricts the penetration of light into the water. The rate of photosynthesis of aquatic
plants reduced and further reduced the supply of oxygen in water.
4) The algae grow faster than their consumers. Most of algal population dies without being consumed.
5) Decomposing microorganisms especially aerobic bacteria used up the oxygen in deeper water at a fast rate.
6) Untreated sewage or animal wastes from farm that contain high concentration of organic matter encourage the
rapid growth of aerobic bacteria.
7) The aerobic bacteria use up oxygen faster than it can be replenished. An increase in biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) results in a severe depletion of oxygen.
8) Low level of oxygen concentration kills larger aerobic aquatic organisms and organisms that require higher
oxygen levels (freshwater shrimps and mayfly nymphs)
9) If the oxygen levels continues to drop and water become completely deoxygenated, anaerobic bacteria will grow
and release toxic gases (eg. hydrogen sulphide), causing the death of aquatic organisms.
10) During the growth of algae, certain blue green bacteria also produce toxins.
11) At night BOD levels, organisms that are more tolerant of lower concentration of dissolved oxygen (eg. leeches,
Tubifex worms, and sludge worms) may appears and multiply.
 What is BOD?
1. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the amount of dissolved oxygen required by the microoganisms to
decompose the organic matters in the water.
2. The measurement of BOD is an indication of the level of water pollution.
3. If there is a large amount of organic waste in the water, the population of aerobic bacteria will increase to
decompose the organic matter. The dissolved oxygen level in the water decreases, and the value of BOD will be
high.
A lower BOD level (or higher dissolved oxygen level) indicates better water quality. A higher BOD level (or lower
dissolved oxygen level) indicates poor water quality.

Thermal Pollution
In thermal pollution, the temperature of a body of water is unintentionally raised as a
result of human activities

1. Causes:
Hot water is discharged into nearby lake and river from the effluent of industrial processes and cooling tower of
electrical power station, which use water as a cooling agent.

The excess heat that is released into the environment leads to thermal pollution.

2. Effects:
Thermal pollution causes the temperature in a body of water to rise above the normal value.

Water temperature can affect the level of dissolved oxygen.

As the temperature of the water increases, oxygen become less insoluble in water.

If the temperature increase persists over a longer period, this may result in permanent changes in the species
composition of the aquatic ecosystem.

3. Ways to prevent:
Control the amount of hot water discharged into still or slow - moving rivers.
Control the amount of hot water discharged from industrial plants and power station to the surrounding lakes
and rivers.

Noise Pollution

1. Causes:
Noises from cars, motorcycles, aeroplanes, construction sites, agriculture and industrial machinery.

Noise level of residential areas should not exceed 55 decibels (dB).

2. Effects:
Prolonged exposure to noise level at or above 80 decibels can lead to deafness.
High level of noise can contribute to the development and aggravation of stress related problems such as high
blood pressure, coronary disease, ulcers, depression and headache.
Loud noise can cause an arousalresponse in which a series of reactions occurs in the body.
Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. A persons heartbeat, blood pressure and
respiration rate are likely to increase.
The blood vessels constrict and the muscles become tense.
Constant exposure to noise can contribute to a deterioration in health.

The Greenhouse Effect and the Thinning of Ozone Layer

 The Greenhouse Effect
Causes:
1. Increases of the greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to:
(a) combustion of fossil fuels
(b) deforestation
(c) industrial production
2. As the concentration of greenhouse gases rises, more heat is trapping in the atmosphere and raising the average
temperature on earth. Hence, this phenomenon brings to global warming.

Effects:
1. Occurrence of floods
As the average temperature rises, the polar ice caps and glaciers melt.
This increases the sea level causing low-lying areas to be flooded.
2. Climate changes
Global warming leads to changes in wind directions and distribution of rainfall. As a result, agricultural activities
are affected.
Global warming causes weather patterns to change. This affects the distribution of species which may lead to
the extinction of species in certain region.
3. Occurrence of droughts
Global warming increases the frequency of droughts.
The land becomes dry and infertile. This leads to a drop yields.
4. Spread of diseases
With warmer climates, pests and vectors may spread to new areas.
The warmer conditions lead to an expansion of territories for disease-carrying vectors, resulting an increase in
the outbreak of diseases.

Solutions to global warming:

1. Reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
2. Develop alternative sources of energy such as wind, solar and geothermal energy.
3. Reduce deforestation
4. Replant trees which have been cut down.

The Thinning of the Ozone Layer

Causes of ozone depletion:
1. The increasing levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere.
In the stratosphere, CFCs molecules are broken down by ultraviolet rays, releasing chlorine radicals which
destroy ozone in a chain reaction.

Effects of ozone depletion:

1. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to higher risks of:
(a) skin cancer
(b) cataracts
(c) sunburns
2. Ultraviolet radiation weakens the immune system and the ability of the body to resist infectious diseases.
3. Ultraviolet radiation reduces nutrient contents and crop yield of plants.
4. Ultraviolet rays destroy the leaf cells and chlorophyll. This lowers the rate of photosynthesis and reduces
crop yield.
5. Ultraviolet rays kill microorganisms and phytoplankton that are at the bottom of the marine food chain.
6. Leads increases in the temperature on Earth.
7. High levels of ultraviolet radiation can damage the eggs of amphibians.

Ways to reduce ozone depletion:

1. Reduce or stop the use of CFCs.
2. Replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) with hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs).
MEASURES TAKEN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND THE ECOSYSTEM
1. Implantation of laws
2. Use of technology
3. Education
4. Preservation and conservation
5. Biological control
6. Use of renewable energy
7. Efficient use of energy