5.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems

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What is climate change?

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Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, primarily caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

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How does climate change affect biodiversity?

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Climate change can lead to loss of species, changes in species distribution, and disruption of ecosystem functions.

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What is an invasive species?

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An invasive species is a non-native species that spreads widely in a new ecosystem and can cause harm to native species and their habitats.

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What makes a species invasive?

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Moving to a new ecosystem and taking resources from native species.

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What are some effects of human carelessness on ecosystems?

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Human carelessness can lead to wildfires, pollution, habitat destruction, and the introduction of invasive species.

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Why do invasive species grow quickly in new environments?

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Invasive species often have no natural predators in their new environment, allowing their populations to grow rapidly.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

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How do human activities disrupt food webs?

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Human activities disrupt food webs through habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species.

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What is habitat destruction?

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Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered unable to support the species present, often due to human activities.

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What is pollution?

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, which can negatively impact ecosystems.