Human activity and ecosystem processes

Understanding Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of plants, animals and smaller organisms that live, feed, reproduce and interact in the same area or environment.
Human activity can have significant impacts on ecosystems and their processes, including disturbing habitats, changing nutrient cycles and altering energy flows.
Ecosystem processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration, are central to the planet’s overall health and stability.

Human Interaction with Ecosystems

Humans interact with ecosystems in a variety of ways, including through agriculture, deforestation, urban development and pollution.
Agriculture often involves large-scale changes to the land to grow crops or raise livestock, altering both the physical layout of the ecosystem and its nutrient cycles.
Deforestation, the clearance or removal of trees, can have major impacts on ecosystems by removing a key component of their structure and function.
Urban development often involves the destruction of natural habitats, which can disrupt biodiversity and lead to a loss of species.
Pollution can have major impacts on ecosystems, including water pollution from industrial waste, air pollution from burning fossil fuels, and soil pollution from agriculture and waste disposal.

Impacts of Human Activity on Ecosystem Processes

Human activity can dramatically alter ecosystem processes and disrupt their balance.
Changes to the physical layout of an ecosystem can disrupt patterns of energy flow and nutrient cycling.
For example, agriculture can lead to soil nutrient depletion and water pollution from fertilizer runoff.
Deforestation can disrupt the carbon cycle, as trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, store carbon in their wood, and then release it back into the atmosphere when they die.
Pollution can alter key chemical processes in ecosystems, such as those involved in water and nutrient cycling.

Protecting Ecosystems from Human Impact

It’s important to manage and mitigate human activities to protect ecosystems and minimise their impacts.
This might involve sustainable farming practices to preserve soil nutrients, implementing policies to prevent deforestation, or reducing air and water pollution.
Protected areas and conservation programmes can also play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function.
Education and awareness are vital components of efforts to protect ecosystems, as they can encourage more responsible behaviour and support for conservation measures.