Answer :
Final answer:
Ecosystems change due to human impacts and natural disruptions caused by factors like human activities and natural disasters.
Explanation:
Ecosystems are complex systems that change due to disturbances, which can be caused by both human impacts and natural disruptions. Natural disturbances like forest fires result in ecosystem recovery through processes like succession, while human activities such as deforestation and pollution also significantly alter ecosystems.
Learn more about Ecosystem change and disturbances here:
https://brainly.com/question/31456450
Human Impact
Habitat Destruction:
Deforestation: Clearing forests for agriculture, urban development, and logging destroys habitats, leading to loss of biodiversity.
Urbanization: Expanding cities and infrastructure fragment habitats, making it difficult for species to thrive and move between areas.
Pollution:
Air Pollution: Emissions from factories, vehicles, and other sources contribute to climate change and acid rain, affecting ecosystems and species survival.
Water Pollution: Chemicals, plastics, and waste materials contaminate water bodies, harming aquatic life and disrupting food chains.
Soil Pollution: Agricultural runoff, pesticides, and industrial waste degrade soil quality, affecting plant life and the organisms that depend on them.
Climate Change:
Global Warming: Increased greenhouse gases lead to rising temperatures, altering habitats, affecting migration patterns, and causing species to move to new areas or face extinction.
Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of storms, droughts, and floods disrupt ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
Overexploitation:
Overfishing: Depletes fish populations, disrupting marine ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Hunting and Poaching: Reduces wildlife populations, sometimes to the point of extinction, affecting predator-prey relationships and ecosystem balance.
Introduction of Invasive Species:
Non-native Species: Humans often introduce species to new environments, either intentionally or accidentally, where they can outcompete, prey on, or bring diseases to native species, disrupting local ecosystems.
Natural Disruptions
Natural Disasters:
Fires: Can destroy large areas of habitat, but also play a role in regeneration and maintaining certain ecosystems.
Floods: Alter landscapes, redistribute nutrients, and create new habitats, but can also displace species and degrade ecosystems.
Climate Variability:
Natural Climate Cycles: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns over time can affect ecosystems. For example, El Niño and La Niña events can cause significant changes in weather patterns.
Ice Ages and Interglacial Periods: Long-term climate changes can lead to massive shifts in ecosystems, such as the expansion and contraction of glaciers.
Biological Factors:
Disease Outbreaks: Epidemics can decimate populations of certain species, altering community structures and food webs.
Predation and Competition: Natural fluctuations in predator and prey populations, as well as competition for resources, drive changes in community dynamics.
Geological Events:
Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions: Can reshape landscapes, create new landforms, and destroy existing habitats, leading to changes in ecosystems.
Erosion and Sedimentation: Gradual processes that alter habitats, influence soil composition, and affect the availability of resources.
Interactions Between Human Impact and Natural Disruptions
Human activities often exacerbate the effects of natural disruptions, creating a feedback loop that accelerates ecological change:
Climate Change: Human-induced climate change can intensify natural weather patterns, leading to more severe natural disasters.
Deforestation and Fires: Human-induced deforestation can increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires.
Urbanization and Floods: Urban development can exacerbate the impact of floods by altering natural water flow and reducing the land's ability to absorb water.
