Week 2 Ecological Processes

Week 2
SYCPA Regents Prep Living Environment

Ecological Processes
Week 2 Ecological Processes
This packet provides a review of concepts that may be tested in the NYS Living Environment Regents and is based on the NYS Core Curriculum. This course will cover individual topics over 6 weeks as listed below:
Week Week Week Week Week Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 - Scientific Method - Ecology - Human Body Systems Molecular Biology & Genetics - Labs - Evolution & Human Impact
The order of these topics is chosen based on their average weight in past Living Environment Regents. The individual packets will consist of a review for the specific topic followed by past regents questions.
Good Luck! SYCPA Say Yes Collegiate Prep Academy
Ecological Processes Review
Biospheres
Vocabulary: abiotic factors, biotic factors, carrying capacity, competition, predator, prey, parasite, host, scavenger, decomposer, autotroph, producer, herbivore, primary consumer, carnivore, secondary consumer, omnivore, heterotroph, food chain, food web, energy pyramid, transpiration
Biotic vs. Abiotic

Organisms with similar needs may compete with one another for resources, including food, space, water, air, and shelter. In any particular environment, the growth and survival of organisms depend on the physical conditions including light intensity, temperature range, mineral availability, soil type, and pH. Physical or non-living factors such as these which influence living things are called abiotic factors. Living factors which influence living things are called biotic factors. Some examples of biotic factors include disease and predation.
Energy Flow
Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, typically from the Sun, through photosynthetic organisms or producers, to herbivores to carnivores and decomposers. The chemical elements that make up the molecules of living things pass through food webs and are combined and recombined in different ways. At each link in a food web, some energy is stored in newly made structures but much energy is lost into the environment as heat. Continual input of energy from sunlight is required to keep this process going. Energy pyramids are often used to show the flow of energy in ecosystems.
Material Cycles
The atoms and molecules on the Earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of the biosphere. Carbon dioxide and water molecules used in photosynthesis to form energyrich organic compounds are returned to the environment when the energy in these compounds is eventually released by cells through the processes of cell respiration and other life activities. The number of organisms any environment can support is called its carrying capacity. The carrying capacity of an environment is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, and minerals, and by the ability of ecosystems to recycle the remains of dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi.Living organisms have the capacity to produce populations of unlimited size, but available resources in their environments are finite. This restricts the growth of populations and produces competition between organisms.
Organism Relationships
Organisms interactions may be competitive or beneficial. Organisms may interact with one another in several ways. Some of these relationships include producer/consumer, predator/prey, orparasite/host relationships. Other organisms interactions include those in which one organism may cause disease in, scavenge, or decomposeanother.
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Feeding Relationships
Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, typically from the Sun, through photosynthetic organisms including green plants and algae, to herbivores to carnivores and decomposers. Green plants and algae are called autotrophs or producer organisms, as they capture solar energy to make sugars in the process of photosynthesis. Herbivores orprimary consumers use the producer organisms to provide them with their food. Carnivores are secondary consumers as they eat the primary consumers as their source of food. Some organisms are capable of functioning as primary consumers (eating plant material) and as secondary consumers (eating animal material). These organisms are called omnivores. Humans are examples of omnivores. All consumers are examples of heterotrophic organisms, as they can not make their own food using the sun, but depend upon the ingestion of other organisms for their nutrition.
Food Chains If an ecosystem is to be self-sustaining it must contain a flow of energy. One way of representing the flow of energy through the living components of an ecosystem is through the use of a food chain. A food chain indicates the transfer of energy from producers through a series of organisms which feed upon each other.
A Food Chain The algae and floating plants are theproducers in this food chain. The aquatic crustaceans are the primary consumers which eat the producers. Fish are secondary consumers eating the primary consumers. Note that the arrows in the food chain point to the organisms which are doing the eating. Thus the arrows in the food chain represent the flow of energy through the ecosystem. A food chain may also contain third level or other consumers as indicated by the raccoons in this food chain.
Food Webs In a natural community, the flow of energy and materials is much more complicated than illustrated by any one food chain. A food web is a series of interrelated food chains which provides a more accurate picture of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem, as more than one thing will usually eat a particular species.
A Food Web Energy flow in a food web also starts with the producer organisms through the various levels of consumer organisms as in a food chain.
Energy Pyramids An energy pyramid provides a means of describing the feeding and energy relationships within a food chain or web. Each step of an energy pyramid shows that some energy is stored in newly made structures of the organism which eats the preceding one. The pyramid also shows that much of the energy is lost when one organism in a food chain eats another. Most of this energy which is lost goes into the environment as heat energy. While a continuous input of energy from
sunlight keeps the process going, the height of energy pyramids (and therefore the length of food chains) is limited by this loss of energy.
An Energy Pyramid
The picture at the left is an energy pyramid. Producer organisms represent the greatest amount of living tissue orbiomass at the bottom of the pyramid. The organisms which occupy the rest of the pyramid belong to the feeding levels indicated in each step. On average, each feeding level only contains 10% of the energy as the one below it, with the energy that is lost mostly being transformed to heat.
Material Cycles: Water Cycle
The atoms and molecules on the Earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of the biosphere. Some of the water molecules which are used in photosynthesis are returned to the environment. The change of water from the liquid to the gas state is called evaporation, while the water lost to the atmosphere by the activities of plants is referred to as transpiration water loss. This water vapor eventually condenses to form clouds, and is returned to the earth as precipitation. This process is called the water cycle. The processes of cell respiration and excretion also releases some water to the environment as well.
The Water Cycle

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Carbon-Oxygen Cycle
Carbon dioxide molecules are used in the process of photosynthesis to form energy-rich organic sugar compounds. These carbon dioxide molecules are returned to the environment by the process of cell respiration, when the energy from these compounds is eventually released by cells. Some carbon is also returned to the environment by the decomposition of dead organisms. Oxygen is required by many living things to release the energy in their food in the process of aerobic cellular respiration. Oxygen is released to the environment as a waste product of the process of photosynthesis. The Carbon-Oxygen Cycle
Other compounds, such as nitrogen, are cycled in the environment when organisms synthesize proteins from simpler compounds and then return these nitrogen compounds to the environment when they die and decompose.
Role of Decomposers
The number of organisms any environment can support is the carrying capacity of the environment. Carrying capacity is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, and minerals, and by the ability of ecosystems to recycle the remains of dead organisms through the activities of decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. _____________________________________________________________________________ _
Ecosystems/Communities
Vocabulary: limiting factors, ecological succession, symbiotic, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, pioneer species, climax community Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors are those non-living physical and chemical factors which affect the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce.
Some Abiotic Factors

light intensity temperature range type of soil or rock pH level (acidity or alkalinity) water availability dissolved gases level of pollutant
Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determining the types and numbers of organisms that exist in that environment. Factors which determine the types and numbers of organisms of a species in an ecosystem are called limiting factors. Many limiting factors restrict the growth of populations in nature. An example of this would include low annual average temperature average common to the Arctic restricts the growth of trees, as the subsoil is permanently frozen. Biotic Factors Biotic factors are all the living things or their materials that directly or indirectly affect an organism in its

environment. This would include organisms, their presence, parts, interaction, and wastes. Factors such as parasitism, disease, and predation (one animal eating another) would also be classified as biotic factors.
Some Biotic Factors

parasitism disease predation
Ecological Succession
The environment may be changed greatly through the activities of organisms, including humans, or when climate changes. Although sometimes these changes occur quickly, in most cases species gradually replace others, resulting in long term changes in ecosystems. These changes in an ecosystem over time are called ecological succession. Ecosystems may reach a point of stability that can last for hundreds or thousands of years. If a disaster occurs, the damaged ecosystem is likely to recover in stages that eventually result in a stable system similar to the original one.
Feeding Relationships
Organisms may interact with one another in several ways. One example of an organism interaction is that of a producer/consumer relationship. A producer is any organism capable of making its own food, usually sugars by photosynthesis. Plants and algae are examples of producers. Aconsumer is any organism which eats another organism. Several different types of consumer organisms exist. A herbivore is a consumer which eats primarily plant material. A deer is an example of a herbivore. A carnivore consumes primarily animal material. An omnivore eats both plant and animal matter. Humans are examples of omnivorous organisms. A predator is a type of carnivore that kills its food. The organism the predator feeds upon is called its prey. A wolf and rabbit would provide an example of a predator/prey relationship. Scavengers feed upon organisms that other organisms have killed. A crow feeding off dead carrion in the highway would be an example of scavenger in this instance.
Scavengers Feeding
The cartoon above represents a typical situation where vultures are acting as scavengers feeding on a dead rhinoceros.
Symbiotic Relationships Close living associations are called symbiotic relationships.
Parasitism is an example of such a relationship. In this situation, the parasite feeds upon the tissues or fluids or another organism, but usually does not kill the organism it feeds upon, as this would destroy its food supply. The organism the parasite feeds upon is called the host organism. An example of this sort of relationship would be fleas on a dog or athlete's foot fungus on a human. Types of Symbiosis

parasitism: the parasite benefits at the expense of the host mutualism: both organisms benefit from the association commensalism: one organism is benefited and the other is unharmed
Other Relationships Some organisms such as certain pathogenic bacteria may cause disease in other organisms.Decomposer organisms use the energy of dead organisms for food and break them
down into materials which can be recycled for use by other organisms. Bacteria of decay and many fungi are examples of decomposer organisms.
Ecosystem Stability
The interrelationships and interdependencies of organisms affect the development of stable

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ecosystems. The types of animal communities found in an ecosystem is dependent upon the kinds of plants and other producer organisms in that ecosystem.
Succession
The environment may be altered in substantial ways through the activities of humans, other living things, or when natural disasters occur, such as climate changes and volcanic eruptions. Although these changes are sometimes occur very quickly, in most cases species replace others gradually, resulting in long-term changes in ecosystems. These gradual long term changes in altered ecosystems are called ecological successions. Ecosystems tend to change with time until a stable system is formed. The type of succession which occurs in an ecosystem depends upon climatic and other limitations of a given geographical area.
A Typical New York State Succession
Pioneer organisms are the first organisms to reoccupy an area which has been disturbed by a disruption. Typical pioneers in a succession include grasses in a plowed field or lichens on rocks. These pioneer organisms modify their environment, ultimately creating conditions which are less favorable for themselves, but establishing conditions under which more advanced organisms can live. Over time, the succession occurs in a series of plant stages which leads to a stable final community which is very similar to the plant community which originally existed in the ecosystem. This final stable plant community is called a climax community. This community may reach a point of stability that can last for hundreds or thousands of years.
A Pond Succession Sequence

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It has been observed that when natural disasters occur, such as a floods or fires, the damaged ecosystem is likely to recover in a series of successional stages that eventually result in a stable system similar to the original one that occupied the area. A Typical New York State Succession
This chart represents a typical succession which is observed in New York State. The annual grasses represent thepioneer or first organisms in this succession. The beech-maple forest would represent a typical Northern New Yorkclimax community. The climax community will last hundreds or thousands of years unless again disrupted. A forest containing oak and/or hickory trees would be a more typical Southern New York climax community.
Populations
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Vocabulary: ecology, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere, cycling, biodiversity, habitat, niche Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity is the maximum number of organisms the resources of an ecosystem can support. The carrying capacity of the environment is limited by the available abiotic and biotic resources (limiting factors), as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi. Ecological Organization
Ecology is the study of the interactions of living things with each other and their physical environment. The living things on earth may be organized into four different levels of ecological organization. These levels of organization are indicated in the table below. Levels of Ecological Organization 1. population 2. community all the members of one species in an area all the members of the different interacting species in an area all the members of a community plus the abiotic (physical) factors influencing them entire region of the earth where living things may be found
3. ecosystem
4. biosphere
A Representation of A Community
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This is a community of many different organisms which could exist on milkweed. The community contains many organisms of different species in one location.
A Pond Ecosystem
This is a pond ecosystem. There are many organisms of different species in this location interacting with the air, water, and land components of this environment.
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Nutritional Interactions
All ecosystems must have three basic kinds of nutritional interactions in order to be stable and self-sustaining. These nutritional interactions involve producers, consumers, and decomposers. A producer organism is one that is capable of trapping the Sun's energy to make glucose sugar in the process of photosynthesis. Plants and algae are examples of producer organisms. Sometimes producer organisms are called autotrophs. Consumer organisms depend upon and eat other organisms for their food. Sometimes consumer organisms are called heterotrophs. Many different categories of consumer organisms exist. A herbivore eats primarily plant material, while acarnivore eats primarily other animals. An omnivore is a consumer that eats both plant and animal material. Humans are an example of an omnivore. A decomposer is a special category of consumer organism.Decomposers break down dead organic matter and change it to simpler nutrients which can be recycled in the ecosystem.
Circle of Life In order for an ecosystem to sustain life, several conditions must be met.
Some Conditions for a Stable Ecosystem
A constant source of energy and a living system capable of incorporating this energy into organic molecules. (This means plants and/or algae are needed to convert solar energy to the energy of sugars by the process of photosynthesis.) A cycling of materials between organisms and their environment. (Some material cycles include oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen.) Decomposers, such as bacteria of decay and some fungi are needed in every ecosystem to return and recycle necessary materials to the environment.
The greater the number of different populations that interact within an ecosystem, the more stable and self-sustaining the ecosystem becomes. The number of different populations within an ecosystem is sometimes referred to as biodiversity. These interactions contribute to the overall maintenance of the ecosystem.
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Niche Concept Competition occurs when two different species or organism living in the same environment or habitat use the same limited resources such as food, water, space, light, oxygen, or minerals. A resource which restricts the growth of a population is sometimes called a limiting factor. The more similar the requirements of the organisms involved, the more intense their competition will become. If two different species compete for the same food source, reproductive site, water, or other limiting factor, one species may be eliminated. This establishes one species per niche in an ecosystem. A niche refers to an organisms role, especially its feeding role, in a community. This allows different species to coexist and helps to contribute to the overall stability of the ecosystem.
Niche Concept
Three different species of a kind of bird called a warbler are coexisting in this tree, even though the eat the same kind of food. These birds are feeding in different levels of this tree. In this way, these birds have evolved to occupy differentniches.
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Human Biosphere/Influence
Vocabulary: biodiversity, monoculture, greenhouse effect, endangered species, exotic/invasive species, acid precipitation, global warming, CFCs, SEQR, biodegradable Biodiversity
Due to evolution, there is a great number of different organisms which fill many different roles in ecosystems. The number of different organisms in an ecosystem is called biodiversity. Increased biodiversity increases the stability of the ecosystem. Biodiversity also ensures the availability of diverse genetic material that may lead to future discoveries with significant value to humans. As diversity is lost, potential sources of these materials for these discoveries may be lost with it. A great diversity of species provides for variations which increase the chance that at least some living things will survive in the face of large changes in the environment.
Biodiversity
As a result of evolutionary processes, there is a diversity of organisms and a diversity of roles in ecosystems. Biodiversity refers to the differences in living things in an ecosystem. Increased biodiversity increases the stability of the ecosystem as it provides for more genetic variation among species. A great diversity of species increases the chance that at least some living things will survive in the face of large changes in the environment. The Need for Biodiversity
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Human Influences on Biodiversity

When humans alter ecosystems either by removing specific organisms, serious consequences may result. Human beings are part of the Earths ecosystems. Human activities can, deliberately or accidentally, change the equilibrium in ecosystems. Humans are destroying other species as a result of population growth, consumption, and technology. Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is especially threatening current global biodiversity. An example of a human activity which has decreased biodiversity is the use of monoculture in modern agricultural practices. Monocultureinvolves planting one variety of a species over a huge area. This leaves this area more vulnerable to predation or disease and the loss of many or all species.
Uses of Biodiversity In addition to the aesthetic beauty added to the world by many different organisms, biodiversity also ensures the availability of a rich variety of genetic material that
may lead to future agricultural or medical discoveries with significant value to humankind. As diversity is lost, potential sources of these materials may be lost with it.
Interrelationships The Earth has limited resources to support the organisms that live on it. Increasing human population numbers are putting great pressure on many of these limited resources and deplete those resources which can not be renewed. Many different natural processes occur within those ecosystems influencing humans. Some of these processes include atmospheric quality. soil generation and conservation, energy flow, the water cycle, waste removal and recycling. Human activities are altering the equilibrium involved in these natural processes and cycles. If these changes due to human activities are not addressed, the stability of the world's ecosystems may irreversibly affected. Technological Developments Human activities which have harmed ecosystems have resulted in a loss of diversity in both living things and the nonliving environment. Examples of these changes include land use, the cutting of vast areas of forest, and pollution of the soil, air, and water. Another way humans have changed ecosystems in a harmful way is by adding or removing specific organisms to these ecosystems Our ever increasing demand for energy has impacted ecosystems negatively as well. Many environmental risks are associated with our use of fossil and nuclear fuels. Many factors associated with human populations have influenced environmental quality. These include population growth and distribution on our planet, our use of resources, the
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ability of technology to solve environmental problems, as well as the role of economic, political, ethical, and cultural views in solving these problems.
Improvements
Individual choices and the actions of society can contribute to the improvement of our environmental problems. Our choices which must include an assessment of the risks, costs, benefits, and trade-offs of new technologies and continued human expansion. All changes and proposed improvements need to consider both the human and environmental impact of the change.
Interrelationships The Earth has limited to resources to support populations of humans and other organisms. Our ever increasing human numbers is depleting many of our planet's resources and placing severe stress on the natural processes that renew many of our resources. Ecosystem Processes Natural ecosystems are involved in a wide variety of natural processes influencing humans and other organisms. The activities of humans in the environment are changing many of these natural processes in a harmful fashion. Some of these natural processes and a brief description of a human influence on these processes is indicated in the table which follows. Human Influence on Some Ecosystem Processes Ecosystem Process Generation of Soils Human Influence Agricultural practices have exposed soil to the weather resulting in great loss of topsoil. The cutting of forests and other human activities have allowed increased uncontrolled runoff leading to increased erosion and flooding. Untreated sewage wastes and runoff from farms and feedlots have led to increased water pollution. Some industries and nuclear plants have added thermal pollution to the environment. The release of some gases from the burning of fossil fuels may be slowly increasing the Earth's temperature.
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Control of the Water Cycle
Removal of Wastes
Energy Flow
(Greenhouse Effect). The use of packaging material which does not break down, burning of refuse, and the placing of materials in landfills prevents the return of some useful materials to the environment.
Nutrient Recycling
Some Detrimental Human Activities Humans are part of the Earth's ecosystem. Human activities can either deliberately or inadvertently alter the balance of an ecosystem. This destruction of habitat, whether accidental or intentional, is threatening the stability of the planet's ecosystems. If these human influences are not addressed, the stability of many ecosystems may be irreversibly affected. Some of the ways that humans damage and destroy ecosystems are indicated in the table below.
Some Ways Humans Adversely Influence Ecosystems Human Influence Population growth Effect on Ecosystems Our increasing numbers are using excessive amounts of the Earth's limited resources.
Industrialized societies are using more Overconsumption resources per person from our planet than people from poor nations. Advancing Technologies Often we introduce technology without knowing how it will influence the environment
This has resulted in a large loss of Direct Harvesting rainforest and the many products associated with its biodiversity. Pollution Land, air, water, and nuclear pollution have had many adverse influences on ecosystems. These include the addition of Greenhouse gases mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels and depletion of our stratospheric ozone layer. Other pollutants also have negative effects on living things.
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Atmospheric Changes
Technological Developments Human technologies which degrade the environment result in a loss of diversity in the living and nonliving environment. Biodiversity refers to the differences in living things in an ecosystem. Many of our technologies and resource use practices have resulted in an irreversible loss of biodiversity. Some examples of human activities which have negatively influenced other organisms include our land use practices and pollution. Excessive land use decreases the space and resources available to other species on the planet. Air, soil, and water pollution changes the composition of these environmental resources, making them harmful and unusable for other species and sometimes ourselves. Endangered Species Endangered species are those species which are threatened with destruction due to habitat destruction or other factors. Animals which were once endangered but are presently
successfully reproducing and increasing their numbers are the bison, gray wolves and egrets. Other endangered animals which are currently responding to conservation efforts and beginning to make a comeback are the whooping crane, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. Even with these successes, the future of many endangered species remains in doubt. Exotic Species The importation of some organisms have caused problems for native organisms. Organisms which are imported into an area from another region are called exotic species. Many examples of this are found world-wide. Some common examples of exotic species having negative effects would include the rabbits and deer which were imported into Australia. These exotic species won the competition with many native herbivorous marsupials and became nuisance species. The starling was brought into the United States from Europe. The starling has out competed many of our native songbirds. We also have alien invasive species which have caused problems in New York State. These include the plants such as the Water Chestnut, Eurasian Water milfoil, and Purple Loosestrife and animals such as the Alewife and Zebra Mussel.
The Purple Loosestrife
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Purple loosestrife is a plant native to Europe. It was brought to North America in the early 1800's by immigrants who valued its beautiful purple flowers. It is now a serious pest of wetlands. Once purple loosestrife enters a wetland, it takes over. Common native wetland plants, such as cattails, cannot compete with purple loosestrife. Once these native plants are choked out, the wildlife that depends on them for food and shelter are also eliminated.
Use of Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels are becoming rapidly depleted. The use of these fuels are adding to out air pollution problems. The search and demand for additional fossil fuel resources also impact ecosystems in a negative way. Industrialization has brought an increased demand for and use of energy. One of the ways the increased burning of fossil fuels has had a harmful influence of the environment is by causing an increased incidence of acid precipitation.
How does Acid Precipitation occur?
Most acid rain influencing New York State is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide pollution from the burning of fossil fuels in the Western and Midwestern United States. These gases combine with
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water vapor in the atmosphere and fall back to the earth over New York and the Eastern United States as acid precipitation.
Some Problems Associated With Acid Precipitation

Destruction of limestone and marble monuments due to increased chemical weathering Acidification of aquatic ecosystems destroying the life in them Damage forests and other plants in a variety of ways
Our increased burning of fossil fuels and the release of excess carbon dioxide to the atmosphere associated with their combustion is also contributing to the Greenhouse Effect or global warming. It is believed the increase in level of carbon dioxide and some other gases is not allowing much infrared or heat radiation to escape the planet into outer space. This is causing our planet to slowly warm The graphs in the table below show the link between increasing earth carbon dioxide levels and the increase in global average temperatures.
Relationship Between Global Temperature and Carbon Dioxide Levels
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Some Consequences of Global Warming

Rising sea levels and coastal flooding Changed precipitation patterns which may result in droughts in some regions and increased levels of crop failure An increase in insect borne diseases in temperate regions such as New York State as milder winters fail to kill the disease carrying insects. (The increase in the incidence of West Nile virus may be an example of this.)
Ozone Depletion CFC's (chloroflurocarbons) are very active chemicals associated with certain human manufacturing processes and products. This CFC pollution from refrigerants and plastics are destroying our thin ozone shield high up in our atmosphere or in the stratosphere. This layer of ozone normally shields us from excessive incoming ultraviolet radiation. Some consequences of this ever increasing ozone depletion appear to be an increased incidence of skin cancers and cataracts in the human population. Nuclear Energy While nuclear energy avoids many of the pollution drawbacks associated with the increased burning of fossil fuels, there are many risks associated with the use of nuclear fuels for energy. Environmental dangers exist in reference to obtaining, using, and storing the wastes from these fuels. Many of the waste products of used nuclear fuel stay in the environment for thousands of years and release radiation which is harmful to humans or other living things. Additionally, the water used to cool many nuclear reactors must be released eventually to the
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environment. The thermal pollution associated with this released heat into the water is potentially dangerous to the aquatic life in the area where this hot water is released. Other Factors Influencing Environmental Quality Many different factors besides industry and resource use have influences on environmental quality. Some factors include population growth and distribution, resource use, the capacity of technology to solve environmental problems, as well as economic, cultural, political, and ethical views.
Some Examples of Political or Cultural Views Influencing Environmental Quality

Wealthy people in the developed world tend to have fewer children. Some countries like China have laws concerning the number of children a couple may have without penalty. In some countries such as many in Latin America, families tend to be larger as birth control violates religious and societal norms. In some poor cultures in third world countries, having many children is seen as a means of having economic security in old age.
Through a greater awareness of ecological principles and application of these principles to our natural environment, humans can help assure there will be suitable environments for succeeding generations of life on our planet. Individuals in our societies will always have to make decisions on proposals involving the introduction of new technologies. Individuals in these societies need to make decisions which will assess the risks, benefits, trade-offs, and costs of these new technologies. The economic rewards of these technologies must be properly balanced with any adverse consequences these new technologies may have on the environment. It may be impossible to completely assess the consequences of introducing a new technology, but critical questions in reference to its introduction must be asked.
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While the overall impact of humans on the planet's ecosystems have been negative, humans have done many things to improve the overall quality for living things in ecosystems we have damaged or destroyed. Activities having possible adverse effects on the environment in New York State are subject to review by SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review Act). Some other ways in which humans have attempted to minimize negative impacts or improve the ecosystems we are all a part of are listed in the table which follows.
Some Positive Influences of Humans on the Ecosystem

Sustaining endangered species by using habitat protection methods such as wildlife refuges and national parks. Passing wildlife management laws, such as game laws and catch restrictions. Adding lime to Adirondack lakes in an effort to neutralize their acid pollution so the original living things in these lakes can be reintroduced. Design new products which meet basic needs without generating pollution. Inspection of all materials before entering the country to prevent pest introduction. Increased use of biodegradable packaging materials which will recycle themselves quickly to the environment. Use fuels which contain less pollutants, such as low sulfur coal and oil. Remove pollutants by using such devices as afterburners or catalytic converters before they enter the air.
Review provided by regentsprep.org and The NYS Core Curriculum
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Ecological Processes Regents Questions
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SYCPA Regents Prep Living Environment