Environmental Problems

By: Luke Humphrey

Biodiversity Depletion:
Habitat destruction-the process in which natural habitat is damaged or destroyed and therefore
dubbed as unfit to support the species present there.
ause: Humans destroying natural habitats for commercial or other uses.
Habitat degradation-the process of the human origin that makes habitats less suitable to species
that present there by pollution or invading that habitat.
ause: Humans! plants! insects! or other organisms populating in the habitat. "lso
pollution from humans.
E#tinction-$he process or state in which a species! organism! family! or group no longer e#ists or
totally deceases
auses: Habitat loss! introduced species! pollution! population growth! and
overconsumption.
Food Supply Problems:
%vergra&ing-$o gra&e so much that the vegetation is damaged and the ground easily erodes
auses: Livestock in poorly managed agricultural settings and overpopulation of humans
or native wild animals.
'armland loss and (egradation-Loss of farmland area and inability of it to properly function due
to human activity.
ause: )ater logging! loss of nutrients to the soil! deforestation! and overgra&ing.
)etlands loss and (egradation-Loss of wetland area and impairment of wetland function due to
human activity
ause: Humans are using wetlands for various detrimental activities. %ther causes are
mass tourism! immigration! demands on water resources! and population
pressure from growth.
%verfishing-$o deplete the stock of fish in a body of water by too much fishing
auses: %vercapacity of fishing e*uipment! methods for fishing that catch too much fish!
and economic and food needs.
oastal Pollution-$he presence! or release of polluting substances onto the seashore or land near
it.
auses: +unoff from farmlands! coastal cities! sewer overflow! concentrated animal
feeding operations! storm water! and acid rain.
,oil Erosion-+emoval of topsoil faster than the soil forming process can replace it.
auses: )ater erosion! rain runoff! slope gradient and length! and cropping and
vegetation
,oil ,alini&ation-$he process of increasing salt content in the soil.
auses: -ineral weathering! and gradual withdrawal of the ocean.
,oil )ater logging-)hen the water table of the ground water is too high to conveniently permit
an anticipated activity on the soil like farming.
auses: Heavy rain combined with difficult soil conditions.
)ater ,hortages-$he lack of sufficient available water resource to meet the water demands in a
region.
ause: limate change! such as droughts or floods! and increased pollution.
.roundwater depletion-" term often defined as long term water level declines.
ause: ,ustained groundwater pumping.
Loss of Biodiversity-$he decline in the number of different species that live within a particular
ecosystem.
ause: Land use changes! pollution! changes in atmosphere %/ concentrations! acid
rain! and climate changes.
Poor nutrition-0utritional disease in humans directly caused by a lack of essential nutrients in the
diet.
ause: 1nder or over eating! lack of food! and consuming too much food low in fiber or
high fat! sodium and sugar.