An ecosystem has many abiotic and biotic interactions An ecosystem has many abiotic and biotic interactions happening all of the time! These interactions affect happening all of the time! These interactions affect how the ecosystem works and how it changes. how the ecosystem works and how it changes.

People are a part of ecosystems too. Sometimes, People are a part of ecosystems too. Sometimes, people don’t change ecosystems very much when they people don’t change ecosystems very much when they live in them:live in them:

Man and son Man and son making a canoe making a canoe out of a single out of a single rainforest treerainforest tree

Many Native Americans Many Native Americans lived in harmony with lived in harmony with ecosystemsecosystems

And sometimes, people change ecosystems a lot when And sometimes, people change ecosystems a lot when they move in:they move in:

What ecosystem changes do you see here?What ecosystem changes do you see here?

Sometimes, people create their very own types of Sometimes, people create their very own types of “ecosystems.” These “ecosystems” are different from “ecosystems.” These “ecosystems” are different from many natural environments in some ways. many natural environments in some ways.

What kind of an ecosystem would you What kind of an ecosystem would you create?create?

(This is Biosphere2, the first human This is Biosphere2, the first human attempt at making a complex ecosystem attempt at making a complex ecosystem that is completely indoors. It is in that is completely indoors. It is in Arizona.)Arizona.)

Human impact on the Human impact on the EnvironmentEnvironment

Even though we see severe changes in Even though we see severe changes in our environment we don’t know how our environment we don’t know how much is people caused.much is people caused.

Be good Scientists! Question Be good Scientists! Question EVERYTHING! Even this presentation.EVERYTHING! Even this presentation.

Famous people claim we are THE ONE Famous people claim we are THE ONE REASON for all the changes on earth! REASON for all the changes on earth!

WE are part of the reason. Are we the WE are part of the reason. Are we the only reason?only reason?

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

First First

A Question!A Question!

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

What gas is produced What gas is produced when we burn wood or when we burn wood or gasoline? It is the same gasoline? It is the same

gas we breathe out.gas we breathe out.

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

AnswerAnswer

Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide

COCO22

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide absorbs sunlight and absorbs sunlight and

heats the air around the heats the air around the Earth.Earth.

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

For every 1 pound of For every 1 pound of gasoline we burn in our gasoline we burn in our cars we put 4 pounds of cars we put 4 pounds of

carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide in the air.air.

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

What planet near us is What planet near us is mostly Carbon dioxide mostly Carbon dioxide

in its atmosphere?in its atmosphere?

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

AnswerAnswer

VenusVenus

Its atmosphere is 96% Its atmosphere is 96% Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide

and is 462 C.and is 462 C.

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

This is 430 degrees This is 430 degrees hotter than any spot on hotter than any spot on the surface of the earth.the surface of the earth.

Human impact on the EnvironmentHuman impact on the Environment

What we know!What we know!

What else do we seeWhat else do we see

that is changing in our that is changing in our environment?environment?