Bushfires - Impact:
- Caused by lighting or human impact
- Destruction of vegetation and habitats
- Loss of animal and plant species
- Soil erosion and degradation
- Release of greenhouse gases and air pollution
- Alteration of water quality and aquatic ecosystem
Disruption of ecological processes and food chains
Flood - Impact:
- Alteration of river ecosystem
- Erosion and sedimentation
- Displacement of terrestrial and aquatic species
- Contamination of water and pollutants
- Destruction of vegetation and habitats
- Disruption of natural drainage systems
- Spread of waterborne diseases
Changes in nutrient cycling and water quality
Droughts - Impact:
- Reduced water availability
- Decline in plant productivity
- Loss of biodiversity
- Increased competition for water resources
- Changes in species composition and distribution
- Soil degradation and desertification
Introduced Species- A species that has been intentionally or inadvertently brought into a region or area. Can affect the native species from killing them or taking there food source.
Example:
• Andropogan gayanus (gamba grass) was first introduced to the Northern Territory in 1931 for testing as a pasture grass which means they are used for food for cattle, Andropogan gayanus (gamba grass) is an invasive species of grass that has killed native grasses and plants.
An example is the Queensland cane toad that got introduced to eat insects that would eat the sugar cane. But they ate all the insects and with no predators they have got a bigger population and the ecosystem couldn't keep up.
Habitat Destruction-Habitat destruction is where something (could be natural or could be caused by humans) causes animals homes/habitats to be destroyed and it can effect the ecosystem
• For example: bushfires can ruin tree hollows for endangered birds to breed in, sleep in and be sheltered
• increases erosion, and reduces the nutrient levels in terrestrial ecosystems
• It reduces the population of native species
Endangers wildlife
Chemical Pesticides- Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Pesticides are very useful for controlling mice and rat populations, termites and weeds, but can pose significant risks to wildlife
Runoff from areas treated with pesticides can pollute streams, ponds, lakes, and wells.
Pesticide residues in surface water can harm plants and animals and contaminate groundwater. Water contamination can affect livestock and crops downstream.
Pesticides can be toxic to a host of other organisms including birds, fish, beneficial insects, and non-target plants. Animals like hawks, owls, squirrels, skunks, deer, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, and bobcats can be killed by pesticides even though they are not the target.
Chemical Pollution -Chemical pollution refers to the contamination of chemicals that are not found there naturally. For an example pesticides and herbicides. Chemical pollution mainly occurs in oil refineries, coal power plants, construction, mining & smelting, transportation and many more. The country Chad has the most chemical pollution.
Chemical pollution threaten the Earth's systems by damaging the biological and physical process that underpin all of life. These affects include damage to the liver, kidneys, nervous system, blood cardiovascular system, immune system, and the reproduction system.
Overcropping - Overcropping can cause decrease of animal populations, it depletes the soil's nutrients and degrades the overall health and fertility of the soil.
3 quarters of the farmland in sub-Saharan Africa has a case of overcropping which is leading to a hunger crisis. Too much crops is degrading and depleting the health of the soil. African farmers cannot afford the needed amount of fertilisers to replenish all of the nutrients back into the soil. This problem is affecting more than 240 Africans.
Overcropping Examples: Overpopulation, Continuous fertilizer application, Deforestation, soil degradation and flooding.