Chapter 32: Human Impact on the Biosphere

Penicillin

Penicillin

________ is derived from a fungus, tetracycline, and streptomycin from bacteria.

Saltwater Intrusion

________ is another consequence of groundwater depletion, reducing the supply of fresh water along the coast.

Deforestation

________ causes a loss of biodiversity and an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Coastal Wetlands

________ serve as spawning areas for fish and other forms of marine life, buffers against hurricane storm surges, and reduce shoreline erosion.

Photovoltaic Cells

________ generate electricity that can be used or sold to power companies.

Genetic Engineering

________ can produce transgenic plants with new and different traits, such as resistance to insects and herbicides and tolerance to salt, drought, and cold.

Decomposers

________ break down dead organic matter and other types of waste into inorganic nutrients, which are used by the producers within ecosystems.

Biological Communities

________ can break down and immobilize pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides.

Amoebocyte Lysate

Limulus ________ from horseshoe crab blood is used to ensure medical devices are free of bacteria.

Minerals

________ are nonrenewable raw materials found in the Earth's crust.

Salinization

________ makes land unsuitable for growing crops.

Passive Solar Heating

________ is successful with proper building orientation and insulation.

Dams

________ catch 14 % of all precipitation runoff, provide water for up to 40 % of irrigated land, and give some 65 countries more than half their electricity.

Desertification

________ is the conversion of semiarid land to desert- like conditions.

Mites

________ have wiped out over 20 % of the commercial honeybee population in the US.

Bees

Most flowering plants are pollinated by animals like ________, wasps, butterflies, beetles, birds, and bats.

Agriculture

________ requires large inputs of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy, fertilizer, and pesticides, leading to pollution.

Multipurpose Trees

________ can provide numerous products and functions.

Freshwater Supply

________ is increased by damming rivers and withdrawing water from aquifers to support human population growth.

Intact Terrestrial Ecosystems

________ naturally prevent soil erosion and retain soil.

Leprosy

________ has no cure, but the bacterium that causes it grows naturally in the nine- banded armadillo.

Future Generations of Humans

A sustainable society is able to provide the same goods and services for ________ as it does now while preserving biodiversity.

Conservation Biology

________ is considered a crisis discipline due to the projected loss of 10- 20 % of Earth's biodiversity in the next 20- 50 years.

Hydrocarbons

Halogenated ________ are a type of synthetic organic compound that includes chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which have caused a thinning of the Earth's ozone shield.

Species

________- rich forest in the Peruvian Amazon is worth more if used for fruit and rubber production than for timber production.

Forests

________ reduce the possibility and degree of flooding by holding water.

Community

________- generated electricity can be sold to a local public utility.

Topsoil

________ is the richest in organic matter and supports grass and crops.

Organic Matter

Cover crops, multiuse farming, and replenishing soil nutrients through composting are methods to increase ________ in soil.

LDCs

The green revolution was a dramatic increase in yield due to the introduction of new tropical wheat and rice varieties around the world, specifically for farmers in ________.

Decomposition

________ helps humans by breaking down waste material dumped into natural ecosystems each year.

Canada

Wetlands in ________ have a value of $ 50, 000 per hectare per year for their ability to purify water and take up pollutants.

Ecosystems

________ are characterized by energy flow and chemical cycling.

Indirect Values

________ are wide- ranging and not easily perceptible.

Freshwater

________ ecosystems, such as rivers and lakes, provide fish and other organisms for consumption.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced once they are used up, such as fossil fuels and minerals.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be replaced over time, such as solar energy and wind power.

Pollution

The presence of harmful substances in the environment that can cause damage to human health and the environment.

Deforestation

The clearing of forests for human use, which can lead to soil erosion, flooding, and the loss of biodiversity.

Fossil Fuels

Fuels that were formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Minerals

Naturally occurring, inorganic substances that have a specific chemical composition and physical properties.

Sustainable Society

A society that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Ozone-depleting substances that were once used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol cans.