Environmental Impact of Human Activities

# General Information
- 20 questions total, worth 80 points.
- Replacement of original 65 points with 80 points for each unit.
# Bonus Points
- After completing the survey, a page will provide instructions for bonus points.
- Do not send emails regarding completion without following bonus point instructions.
- Input required: course CRN, first name, last name.

# Current Status
- Checkpoint survey due Monday.
- Next exam scheduled for Wednesday, the 29th. No weekend available for studying.
# Team Activity
- Activity number eight is planned, with extra accommodations.
# Review Session
- Jeffrey review session on Monday before the exam on the 29th.
- Impact survey due on the same day as the exam.
# Final Exam
- Scheduled for May 6 from 6PM to 8PM.
- Students with more than three exams on the same day should email the professor to reschedule.

# Focus Areas of the Unit
- Geological history and origin of different groups of organisms.
- Evolution from simple to complex life and major mass extinctions.
- Human origins and population growth.
- Concept of the Anthropocene.
- Human impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation strategies.
- Aim for sustainable human living.
# Understanding the Anthropocene
- Definition: Unofficial geological time defined by significant human influence on Earth systems.
- Etymology: "Anthropo" meaning humans and "cene" meaning new; indicating a new age of humans.
- Discussion on human population expansion and environmental impacts.
# Ecosystem Engineer Concept
- Definition: Species that significantly shape their environment; humans are global ecosystem engineers.
- Impacts include urbanization, habitat destruction, and restoration efforts (e.g., reforestation).

# Habitat Loss
- Causes include urban development and agriculture.
- Examples: Deforestation in the Amazon, coral reefs' damage.
- Consequences: Species numbers decline, potential extinction.
# Human Energy Consumption
- Humans use approximately 25% of Earth’s total photosynthesis.
- Dependence on agricultural land: 10-15% for crops, 6-8% for pasture.
# Deforestation Consequences
- Impact on biodiversity and ecosystems; trees' removal leads to loss of various species.
- Projected extinction risk: 40-50% of Amazon tree species over the next century.

# Pollution
- Definition: Introduction of harmful substances disrupting ecosystems.
- Types include: air pollution, water pollution, plastic pollution.
- Air Pollution Example: Pesticides affecting bee populations.
- Plastic Pollution Example: Aquatic species harmed by entanglement and ingestion.
# Biological Magnification
- Definition: Increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms at higher trophic levels.
- Example: PCBs increasing in predators such as herring gulls.

# Definition
- Harvesting organisms at an unsustainable rate, affecting population recovery.
# Examples
- Overfishing of carp in New Zealand; sharp decline by the 1990s.
- Shark populations declining due to heavy fishing; extinction risk increases.
- Poaching of elephants and rhinos for ivory and horns.

# Definition
- Non-native species introduced into new environments, often outcompeting local species.
# Consequences
- Habitat loss and disruption of local ecosystems.
- Examples: Zebra mussels clogging waterways; Jorro spider spreading in the U.S.

# Conclusion
- Address human-induced environmental changes and their wide-ranging impacts on biodiversity.
- Encourage awareness and actions to reduce ecological footprints for sustainable living.