The Human Alterations of Biomes
Biomes are major terrestrial (land) vegetation communities such as tropical forests, grasslands or deserts. Similar biomes, but with different species of plants and animals, are found around the world in similar climatic zones. Oceanic biomes also exist.
Climatic conditions, topography and soils influence the characteristics of terrestrial biomes. When people can rely on biomes to produce nutritious, safe and sufficient food for a fit and healthy life, then the region can be said to be food secure. Food insecurity occurs when this situation cannot be reached or retained.
Climatic conditions, topography and soils influence the characteristics of terrestrial biomes. When people can rely on biomes to produce nutritious, safe and sufficient food for a fit and healthy life, then the region can be said to be food secure. Food insecurity occurs when this situation cannot be reached or retained.
Complete the KWLH organiser below (see file below).
Set the topic as “Global food production and food security”. You should begin this study topic by completing the first two columns and returning to complete the other columns at the end of the study. Focus specifically on foods, fibres and industrial materials. K— Students recall and list what they KNOW about a topic W — Students determine what they WANT to learn L — Students identify and reflect upon what they have LEARNT at the end of the topic H — Students reflect on HOW they have learnt and what they have learnt. |
kwlh-organiser.pdf | |
File Size: | 69 kb |
File Type: |
A Mapping task to Start
Open the file to the right of this text and complete all of the instructions to learn about the impact of deforestation on one of our most important Biomes in the world
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The characteristics of a Biomes
Choose a Biome and then chose a specific place from the list below.
Desert Biome |
Rainforest Biome |
Savanna Biome |
Marine Biome |
Mountain Biome |
Sahara |
The Daintree |
Africa |
The Great Barrier Reef |
Mt Kosciusko |
Antarctica |
The Amazon |
Mexico |
Montague Island |
The Andes |
The Gobi |
Indonesian |
Australia |
Great Southern Ocean |
Rocky Mountains |
Great Sandy |
The Congo |
Brasil |
A local esturary |
Mt Everest |
TASK
Create a Brochure, Slideshow, poster on paper or electronically to represent the key physical characteristics of your chosen Biome, as if you were trying to market the location as a tourist destination. You should focus on the following areas with your information:
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You may include maps, graphs, graphic organisers, pictures, text and other forms of information that are appropriate.
The Removal of Vegetation
Figure 1
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Vegetation removal is very commonly where human activity is present. This includes activities such as farming, mining and urban development. In the case of farming, rice and sugar are two examples of natural vegetation having to be removed in order to cultivate these important crops. A large proportion of the world’s population rely on these staple foods as a part of their survival. Rice is often grown on dry land. Natural vegetation is cleared and the land flooded with water in order to grow rice in patties as shown in figure 1. You’ll notice that the Biome has been significantly altered. The natural vegetation has been bulldozed and the animals that lived in it have moved to another location that suits their diet. In essence, a new biome is in place. Another form of rice cultivation
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Terraced Rice Paddy.
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is terracing. This is achieved by clearing the land and building a series of walls to create a series of the level sections, or steps. Water flow is controlled as each terrace catches run-off from the terrace above it. Some people argue that terracing is an ecologically sustainable development because it reduces erosion during heavy rainfall. However, without a deep root system, hillsides that are terraced are subject to landslides.
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Google Form Quiz
Agriculture
Agriculture involves growing crops and the rearing of animals to provide food and other commodities for humans. Today, approximately 53% of Australian land is used agriculture making it to the dominant land use a pattern.
Irrigation
Watering plants at home, or putting sprinklers on the lawn are simple examples of irrigation. On larger scale such as a farm, the infrastructure required to irrigate is far more complex. This can include the construction of the canals dug in large trenches and the construction of dams. The main problem with irrigation is that it removes water from natural source and it is used someone else. When water is removed from a catchment, the effects on the river ecosystem downstream can be devastating.
Mining
Mining is the act of digging up the lithosphere to secure precious minerals such as Coal, Gold and Lithium. Mining can cause damage to the atmosphere, hydro sphere and the lithosphere. One of the most common forms of mining is called Open Pit Mining in which large holes are dug into the ground. This can cause environmental impacts such as radioactive materials leaking into river systems, loss of fauna and floor, erosion, loss of habitats and water pollution. Mining often requires an enormous volume of water. Water is used in the extraction and processing stages of mineral exploitation. In some cases dams are constructed to store the enormous amount of water required. In 2015, BHP unfortunately had one of these dam walls break, sending huge torrents of water down the river system in the Caracas in Brazil. Although BHP Billiton was fined over $6 billion in damages, the biome to this day has not recovered.
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Kalgoorlie's Super Pit
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human activities change biomes
8 key changes that can occur to a biome due to human activities such as mining, agriculture, and irrigation:
- Habitat destruction: Human activities often result in the removal of natural vegetation and wildlife habitat, which can have serious consequences for the species that live there.
- Soil degradation: Overuse of land for agriculture or mining can lead to soil degradation, including erosion and loss of nutrients, which can have long-term impacts on the fertility of the soil.
- Water pollution: Irrigation and mining activities can lead to contamination of water sources, which can impact both aquatic life and human health.
- Air pollution: Industrial activities such as mining and manufacturing can result in the release of pollutants into the air, which can have negative impacts on the health of both humans and wildlife.
- Climate change: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation can lead to the release of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and can have significant impacts on the planet's climate.
- Loss of biodiversity: Human activities often result in the loss of biodiversity, which can have serious impacts on the overall health and functioning of ecosystems.
- Introduction of invasive species: Human activities can introduce invasive species to a biome, which can outcompete native species and cause significant changes to the ecosystem.
- Land use change: Human activities such as agriculture and urbanization can result in changes to land use, which can have significant impacts on the availability of natural resources and the functioning of ecosystems.
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of altering biomes through land terracing
- Describe the relationship between mining and biomes.
- Discuss ways in which mining could become more ecologically sustainable.
The impacts of coal mining
Coal mining is a human activity that can cause significant changes to biomes. The environmental impacts of coal mining include deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction.
One of the most significant impacts of coal mining on biomes is deforestation. Forests are often cleared to create access roads, to build mines and to construct infrastructure for mining operations. This can result in a loss of biodiversity and contribute to climate change through the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Soil erosion is another significant impact of coal mining. When vegetation is removed from the surface, the soil is left exposed to wind and water erosion, leading to the loss of topsoil and the degradation of the soil's fertility. This can make it difficult for plants to grow, leading to long-term impacts on the biome.
Water pollution is also a significant impact of coal mining. Mining operations can produce acid mine drainage, which is a highly acidic and toxic discharge that can pollute rivers and streams. This can harm aquatic organisms and ecosystems, leading to long-term impacts on the biome's functioning.
Finally, coal mining can also lead to habitat destruction. The construction of mines and related infrastructure can disturb the natural habitats of plant and animal species, leading to loss of habitat and biodiversity.
In conclusion, coal mining can have significant impacts on biomes, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction. It is important to consider these impacts when making decisions about coal mining and to strive for sustainable practices that minimize environmental harm.
One of the most significant impacts of coal mining on biomes is deforestation. Forests are often cleared to create access roads, to build mines and to construct infrastructure for mining operations. This can result in a loss of biodiversity and contribute to climate change through the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Soil erosion is another significant impact of coal mining. When vegetation is removed from the surface, the soil is left exposed to wind and water erosion, leading to the loss of topsoil and the degradation of the soil's fertility. This can make it difficult for plants to grow, leading to long-term impacts on the biome.
Water pollution is also a significant impact of coal mining. Mining operations can produce acid mine drainage, which is a highly acidic and toxic discharge that can pollute rivers and streams. This can harm aquatic organisms and ecosystems, leading to long-term impacts on the biome's functioning.
Finally, coal mining can also lead to habitat destruction. The construction of mines and related infrastructure can disturb the natural habitats of plant and animal species, leading to loss of habitat and biodiversity.
In conclusion, coal mining can have significant impacts on biomes, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction. It is important to consider these impacts when making decisions about coal mining and to strive for sustainable practices that minimize environmental harm.
how can we manage the impacts of coal mining?
To ensure sustainable management of an environmental issue like coal mining, a management strategy is necessary to minimize the negative impact on biomes. In this case, the management strategy can be focused on implementing best practices in mining operations and minimizing environmental harm.
One important aspect of a management strategy for sustainable coal mining is to minimize deforestation. This can be achieved by using existing access roads and infrastructure and avoiding the construction of new roads and infrastructure. Additionally, areas cleared for mining should be reclaimed after the mining operation is complete, and reforestation should be undertaken to restore the affected biome. To reduce soil erosion, mining companies can implement measures such as re-vegetation of disturbed areas, the use of soil stabilizers, and the implementation of erosion control measures such as diversion ditches and sediment ponds. These measures can help to prevent soil loss and minimize the impact on the biome's soil quality. Water pollution can be minimized through the use of closed-loop water systems that recirculate water in mining operations, rather than discharging it into nearby rivers and streams. The implementation of proper water treatment facilities can also help to reduce the risk of water pollution. Finally, habitat destruction can be minimized by conducting proper environmental impact assessments before mining operations begin. This can help to identify and protect critical habitat areas and reduce the impact of mining on the local flora and fauna. Overall, a management strategy for sustainable coal mining should aim to minimize the negative impact of mining operations on biomes. This can be achieved through the implementation of best practices in mining operations, such as reforestation, erosion control, water treatment, and habitat protection. By implementing these measures, it is possible to ensure that coal mining is conducted sustainably and does not lead to long-term environmental harm. |
key points
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Watch the video, 'Biomes that produce our Food, industrial material and fibres.
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Open the link above 'Breaking bread everywhere! Plentifully or Pitifully'. Answer the following questions.
- Who consumes the majority of food produced? Rural or Urban dwellers?
- Rank the 15 people featured on the website in order from largest to smallest consumer. (note: 1 calorie in the USA = 4.18 kilojoules in Australia.)
- Explain why diets vary across Earth.
- Name the people who mainly depend on fresh food. Give reasons for your answer.
- Name the people who mainly depend on processed food. Give reasons for your answer.
- As a homework task, gather all of the food you plan to eat tomorrow. Take a photo of it or list the items. Which were fresh, frozen or dried? Where was the food manufactured, grown or produced?
Watch the video: 'Whitehaven Coal begins clearing forest for coal mining developments'. Outline the risks to the environment if Whitehaven's Coal mine continues to be developed.
Environmental impacts of human alterations to Biomes
Complete the following worksheet.
changing_biomes_wkthree.docx | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | docx |