This Discussion Presents Real-Life Examples Of

This discussion presents you with some real-life examples of the effects of human impacts, such as hunting/fishing, and global warming

This discussion presents you with some real-life examples of the effects of human impacts, such as hunting/fishing, and global warming. Begin by going through two articles found in D2L under Section 2. Article 1: Decline of Predators. Article 2: How ocean warming and acidification affect food webs. Step one: Make a food chain. Article one gives several examples of food chains that were damaged by humans. Choose any one food chain and write it out. Identify the trophic level of at least three steps in the food chain. You are encouraged to use the Internet to investigate further if you'd like more information about a food chain of interest to you. Step Two: Interconnectedness - In approximately one paragraph, respond to the following discussion prompts. Relate your discussion points to the articles you read. After going through both articles, react to the statement "Life on this planet is a delicate balance". What does this mean to you? In what ways have humans directly or indirectly affected this balance? What measures would you be willing to take to correct human impacts on global food webs? Respond to your peers - Due by the due date. NOTE: Only those students who have submitted a main post two days before the due date are eligible to respond to peers. Go through the majority of the posts and respond to two other students. Both of your responses should be grammatically correct, well thought out, and further the discussion. Some common ways to further a discussion are to ask a question, share something related to the topic, or expand on a topic. Responses should be approximately a paragraph in length. For example, in this topic, you might note similarities and differences in your choice of food chains. You may also find you have a comment or a question on your peer's interpretation of the statement or their assessment of human impacts on the environment. Remember to always be respectful to differing opinions!

Paper For Above instruction

Our planet's ecosystems are intricate and finely balanced systems vulnerable to disturbances caused by human activities. To exemplify this, I selected a typical oceanic food chain involving phytoplankton, zooplankton, small fish, and larger predatory fish. At the base of this chain are phytoplankton, microscopic photosynthetic organisms that form the Earth's primary producers. These are consumed by zooplankton, small drifting animals that serve as primary consumers. The small fish, such as sardines, occupy the next trophic level as secondary consumers, feeding on zooplankton. Finally, larger predatory fish like tuna or sharks are top predators in this chain, preying on the smaller fish. This chain highlights the trophic levels of at least three steps: the primary level with phytoplankton, the middle level with small fish, and the top level with apex predators like sharks or tuna. Human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change heavily disrupt these food webs. Overfishing removes key species, such as large predatory fish, leading to imbalances like the overpopulation of prey species, which can damage the whole ecosystem. Pollution introduces toxins into the water, which can accumulate through trophic levels, a process called bioaccumulation, affecting species at all levels. Climate change impacts, notably ocean warming and acidification, threaten phytoplankton productivity and fish migration patterns, undermining food web stability. The statement "Life on this planet is a delicate balance" resonates strongly; it signifies the interconnectedness and dependence of all organisms within ecosystems. Human activities have directly affected this balance through overexploitation of resources, habitat destruction, pollution, and contributing to climate change. Indirect impacts include altering species distributions and disrupting migration patterns. To address these issues, measures such as establishing marine protected areas, regulating fishing quotas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and controlling pollution are vital. Public awareness and sustainable practices are crucial to restoring and maintaining ecological balance. It is imperative that society recognizes the fragility of Earth's ecosystems and takes responsibility to minimize human impacts to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem health for future generations.

References

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