Human Influences on Ecosystems - Conservation

Sustainable Development: Defined as providing for the needs of an increasing human population without harming the environment or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This requires balancing $CO_2$ emissions and resource extraction rates.

Biodiversity: The variety of species, genes, and ecosystems in a given area. Conservation aims to maintain high levels of biodiversity to ensure ecosystem stability and the availability of resources like $C_6H_{12}O_6$ (glucose) from primary producers.

Endangered Species: Species at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, climate change (rising average $T$), pollution, overhunting, or competition from invasive species.

Conservation Strategies: Includes $in-situ$ conservation (protected areas like national parks) and $ex-situ$ conservation (seed banks, zoos, and captive breeding programs). These methods aim to maintain the population size $N$ above the critical threshold for extinction.

Sustainable Management of Resources: Strategies such as logging quotas (replanting trees to maintain $O_2$ production) and fishing regulations (mesh size limits and seasonal bans) to prevent the depletion of natural stocks.

Sewage Treatment: The process of removing organic matter and pathogens from waste water. High organic content increases the Biochemical Oxygen Demand ($BOD$), leading to a decrease in dissolved $O_2$ levels and the death of aquatic organisms.

Eutrophication: The enrichment of water bodies with minerals such as $NO_3^-$ (nitrates) and $PO_4^{3-}$ (phosphates), often from fertilizer runoff, which triggers algal blooms and subsequent oxygen depletion.