Ecology and Conservation - Human Impact on Ecosystems

The Greenhouse Effect: Human activities like burning fossil fuels increase the concentration of greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$) and Methane ($CH_4$), which trap heat in the atmosphere.

Ocean Acidification: Increased atmospheric $CO_2$ dissolves in oceans to form Carbonic Acid ($H_2CO_3$), lowering the $pH$ and harming marine organisms that rely on Calcium Carbonate ($CaCO_3$) for shells.

Deforestation: Removing trees reduces the rate of photosynthesis, meaning less $CO_2$ is removed from the atmosphere and less $O_2$ is produced, disrupting the global carbon cycle.

Eutrophication: Excess nutrients like Nitrates ($NO_3^-$) and Phosphates ($PO_4^{3-}$) from fertilizers run off into water bodies, causing algal blooms that deplete dissolved oxygen ($O_2$).

Biodiversity Loss: Human impact through habitat destruction and pollution leads to a decrease in species richness, making ecosystems less resilient to changes.

Conservation Strategies: Methods such as reforestation, creating protected areas, and reducing our carbon footprint to maintain the $pH$ balance and stability of ecosystems.