I was reading HABITAT FRAGMENTATION and a paper on a similar topic but more on avian biology when I remembered my analysis on anthropogenic activities.
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Let me outline my analysis on anthropogenic activities in the following order: (1) anthropogenic activities; (2) Effects of anthropogenic activities on amount of available resources; (3) effects on viability of resources; (4) effects on level of conditions; and (5) organisms’ response to these effects (changes in resources and conditions)
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What are Anthropogenic Activities?
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Republic Act 9729 enacted by the Philippine congress defines anthropogenic causes as causes resulting from human activities or produced by human beings. This was done in our government’s response to threats of climate change. This republic act recognizes the right of the people to a healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
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Generally, anthropogenic activities mean conversion of open spaces, landscapes, and natural environments by human action. This includes the conversion of forest areas to subdivisions, degradation of forest resources for supplying construction materials to build our homes, and use of terrestrial and aquatic resources to make sure the bellies of the human race will not be empty. .
With this established, one should look into the effects of these anthropogenic activities to nature, specifically (1) Amount of resources (2)Viability of Resources and (3) level of conditions and resources.
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Let us try to bring anthropogenic activities closer to home to appreciate its impact. When we are born, we add to the population of the human race – hence, we contribute to (1) over population. To comply with our basic needs, we are dressed, fed and physically sheltered. Our clothes are obtained from plants (abaca, cotton), animals (animal skin) or they could be synthetic fibers. For clothes alone, our anthropogenic activities result to consumption of plants and animals. Our food and shelter demands also put these organisms in a losing end. To add to this, we need space to build our shelters and recreational infrastructures. These activities bring about (2) forest degradation, (3) animal extinction, and (4) land use. With our desire to build tough shelters, we use minerals. And we also patronize minerals to satisfy our mundane needs to have jewelry (impact of a stratified community). Hence, mankind has discovered (5) mining in response to his needs. This mining has also resulted to acid mine drainage and mountaintop removal. And with the rise of technology, walking has become out of fashion that we resort to driving our own cars which are ran by fuels– an activity which has brought (6) carbon dioxide emission to a logarithmic increase.
Effects on Amount of Resources
Man’s exploitation of natural resources has paved way to resource depletion.
In Davao City alone, our water, which was recognized as one of the best potable waters based on a study by the American Waterworks Association, was expected to be depleted when one well in Toril began to extract sand – a signal that underground water is no longer abound. Human activities such as taking a bath, drinking water, washing clothes, and responding to fire has depleted our sources of water. (Please note that Davao City Water District is not serving the entire Davao City. It only caters to two districts).
Unrestrained construction of subdivisions has put animals away with the destruction of their habitats. Animals which are natural consumers of insects and parasites are put at risk because of man’s land use. This is best exemplified when rat population increases and they attack rice fields – the rat population was not limited because snakes, rat’s natural predators, are forced deeper into the forests with the increased land use. Similarly, resources obtainable from plants and animals, because of the destruction brought by land use, are also depleted.
Effects on Viability (capable of living) of Resources
Viability is the ability of an organism (or of a particular resource) to maintain itself or recover its potentialities (Wikipedia). The ability of a forest or an aquatic system to recover its potentialities as a resource depends on the time it is given to bring back what was lost. Or, it could recover if the demand from it is not so logarithmic such that depletion could no longer be impeded.
Given the previous example, if our water use is put at parsimony, then ground water could still recover the amount mankind has taken from it. However, if we abuse water use, ground water areas may form into a crater – a form that is no longer recoverable as a water source.
Effects on Level of Conditions
Physical conditions include temperature, humidity, power of Hydrogen (pH), wind speed and water flow. If one would describe the relationship between anthropogenic activities and its effects, the word intricate would be most applicable. Over population, forest degradation, animal extinction, land use, and carbon dioxide emission contribute to the increasing world temperature. Over population implies an increased demand and use of natural resources. Forest degradation carries with it the consequence of losing plants that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Animal extinction will bring about death of organisms that are vital in the complex food web that guarantees balance in nature. Land use for industrialization and housing decrease the number of plants per area since land use, still contributing to loss of autotrophic organisms. Carbon dioxide emissions brought by human activities such as burning of fossil fuel add to the injury. Power of Hydrogen (pH) in aquatic areas are lowered because of the toxic wastes released by industries.
Organisms’ response to effects of anthropogenic activities on conditions and resources
Survival, development, and reproduction are among an organism’s main goals. In order to survive, organisms can avoid, tolerate, or specialize in response to the effects on conditions and resources brought by anthropogenic activities.
.
Let me outline my analysis on anthropogenic activities in the following order: (1) anthropogenic activities; (2) Effects of anthropogenic activities on amount of available resources; (3) effects on viability of resources; (4) effects on level of conditions; and (5) organisms’ response to these effects (changes in resources and conditions)
.
What are Anthropogenic Activities?
.
Republic Act 9729 enacted by the Philippine congress defines anthropogenic causes as causes resulting from human activities or produced by human beings. This was done in our government’s response to threats of climate change. This republic act recognizes the right of the people to a healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
.
Generally, anthropogenic activities mean conversion of open spaces, landscapes, and natural environments by human action. This includes the conversion of forest areas to subdivisions, degradation of forest resources for supplying construction materials to build our homes, and use of terrestrial and aquatic resources to make sure the bellies of the human race will not be empty. .
With this established, one should look into the effects of these anthropogenic activities to nature, specifically (1) Amount of resources (2)Viability of Resources and (3) level of conditions and resources.
.
Let us try to bring anthropogenic activities closer to home to appreciate its impact. When we are born, we add to the population of the human race – hence, we contribute to (1) over population. To comply with our basic needs, we are dressed, fed and physically sheltered. Our clothes are obtained from plants (abaca, cotton), animals (animal skin) or they could be synthetic fibers. For clothes alone, our anthropogenic activities result to consumption of plants and animals. Our food and shelter demands also put these organisms in a losing end. To add to this, we need space to build our shelters and recreational infrastructures. These activities bring about (2) forest degradation, (3) animal extinction, and (4) land use. With our desire to build tough shelters, we use minerals. And we also patronize minerals to satisfy our mundane needs to have jewelry (impact of a stratified community). Hence, mankind has discovered (5) mining in response to his needs. This mining has also resulted to acid mine drainage and mountaintop removal. And with the rise of technology, walking has become out of fashion that we resort to driving our own cars which are ran by fuels– an activity which has brought (6) carbon dioxide emission to a logarithmic increase.
Effects on Amount of Resources
Man’s exploitation of natural resources has paved way to resource depletion.
In Davao City alone, our water, which was recognized as one of the best potable waters based on a study by the American Waterworks Association, was expected to be depleted when one well in Toril began to extract sand – a signal that underground water is no longer abound. Human activities such as taking a bath, drinking water, washing clothes, and responding to fire has depleted our sources of water. (Please note that Davao City Water District is not serving the entire Davao City. It only caters to two districts).
Unrestrained construction of subdivisions has put animals away with the destruction of their habitats. Animals which are natural consumers of insects and parasites are put at risk because of man’s land use. This is best exemplified when rat population increases and they attack rice fields – the rat population was not limited because snakes, rat’s natural predators, are forced deeper into the forests with the increased land use. Similarly, resources obtainable from plants and animals, because of the destruction brought by land use, are also depleted.
Effects on Viability (capable of living) of Resources
Viability is the ability of an organism (or of a particular resource) to maintain itself or recover its potentialities (Wikipedia). The ability of a forest or an aquatic system to recover its potentialities as a resource depends on the time it is given to bring back what was lost. Or, it could recover if the demand from it is not so logarithmic such that depletion could no longer be impeded.
Given the previous example, if our water use is put at parsimony, then ground water could still recover the amount mankind has taken from it. However, if we abuse water use, ground water areas may form into a crater – a form that is no longer recoverable as a water source.
Effects on Level of Conditions
Physical conditions include temperature, humidity, power of Hydrogen (pH), wind speed and water flow. If one would describe the relationship between anthropogenic activities and its effects, the word intricate would be most applicable. Over population, forest degradation, animal extinction, land use, and carbon dioxide emission contribute to the increasing world temperature. Over population implies an increased demand and use of natural resources. Forest degradation carries with it the consequence of losing plants that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Animal extinction will bring about death of organisms that are vital in the complex food web that guarantees balance in nature. Land use for industrialization and housing decrease the number of plants per area since land use, still contributing to loss of autotrophic organisms. Carbon dioxide emissions brought by human activities such as burning of fossil fuel add to the injury. Power of Hydrogen (pH) in aquatic areas are lowered because of the toxic wastes released by industries.
Organisms’ response to effects of anthropogenic activities on conditions and resources
Survival, development, and reproduction are among an organism’s main goals. In order to survive, organisms can avoid, tolerate, or specialize in response to the effects on conditions and resources brought by anthropogenic activities.
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With conditions, organisms that are not sedentary (most animals) can move from place to place to avoid changes in temperature (MIGRATION). Animals could also try to tolerate conditions they are not used to. They may also employ some specializations in response to these anthropogenic activities. Among these responses, avoiding may be done immediately should the condition become “harsh” for the species. Tolerance and specialization may need some time and survival of an individual species is put at risk. If one could not tolerate or specialize, then it is by the will of natural selection that an organism is declared “unfit”. Other than these three, conditions may set off a changed response to extreme conditions. This is acclimatization – the ability of an organism to adjust to a new range of environmental temperature over a period of days or weeks. An example for this one is bullhead catfish which, during the summer, could survive up to 36o Celsius but temperature higher than 28oC is lethal during winter. Sedentary organisms, on the other hand, are left with the option to modify their morphological and physiological characteristics parallel to the changes in condition.
With conditions, organisms that are not sedentary (most animals) can move from place to place to avoid changes in temperature (MIGRATION). Animals could also try to tolerate conditions they are not used to. They may also employ some specializations in response to these anthropogenic activities. Among these responses, avoiding may be done immediately should the condition become “harsh” for the species. Tolerance and specialization may need some time and survival of an individual species is put at risk. If one could not tolerate or specialize, then it is by the will of natural selection that an organism is declared “unfit”. Other than these three, conditions may set off a changed response to extreme conditions. This is acclimatization – the ability of an organism to adjust to a new range of environmental temperature over a period of days or weeks. An example for this one is bullhead catfish which, during the summer, could survive up to 36o Celsius but temperature higher than 28oC is lethal during winter. Sedentary organisms, on the other hand, are left with the option to modify their morphological and physiological characteristics parallel to the changes in condition.
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We should, however, not forget that conditions do not act only on one species. It also acts on the competitors, prey, parasites and predators of a particular species. Therefore, conditions may affect the availability of resources. It could also trigger the spread of diseases and parasites.
On resources alone, its number is depleting because of man’s exploitation of natural resources. Should there be a decrease in the availability of water (precipitation), plants specialize in the form of avoiders or tolerators. Avoiders have short lifespan such that when water is not abundant, they remain dormant as seeds or they shed photosynthetic tissues. Tolerators have developed long-lived leaves which transpire slowly. Plants may also increase the efficiency of water use through C4 pathway (high affinity for CO2 therefore absorb more CO2 per H2O lost) and CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) where stomata is opened at night cutting the loss of water as against to the rapid H2O evaporation during daytime. Animals on the other hand, when resources are depleting, will have an increased competition depending on the needs of the organism. I have the opinion that polyphagous species will have better chances of survival than monophagous species.
We should, however, not forget that conditions do not act only on one species. It also acts on the competitors, prey, parasites and predators of a particular species. Therefore, conditions may affect the availability of resources. It could also trigger the spread of diseases and parasites.
On resources alone, its number is depleting because of man’s exploitation of natural resources. Should there be a decrease in the availability of water (precipitation), plants specialize in the form of avoiders or tolerators. Avoiders have short lifespan such that when water is not abundant, they remain dormant as seeds or they shed photosynthetic tissues. Tolerators have developed long-lived leaves which transpire slowly. Plants may also increase the efficiency of water use through C4 pathway (high affinity for CO2 therefore absorb more CO2 per H2O lost) and CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) where stomata is opened at night cutting the loss of water as against to the rapid H2O evaporation during daytime. Animals on the other hand, when resources are depleting, will have an increased competition depending on the needs of the organism. I have the opinion that polyphagous species will have better chances of survival than monophagous species.
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