Changing natural systems can exceed the limits of organisms to adapt naturally or humans to adapt technologically. NSES Content Standard Science in Personal and Social Perspectives 9-12 NSES Content Topic Environmental Quality Natural ecosystems provide an array of basic processes that affect humans. Those processes include maintenance of the quality of the atmosphere, generation of soils, control of the hydrologic cycle, disposal of wastes, and recycling of nutrients. Humans are changing many of these basic processes and the changes may be detrimental to humans. Materials from human societies disturb both physical and chemical cycles of the Earth.
Humans have a major effect on other species.
NSES Content Standard Science in Personal and Social Perspectives 9-12 NSES Content Topic Population Growth Populations can reach the limits to growth. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that can be supported in a given environment. It is not availability of space, but the number of people. To understand population growth, technology, consumption, habitats, direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, global stability EnSc G.2. To understand that people are a part of the world's ecosystem EnSc G.3.