By burning these fossil fuels, stored energy is passed back into the environment as heat and releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide. Research the methods used to obtain the resource, and the impact the removal of the resource has on the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem. Ecosystems can be reasonably stable over hundreds or thousands of years. If a disaster such as flood or fire occurs, the damaged ecosystem is likely to recover in stages that eventually result in a system similar to the original one. Predict the population growth curve over time assuming no hunting pressure or predation of moose in Alaska by using a theoretical model.
Human beings are part of the earth's ecosystems.
Human activities do, deliberately or inadvertently, alter the equilibrium in ecosystems. Test a local water source for nitrate and phosphate pollution associated with fertilizer use, and investigate the consequences of such pollution. We are now more unstable than the biosphere has been in 70 million years. Explore why biodiversity is considered a non-renewable resource and discuss the consequences that result from the reduction of biodiversity. Include in your discussion the effect on local animal and plant populations and on ground water and air quality.