Lesson 8 Page 1
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The Great Debate: Are There Consequences to Human Actions?
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In the past, some people wanted uncontrolled influence on the environment. You have learned about past logging practices and how harmful deforestation was in Alberta.
Another wide-spread practice has been introducing new species to a habitat.
An alien or invasive species comes from somewhere else. Plants and animals arrive in a habitat by many ways. Some are released by accident, some move into an area.
Another wide-spread practice has been introducing new species to a habitat.
An alien or invasive species comes from somewhere else. Plants and animals arrive in a habitat by many ways. Some are released by accident, some move into an area.
Click the link to watch the National Geographic video about invasive species
Some non-native species, like honeybees, can be very helpful.
Some, like dandelions, are considered to be a nuisance but do no real harm.
Others crowd out or bully a native species, a tree or plant that belongs in the area. The bully does not bring predator with it, so its numbers can get out of control.
Blue spruce trees are from Colorado. Blue spruce is a good windbreak and a beautiful Christmas tree. However, in some places it reduces the amount of sunlight, nutrients, water and space available to other trees.
Purple loosestrife and Norway maple are non-native plants that have been sold at garden centers for landscaping. The plants “escaped”, or their seeds spread into wild areas. They crowd out native plants and don't provide food for native wildlife.
Japanese knotweed looks like a beautiful bamboo plant, but it is changing river flows, choking fish beds, undermining riverbanks, shorelines and hillsides, growing through roadways and sidewalks, and threatening the foundations of homes.
All human actions have consequences. Some consequences are good. Some are bad. Some consequences are small and short lived. Other consequences are large and long lasting.
Some, like dandelions, are considered to be a nuisance but do no real harm.
Others crowd out or bully a native species, a tree or plant that belongs in the area. The bully does not bring predator with it, so its numbers can get out of control.
Blue spruce trees are from Colorado. Blue spruce is a good windbreak and a beautiful Christmas tree. However, in some places it reduces the amount of sunlight, nutrients, water and space available to other trees.
Purple loosestrife and Norway maple are non-native plants that have been sold at garden centers for landscaping. The plants “escaped”, or their seeds spread into wild areas. They crowd out native plants and don't provide food for native wildlife.
Japanese knotweed looks like a beautiful bamboo plant, but it is changing river flows, choking fish beds, undermining riverbanks, shorelines and hillsides, growing through roadways and sidewalks, and threatening the foundations of homes.
All human actions have consequences. Some consequences are good. Some are bad. Some consequences are small and short lived. Other consequences are large and long lasting.
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