natural ecosystems/science

Paper instructions:
WEEK 2
Environmental Issues
Natural Ecosystems

Humans have had a significant impact on natural ecosystems for hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years. Piping water to your home, building and paving roadways, drilling for oil, and even activities such as fishing alter ecosystems from their natural, untouched state. Sometimes these ecosystems can adapt to your presence and find ways to maintain the food chain and natural order. Sometimes, however, human impact on an ecosystem throws things off balance, negatively impacting not only the ecosystem but humans as well. For example, when game is overhunted, there are less natural food sources for local predators. These predators are forced to seek out other sources of food, which may bring them into closer contact with humans than they or humans want.
In this Assignment, you will consider several ways humans impact natural ecosystems and envision what will happen if this type of interference continues. If humans continue to modify ecosystems, what will happen to these ecosystems in the future?
Questions about this assignment? Post them in the Ask the Instructor area under Course Home. That way, everyone in the class will see and benefit from the Instructor’s response.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Review Chapters 3 and 4 in the course text, Environmental Science.
Consider activities you do every day that connect to a natural ecosystem, and the impact that activity has on the natural ecosystem over time.
Reflect on whether you could and would be willing to change your activities to avoid impacting natural ecosystems. Can you ever not impact a natural ecosystem?
The assignment:
Compose a 2-page essay in which you evaluate the environmental impact of activities in which humans alter or modify natural ecosystems. Your essay should include the following:
An evaluation of the environmental impact of three human activities that alter or modify natural ecosystems during the activity, immediately after the activity, and years later
A description of whether the activity is ongoing throughout these time periods or ends at a specific point in time
An explanation of the impact each of these activities may have on the principles of sustainability
A conclusion that suggests ways that you could reasonably change your lifestyle to reduce your impact and/or guarantee sustainability for future generations