Human-Environment Interaction PDF

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia → Known for their ability to modify the landscape for their own benefit and that of other species...

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia → Known for their ability to modify the landscape for their own benefit and that of other species → The resulting beaver ponds also create the deep water needed for winter food storage in northern climates ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia → By damming streams, beavers raise the water level to form protective moats ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia → Beavers also harvest trees and branches for food and construction purposes → While some beaver behavior is instinctive, they also learn by imitation and from experience ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia Older beavers → More experienced in building better dams than younger ones Impacts of Beaver’s Habitat to Other Species → Support other mammals, fish, turtles, frogs, birds, and ducks → Provide a variety of ecological services Catchment of floodwaters Alleviation of droughts Reduction of erosion Purification of water ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT BEAVERS → Castor canadensis in North America, Castor fiber in Eurasia → Beavers influence on landscape is profound Niches are created for about every species imaginable—breeding habitat for frogs and salamanders Slow-water refuges for baby trout and salmon Dead trees for woodpeckers and raptors Ponds for other water-loving mammals like moose, otters and muskrats. THEY TRULY ARE A KEYSTONE SPECIES  HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land Burning Cutting Tilling Planting Harvesting Home construction Dam building HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land PAPUA NEW GUINEA → Created farming systems that were over five times more efficient than modern maize-cropping systems in the United States and supported much higher levels of agrobiodiversity HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land RURAL MALI (WEST AFRICA) → Women routinely collect dead wood and coppice (trim) branches from existing trees for firewood, lessening the chances of unmanageable bush fires and encouraging regrowth HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land AMERICA → American farmers planted shelter belts around their fields in order to reduce aeolian erosion and encourage the proliferation of white-tailed deer which they hunted for game meat HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land Of course, some societies took up unsustainable practices which eventually led to environmental decline and their downfall HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land → As humans societies grew and prospered, they began to trade → By the 20th century, even garbage was being shipped around the world HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land Implication of this Trade and Urbanization → Losing our ability to productively and sustainably engage with ecosystems → Developed countries have little to no idea where their provisions originate from and how they are produced → Global-scale environmental challenges → Deforestation, ground water depletion, and the loss of biodiversity HUMANS AND THEIR HABITAT HUMANS, like the beaver and other animals → Also modify the landscape by manipulating the land Not all ecological challenges are a direct result of humans modifying the environment → Humans position themselves vis-à-vis the biophysical world Hurricanes become more of an issue when they build homes close to coastlines Inundations are a problem when towns and cities are established in floodplains  REFLECTION PAPER: HOW HUMAN INTERACTION AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT To be submitted on Thursday (Sep 5, 2024)