B. Analyze some of the risks and benefits of human intervention to the biodiversity of the arctic tundra.
Risks
1. Exploitation of Populations
Living resources are exploited and harvested by humans. This action does not affect the biodiversity of the arctic tundra until there is an unsustainable use of the resources, called overexploitation. Many arctic species have been over-exploited, threatening the biodiversity in the arctic tundra. Take the arctic baleen whale species for example. From the 17th century onward, the escalating demands for whale products and the improvements in ships and harvesting techniques have resulted in overexploitation. This severely decreases the population size of almost all northern baleen whale species, some even went extinct. The decrease in population and extinction does not only affect the whales but it has a domino effect on related species. For instance, as there are less whales to feed on zooplankton, the population of zooplankton increases. The increase in population is not necessarily a benefit as the populations of zooplankton's food source will deplete as well. The effects of fluctuating populations of a species is even more significant when the species consists of keystone species, which are organisms that have a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem and biodiversity in which they live. Clearly, the unregulated exploitation of populations intervene with the biodiversity of the arctic tundra as it alters population sizes and even cause the distinction of species.
2. Pollution
Even though the pollution levels in the arctic tundra are lower than in temperate regions, it still has an affect on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra. In the Arctic, the pollution caused by mining, industrial smelters, military activities, and development of oil and gas have caused harm and created threats to plants and animals. Pollution caused by the transport of pollutants from outside of the arctic tundra through the atmosphere, rivers, and ocean currents, is also a problem. For instance, the industrial smelters and mining in the arctic tundra kill vegetation and damage freshwater ecosystems through their emissions that cause acid rain, which has a serious effects on the organisms that rely on the vegetation and freshwater. Another example is the loss of biodiversity in the arctic tundra caused by oil pollution. As sea ice melt due to the warming climate, the access to oil, gas, and mineral will increase and the Arctic Ocean will become an efficient route to transport between other ocean bodies. This increases the possibility of accidental oil spills in the Arctic, which has great harms to biodiversity. These harms include dying oiled birds, dying fishes, and smothering of algae and animals. Definitely, the emissions and oil spills caused by humans have great impact on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra.
3. Development Pressures
Another human intervention on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra is caused by the industrial and urban developments and recreation that cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation. These side-effects are due to the buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians that change the vegetation, fauna, and soil composition. For deeper understanding, let's discuss the increasing use of arctic tundra land by humans for transportation routes. The building of trails cause vegetation loss that further damages the ecosystem by provoking the erosion of soils by wind, frost, or water. These changes in the abiotic environment definitely has an effect on the organisms that live in the same ecosystem, such as the necessity of adapting to a new environment. Another problem of industrial and urban developments and recreation is the habitat fragmentation that they cause. Habitat fragmentation is the breaking up of one patch of habitat into several smaller patches. The negative effects on biodiversity was shown through Hellemann et al.'s research that showed the effects of habitat fragmentation on reindeer. The research showed that in areas about 4km from new developments, the population decreased by 36% in the summer and 8% in the winter. However, in areas more than 4km away from these developments, the population density increased by 200% in comparison to the areas about 4km away. This emphasizes how the developments musts be carefully planned, such as wide separations and no fragmentation of habitats in order to prevent the alterations in species populations that can lead to changes in biodiversity.
Benefits
The benefits of human intervention to the biodiversity of the arctic tundra are the actions taken to conserve biodiversity. These actions include ex-situ conservation and in-situ conservation. Ex-situ conservation is the action of taking endangered species away from their natural habitats. The species are taken to zoos, botanical gardens and reserves so that species can be provided with the resources that were lacking in their natural habitats, preventing extinction. In-situ conservation is the action of protecting the endangered species in their natural habitats. This can be done through creating new efficient habitats, restoring habitats, and creating laws to minimize the occurrence of harmful events such as overexploitation and oil spills.
Risks
1. Exploitation of Populations
Living resources are exploited and harvested by humans. This action does not affect the biodiversity of the arctic tundra until there is an unsustainable use of the resources, called overexploitation. Many arctic species have been over-exploited, threatening the biodiversity in the arctic tundra. Take the arctic baleen whale species for example. From the 17th century onward, the escalating demands for whale products and the improvements in ships and harvesting techniques have resulted in overexploitation. This severely decreases the population size of almost all northern baleen whale species, some even went extinct. The decrease in population and extinction does not only affect the whales but it has a domino effect on related species. For instance, as there are less whales to feed on zooplankton, the population of zooplankton increases. The increase in population is not necessarily a benefit as the populations of zooplankton's food source will deplete as well. The effects of fluctuating populations of a species is even more significant when the species consists of keystone species, which are organisms that have a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem and biodiversity in which they live. Clearly, the unregulated exploitation of populations intervene with the biodiversity of the arctic tundra as it alters population sizes and even cause the distinction of species.
2. Pollution
Even though the pollution levels in the arctic tundra are lower than in temperate regions, it still has an affect on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra. In the Arctic, the pollution caused by mining, industrial smelters, military activities, and development of oil and gas have caused harm and created threats to plants and animals. Pollution caused by the transport of pollutants from outside of the arctic tundra through the atmosphere, rivers, and ocean currents, is also a problem. For instance, the industrial smelters and mining in the arctic tundra kill vegetation and damage freshwater ecosystems through their emissions that cause acid rain, which has a serious effects on the organisms that rely on the vegetation and freshwater. Another example is the loss of biodiversity in the arctic tundra caused by oil pollution. As sea ice melt due to the warming climate, the access to oil, gas, and mineral will increase and the Arctic Ocean will become an efficient route to transport between other ocean bodies. This increases the possibility of accidental oil spills in the Arctic, which has great harms to biodiversity. These harms include dying oiled birds, dying fishes, and smothering of algae and animals. Definitely, the emissions and oil spills caused by humans have great impact on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra.
3. Development Pressures
Another human intervention on the biodiversity of the arctic tundra is caused by the industrial and urban developments and recreation that cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation. These side-effects are due to the buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians that change the vegetation, fauna, and soil composition. For deeper understanding, let's discuss the increasing use of arctic tundra land by humans for transportation routes. The building of trails cause vegetation loss that further damages the ecosystem by provoking the erosion of soils by wind, frost, or water. These changes in the abiotic environment definitely has an effect on the organisms that live in the same ecosystem, such as the necessity of adapting to a new environment. Another problem of industrial and urban developments and recreation is the habitat fragmentation that they cause. Habitat fragmentation is the breaking up of one patch of habitat into several smaller patches. The negative effects on biodiversity was shown through Hellemann et al.'s research that showed the effects of habitat fragmentation on reindeer. The research showed that in areas about 4km from new developments, the population decreased by 36% in the summer and 8% in the winter. However, in areas more than 4km away from these developments, the population density increased by 200% in comparison to the areas about 4km away. This emphasizes how the developments musts be carefully planned, such as wide separations and no fragmentation of habitats in order to prevent the alterations in species populations that can lead to changes in biodiversity.
Benefits
The benefits of human intervention to the biodiversity of the arctic tundra are the actions taken to conserve biodiversity. These actions include ex-situ conservation and in-situ conservation. Ex-situ conservation is the action of taking endangered species away from their natural habitats. The species are taken to zoos, botanical gardens and reserves so that species can be provided with the resources that were lacking in their natural habitats, preventing extinction. In-situ conservation is the action of protecting the endangered species in their natural habitats. This can be done through creating new efficient habitats, restoring habitats, and creating laws to minimize the occurrence of harmful events such as overexploitation and oil spills.