Chapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

Recognize that humans have an increasing impact on natural ecosystems.

Define pollution.

Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Recognize that mineral resources are unevenly distributed, which creates international trade in these commodities.

List three types of costs associated with mineral exploitation.

Understand that some wilderness areas still have minimal human influence.

Appreciate the ways humans modify forests.

Identify causes of desertification.

Recognize that aquatic systems are modified by terrestrial changes.

Identify changes that occur to aquatic systems as a result of human activity.

Recognize that wildlife management focuses on specific species.

Appreciate that waterfowl management is an international problem.

Recognize that extinction is a natural process.

Recognize that humans increase the rate of extinction.

Identify ways that humans cause extinctions.

Recognize that many extinctions can be prevented if societies are willing to preserve crucial habitats and prevent the hunting of endangered species.

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