Table 2.

Some ecosystem side effects of human activity

Habitat and species loss (including conservation areas)

Truncated ecological gradients

Reduced ecotones

Low alpha diversity

Loss of soil fauna

Simplified predator–prey, herbivore–carnivore, and host–parasite networks

Low internal regulation of ecosystems due to loss of keystone agents

Side effects of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides

Invasive nonindigenous species, especially weeds and pests

Proliferation of resistant strains of organism

New and virile infectious diseases

Genetic loss of wild and domestic species

Overharvesting of renewable natural resources

High soil surface exposure and elevated albedo

Accelerated erosion

Nutrient leaching and eutrophication

Pollution from domestic and commercial wastes

Ecological impact of toxins and carcinogenic emissions

Atmospheric and water pollution

Global changes in lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and climate