Influences That Lead to Degradation of Ecosystems
by Randy De Knegt
There are several influences that can lead to the deterioration of various ecosystems and threaten the long run sustainability of these ecosystems as well. Bush regeneration can help restore degraded ecosystems to a stable state of self-sustenance, and this is something that should be done to protect ecosystems from further degradation. The following are some of the most likely influences that can cause different ecosystems to require bush regeneration:
Weed incursion
Weed incursion can causes several problems to any natural plant community. Weeds can out-rival and displace indigenous species by interfering with soil conditions, including the composition of nutrients required for native species to flourish, exhausting limited light sources, displacing local creatures due to change of natural environment, and increasing the odds of a bushfire due to increased fuel load. Aside from all that, some weeds may be highly toxic, and they can lead to allergic reactions if they come into contact with animals and humans.
Overutilization of natural habitats
Overusing natural areas can result in a range of problems in ecosystems. The trampling effects of grazing animals can lead to loss of understory species. This can result in soil erosion in areas where indigenous species have been lost, leading to disturbances in the natural plant communities, and this increases chances for a weed invasion. In areas that are in proximity to watercourses, soil erosion may lead to runoff of nutrients from farmland or fertilizer use can result in water contamination. This, in turn, will increase vulnerability of aquatic life to poisoning or growth of too much water weeds, which reduces oxygen supply.
Flooding
When there is high-speed run-off of water at a site, soil erosion problems can arise and this can lead to the spread or transport of weeds from adjacent sites affected by the weeds. When flooding occurs, understory species may be washed away, leaving the bare soil unprotected and susceptible to growth of weeds.
Fragmentation of natural habitat
Habitat fragmentation, which is the reduction of flora to isolated areas, increases vulnerability of these areas to degrading processes. It threatens the existence of ecosystems, especially in urbanized places where land is usually cleared to create space for the construction of new structures, culminating in natural ecosystems being reduced to small patches of vegetation. Fragmentation can lead to various effects, including, increased weed attack, decline in genetic diversity, changes to microclimatic conditions, reduced pollination, etc. The overall impact of these effects is a reduced ability to acclimatize to alterations in the environment.
For more information on bush regeneration, contact a professional service, such as EcoHort Pty Ltd.
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When people talk about saving energy, they often get bogged down in the same topics – seal your drafty home, install a programmable thermostat, paint your roof white and similar tips are often shared. However, there are other ways to save energy. My name is Gina, and I run a small office. However, recently, I decided to let all of my team telecommute from home. They no longer waste fuel driving to work, which is great for the environment, and it is all possible thanks to phone systems that make it look like we are all in the same office. I also do other environmental things for my company. If you want tips or ideas on being more environmentally friendly with your business, check out these posts and enjoy.