Ecosystems At risk

‘Analyse the human impacts affecting the nature and rate of change of TWO ecosystems at risk.’

Human impacts have influenced the landscape and rate of change in Australian ecosystems since the indigenous peoples arrived. However the extent of influence exponentially increased with the arrival of the European colonizers, which have continued to damage as well as benefit ecosystems such as the wetland and sand dunes found at the Towra Point Nature Reserve, NSW. The human activities located nearby include industrial use, the Kingsford Smith Airport, oyster farming and visitors to the area, as well as historically from the indigenous peoples and the European arrivals. Combined, negative human impacts have caused environmental problems such as erosion, dune migration, loss of animal and plant habitats and pollution. As a result, the rate of change occurring in this area, whether it be natural or not, has been significantly affected.

An ecosystem is a biological community where abi...