The population of humans is so
large that ecosystems everywhere are being affected.
Farmers are slowly taking over lands that used to be
wild, and the percentage of native grasslands in the
world has been declining rapidly. Eventually, if people
do not work to preserve the prairies, they will be gone.
The lands that we now can enjoy will be uprooted and
turned into residential areas or farms as people take
room to live. If this occurs, not only will the lands be
destroyed but the wildlife that inhabit the prairies
will either become extinct or only exist in zoos.
photos M. Noonan
Another threat to the prairies is
the deliberate killing of wildlife by people. Many
farmers find prairie dogs to be a nuisance because they
dig up the earth and ruin their crops. This deliberate
killing of the prairie dogs threatens the whole
ecosystem because the prairie dog is a keystone species.
Pollution is a problem that exists
for many ecosystems around the world. Pollution kills
both plants and animals, which is why it is important
for human beings to keep their environment clean.
Garbage that humans leave lying around can be the cause
of death for many animals. They may try to eat it and
choke on it, or get tangled up inside of it and die.
Most people wouldn’t think that a little piece of litter
could do much damage to an ecosystem, but in reality it
can. Pollution is a problem that humans also face,
because it is bad for our own health too.
