changes to ecosystems

• Ecosystems are very sensitive to change. The living and non-living components of the ecosystem can be altered by either natural factors or human management.
• Changes to the ecosystem caused by natural factors include:

  • drought
  • flood
  • fire
  • disease
• Changes to the ecosystem caused by human management include:

  • introducing more fish (fish stocking)
  • altering the drainage of the land which may influence the amount of water
  • changing the pH level of the water
  • altering the nutrient levels of the water if fertilisers are leached into the water resulting in eutrophication