Nasc 5
NASC5 – Environmental Biology
Exercise 2 – Effect of Human Activities on the Lake Ecosystem
Introduction
The Philippines is rich in freshwater resources with about 80 lakes and 400 rivers. Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the country. These lakes and rivers are habitats of diverse plants and animals, some of which are endemic to the country. These water resources are important source of livelihood for Filipinos. Fishing villages and farming communities surround these rivers and lakes. They are also important sources of fish proteins for the population. In addition, they are also sources of hydroelectric power for towns and cities and irrigation water for our farms. They also serve as avenues for transport of people and cargoes in between islands within the country. Likewise, the lakes are catch basins of eroded sediments carried by rivers from the uplands, organic and inorganic pollutants and other synthetic materials coming from the factories and houses along the riverbanks. With these multiple uses of these freshwater resources, most of our lakes and rivers are severely polluted and degraded. Their usefulness has been severely affected. The people whose livelihood is dependent on the lakes are suffering from low fish catch. The fishes and other aquatic organisms have become carriers of toxic substances that ultimately find its way to the human diet. Filipinos should be concerned with the present condition of these water resources. We should learn to conserve and protect them so that they will continue to provide economic goods and environmental services for the present and future generations of our country. This exercise will provide the students information on how human activities affect Laguna lake ecosystem. It will also enlighten students on ways and strategies by which negative impacts of human activities could be minimized. Objectives:
At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to: * Describe the interaction of the
Exercise 2 – Effect of Human Activities on the Lake Ecosystem
Introduction
The Philippines is rich in freshwater resources with about 80 lakes and 400 rivers. Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the country. These lakes and rivers are habitats of diverse plants and animals, some of which are endemic to the country. These water resources are important source of livelihood for Filipinos. Fishing villages and farming communities surround these rivers and lakes. They are also important sources of fish proteins for the population. In addition, they are also sources of hydroelectric power for towns and cities and irrigation water for our farms. They also serve as avenues for transport of people and cargoes in between islands within the country. Likewise, the lakes are catch basins of eroded sediments carried by rivers from the uplands, organic and inorganic pollutants and other synthetic materials coming from the factories and houses along the riverbanks. With these multiple uses of these freshwater resources, most of our lakes and rivers are severely polluted and degraded. Their usefulness has been severely affected. The people whose livelihood is dependent on the lakes are suffering from low fish catch. The fishes and other aquatic organisms have become carriers of toxic substances that ultimately find its way to the human diet. Filipinos should be concerned with the present condition of these water resources. We should learn to conserve and protect them so that they will continue to provide economic goods and environmental services for the present and future generations of our country. This exercise will provide the students information on how human activities affect Laguna lake ecosystem. It will also enlighten students on ways and strategies by which negative impacts of human activities could be minimized. Objectives:
At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to: * Describe the interaction of the
References: are necessary in the discussion so cite them correctly.