Ecosystems and Economics Paper
BIO/280

Ecosystems and Economics Paper
Our society has come to a point in time where we are more concerned about having the latest thing. While humans choose to consume natural resources our ecosystems are diminishing. In this paper I will discuss degradation, loss, effecst humans have on our planet, and the cost and benefits of human enterprise in terms of ecosystems.
Degradation and Loss
In past years, people have reshaped ecosystems, faster and more ample than in any time in history. While meeting fast growing request on food, fresh water, timber, and fuel. Resulting in a permanent loss in diversity of life on this planet. “These alteration we have made to our ecosystem have contributed to considerable net gain in human well-being and economic development, these gains have been achieved at growing cost in the form of the degradation of many ecosystem services” (Leemans, 2003).
Effects of human activity on ecosystems
Humans and technologies are disturbing the trophic structure, energy flow and the chemical balance of ecosystems worldwide. Humans move nutrients from one place to another in an ecosystem. Example; Soil from a farm can be transported into streams, and lakes, diminishing nutrients in an area causing excess to develop in another area, and disturbing chemical cycles in both areas. Introduction of toxic chemicals by humans into ecosystems have caused these chemicals to be consumed and metabolized by organisms. These chemicals eventually get consumed by animals, which are then part of the animal’s structure (or becomes part of their muscle tissue). Example: Mercury was regularly put into rivers and lakes in an insoluble form. The bacteria in the mud transformed it into Methyl Mercury, this extremely toxic compound collected in the tissue of organisms including those who ate the fish in contaminated water.
Economic Decision The economic decisions underlying conservation and exploitation is the fact that there are limited resources and rationality and marginal utility playing an important role. The principle of diminishing marginal utility states that as the number of units consumed of a homogenous product increases the marginal or extra utility and satisfaction obtained from each unit decreases and finally becomes nil and then also becomes negative. In short the marginal utility goes on diminishing. In economical terms, the value is figured in terms of “goods and services”, with water filtration, soil formation, and climate regulation. Even plants and animals that are sustainably harvested being provided by Earth’s ecosystem. The value of these good and services is hard to determine, since they are not bought and sold as part of a market driven economy. “Example: Canada, which converts freshwater marshes into one of the country’s most productive agricultural areas. This area would be worth more if used for social benefits (hunting, trapping, and fishing)” (world, 2002).
Conclusion
Society’s impact on our planet is one that can be changed; we just need to do it. With that being said this country is all about consumption. We try to say we are going to do the right thing but when it comes down to it, we do what is easiest for us. Our natural resources are being depleted; we need to adjust how we consume them for them to last.

References
Leemans, R. (2003). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. In Facing Golbal Environmental Change (Vol. 1, pp. 53-61). Springer Berlin Heildlberg. world, O. (2002, August 12). Common Dreams . Building Progressive Community .