Final answer:
Habitat destruction, including deforestation and urban expansion, and climate disruption resulting from human activities have significant negative effects on ecosystems and biodiversity, leading to fragmentation, ecosystem degradation, and loss of species.
Step-by-step explanation:
One negative effect of human activity on the ecosystem and biodiversity is habitat destruction, which occurs through various human activities such as farming, logging, urban expansion, and infrastructure development (e.g., the construction of roads and buildings). This destruction leads to loss of species richness and fragmentation of ecosystems, making it difficult for organisms to survive and negotiate fragmented habitats. Furthermore, anthropogenic climate change is likely to cause shifts in precipitation patterns, which will impact biodiversity and necessitate the construction of new infrastructure such as dams and canals, often with devastating impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystems. The conversion of forests to agricultural land is one significant example, degrading two-thirds of the world’s forests.
Climate disruption and increasing human population density also lead to challenges for ecosystems, such as altered water flows, increased pollution, changes in water chemistry, and invasive species that arrive through increased human activity. These changes decrease the natural variability and resilience of ecosystems, making them more susceptible to further disturbances. As the human footprint expands, negative impacts on biodiversity increase, emphasizing the need for conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.