Human Impacts
Glacier Bay National Park experiences pressures from humans that are similar to those of other ecological treasures throughout the world. There is a constant struggle for dominance between three forces within the park: the preservation of the park’s natural beauty, defining local uses, and meeting the needs of the public. Human interaction with the endangered and threatened wildlife is strictly forbidden in the park to help preserve their populations and ensure their survival. Also in order to preserve the nature of the park humans are restricted from feeding the wildlife.
Carbon Cycle
Human actions impact the carbon cycle on a daily basis. As we burn fossil fuels and release more and more CO2 into the atmosphere the cycle becomes unbalanced and plants are unable to keep up. This increase of carbon in the atmosphere has lead to a slight but steady increase in atmospheric temperature. This raise in temperature, a phenomenon called global warming, has led to the recession of many glaciers which in turn leads to a raise in water level. Unless humans come up with a more environment friendly but still efficient method of energy these patterns will continue to increase. As the temperatures rise more and more many ecosystems dependent on climate will be greatly affected.
Nitrogen Cycle
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and using nitrogen based fertilizers greatly increase the availability of nitrogen in the ecosystem. This increase greatly limits the productivity of the ecosystem. According to Nature.com, the addition of nitrogen can lead to nutrient imbalance in trees, changes in forest health, and declines in biodiversity.