Our Sandy Footprint
Because of the relative isolation of most of the deserts inhabitants our impact is not as big as others. We have a major impact on the nitrogen cycle. Because cacti use nitrogen as a major component of their skin and constantly returns to the soil our interaction greatly changes it. In some cases our emissions can benefit the plants. Our nitrogen excess will be released back into the desert. This will cause the cacti to undergo photosynthesis and replenish. However we also may harm the desert. The cities near the biome produce large amounts of gas. This is extremely harmful to valley ecosystems where the gas is trapped and sunlight is filtered.. However plains in this biome are not affected as the winds high in the atmosphere are extremely fast and will rid any traces of gas. Predictions are thatmore and more rivers will be contaminated as cities expand. A possibility of this is pesticide runoff will kill most of the cacti population. Valleys will die because of gas emissions. Underwater rivers will eventually also be contaminated and will kill the water supply for the plains. Poaching is one affect not worried about because of strict laws in the state.
For more information go to http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/research/human_environment_interaction.shtml.
For more information go to http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/research/human_environment_interaction.shtml.