Human specificity in the biosphere
Unlike animal organisms, whose evolutionary strategy reduces to passive adaptation to changing environmental conditions, humans implement a fundamentally different type of interaction with the biosphere. This specificity is based on two main pillars: the presence of intellect and tool-use activity.
Thanks to these qualities, people do not wait for favors from nature, but actively transform the surrounding world. This transformation is carried out predominantly by technical means, which allows our species to survive and dominate in conditions where biological adaptation would be impossible or would take millions of years.
Habitat structure and the technosphere
The result of the active transformation of the world has been the complication of the space in which we live. The habitat of modern humans is strictly divided into two key components:
- Natural component — the natural biosphere with its physical and biological factors.
- Technological component — an artificially created environment that includes dwellings, modern cities, industrial enterprises, communication networks, and even artificial ecosystems such as agrocenoses (agricultural lands).
This entire global totality of human-made technical means, extracted resources, and products of material production is united by the term technosphere. In essence, this is the artificial shell of the Earth within which most of the life of modern society takes place.
Human needs and ecological footprint
Humans are not only biological, but also deeply social, sentient beings. In this regard, our needs are not limited to physiology. We vitally need information, education, the development of science, culture, and social communication. All needs in human ecology are generally classified into two groups:
- Primary (biological or 'obligatory'): this is the basic minimum for the survival of the organism. This includes food, clean water, and the maintenance of thermal comfort parameters (clothing, heating).
- Secondary ('optional'): needs that are not dictated by physiology, but depend on the individual desires of the person and the social environment in which they are located.
Important ecological aspect: it is precisely for the satisfaction of secondary, constantly growing needs that huge volumes of environmental resources are expended, which leads to the depletion of the planet.
Environmental impact on health and objectives of the science
Active intervention in nature and the formation of the technosphere have a downside — they directly affect the health of the population. Most modern mass pathologies share a common etiology: they are the consequence of chronic exposure to various stress factors of the modified environment.
The list of typical health problems studied within the discipline includes: immunodeficiency states, allergies, the spread of HIV/AIDS, increased injury rates, frequent poisonings, as well as social and metabolic diseases (alcoholism, drug addiction, mass obesity).
To minimize this damage, human ecology sets itself a global objective: the development of strict theoretical foundations for the optimal existence of people in their habitat. The main condition for the successful solution of this problem is the simultaneous and equal consideration of all biological and social aspects of society's life.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
What physical factors of the natural environment directly affect human health?
Physical factors of the natural environment that affect the human body include:
- Light.
- Temperature.
- Humidity.
- Salinity.
- Atmospheric pressure.
- Partial pressure of oxygen.
In high-altitude conditions, stress factors include low atmospheric pressure, low partial pressure of oxygen, cold air, and monotonous food.
What types of biological human adaptation to extreme environmental conditions exist?
Biological human adaptation to extreme environmental conditions includes the formation of adaptive types and changes in functional systems. Using the high-altitude adaptive type as an example, the following morphophysiological adaptations are distinguished:
- Elongation of long tubular bones — necessary to increase the volume of red bone marrow and ensure more active hemopoiesis.
- Increase in the number of erythrocytes — compensates for hypoxia.
- Increase in the basal metabolic rate.
With increased resistance, adaptation is also accompanied by an increase in the number and/or mass of structural elements — hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which form the systemic structural trace of the adaptation process.
To remember the structure of the environment, use the association 'NT': Environment = Natural + Technological. And needs are divided into the body level (primary) and society level (secondary).
Class and exam questions
What is the main difference in interaction with the environment between humans and animals?
Animals during evolution passively adapt to the conditions of the biosphere. Humans, thanks to intellect and tools, actively transform the surrounding world using technical means to suit their needs.
What is the technosphere in the context of ecology?
This is a global totality of all technical means, extracted resources, and products of production that were artificially created by humans on the planet.
Why do secondary needs pose an environmental threat?
Unlike the biological minimum (food, water, and heat), secondary needs are dictated by social desires, they are boundless, and colossal environmental resources are expended to satisfy them.
What is the main cause of most modern pathologies?
From the perspective of human ecology, the etiology of such conditions as allergies, immunodeficiencies, obesity, and addictions is the constant exposure of the body to powerful stress factors.
What else to study on this topic
- Mechanisms of formation and functioning of agrocenoses as artificial ecosystems.
- Detailed etiology of modern ecologically conditioned pathologies (allergies, immunodeficiencies).
- Specificity of the impact of stress factors on residents of large cities.
- The relationship between the social needs of society and the depletion of specific natural resources.
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