Plants and human civilization - Research Paper Example

The first farmers have mastered the ground and learned how to cultivate the first cereal crops. Large areas of forest were cut down and burned for obtaining the new agricultural fields. Thus whole ecosystems were destroyed. Deforestation in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia (in the areas of the ancient culture) caused the significant xerophytization and desertification of these areas. In Africa and India the decline of tropical forests has caused increasing the savannah areas; the same happened in South America.

It was increased livestock development in the North America and Central Asia, especially in the areas of ancient culture near Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. This phenomenon caused appearance and spread of the mobile sand dunes. In North America, deforestation caused erosion and emergence of vast areas which so-called bad land. Age of Discovery led to introduction and dissemination of new species, which sometimes rapidly spread in the new conditions. For example, Kudzu or Pueraria lobed (Pueraria lobata) is a plant with leaves that looks like wild grapes.

Kudzu came from Japan and Southeast Asia. In 1876 this plant was imported to the South USA (Philadelphia) and presented as a fast growing plant, which effectively restore the soil erosion. Over a period of 50 years in the U.S.A., Kudzu was known as the grapevine that had swallowed the South. Pueraria lobed really has the ability to rapid growth. Thus this plant could reach 30 meters in length during 2 years. Kudzu engrosses everything on the way especially abandoned houses, cars, power lines, other trees and shrubs.

The following unsuccessful species invasion is the importation of rabbits in Australia. In 1859 Thomas Austin, Australian farmer, said that the introduction of a few rabbits would not bring much harm, but would be just another source of meat for hunters. He has unleashed 24 rabbits, but to the end of the century the number of rabbits greatly increased, because there were no