1. Intro

Question 1

Define Biodiversity

Answer 1

Biological diversity means the VARIABILITY among living ORGANISMS from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ECOSYSTEMS and the ecological complexities of which they are part; this includes DIVERSITY WITHIN SPECIES; BETWEEN SPECIES AND OF ECOSYSTEMS

Question 2

What is Biodiversity - short definition

Answer 2

Variation at all levels of biological organisation

Question 3

Define Ecosystem

Answer 3

All biotic and abiotic things, present in an area and functioning as a unit

Question 4

Define biotic

Answer 4

Living things

Question 5

Define abioitic

Answer 5

Non-living things

Question 6

Define ecosystem service

Answer 6

The goods and services that are provided by ecosystems to humans

Question 7

Define ecosystem disservice

Answer 7

The negative effects of nature on human well-being

Question 8

Estimates of global biodiversity

Answer 8

8.1 million animal and plant species

Question 9

How many species are scientifically named?

Answer 9

Approx. 1.7 million species of animal and plant named… increases by approx. 10,000 every year.

Question 10

What is the conservation problem

Answer 10

We haven’t identified all of the different species (8.1 million species estimated only about 1.7 million named) so hard to conserve i.e. monitor the species

Question 11

What is the percentage of wildlife population decrease?

Answer 11

According to WWF Living Planet report 2022, wildlife pop. revealed an average decline of 69% in species population sinc 1970.

Question 12

What is the population trend in grassland butterflies, farmland birds and forest birds in the EU

Answer 12

2020 ECA showed a 39% decrease in butterflies from 1990 - 2017 and a 34% decrease in farmland birds and 1% increase in forest birds from 1990 - 2018.

Question 13

What is the global agricultural land area (in percentages)

Answer 13

Approx. 38% agricultural area (1/3 cropland, 2/3 grassland) - FA0 2020

Question 14

What is the European Agricultural Land Area? How many farms?

Answer 14

9.1 million farms account for approx. 38% of the total land area (EC, 2020)

Question 15

What is the Irish Agricultural Land Area?

Answer 15

Approx. 64% of total national land area (DAFM, 2020)

Question 16

What is Ireland’s agricultural land use like?

Answer 16

92% Grassland, 6% Cereals, 2% Other Crops (Fruit and Horticulture and other cereals)

Question 17

How many livestock (chicken, cattle and sheep are there) in ireland

Answer 17

Poultry - 16 mill, Sheep 5.5 mill, Cattle 7.3 mill

Question 18

Where was the first centre of agricultural innovation

Answer 18

The Fertile Crescent (Between Turkey, Lebanon and Syria)

Question 19

What is the percentage of forest cover in Europe v. Ireland

Answer 19

Europe’s forest cover percentage is just under 40%, Ireland’s is 11%

Question 20

Biodiversity evolved with agri. practices, climate and underlying geology. How has agricultural innovation since WW2 affected biodiversity

Answer 20

1. Intensification and specialization of land use.
2. Habitat removal, fragmentation and degredation.
3. Loss of genetic diversity (through monocrops)
4. Increased inputs (pesticides, fertilizer) all affect the biodiversity in a farming ecosystem.

Question 21

What is land abandonment

Answer 21

Land abandonment occurs when a particular land use ceases, and there is no clearly defined subsequent land use practice. It may happen due to land degradation

Question 22

Explain Intrinsic Biodiversity Value

Answer 22

The intrinsic value of biodiversity relates to an organisms right to survive, regardless of its worth to human kind.
“every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man” - UNCN

Question 23

What are ecosystem services

Answer 23

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems

Question 24

What is the anthropocentric value of ecosystem services

Answer 24

Ecosystems benefits to humans

Question 25

Name three different classification of ecosystem services

Answer 25

1. MEA/MA Millenium Ecosystem Assessment 2. CICES - Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services 3. TEEB - The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Question 26

Describe the factors in the MEA

Answer 26

1. Provisioning, 2. Supporting, 3. Regulating, 4. Cultural.

Question 27

What is the economic value of ecosystem services?

Answer 27

Estimated global value of US 125 TRILLION per year.

Question 28

Why are ecosystem service important?

Answer 28

They underpin our success as a species and our agricultural production systems

Question 29

What is a keystone species

Answer 29

A keystone species is an organism that helps hold an ecosystem together. Strongly interacting species that have a large impact on their ecosystems. It can be predator, e.g., grey wolf

Question 30

How does biodiversity affect food production?

Answer 30

By clean water and water cycling, pollination, regulation of air quality, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and storage, regulation of pests and diseases, human wellbeing, regulation of erosion, soil formation and structure.

Question 31

What European policies support biodiversity?

Answer 31

European Green Deal, EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy

Question 32

Give some targets of the farm to fork strategy (GHG reduction, organic, fertilizer use, pesticide use, antimicrobials)

Answer 32

GHG - 50% REDUCTION Organic farming - 25% of agricultural land. Fertilizer - 20% reduction in use Pesticides - 50% reduction in use antimicrobials - 50% reduction in sales.

Question 33

Explain provisioning ecosystem services

Answer 33

The products of ecosystems that humans depend upon and that traditionally command an economic value e.g., Food Fuel Fibre Pharmaceuticals Clean water

Question 34

How many plant varieries are available for production and how many are used?

Answer 34

Approx. 250,000 plant species, only 3% of these used. (fao)

Question 35

How many plant species provide 75% of the global food?

Answer 35

12 plant species

Question 36

What are the 3 mega crops and what percentage of global food to they supply?

Answer 36

Rice, wheat and maize supply 50% of the global food.

Question 37

What is the issue with dependence on so little crop species and variety?

Answer 37

There are issues in terms of disease management e.g., Irish famine - lumper potatoe

Question 39

PRG (what does it stand for) and how many grass seed sales does it account for in Ireland (%)

Answer 39

Perennial ryegrass accounts for 95% of grass seed sales

Question 41

What are the properties of PRG?

Answer 41

- Early spring growth - Long growing season - Rapid recovery following defoliation - Palatability and digestibility - Highly dependent on fertilizer N

Question 42

What is a multispecies sward?

Answer 42

Sown swards consisting of more than 3 species, usually coming from different plant functional groups e.g. grasses, legumes and forage herbs.

Question 43

Describe niche complenatarity

Answer 43

Niche complementarity is functional trait differences leading to resources being used differently.

Question 44

Give an example of two grass species and two legume species and two forage herbs

Answer 44

Grass: Perennial ryegrass (short roots) and timothy (longer roots) Forage herbs: white clover and red clover (tap root) Legume: Chicory (tap root) and Plantain

Question 45

Describe facilitation (re MSS)

Answer 45

Facilitation is the increased positive interactions between species