11.6 - Factors affecting biodiversity

Question 1

What is the impact of human population growth on biodiversity?

Answer 1

Human population growth leads to increased demand for resources, causing habitat destruction, deforestation, pollution, and climate change, all of which threaten biodiversity.

Question 2

What is deforestation, and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 2

Deforestation is the removal of large areas of forests for human use, such as agriculture, housing, and logging. It reduces species diversity by destroying habitats, food sources, and disrupting ecosystems.

Question 3

How does monoculture farming impact biodiversity?

Answer 3

Monoculture farming involves growing a single crop species on large areas of land, which significantly reduces biodiversity by eliminating other plant species and the animals that depend on them.

Question 4

How does climate change affect biodiversity?

Answer 4

Climate change can lead to rising temperatures, sea level rise, and changing precipitation patterns, all of which can disrupt ecosystems, lead to habitat loss, and cause species extinction or migration.

Question 5

How does agriculture reduce biodiversity?

Answer 5

Agriculture reduces biodiversity by clearing land, removing hedgerows, using pesticides and herbicides, and promoting monoculture, which all decrease the number of species in an area.

Question 6

What is the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability?

Answer 6

Higher biodiversity generally leads to greater ecosystem stability because more species and genetic variation allow ecosystems to withstand changes and disturbances, maintaining their functions.

Question 7

What is the consequence of removing a species from an ecosystem?

Answer 7

Removing a species can disrupt the food web and ecological balance, leading to the loss of other species that depend on it for food, shelter, or pollination.

Question 8

What are the potential impacts of rising sea levels on biodiversity?

Answer 8

Rising sea levels can flood coastal habitats, displace species, and increase salinity in freshwater ecosystems, reducing habitat availability for many plant and animal species.

Question 9

How does the melting of polar ice caps affect biodiversity?

Answer 9

The melting of polar ice caps threatens species that depend on cold environments, such as polar bears and certain plant species, while allowing more species to migrate further north.

Question 10

What is the importance of maintaining biodiversity in relation to human survival?

Answer 10

Biodiversity provides essential resources for humans, such as food, medicine, and oxygen. The loss of biodiversity can compromise these resources and destabilize ecosystems that support life.

Question 11

What role does genetic biodiversity play in the survival of species?

Answer 11

Genetic biodiversity allows species to adapt to environmental changes, ensuring long-term survival by providing variation that may be advantageous in new or changing conditions.

Question 12

What is the effect of genetic bottleneck on biodiversity?

Answer 12

A genetic bottleneck occurs when a population’s size is drastically reduced, leading to a loss of genetic diversity, which can result in inbreeding and a higher risk of extinction.

Question 13

How do humans contribute to climate change?

Answer 13

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, increase the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and altering climate patterns.

Question 14

What is the founder effect in terms of genetic diversity?

Answer 14

The founder effect occurs when a small number of individuals colonize a new area, resulting in a limited gene pool and reduced genetic diversity in the new population.

Question 15

What are the key findings of the 2007 IPCC report on climate change?

Answer 15

The report found that global temperatures have increased, sea levels have risen, and precipitation patterns have changed, all contributing to the ongoing impact of climate change.

Question 16

What is the effect of deforestation on animal species?

Answer 16

Deforestation reduces the number of animal species in an area by destroying their habitats, food sources, and homes, often forcing animals to migrate to other areas.

Question 17

How do rising temperatures affect insect populations?

Answer 17

Rising temperatures can alter insect life cycles and populations, affecting their role as pollinators, which in turn can impact plant species that rely on them, potentially causing extinctions.

Question 18

What is the role of hedgerows in maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 18

Hedgerows provide shelter and food for various species, including birds, insects, and small mammals. The removal of hedgerows for agriculture reduces plant and animal diversity.

Question 19

What is the impact of using herbicides in agriculture on biodiversity?

Answer 19

Herbicides kill weeds, which are important for plant diversity, and their removal can also reduce the food sources for animals that depend on those plants, lowering overall biodiversity.

Question 20

How does selective breeding in agriculture affect genetic biodiversity?

Answer 20

Selective breeding reduces genetic diversity by focusing on specific traits in a few individuals, which can lead to inbreeding and the loss of beneficial alleles in the gene pool.

Question 21

What are the consequences of climate change for plant species?

Answer 21

Climate change can cause shifts in temperature and precipitation, affecting plant species’ ability to survive, leading to the dominance of drought-resistant species and the loss of others.

Question 22

What is genetic drift, and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 22

Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies in a population, which can reduce genetic diversity, especially in small populations, leading to a greater risk of extinction.

Question 23

How does acid rain contribute to deforestation?

Answer 23

Acid rain, caused by pollutants in the atmosphere, can damage trees and other vegetation, weakening forest ecosystems and contributing to the overall loss of biodiversity.

Question 24

How does global warming affect the Arctic ecosystem?

Answer 24

Global warming causes Arctic temperatures to rise at nearly twice the global average rate, leading to the melting of ice caps and threatening species dependent on cold environments.

Question 25

What are the long-term effects of ocean temperature rise on biodiversity?

Answer 25

Rising ocean temperatures can lead to coral bleaching, disrupt marine ecosystems, and harm species that rely on stable ocean conditions, leading to significant biodiversity loss in marine habitats.

Question 26

How do human activities influence habitat destruction?

Answer 26

Human activities like deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, and pollution lead to the destruction of habitats, reducing the available space for species and causing a loss of biodiversity.

Question 27

What is the impact of littering on biodiversity?

Answer 27

Littering contributes to environmental pollution, which can harm wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce the health of species that depend on clean environments.

Question 28

What is the relationship between ecosystem services and biodiversity?

Answer 28

Biodiversity supports ecosystem services, such as pollination, water purification, and soil fertility, which are essential for human survival and the stability of ecosystems.

Question 29

How does overfishing affect biodiversity?

Answer 29

Overfishing depletes fish populations, disrupts marine food webs, and threatens species that depend on fish for food, leading to a loss of marine biodiversity.

Question 30

Why is preserving biodiversity important for agricultural resilience?

Answer 30

Maintaining biodiversity ensures a variety of species that can adapt to changing conditions, increasing agricultural resilience by providing crops that can thrive in diverse environments and conditions.

Question 31

What is monoculture and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 31

Monoculture is the practice of growing a single crop species on large areas of land. It reduces biodiversity by providing only one type of plant, which supports fewer animal species and weakens ecosystem stability.

Question 32

How does agriculture contribute to deforestation?

Answer 32

Agriculture leads to deforestation by clearing large areas of forest to create space for farming or livestock, which reduces plant and animal habitats and decreases biodiversity.

Question 33

How does human population growth affect biodiversity?

Answer 33

The rapid growth of the human population leads to more land being cleared for housing, agriculture, and industry, causing habitat destruction and a decline in biodiversity.

Question 34

How does the use of pesticides in agriculture affect biodiversity?

Answer 34

Pesticides kill not only the pests but also other beneficial insects and organisms, reducing biodiversity by disrupting food webs and ecosystem balance.

Question 35

What is the effect of increased CO2 emissions on biodiversity?

Answer 35

Increased CO2 emissions contribute to global warming, which alters habitats, disrupts ecosystems, and threatens species that cannot adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Question 36

How does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity?

Answer 36

Habitat fragmentation splits ecosystems into smaller, isolated patches, making it difficult for species to find food, mate, and migrate, which reduces genetic diversity and population sizes.

Question 37

How does the loss of a species' food source affect biodiversity?

Answer 37

The loss of a species' food source can lead to its decline or extinction, which can have a cascading effect on other species dependent on that species for food, further decreasing biodiversity.

Question 38

How does genetic diversity within a species contribute to its survival?

Answer 38

Genetic diversity increases the likelihood that some individuals in a species will possess advantageous traits that help them survive changes in the environment, such as new diseases or climate shifts.

Question 39

What is gene flow, and how does it increase genetic biodiversity?

Answer 39

Gene flow occurs when individuals from different populations interbreed, transferring new alleles between populations and increasing genetic diversity, which helps populations adapt to changes.

Question 40

How does selective breeding reduce genetic diversity?

Answer 40

Selective breeding involves choosing specific individuals with desirable traits to reproduce, which reduces genetic diversity by limiting the number of alleles in the population.

Question 41

How does climate change affect global sea levels?

Answer 41

Climate change causes the melting of glaciers and ice caps and the thermal expansion of oceans, resulting in rising sea levels that threaten coastal ecosystems and reduce available habitats.

Question 42

What are the possible consequences of climate change for freshwater species?

Answer 42

Rising sea levels from climate change can cause saltwater to intrude into freshwater ecosystems, reducing habitats for freshwater plants and animals, which can lead to population declines or extinctions.

Question 43

How does genetic bottleneck affect a population's biodiversity?

Answer 43

A genetic bottleneck occurs when a population is drastically reduced in size, leading to a loss of genetic variation and a smaller gene pool, which can make the population more vulnerable to disease and environmental changes.

Question 44

How does the founder effect influence genetic diversity in a new population?

Answer 44

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population. The genetic diversity of the new population is limited to the genes of the founders, potentially reducing genetic variation and increasing the risk of inbreeding.

Question 45

How does human influence on the environment contribute to species extinction?

Answer 45

Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, overhunting, and habitat destruction alter or eliminate the conditions species need to survive, which can lead to extinction.

Question 46

What is the role of biodiversity in ecosystem stability?

Answer 46

Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem stability by providing a variety of species that can fulfill different roles (e.g., pollinators, decomposers), making the ecosystem more resilient to changes or disturbances.

Question 47

Why is biodiversity important for medicine and human health?

Answer 47

Biodiversity is crucial for medicine, as many pharmaceutical products are derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms. A loss of biodiversity could limit the availability of resources for medical research and treatments.

Question 48

How does pollution affect biodiversity?

Answer 48

Pollution, such as chemical runoff and plastic waste, contaminates ecosystems, harms wildlife, and disrupts food chains, leading to a decrease in species diversity and ecosystem health.

Question 49

How do invasive species threaten biodiversity?

Answer 49

Invasive species outcompete native species for resources, often leading to the decline or extinction of native species, thus reducing biodiversity in the affected ecosystem.

Question 50

How can conservation efforts help preserve biodiversity?

Answer 50

Conservation efforts, such as habitat restoration, the creation of protected areas, and sustainable resource management, help preserve biodiversity by protecting species and their habitats from further damage.