Paper 2 - Biodiversity

Question 1

What is the effect of fish farms on biodiversity?

Answer 1

• Predators may be attracted to the fish farms and may get caught in nets trying to reach the fish
• Diseases can spread quickly in fish farms due to the enclosed space and number of individuals in close proximity. Diseases can also spread in the water to other species outside of the fish farm

Question 2

What is fish farming?

Answer 2

Fish farms are ways of raising large numbers of fish in a small space to provide food (protein) for humans
Fish are bred in large tanks or cages to minimise energy losses and maximise yield

Question 3

What is Eutrophication and how does it effect biodiversity (6 marks)

Answer 3

1. Fertiliser from farmland enters the water systems when it rains
2. This causes increased growth of algae and water plans.
3. Results in algal bloom which blocks sunlight so water plants on the bottom start to die
4. As water plants and algae die in greater numbers decomposing bacteria increase in number and use up teh dissolved oxygen whilst respiring aerobically
5. So there is less oxygen in the water so aquatic organisms such as fish and insects maybe be unable to survive
6. This results in a decrease in biodiversity for the habitat

Question 4

What are negative effects of introducing a non indigenous species to an area and give example

Answer 4

1. Competion - non indigenous species may compete with native species for food, water or space, which could result in the indigenous species being outcompeted and possibly eradicated
2. Impacts on food chain - can disrupt balance as it would provide a new food source or a new predator
3. Disease - new species may bring with them new diseases
4. Decrease biodiversity of habitat

Question 5

What is an indigenous species

Answer 5

Species which is native to a particular area

Question 6

What is high biodiversity and why is it important

Answer 6

High biodiversity is lots of difference species which show a lot of variation

High biodiversity reduces the dependence of once species on another for food and shelter.
Populations with high levels of diversity are more likely to be resilient to sudden environmental impacts or diseases.

Question 7

What is Biodiversity

Answer 7

Biodiversity is the range and variety of different species of organisms within a given area (e.g. on Earth or within an ecosystem)

Question 8

Why id biodiversity important

Answer 8

Different species depend on each other for many things, including:
Food
Shelter (e.g. birds nesting in trees)
Maintenance of the physical environment (e.g. tree roots provide stability for soils, ensuring they do not get washed away. This, in turn, provides a stable habitat for other plant species)