B6.1.3 Flashcards
What is deforestation
The permanent removal of large areas of forest.
Why does deforestation occur
To provide wood for buildings and fuel, it also creates space for roads, buildings and agriculture.
How does deforestation affect biodiversity
It reduces the number of trees as well as the number of supported animal species as their food source or home has been lost.
How does agriculture affect biodiversity
To feed the increasing population more land is being farmed. Many intensive farming techniques, lead to a loss of biodiversity.
How does removing hedgerows affect biodiversity
The removal of hedgerows in order to use large machinery and free up extra space for crops. Reduces the number of plant species and destroys the habitats of animals such as mice and hedgehogs.
How does use of pesticides affect biodiversity
Killing of pests that eat crops, or that live on livestock. Reduces the number of pest species that some organisms rely on for prey. Pesticides can bioaccumulate harming species not meant to be affected.
How does use of herbicides affect biodiversity
Herbicides kill unwanted plants. Reduces the number of plant species and also animal species present.
How does overfishing affect biodiversity
It leads to a significant decrease in fish populations and other marine animals tend to be caught and killed.
How does hunting affect biodiversity
It decreases a target’s species population, removing food for other species, unchecked growth of some plant species.
How does pollution affect biodiversity
When pollutants enter an environment they have impacts on the number and types of organism. More polluted areas have lower biodiversity as less species can survive.
