3. Importance of Biodiversity Flashcards

(12 cards)

1
Q

Reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  • Ecological reasons
  • Economic reasons
  • Aesthetic reasons
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2
Q

ECOLOGICAL reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  1. To protect species, including keystone species
  2. To maintain genetic resources
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3
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

All the biotic factors (living organisms) living in a particular area & all the abiotic factors (non-living conditions).
INTERDEPNDENT

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4
Q

ECOLOGICAL reasons: 1. To protect species, including keystone species PART 1

A
  • Organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent - they depend on eachother to survive, loss of one species can have drastic effects on an ecosystem such as:
    1. Disruption of food chains - eg. species of bear feed on salmon, which feed on herring. If no. of herring decline, can affect both salmon & bear pops.
    2. Disruption of nutrient cycles - eg. decomposers like worms improve quality of soil by recycling nutrients. If worm no.s decline, soil quality is affected. Will affect growth of plants & amount of food available to animals.
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5
Q

ECOLOGICAL reasons: 1. To protect species, including keystone species PART 2

A
  • There are some species on which many other species in ecosystem depend on & w/o which the ecosystem would change dramatically - KEYSTONE SPECIES.
  • Keystone species are often predators - keeping pop of prey in check, but can also be modifiers - maintaining the env needed for the ecosystem, or hosts - plants that provide a particular env (sa palm trees).
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6
Q

Eg of keystone species needed?

A
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7
Q

ECOLOGICAL reasons: 2. To maintain genetic resources

A
  • Genetic resources refer to any material from plants, animals or microorganisms, containing genes, that we find valuable.
  • Could be crops, plants used for medicines, microorganisms used in industrial processes, or animal breeds. We need to maintain genetic resources for following reasons:
    1. Food & drinks - from plants/animals
    2. Clothing - fibres & fabrics from plants/animals
    3. Drugs - from plant comports (eg morphine from poppies)
    4. Fuels - renewable fuel (eg. ethanol) sources
    5. Other industrial materials - many other materials produced from plant/animal (eg, wood, paper, dyes, oils, pesticides)
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8
Q

How does ecological reason link to economic

A

Many genetic resources (2.) are importance for global economy - products derived from plant/animal species traded on local & global scale.

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9
Q

How can genetic resources allow us to adapt to changes in environment

A
  • For eg, climate change may mean some crops wont be anle grow in same areas as they do now (eg. droughts).
  • HOWEVER, we may be able to use genes from a plant that resistant to droughts to genetically engineer a drought-resistant crop.
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10
Q

ECONOMIC reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  1. To reduce soil depletion
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11
Q

ECONOMIC reasons: 1. To reduce soil depletion

A
  • Continuous monoculture involves planting the same crops in the same field w/o interruption.
  • Causes soil depletion bc nutrients required by crop are gradually used up. (In more traditional farming, crops are rotated w other types of crops, so nutrients & organic matter are replaced).
  • The economic costs of soil depletion increased spending on fertilisers & decreased yields (crops produced).
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12
Q

AESTHETIC reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  • Some ppl believe we should conserve biodiversity as it brings joy to millions.
  • Areas rich in biodiversity provide pleasant, attractive landscapes ppl can enjoy - by maintaining it, we protect these landscapes.
  • The more biodiversity in an area, the more visitors it attracts - economic advantages.
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