10.3. Species diversity and human activities

Question 1

What has the effort to provide enough food for the human population caused

Answer 1

A reduction in biodiversity

Question 2

What is the index of diversity of a natural ecosystem

Answer 2

High due to complex communities with many individuals of a large number of different species

Question 3

Why are agricultural ecosystems different to natural ecosystems

Answer 3

Because they are controlled by humans

Question 4

What do farmers do within agricultural ecosystems

Answer 4

Select species of particular qualities that make them more productive

Question 5

Why does the encouragement of selective growth reduce biodiversity

Answer 5

Because the number of species and genetic variety of the alleles they possess is reduced to the few that express the desired features

Question 6

How is farming made economic

Answer 6

By adopting a large number of these desirable species

Question 7

What is the impact on biodiversity from a large number of desirable species

Answer 7

Biodiversity is reduced because species have to compete for the remaining space. Many will not survive this type of competition and the biodiversity is reduced

Question 8

What do farmers also use as a means of providing economic farming

Answer 8

Pesticides

Question 9

Why are pesticides used

Answer 9

To destroy plants that aren’t of the select species because they compete for minerals, light, space and food.

Question 10

What methods have increased food production

Answer 10

1. Improved genetic variation of plants
2. Greater use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
3. Greater use of biotechnology

Question 11

What is the impact of using these methods to increase food production

Answer 11

Biodiversity is reduced

Question 12

What direct practices have reduced species diversity

Answer 12

1. Removal of hedgerows
2. Filling in of ponds
3. Over-grazing of land

Question 13

What indirect practices have reduced species diversity

Answer 13

1. Use of pesticides
2. Use of inorganic fertilisers
3. Absence of crop-rotation and lack of intercropping

Question 14

What methods have been developed to combat the practices that reduce species diversity

Answer 14

1. Using ORGANIC fertilisers, not inorganic
2. Plant hedges rather than fences as field boundaries
3. Maintain ponds
4. Rotate crops sufficiently
5. Maintain existing hedgerows in an A-shape

Question 15

Why is the use of these methods to combat the practices that reduce species diversity not favourable to farmers

Answer 15

Because they make the production of food more expensive

Question 16

What features have been put in place to encourage farmers to begin the practices that help maintain species diversity

Answer 16

Financial incentives by the EU