M5 IQ 1 Topic 2 - Ecosystems and their management: Vulnerability and resilience of ecosystems

Question 1

what does vulnerability refer to

Answer 1

not having the ability to be able to adapt to change

Question 2

what factors determine if a ecosystem in vulnerable to change

Answer 2

B.E.L.L
Biodiversity
Extent
Location
Linkages

Question 3

what is biodiversity

Answer 3

the variety of all life forms in through genetics, species, and ecosystems

Question 4

How do genetics determine biodiversity

Answer 4

The more genetic diversity in a species means a greater ability for individuals to adapt to change allowing the species to survive

Question 5

How does the range of species determine biodiversity

Answer 5

The greater the range of species, the greater an ecosystem’s resilience

Question 6

How does the range of ecosystems determine biodiversity

Answer 6

the more of similar ecosystems, the higher resistance a species will have to change

Question 7

what does extent refer to

Answer 7

the size of the area of effect, with the small the ecosystem the vulnerable

Question 8

what does location refer to

Answer 8

how latitude, distance from the sea and altitude affect climate which impact on nature.

Question 9

what does linkages refer to

Answer 9

How interdependent the components of a ecosystem are ( The more independent the less vulnerable)

Question 10

what is resilience

Answer 10

the ability for an ecosystem to adapt to change and restore function and structure of the environment after an episode of natural of human stress

Question 11

what does elasticity refer to

Answer 11

The ecosystems rate of recovery

Question 12

what does malleability refer to

Answer 12

The difference between pre stress level & recovery level

Question 13

what does amplitude refer to

Answer 13

The threshold of strain beyond which full recovery is impossible

Question 14

what are the characteristics Natural stress

Answer 14

Natural induced events that cause small scale change and have a low impact on the functioning of the ecosystem

Question 15

Give an example of natural stress

Answer 15

GBR: cyclones can destroy small sections of coral but cause a small impact on the functioning as it provides relief from crown-thorn starfish

Question 16

what are the characteristics of Human stress

Answer 16

Human induced events that cause large (global) scale change and have a large impact on the functioning of ecosystems

Question 17

List examples of human stress (5)

Answer 17

• Islandisation
• Pollution
• Overharvesting
• Habitat destruction
• Species Introduced

Question 18

what is the cause of Islandisation

Answer 18

Leaving undisturbed pockets of habitat amongst surrounding modified habitat

Question 19

List an example of Islandisation related issues(1)

Answer 19

Brazilian rainforest, The Ant Bird
- The ant Bird is psychologically engineered to stay out of areas of bare cover, and will not cross logging roads cut through the forest even if there only food source (Red Ants) move over.

Question 20

what is the cause of pollution

Answer 20

Improper waste disposal, and constant production of greenhouse gases

Question 21

List an examples of pollution induced issues(2)

Answer 21

• Eutrophication of the coral reef, preventing coral from being able to gain nutrients from the sun (photosynthesise)
• Coral bleaching, due to change in water temperature causing coral polyps to expel zooxanthellae

Question 22

what is the cause of overharvesting

Answer 22

species are being removed faster than they can grow

Question 23

List an example of overharvesting (1)

Answer 23

half of the world’s, newly discovered species found each year are harvested

Question 24

what is the cause of habitat destruction

Answer 24

the exploitation of the environment for it’s resources

Question 25

List an example of habitat destruction

Answer 25

3 football fields of the amazon rainforest is cut down every minute

Question 26

what is the cause of species introduction

Answer 26

Movement of foreign species into new environments

Question 27

List an example of species introduction

Answer 27

Hawaii, Giant snail and cannibal snail
- over 100 native snail species lost due to the introduction of giant snails to hawaii and due to efforts to control the issue with cannibal snails leading to the killing of endemic snails