biodiversity Flashcards
what is biodiversity
the number of different species in a population
a small number of different species is not biodiverse
what is interdependence
when the number of species are affected there is a knock on affect in the food chain
why is higher biodiversity better
we rely on many species for food and medicine
for recreation and tourism
what is reducing biodiversity
activities that create air or water pollution
what causes water pollution
open sewers leading into water courses
farmers fertilizers running off fields in heavy rain
what is water pollution
pollution of streams/rivers/lakes that causes eutrophication
what is the process of eutrophication
- mineral ions go into water courses
- algae bloom grows on the surface
- plant get less sunlight and die
- bacteria increases
- bacteria decomposes the nutrient material, using oxygen
- oxygen levels decrease so fish cant respire
what are the mineral ions that go into the water courses
nitrates and phosphrates
what causes air pollution
burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide
tiny particles of smoke causing smog
acid rain
what is the greenhouse effect
retention of heat in the atmosphere
what causes land pollution
rubbish being thrown out and not recycled
using land for farms, houses, factories
what is deforestation
destroying habitats where organisms live, which kills many species and causing extinction
how can we help conservation?
breeding programmes, protection and development of new endangered habitats, replanting hedgerows, reducing deforestation and reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses released, reforestation, recycling.
how does introducing non indigenous species reduce biodiversity
can kill indigenous species
