B19 - ecosystems, habitat destruction, conservation

Question 1

define ecosystem

Answer 1

a unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together.

Question 2

define habitat

Answer 2

an area where an organism lives

Question 3

define population

Answer 3

all the members of the same species

Question 4

define community

Answer 4

all populations of living organisms in a habitat

Question 5

state the interactions in a ecosystem

Answer 5

community, habitat and environment all interact with each other. Community interacts with itself. This forms an ecosystem.

Question 6

names the 2 environmental factors and their meaning

Answer 6

Biotic - living factors
Abiotic - non- living factors

Question 7

what are the 2 types of abiotic things

Answer 7

Physical and climate

Question 8

give examples of abiotic physical and climate

Answer 8

physical - light intensity, water availability, oxygen / carbon dioxide concentration
climate- temperature, humidity

Question 9

give examples of biotic

Answer 9

diseases, mates, food, predators, community

Question 10

define biodiversity

Answer 10

number of different species that live in an area.

Question 11

state the 2 factors to measure biodiversity

Answer 11

-number of different species
-total number of individuals in that ecosystem

Question 12

state where there would be high and low biodiversity and give a reason

Answer 12

High - tropical rain forest - plenty water, high temperature
Low - Deserts - high temperature, little water - Polar regions - low temperature, plenty water (frozen) - Urban regions - little space for plants to grow

Question 13

What reduces biodiversity (11)

Answer 13

-urbanisation
-human activates - pollution, overharvesting, hunting, introduction of foreign species
-habitat destruction - deforestation, agriculture,
-climate change - global warming

Question 14

Why do some ecosystems have a higher biodiversity

Answer 14

-more even spread of species
-greater total of organisms

Question 15

how does monoculture affect biodiversity

Answer 15

-1 dominant species
- damages food web

Question 16

reasons for habitat destruction (6)

Answer 16

-increased land use
-Marine pollution
-Fresh water pollution (discarded rubbish)
-Chemical waste
-extraction of natural resources
-Untreated sewage / fertilisers (Eutrophication)

Question 17

Give the effects and examples of increased land use

Answer 17

eg. livestock production, crop production, urbanisation, factories
Effects:
-damages food web
-produce pollution
-decrease biodiversity
-increased green house effect

Question 18

Give the effects and examples of marine pollution

Answer 18

eg. oil spills, plastics, nets hooks, eutrophication
Effects:
-disrupts food web
-microplastic - toxic to animals
-strangles / cuts animals (nets and hooks)
-decreased dissolved oxygen

Question 19

Give the effects and examples of extraction of resources

Answer 19

eg. mining, stones, oil, wood, gas
Effects:
-disrupts food webs
-destroys habitats
-reduces biodiversity
-pollution

Question 20

Give the effects and examples of chemical waste

Answer 20

eg. nuclear waste, heavy metals, pesticides
Effects:
-disrupts food webs
-bioaccumulation / biomagnification of heavy metals and pesticides
-kills top consumer
-mutations, cancer (nuclear waste)
-damaged nervous system and brain damage (heavy metals)

Question 21

Give the effects and examples of fresh water pollution (discarded rubbish)

Answer 21

eg. plastic, cans, food waste, glass
Effects:
-strangles / cuts animals
-non biodegradable
-smells and spread diseases
-cause forest fires

Question 22

Give the effects and examples of untreated sewage / fertiliser

Answer 22

eg. human waste, animal waste, nitrate fertiliser
Effects: Eutrophication
-increased plant growth in water (algae bloom) and blocks light
-decomposers feed on dead algae
-decomposer population increases and use up dissolved oxygen
-animals die from lack of oxygen

Question 23

define bioaccumulation

Answer 23

build up of chemical in body (fat)

Question 24

define biomagnification

Answer 24

concentration of chemical increases with each tropic level

Question 25

define biodegradable

Answer 25

cannot break down

Question 26

define biological control of pests

Answer 26

introduction of foreign species

Question 27

what are the disadvantage and advantage of biological control of pests

Answer 27

-advantage - no chemical added into the food web -disadvantage - introduced species may not eat pests, native species cannot defend against invaders, have no natural predators

Question 28

define deforestation

Answer 28

mass clearing of forests

Question 29

4 effects of deforestation

Answer 29

-soil erosion -flooding -increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere -extinction

Question 30

explain soil erosion from deforestation

Answer 30

-no roots to anchor soil -leeching - unused nutrients and minerals will be washed away -harder to regrow trees

Question 31

explain extinction from deforestation

Answer 31

-habitats destroyed -loss of biodiversity -fewer producer

Question 32

explain increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere from deforestation

Answer 32

-trees store carbon which is released when burning trees - less photosynthesis which removes carbon dioxide from atmosphere

Question 33

explain flooding from deforestation

Answer 33

-rain will not hit leaves and slow down -loose top soil - risk of flash flooding and landslides -roots absorb water

Question 34

explain climate change from deforestation

Answer 34

-reduced transpiration and direr atmosphere - affect water cycle and reduced rainfall -thermal gradients - raised temperature in lower atmosphere from rapid heating of adsorption - more intense and frequent winds

Question 35

how is climate change a threat to biodiversity

Answer 35

-change in temperatures and environmental conditions that animals cannot adapt to

Question 36

how is hunting a threat to biodiversity

Answer 36

-removal of organisms - risk of extinction -disrupts food web

Question 37

how is overharvesting a threat to biodiversity

Answer 37

-more removal of organisms than reproduction of them -disrupts food web -population is unsustainable

Question 38

how is habitat destruction a threat to biodiversity

Answer 38

-fewer organisms can be supported

Question 39

how is pollution a threat to biodiversity

Answer 39

-destroys habitat

Question 40

4 ways for conservation

Answer 40

-monitoring and protecting endangered species -educate -breeding in captivity programs -seed banks

Question 41

How does seed banks help conversation

Answer 41

-keeps seed of endangered species -keeps seeds dry and cold to prevent germination -protects and maintains plant genetic diversity

Question 42

How does captive breeding programs help conversation

Answer 42

-lower infant mortality rate - easier to re-establish population -prevent extinction -some species are let out in wild to re-establish population

Question 43

How does educating help conversation

Answer 43

-teach people the importance of conservation and how they can help

Question 44

How does monitoring and protecting endangered species help conversation

Answer 44

-easier to identify which species are at risk -development of land is restricted -protected areas protect animals and habitats

Question 45

how does deforestation affect concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere

Answer 45

-less photosynthesis happens -less CO2 removed form atmosphere