Concepts of Environment, natural & Anthropogenic biomes, Land Cover Change, Ecosystem Structure & Dynamics, Biodiversity Loss, Climate Change & Sustainability

Question 1

Environment

Answer 1

Living & non-living elements of the earth’s atmosphere and surface.
Includes human changes to the Earth’s surface (croplands, planted forests, buildings and roads)

Question 2

How much of earth’s surface has been altered by human activity?

Answer 2

75%

Question 3

Natural Biomes

Answer 3

Community of lifeforms adapted to large natural areas.
- Have not been altered by sustained human interactions.

Question 4

What are the 5 categories of biomes?

Answer 4

Grasslands, tundra, forests, deserts and aquatic

Question 5

Climate is the key determinant to…

Answer 5

the classification of biomes, influenced by factors such as latitude.

Question 6

Anthropogenic Biomes

Answer 6

Results of sustained direct human interactions with ecosystems

Question 7

What are Anthropogenic Biomes also referred to as?

Answer 7

Human Biomes and anthromes

Question 8

What are major anthropogenic biomes?

Answer 8

urban, rural or villages, croplands and range lands
They are the results of sustained human actions like population growth that results in the conversion of forested areas for urban or agricultural uses, therefore changing natural ecosystems and environments.

Question 9

Land Cover Change

Answer 9

Changes that have taken place in natural environments due to a variety of natural and/or human-induced causes

Question 10

Natural causes of land cover change

Answer 10

Cyclones, bushfires, tsunamis (basically natural disasters)

Question 11

Human-induced causes of land cover change

Answer 11

Agriculture, urban areas or industry purposes (mining or forestry)

Question 12

What are 4 key processes of land cover change

Answer 12

Deforestation, expansion and intensification of agriculture, growth of urban settlement and mining

Question 13

What is the structure of an ecosystem made up of?

Answer 13

Biotic and abiotic elements, with a hierarchy of organisms - trophic levels: producers, consumers and detritus.
There are relationships between bio and abio elements that include the flow of energy between the elements (foodchains)

Question 14

Abiotic

Answer 14

(Non-living) elements that consist of climatic features (sunlight & humidity), inorganic substances (water), & organic substances (protein)

Question 15

Autotrophic Organisms

Answer 15

(Producers) convert solar energy into chemical energy which can be stored for later use.

Question 16

Heterotrophic Organisms

Answer 16

(Consumers) reliant on other organisms for nutrients & categorised as herbivores & carnivores

Question 17

Decomposers

Answer 17

Heterotrophic organisms which breakdown dead organic matter and waste matter (e.g. fungi are decomposers)

Question 18

Ecosystems are made up of 4 components:

Answer 18

Abiotic
Autotrophic Organisms
Heterotrophic organisms
Decomposers

Question 19

Biodiversity Loss

Answer 19

Extinction of species worldwide & local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat

Question 20

Why is biodiversity loss an issue? Can it be caused by natural or human processes?

Answer 20

A loss in the variety of life can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of ecosystems = further ecosystem decline/collapse.
Can be caused by both natural & human processes.

Question 21

Amphibian example of loss of biodiversity

Answer 21

Amphibians have the highest rate of endangerment. IUCN estimates that up to 41% of all known amphibian species are at risk of extinction. Current extinction rate may be anywhere from 25,000 to 45,000 times the background extinction rate.

Question 22

Climate Change

Answer 22

Long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over period of time that range from decades to millions of years.
(may be change in the average weather condition or a change in the distribution of weather events w/respect to an average)

Question 23

Greenhouse Emission example of climate change

Answer 23

Since 1980- greenhouse emissions have doubled = 0.7℃ global temp increase.
This increase has effects on the environment = sea level rise, biodiversity loss & increase in both occurrence and strength of natural hazards

Question 24

Sustainability

Answer 24

Meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social and economic adaptation and improvement.

Question 25

What must be sustainable for anthropogenic biomes to thrive?

Answer 25

Surrounding natural environemtns

Question 26

Example of sustainability

Answer 26

Adapting power generation strategies to ensure the protection of the environment while maintaining a benefit to people in terms of economic growth and standard of living.

Question 27

Example of sustainability 2

Answer 27

Marine fish stocks:
Currently, 60% of fisheries are being harvested at the maximum sustainable level.

Question 28

Other strategies for sustainability

Answer 28

Protecting biodiversity & natural waterways, reducing pollution in the atmosphere, improving standard of living, services and amenities and ensuring economic viability and growth