Ecology - Biodiversity and Global Warming 212-219

Question 1

what is biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of different species of organisms on Earth or within an ecosystem

Question 2

why is high biodiversity important

Answer 2

it makes sure ecosystems are stable because different species depend on each other for things like food and shelter

Question 3

what human actions are reducing biodiversity
3 points

Answer 3

1) waste production
2) deforestation
3) global warming

Question 4

why has the human population risen so quickly
3 points

Answer 4

1) modern medicine
2) new farming methods
3) these have reduced the number of people dying from disease or hunger

Question 5

what are the effects of human activity
3 points

Answer 5

1) increase in population has put pressure on the environment as we take the resources we need to survive
2) people are demanding a higher standard of living, so we use more raw materials and more energy - this means we are taking more resources more quickly
3) many raw materials are being used up quicker than they’re being replaced, so they will run out

Question 6

what are the effects of humans producing more waste on water
2 points

Answer 6

1) sewage and toxic chemicals from industry can pollute lakes, rivers and oceans which affect plants and animals that rely on them
2) chemicals used on land (fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides) can be washed into water

Question 7

what are the effects of humans producing more waste on land
2 points

Answer 7

1) we use toxic chemicals for farming
2) we also bury nuclear waste underground and dump household waste in landfill sites

Question 8

what are the effects of humans producing more waste on the air

Answer 8

smoke and acidic gases released into the atmosphere can pollute the air e.g. sulfur dioxide can cause acid rain

Question 9

what is the greenhouse gas affect
3 points

Answer 9

1) the temp of the Earth is a balance between the energy it gets from the Sun and the energy it radiates back into space
2) gases in the atmosphere naturally act like and insulating layer, absorbing most of the energy that would be radiated into space and re-radiate it in all directions - this increases the Earths temp
3) if this didn’t happen there would be nothing keeping the energy in and the Earth would become very cold

Question 10

what are greenhouse gases
2 points

Answer 10

1) gases in the atmosphere that help keep the energy in
2) the main ones are - carbon dioxide and methane

Question 11

what is global warming
3 points

Answer 11

1) the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing
2) this causes the Earth’s temp to increase
3) it’s a type of climate change that also causes other types of climate change

Question 12

what are some of the consequences of global warming
4 points

Answer 12

1) rising sea levels
2) changes in species distribution
3) changes in migration patterns
4) reduction in biodiversity

Question 13

how does global warming make sea levels rise and what are the effects of this
3 points

Answer 13

1) higher temps cause seawater to expand and ice to melt - rising sea levels
2) it has risen a little over the last 100yrs but this is increasing now
3) this increases the frequency of flooding - this means there’ll be loss of habitat for animals and people

Question 14

how does global warming change species distribution
3 points

Answer 14

1) as the temps increase and the amount of rainfall changes in different areas
2) some species are becoming more widespread - e.g. species that need warmer conditions
3) other species are becoming less widespread - e.g. species that need cooler temperatures

Question 15

how does global warming change migration patterns

Answer 15

some birds may be migration further north as more northern areas are getting warmer

Question 16

how does global warming reduce biodiversity

Answer 16

if some species are unable to survive a change in the climate, so become extinct

Question 17

what are peat bogs
2 points

Answer 17

1) bogs are areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged, plants that live there don’t fully decay, the partly rotted plants build up to form pear
2) so the carbon in plants is stored in the peat and not release in the atmosphere

Question 18

how do people use peat bogs
4 points

Answer 18

1) they’re drained to be used as farmland
2) the peat can be dried up and used as fuel
3) can be sold to gardeners as compost
4) it’s being used faster than it’s being formed

Question 19

what are the effects of destroying peat bogs
4 points

Answer 19

1) when the peat is drained it come into contact with air and some microorganisms start to decompose it
2) when these microorganisms respire they release CO2
3) CO2 is also released when peat is burned as fuel
4) destroying bogs also destroys the habitats of some animals, plants and microorganisms - reducing biodiversity

Question 20

why is deforestation done
2 points

Answer 20

1) clear land for farming to provide more food
2) to grow crops from which biofuels based on ethanol can be produced

Question 21

what problems does deforestation cause
3 points

Answer 21

1) less CO2 taken in
2) more CO2 in the atmosphere
3) less biodiversity

Question 22

how does deforestation cause less CO2 to be taken in
2 points

Answer 22

1) cutting down loads of trees means the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis is reduced
2) trees ‘lock up’ some CO2 they absorb during photosynthesis in their wood, which can remove it from the atmosphere for hundreds of years

Question 23

how does deforestation cause more CO2 in the atmosphere
2 points

Answer 23

1) CO2 is released when trees are burnt to clear land (CO2 in wood doesn’t contribute to pollution until it’s been burnt)
2) microorganisms feeding on bits of dead wood release CO2 as a waste product of respiration

Question 24

how does deforestation cause less biodiversity
2 points

Answer 24

1) habitats like forests can contain a huge number of different species of plants and animals
2) so when they’re destroyed there’s a danger of many species becoming extinct

Question 25

what are some programmes set up to minimise damage to ecosystems and biodiversity 4 points

Answer 25

1) breeding programmes 2) habitat protection 3) preventing global warming 4) reducing waste

Question 26

what are breeding programmes 3 points

Answer 26

1) they've been set up to help endangered species from becoming extinct 2) animals are bred in captivity to make sure the animal doesn't die in the wild 3) individuals can sometimes be released into the wild to boost or re-establish a population

Question 27

what are habitat protection programmes 4 points

Answer 27

1) to protect and regenerate rare habitats like mangroves, heathland and coral reefs - protecting these habitats protects the species living there 2) there are programmes to reintroduce hedgerows and field margins around fields that only grow one type of crop 3) field margins are areas of land where wild flowers and grasses are left to grow 4) hedgerows and field margins provide a habitat for a wider variety of organisms that could survive in a single crop habitat

Question 28

what are programmes to prevent global warming 2 points

Answer 28

1) some governments have introduced regulations and programmes 2) to reduce the level of deforestation taking place and the amount of CO2 released by businesses

Question 29

what are programmes to reduce waste 2 points

Answer 29

1) people are encouraged to recycle to reduce amount of waste ending up in landfills 2) this also reduced amount of land taken over for landfill, leaving ecosystems in peace

Question 30

why is the cost of biodiversity programmes a problem 3 points

Answer 30

1) governments sometimes pay farmers a subsidy to reintroduce hedgerows and field margins to their land 2) it can also cost money to keep a watch on whether programmes and regulation are being followed 3) there can be a conflict between protecting biodiversity and saving money

Question 31

how do biodiversity programmes effect the local economy 3 points

Answer 31

1) protecting biodiversity may come at a cost to local people's livelihoods 2) reducing the amount of deforestation can make people who were previously employed in the tree-felling industry lose their jobs 3) this can affect the local economy if people move away to find work

Question 32

how do biodiversity programmes effect food security 2 points

Answer 32

1) sometimes certain organisms are seen as pests by farmers and are killed to protect crops and livestock 2) as a result the food chain and biodiversity can be affected

Question 33

how can biodiversity programmes affect the development of society 2 points

Answer 33

1) sometimes land is in such high demand that previously untouched land with high biodiversity has to be used for development 2) e.g. for housing developments or new agricultural land