Enviromental Impact Flashcards
(26 cards)
What can environmental changes be
manmade/natural
What is an example of natural environmental change
seasonal changes cause animals to migrate,hibernate or enter dormant states
What is an example of man-made environmental change
global warming so acidic and hotter seas have led to coral bleaching and death of algae
How has human population impacted biodiversity and land use
More land needed by humans for houses, energy or food. Thus biodiversity decreases
What causes eutrophication
run off water containing fertilisers from farm/sewage
Explain eutrophication in 5 stages
1) excessive nutrients from farm/sewage
2) cause growth of algae, duckweed and other plants
3) algae blooms as once oxygen depleted algae blocks sunlight from reaching other plants they die and all oxygen in water is depleted
4) decomposition further depletes oxygen as bacteria use up even more oxygen to break down dead plants
5) death of the ecosystem
Why is deforestation done
usage of wood, make space , grow crops/ monocultures over huge areas reducing biodiversity
What is a peat bog
from over thousands of years in marshy areas as decomposers cannot completely break down plants in acidic conditions with little oxygen so peat forms to store carbon
What is peat used for
fuel and cheap compost by gardeners
What are the effects of deforestation
- inc. release of CO2
- reduce rate of photosynthesis
- reduced biodiversity
- increased methane if land is used for rice field
What does the loss of peat and trees mean
At an unsustainable rate so reduced carbon stores and biodiversity
What is global warming caused by
- burning of CO2 and methane
- fossil fuels, petrol, rice corps, cattle farming and deforestation
Who will be affected the most by temp. change
species sensitive to temp. change such as possum as they cannot control their temp.
Examples of waste substances
- Sewage
- Smoke and toxic gas
- herbicides, fertilisers and pesticides
- lead
- paper, cardboard and plastic
What are the main causes of pollution
- Eutrophication due to fertilisers entering waterways
- toxic chemicals spreading to water and soil
- smoke and gas cover and damage tress
How is acid rain formed
burning fossil fuels dissolve in water vapour to make acid rain
What does acid rain cause
- damages leaves and plants
- Washes Al3- ions into lakes which affects gills in fish
- acidifies water ways
What is an indicator species
organisms that can tell us about the levels of pollution in an area by their presence or absence.
What is an ecosystem
a community of animals, plants, micro-organisms, non-living things and their shared environment
What is a habitat
place where an organism lives
What is a community
all living organisms that live in that habitat
How can pollution also be measured apart from indicator species
probes attached to computers to directly measure specific conditions and chemicals
What are some examples of indicator species
- lichens cannot survive in polluted areas (on trees)
- sludge worms and adler flies inform on water
- many different species in water indicate a healthy environment
What are some ways to improve biodiversity
- breeding programmes
- regeneration of habitats
- field margins
- recycling
