Human activity and ecosystems

Question 1

How does bioaccumulation negatively affect ecosystems?

Answer 1

1. Pollutants are poisonous or toxic —–> cause weakness, illness, sterility or death
2. Imbalances within ecosystems
3. Loss of biodiversity

Question 2

How does biomagnification negatively affect ecosystems?

Answer 2

1. Amplifies the effects of bioaccumulation ——> leads to imbalances within ecosystems & loss of biodiversity
2. Human health problems arise from consuming organisms containing pollutants

Question 3

How does global warming negatively affect ecosystems?

Answer 3

1. More severe weather events —-> limit organism survival
2. Habitat loss (ice melt & damage to coral reefs)

Question 4

How does deforestation negatively affect ecosystems?

Answer 4

1. Loss of biodiversity - Trees serve as habitats for a wide range of organisms.
2. Wide-scale land degradation - loss of nutrients, increased levels of soil erosion, increased levels of soil salinity.
3. Global warming - trees are a source of oxygen & remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 5

Identify ways to reduce the impacts of bioaccumulation

Answer 5

1. Removal of pollutants already in ecosystems
2. Limit the amount of pollutants entering ecosystems through good waste management

Question 6

Identify ways to reduce the impacts of biomagnification

Answer 6

1. Raising public awareness of health issues arising from eating contaminated organisms
2. Reduce use of persistence chemicals (e.g. DDT)

Question 7

Identify ways to reduce the impacts of deforestation

Answer 7

1. Decrease amount of deforestation taking place
2. Replant trees (reforestation)
3. Reduce deforestation & Increase reforestation

Question 8

Identify ways to reduce the impacts of global warming

Answer 8

1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions - use alternative energy sources