human interactions w ecosystems 2 Flashcards
(16 cards)
what has the growth of the human race meant?
that there is less space and fewer resources for other organisms on Earth.
what do building, dumping waste, farming and quarrying all take up?
they take up space and deplete resources:
what’s peat?
peat is a deposit of partially decayed plant matter, which accumulates in bogs.
where does carbon remain?
carbon remains in the plants instead of being released into the atmosphere, in peat which accumalates into bogs.
what has the destruction of peat bogs becoming more common resulted in?
the burning or decay of peat.
what does the burning or decay of peat release?
This releases the stored carbon into the atmosphere in the form of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
whats another negative impact of peat bog destruction?
Another negative impact of peat bog destruction is the loss of biodiversity within the habitat.
why are peat bogs are being destroyed?
Peat bogs are being destroyed for the following reasons:
1. To free up land for farming, which requires the bogs to be drained. This draining process stimulates peat decay.
2. To burn the peat for fuel.
3. To sell the peat to gardeners as garden compost.
how can peat demand can be reduced?
Peat demand can be reduced by gardeners using peat-free compost, such as manure or bark chippings.
what’s deforestation?
Deforestation is the cutting, clearing and removal of forests in order to free up land for biofuels (fuels derived from living matter) as well as cattle and rice fields.
Negative consequences associated with deforestation include:
methane.
ecosystem services.
carbon dioxide.
what does forests being chopped down to be replaced by agriculture, with the purpose of growing rice or farming cattle produce
methane- which is a greenhouse gas.
what examples can you give where deforestation causes a loss of ecosystem services provided by forests?
erosion prevention, flood control and food provision.
what does the burning of trees and decomposition of wood increases the rate of ?
carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.
as less photosynthesis is taking place, less carbon dioxide can be?..
removed from the atmosphere.
what does destroying of habitats due to deforestation cause?
biodiversity to be lost
