Issues Threatening Biodiversity - W4 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Issues Threatening Biodiversity - W4 Deck (27)
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1
Q

Define: Biodiversity

A

Refers to the variety and abundance of life that inhabits Earth

2
Q

What can Biodiversity be used to describe?

A

Number of different species
Population size
Genetic differences

3
Q

What is Limited plant biodiversity?

A

Plants are all the same specie, potentially genetically identical too (monoculture)

4
Q

What is High plant biodiversity?

A

Many different species live in the same habitat and individuals are genetically different from others

5
Q

What 7 ways can humans benefit from biodiversity?

A
Resources
Biomimetics
Medicines
Physiological research
Pest control
Genetic resources
Ecosystem services
6
Q

How does Deforestation affect Biodiversity?

A

When animal species that live in the trees cannot relocate and therefore become extinct

7
Q

How does Ploughing of Grassland affect Biodiversity?

A

Reduces the ability of soils to absorb water and also causes water to run off much quicker

8
Q

How does Urban Expansionaffect Biodiversity?

A

Leads to natural habitats becoming fragmented (broken up)

9
Q

What resources of materials is collected from Plants and Animals?

A
Wood
Fibres
Oils
Fuels
Food
10
Q

Define: Biomimetics

A

Involves the use of knowledge of the adaptions of other species, to improve the designs of manufactured items

11
Q

Name one example of how biomimetics has been used

A

The splayed wingtip feathers of soaring birds reduces wind turbulence and drag. The copy of their feather structures has improved aircraft wing designs to help increase fuel efficiency

12
Q

Define: Conservation

A

A discipline that focuses on protecting and restoring the Earth’s biodiversity

13
Q

Why conserve? Medicines: two examples

A

Poppies and cultivated to produce the painkillers morphine and codeine

The Mexican yam in Central American rainforests was the source of diosgenin that has been used to make steroid medicines including the contraceptive pill and cortisone to reduce inflammation and allergic reactions

14
Q

Why conserve? Physiological research: two examples

A

Studying dolphins and bats that use high frequency sound to echo-locate their food has enabled the development of new ultrasound scanners that give better 3D images for medical diagnosis

Armadillos are among the few animals that can catch the bacterial disease leprosy. They are used in the study of the disease and in vaccine products ion

15
Q

Pest control: two examples

A

The populations of natural predators such as ladybirds and ground beetles can be increased by providing suitable habitats such as hedgerows and beetle banks

Encarsia formosa is a parasitic was that is released in greenhouses to control whitefly pests on crops such as tomatoes

16
Q

Threats to biodiversity: Genetic Resources: Give one example

A

The higher a population’s genetic diversity, the more likely the population can survive environmental change

17
Q

Name 6 characteristics introduced from Crop Wild Relative species (CWR)

A
Disease resistance
Salt-tolerance
Resistance to drought
High yield
Improved taste of appearance
Nutrient uptake
18
Q

What are 8 examples of ecosystem services?

A
Pollination and seed dispersal
Atmospheric composition
Soil maintenance
Habitat provision
Food
Interspecies relationships
The hydrological cycle
Biogeochemical cycles
19
Q

What are four examples of direct exploitation of animals?

A

Fashion
Entertainment
Medicines
Furniture

20
Q

What are 5 examples of changes in ABIOTIC factors?

A
Water availability
Temperature
pH
Physical damage
Water turbidity
21
Q

Water availability: Example

A

Over-exploitation of groundwater resources can lower the water table in the ground which may cause surface wetland habitats to dry out, making it impossible for wetland species to survive

22
Q

Temperature: one example

A

In climate change, the temperature changes will cause changes to the distribution of species as they colonise areas which become suitable, or die out in areas where they can no longer survive

23
Q

pH: one example

A

Mine drainage water and pollutant gases from burning fossil fuels, or smelting metals, can produce acidic conditions. These can denature the cell
proteins of exposed tissues

24
Q

Water turbidity: one example

A

Activities such as ploughing and mining may increase water turbidity. This can reduce light penetration and prevent submerged aquatic plants from photosynthesising

25
Q

Physical damage: one example

A

A wide range of human actions can cause physical damage such as discarding litter or old fishing gear

26
Q

What are three examples of changes in BIOTIC factors?

A

Pollinators
Seed dispersal species
Food chain impacts

27
Q

What are some examples of Habitat destruction?

A
Deforestation
Ploughing of grassland
Reservoir creation
Mineral extraction
Urban expansion