Populations & Sustainability

Question 1

what is carrying capacity?

Answer 1

the maximum population size that can be maintained in a particular habitat

Question 2

what is a limiting factor?

Answer 2

• a factor that slows down the rate of a natural process

Question 3

what are examples of abiotic factors that affect population size?

Answer 3

• Light availability
• Water supply
• Water mineral content
• Temperature
• Amount of space available
• Soil pH

Question 4

what is interspecific competition?

Answer 4

competition between different species

Question 5

what is intraspecific competition?

Answer 5

competition within the same species

Question 6

what happens during the slow growth phase of population growth?

Answer 6

• small number of individuals so less reproduction
• BR>DR

Question 7

what happens during the exponential growth phase of population growth?

Answer 7

• rapid exponential increase
• BR>DR

Question 8

what happens during the stable state phase of population growth?

Answer 8

• population declines until stable with cyclic fluctuations
• carrying capacity reached
• BR=DR

Question 9

What are examples of interspecific competition?

Answer 9

• competition for resources when species are part of the same niche

Question 10

what are examples of intraspecific competition?

Answer 10

competing for space, food and a mate

Question 11

what is conservation

Answer 11

Maintaining biodiversity through human action or management

Question 12

what is preservation

Answer 12

Maintaining habitats and populations exactly as they are now by restricting or banning human interference.

Question 13

What are some ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 13

• more diverse habitats can adapt to change better
• keystone species

Question 14

What are environmental reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 14

• plants absorb carbon dioxide
• plants are producers
• organisms provide services

Question 15

what are economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity.

Answer 15

• medicines originate from plants, fungi, bacteria
• ecotourism

Question 16

What are aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity.

Answer 16

• pleasure of nature
• inspiration to creatives

Question 17

What ethical reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 17

• moral obligation
• Humans have no right to cause extinction.

Question 18

What are some social reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 18

• people enjoying being outside
• outdoor activities

Question 19

What is reclamation

Answer 19

Restoring ecosystems that have been damaged or destroyed.

Question 20

What is sustainable development?

Answer 20

The management of ecosystems so natural resources can be used without running out.

Question 21

What are two examples of sustainable small scale timber production?

Answer 21

• coppicing
• pollarding

Question 22

What is coppicing?

Answer 22

1. Tree trunks cut close to the ground
2. new shoots grow from the stump
3. These are then cut and allowed to grow again.

Question 23

What are the benefits of copicing?

Answer 23

• more light
• habitats maintained
• dont need large machinery
• sustainable

Question 24

What type of succession can coppicing be linked to?

Answer 24

deflected succession

Question 25

What is rotational coppicing?

Answer 25

Were you rotate between the areas that are coppiced to allow sections to grow

Question 26

What is Pollarding?

Answer 26

Similar to coppicing, but the trees are cut 2-3m above the ground.

Question 27

What does pollarding do?

Answer 27

Prevents herbivores from eating and consuming new shoots.

Question 28

Where is the example of unsustainable timber production?

Answer 28

clear felling

Question 29

How can timber production be made sustainable

Answer 29

- coppicing - pollarding - selective cutting - replace trees - limit size of cutting - Plant trees optimal distance apart to reduce competition.

Question 30

What are examples of sustainable fishing

Answer 30

- quotas - Nets with different sized mesh. - Fish farming. - Only fish in a certain times of year.