reasons for maintaining biodiversity Flashcards
(20 cards)
keystone species
one that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance
soil depletion
loss of soil fertility caused by removal of minerals by continuous cropping
what are the three main reasons for maintaining biodiversity
- aesthetic reasons
- economic reasons
- ecological reasons
what are the aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity
- presence of different plants and animals in our environment enriches our lives
- the natural world provides inspiration for musicians and writers who provide pleasure for others through musics and books
- patients recover more rapidly from stress and injury when they are supported by plants and a relatively natural environment
- provide pleasant, attractive landscapes that people can enjoy ecotourism
what happens if biodiversity in an ecosystem is maintained
levels of long term productivity are higher
what may occur as a result of deforestation
soil erosion and desertification may occur which reduces a countrys ability to grow crops and feeds it people leading to resource dependance on other nations
why is it important to conserve organisms that we use to make things
non sustainable removal of resources (hardwood timber) will lead to collapse of industry in an area. when all raw material is lost, the industry is not economically viable
what happens when sustainable methods are used to conserve things
the new areas arent as biodiverse from the habitat they replace
what could large scale biodiversity loss mean
species that are potentially important could become extinct before they are discovered for e.g. new medicines
how does continuous monoculture result in soil depletion and what does this do
continuous monoculture results in soil depletion resulting in decrease of diversity in soil nutrients. it happens because crops take the same nutrients out of the soil year after year and is then harvested not left for nutrients to be recycled. soil depletion makes ecosystems more fragile and leads to weaker crops encouraging plant competitors and microorganisms. the farmer becomes dependant on expensive pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers to maintain productivity
what does high biodiversity protect against
abiotic stresses (extreme weather and natural disasters) and disease
what can a change in conditions or disease do
destory entire crops
what does rich biodiversity provide
attractive environment and promotes tourism
theres also a greater potential to manufacture different products in the future
why are plant varieties needed
for cross breeding leading to better characteristics
how do scientists plan to make crop plants and animals more efficient
plan to use genetic engineering to make crop plants and animals efficient to reduce land required to feed people
what is the importance of organisms being interdependant on others for their survival
removing one species can have a significant on others (disrupt food chains and nutrient cycles)
which species play a key role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community
keystone species
what do keystone species have relative to their abundance
a disproportionately large effect on the environment relative to their abundance
what do keystone species have an effect on
they affect many other organisms in an ecosystem and help determine species richness and evenness in a community
what happens when a keystone species is removed
the habitat is drastically changed. all other species are affected and some disappear
