the importance of conserving biodiversity

Question 1

list reasons why it is important to conserve biodiversity

Answer 1

1) resources
2) biomimetics
3) new food species
4) crop wild relatives
5) medicines
6) physiological research
7) pest control species
8) ecological services

Question 2

explain why resources is an important reason to conserve biodiversity

Answer 2

1) wood- manufacture of buildings, tools and furniture
2) fibres- cotton, wool, paper
3) fuels- wood, charcoal, alcohol
4) oils- vegetable and animal used in food, soaps, lubricants
5) food- plants, animals, fungi

Question 3

explain why new food species is an important reason for conserving biodiversity

Answer 3

many food species have the potential for commercial cultivation to feed the growing population e.g

1) potato bean of North America has high protein
2) many species of spinach can be grown in high salt content so can be used for crop breeding programmes

Question 4

what is biomimetics

Answer 4

involves using the knowledge of the adaptations of other species to imporve the designs of manufactured items

Question 5

explain how biomimetics can be used to improve vehicle design

Answer 5

1) wings of soaring birds- splayed wingtip reduces turbulence and drag so is used to improve aircraft design to increase fuel efficiency
2) tubercles of humpback whales- decreases turning circles of boats increasing efficiency

Question 6

explain how biomimetics is used to imporve infection control

Answer 6

1) shark skin- bacteria don’t stick easily so a coating material imitating shark skin is used in hospitals to control bacteria infections

Question 7

explain how biomimetics is used to improve architecture

Answer 7

1) termite mounds- creates a convection current from structure therefore keeping building cool and ventilated- used in offices and shopping centres to decrease money spent on air conditioning

Question 8

explain how biomimetic has improved materials

Answer 8

1) spider silk- light weight and strong has been copied to produce better car air bags and body armour

Question 9

explain why conservation of biodiversity is important for medicines

Answer 9

• there are many plants which have been discovered to have medical properties, if conservation doesn’t occur many potential plants species which could imporve medicine could be lost
  1) poppies cultivated to produce painkillers ie morphine
  2) bark of willow tress used for aspirin

Question 10

explain by conservation of biodiversity is important for physiological research

Answer 10

some species have become adapted for specific conditions and studying these could give a greater understanding of human health

1) purple sea urchin embryos used to test medicines are teratogenic and could cause abnormal development of embryos
2) dolphins and bats- high frequency to echo-locate food allowed development of new ultrasound tech to give better 3D images and medical diagnosis

Question 11

explain why conservation of biodiversity is important in terms of pest control species

Answer 11

• a wide range of predators ect are used to control agricultural pests some may be native species so need to be conserved eg
  1) ladybirds released into greenhouses to control aphid populations
  2) encarsisa formosa- a parasitic wasp that controls whitefly populations

Question 12

what is an ecosystem service

Answer 12

any species which influence the conditions of Earths that are beneficial to humans