unit 3 human impact on the environment

Question 1

what is extinction

Answer 1

the loss of species and decrease in biodiversity

Question 2

possible reasons for species becoming endangered (human)

Answer 2

Destroying habitats
Pollution of the environment
Introduction of alien species
Monoculture (growing large numbers of the same, genetically identical individuals in a given area.)
Building
Unsustainable harvesting

Question 3

Conservation

Answer 3

the creation, management and protection of habitats

Question 4

types of conservation

Answer 4

-nature reserves and SSSI
-International cooperation between governments and organisations (CITES)
-Restricting activities that threaten an endangered species
-Breeding programmes
-Sperm banks and seed stores.
-Reintroduction programmes such as the Red Kite in Mid Wales.
-Pollution control.

Question 5

why is Genetic diversity good

Answer 5

to survive changing environments

Question 6

Deforestation can lead to

Answer 6

-destruction of natural habitats
-decrease in native biodiversity
-increase in soil erosion leads to an increase in nutrient loss
-succession from cleared land doesn’t occur because the top soil has been lost
-loss of valuable plant materials which could have potential medicinal uses
-contributes to global warming

Question 7

privation of deforestation

Answer 7

-Sustainable management (succession can happen)
-coppicing – woodland is divided into different areas to be cut down in rotation
-Introduction of protected areas and replanting of native species

Question 8

Reducing the impact of overfishing:

Answer 8

Fishing quotas
Reducing the size of fishing fleets
Restricting seasons for fishing
Restricting mesh sizes for fishing nets
Banning fishing from some zones (exclusion zones) altogether.
Fish farming –

Question 9

fish farming problems

Answer 9

eutrophication.
antibiotics can lead to resistance
Non-specific pesticides affect food chains.
overcrowded- pests can spread easily.
modified escaped fish- competition.

Question 10

what aspects of he environment are monitored

Answer 10

chemicals(CO2, PH)
biotic ( animals and plants)
radiation
microbes

Question 11

what do Planetary boundaries do

Answer 11

define the safe operating space for humanity.

If one or more of these thresholds are exceeded, there is the possibility of abrupt and irreversible environmental change.

Question 12

how are boundary’s represented as

Answer 12

circular graphs

Question 13

how do Planetary boundary graphs work

Answer 13

centre (green)- safe operating space

middle (yellow) - approaching danger

outer ring (red) - exceeded limit - irreversible damage

Question 14

what are the 9 planetary boundaries

Answer 14

-Biosphere integrity
-Climate change
-Chemical pollution and novel entities
-Ozone depletion
-Aerosol loading
-Ocean acidification
-Biochemical flows
-Freshwater consumption and the water cycle
-Land system change

Question 15

Biosphere integrity

Answer 15

biodiversity loss and extinctions

Question 16

Climate change

Answer 16

boundary has been crossed
irreversible damage

Question 17

Chemical pollution and novel entities

Answer 17

emission of toxic and long-lived substances
(radioactive material)

Question 18

Aerosol loading

Answer 18

aerosols are atmospheric pollutants

Question 19

Ocean acidification:

Answer 19

CO2 dissolving into oceans and forming carbonic acid.

Question 20

Biochemical flows

Answer 20

nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

Both elements are fixed into fertilisers but up-take by plants is limited leading to eutrophication.

Question 21

Freshwater consumption and the water cycle

Answer 21

globally fresh water is becoming scarce

Question 22

Land system change

Answer 22

describes land converted to human use