10.3 Species diversity and human activities

Question 1

what is the impact of agriculture?

Answer 1

it reduces species diversity and the index of diversity is low

Question 2

what do farmers do in agriculture that affects species diversity?

Answer 2

• remove hedgerows
• drain wetlands/ponds
• overgrazing
• monoculture
• less intercropping
• use inorganic fertilisers
• increase use of pesticides and insecticides

Question 3

what conservation technique battles the removal of hedgerows?

Answer 3

maintaining existing ones
planting hedges instead of fences

Question 4

what conservation technique battles the filling in of ponds and draining of wetlands?

Answer 4

maintaining ponds
leaving the wet corners of the field

Question 5

what conservation technique battles overgrazing of land?

Answer 5

planting native trees on areas with low species diversity

Question 6

what conservation technique battles the use of pesticides?

Answer 6

use biological control, genetically modified organisms

Question 7

what conservation technique battles the use of fertilisers?

Answer 7

use inorganic fertilisers
use crop rotation that includes a nitrogen-fixing crop to improve soil fertility

Question 8

what conservation technique battles the escape of effluent from silage stores and slurry tanks into water sources?

Answer 8

create natural meadows and use hay instead of grasses for silage

Question 9

what conservation technique battles no crop intercropping?

Answer 9

use intercropping instead of herbicides for weed