10.3. Species diversity and human activities Flashcards

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1
Q

What has the effort to provide enough food for the human population caused

A

A reduction in biodiversity

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2
Q

What is the index of diversity of a natural ecosystem

A

High due to complex communities with many individuals of a large number of different species

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3
Q

Why are agricultural ecosystems different to natural ecosystems

A

Because they are controlled by humans

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4
Q

What do farmers do within agricultural ecosystems

A

Select species of particular qualities that make them more productive

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5
Q

Why does the encouragement of selective growth reduce biodiversity

A

Because the number of species and genetic variety of the alleles they possess is reduced to the few that express the desired features

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6
Q

How is farming made economic

A

By adopting a large number of these desirable species

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7
Q

What is the impact on biodiversity from a large number of desirable species

A

Biodiversity is reduced because species have to compete for the remaining space. Many will not survive this type of competition and the biodiversity is reduced

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8
Q

What do farmers also use as a means of providing economic farming

A

Pesticides

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9
Q

Why are pesticides used

A

To destroy plants that aren’t of the select species because they compete for minerals, light, space and food.

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10
Q

What methods have increased food production

A
  1. Improved genetic variation of plants
  2. Greater use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
  3. Greater use of biotechnology
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11
Q

What is the impact of using these methods to increase food production

A

Biodiversity is reduced

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12
Q

What direct practices have reduced species diversity

A
  1. Removal of hedgerows
  2. Filling in of ponds
  3. Over-grazing of land
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13
Q

What indirect practices have reduced species diversity

A
  1. Use of pesticides
  2. Use of inorganic fertilisers
  3. Absence of crop-rotation and lack of intercropping
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14
Q

What methods have been developed to combat the practices that reduce species diversity

A
  1. Using ORGANIC fertilisers, not inorganic
  2. Plant hedges rather than fences as field boundaries
  3. Maintain ponds
  4. Rotate crops sufficiently
  5. Maintain existing hedgerows in an A-shape
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15
Q

Why is the use of these methods to combat the practices that reduce species diversity not favourable to farmers

A

Because they make the production of food more expensive

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16
Q

What features have been put in place to encourage farmers to begin the practices that help maintain species diversity

A

Financial incentives by the EU