11.6 Factors affecting biodiversity

Question 1

what are the main ways humans impact biodiversity?

Answer 1

deforstation
agriculture
climate change

Question 2

what is deforestation?

Answer 2

permanent removal of large areas of forest

Question 3

why is deforestation done?

Answer 3

wood for:
- fuel
- construction

space for:
- roads
- buildings

HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH

Question 4

how can deforestation occur naturally?

Answer 4

forest fires
acid rain

Question 5

impacts of deforestation on biodiversity

Answer 5

reduces tree density

reduces species diversity

reduces habitat diversity

leads to migration of animals

Question 6

how does deforestation reduce species diversity?

Answer 6

if one particular tree is deforested then the species diversity is reduced

Question 7

how does deforestation reduce habitat diversity?

Answer 7

forests are habitats for many other organisms

removing trees removes a habitat so reduces the habitat diversity

Question 8

how does deforestation lead to migration of animals?

Answer 8

animals escape the deforested area as their habitat has been destroyed

so reduces the species biodiversity further

they move to neighbouring areas

Question 9

why are agricultural techniques used?

Answer 9

to improve crop yields by producing crops which are economically viable and popular

maximise food production

Question 10

impacts of agriculture on biodiversity

Answer 10

leads to deforestation

use of chemicals/herbicides

monoculture

Question 11

how does agriculture lead to deforestation?

Answer 11

land needs to be cleared in order to build farms and increase arable land

REMOVAL OF HEDGEROWS leads to loss of habitat for many organisms

reduces habitat and species diversity as a result

Question 12

how does the use of pesticides lead to reduction in biodiversity?

Answer 12

using pesticides leads to insects being killed which reduces the species biodiversity

Question 13

how does the use of herbicides lead to reduction in biodiversity?

Answer 13

using herbicides kills weeds which leads to reduction in plant species biodiversity

Question 14

how does monoculture lead to reduction in biodiversity?

Answer 14

only one crop is planted in order to maximise yield

means only one species is present so there is a very low species biodiversity

Question 15

how has human activity caused climate change?

Answer 15

increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels

gases like CO2 trap hot air and thus raise temperature of the atmosphere

Question 16

impacts of climate change on biodiversity

Answer 16

ice caps melting

rising sea levels

less rainfall

change in temperature

Question 17

how would ice caps melting decrease biodiversity?

Answer 17

loss of habitat for many arctic animals means a loss in habitat diversity

many arctic animals and plants will become extinct and so species diversity falls

Question 18

how would rising sea levels decrease biodiversity?

Answer 18

caused by thermal expansion of water

leads to mass floods which destroys the habitats of species

so reduces species and habitat diversity

Question 19

how would less rainfall decrease biodiversity?

Answer 19

plants and animals die from dehydration

so reduces species diversity