(13) Risks to Environmental Sustainability

Question 1

Biodegradable

Answer 1

Describes a substance originally made from plant an animal matter that can be broken down

Question 2

Describes a substance originally made from plant an animal matter that can be broken down

Answer 2

Biodegradable

Question 3

Biosecurity

Answer 3

Is the protection of people, animals and the environment from infectious diseases, pests and other biological threats

Question 4

Is the protection of people, animals and the environment from infectious diseases, pests and other biological threats

Answer 4

Biosecurity

Question 5

Fertilisers

Answer 5

Are widely used in agriculture to improve crop yields

Question 6

Are widely used in agriculture to improve crop yields

Answer 6

Fertilisers

Question 7

Climate change

Answer 7

A change in the pattern of weather, and related changes in oceans, land surfaces and ice sheets, occurring over decades or longer

Question 8

A change in the pattern of weather, and related changes in oceans, land surfaces and ice sheets, occurring over decades or longer

Answer 8

Climate change

Question 9

Herbicides

Answer 9

Are chemicals sprayed onto paddocks to kill weeds that compete for nutrients in the soil needed by food crops such as wheat, oats, rice and barley

Question 10

Are chemicals sprayed onto paddocks to kill weeds that compete for nutrients in the soil needed by food crops such as wheat, oats, rice and barley

Answer 10

Herbicides

Question 11

Pesticides

Answer 11

Are chemicals that are sprayed onto crops to control particular pests such as grasshoppers so that they do not destroy the crop

Question 12

Are chemicals that are sprayed onto crops to control particular pests such as grasshoppers so that they do not destroy the crop

Answer 12

Pesticides

Question 13

Salinity

Answer 13

Occurs if groundwater rises and reaches the surface and salt emerges through the topsoil

Question 14

Occurs if groundwater rises and reaches the surface and salt emerges through the topsoil

Answer 14

Salinity

Question 15

Soil acidification

Answer 15

Occurs when plants take up nutrients and release acidic waste from their roots

Question 16

Occurs when plants take up nutrients and release acidic waste from their roots

Answer 16

Soil acidification

Question 17

What is biosecurity

Answer 17

The protection of people, animals and the environment from infectious diseases, pests and other biological threats

Question 18

Who manages Australia’s biosecurity

Answer 18

The Federal Department of Agricultural and Water Resources

Question 19

A destructive disease that is spread in soil and water and survive 40 years in fungal spores in soil

First detected in a Cavendish banana plantation in the NT (1997)

Answer 19

Panama disease

Question 20

It affects animals with cloven hoofs (e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, deer, buffalo and camels)

Animals affected develop huge blisters on their toes, heels, lips and mouth, impacting their ability to walk and eat/drink – eventually dying = a huge cost to the primary production industry

Australia is still free from this disease. Found in Asia, Middle East, South America and Africa

Answer 20

Threat of foot and mouth disease (FMD)

Question 21

A bacterial disease that can destroy apple and pear orchards. The fruit, leaves and tree limbs become blackened and eventually the tree will die

Not present in Australia, but found in NZ, US, UK, Europe and the Middles East

Answer 21

Fire blight

Question 22

Threats to Australia’s cereal production

Answer 22

‘Barley stripe rust’ could damage our barley production

‘Wheat rust’ could damage our Australian wheat varieties (currently in Uganda and Russia)

Question 23

How can pests and diseases be spread unintentionally

Answer 23

Between farms through soil and plant material. This is usually done by sharing farming equipment, having dirt on your boots/clothing or on your car tyres

Question 24

How can farmers minimise risk of imported pests and diseases

Answer 24

Placing signs upon entry onto the property to raise awareness

Request that visitors contact the farm owner before entering

Use only dedicated vehicles or machinery on the property

Develop a strategy for cleaning equipment or vehicles before entering the property

Question 25

Effects of diminishing rainfall (climate change) on Australian agricultural and livestock production

Answer 25

Less water available for irrigation, therefore more demand on groundwater supplies Increased salinity Increased acidification in the soil Land degradation and soil erosion will increase Decreased yields New pests and diseases may attack crops leading to an increase in pesticide use

Question 26

Effects of temperature increase (climate change) on Australian agricultural and livestock production

Answer 26

Sea temperatures will rise, causing fish species to move south towards cooler waters Soil acidification, rising sea levels, run-off from agricultural land and increasing storm surges will have an impact on the sustainability of fish populations Some crops may be no longer viable to be grown in the same area due to change in temperature Crops may suffer sunburn

Question 27

Effect of climate change on Australian food supplies - crops

Answer 27

Extreme weather events can devastate crops, resulting in financial loss for farmers More CO2 in the air means less protein in plants, decreasing the nutrient value and also decreasing functional properties (e.g. protein in bread is gluten – gluten helps the bread dough rise)

Question 28

Effect of climate change on Australian food supplies - dairy

Answer 28

Dairy cattle produce less milk Less pasture for animals to feed on = lower quality produce. Conditions for animals in intensive farming will worsen. I.e. heat stress.

Question 29

Lack of availability in primary produced items will...

Answer 29

Force prices to rise, making basic foods unaffordable Create a greater demand for imports = questionable quality, health, cost, safety

Question 30

Includes not only all the different species of animals, plants, bacteria, virus and fungi that live on the earth, but also the genetic makeup and entire ecosystems

Answer 30

Biodiversity

Question 31

The importance of biodiversity in primary food production

Answer 31

Essential to sustain agricultural food production Microbes present in the soil ensure soil in fertile and crops can grow Native frogs and bats live on insects and help reduce crops pests Bees and birds are essential for pollinating many crops

Question 32

Why is biodiversity important

Answer 32

To ensure the health of the water in all river systems, lakes, dams and groundwater that is used in the production of our food supply

Question 33

Why are organisms that live near waterways important? (Microbes e.g. algae, fungi, bacteria and plankton, as well as fish, plants, water birds and frogs)

Answer 33

They help control the nutrients in the water by filtering out pollutants

Question 34

Name the three threats to biodiversity

Answer 34

The increase in human population growth Excessive use of herbicides and pesticides Introduction of alien species not native to Australia

Question 35

The consequences of human population growth on biodiversity

Answer 35

Increased demand for food = intensive food production systems Increased land clearing to make room for farming = habitats destroyed, native flora and fauna die, species extinct

Question 36

The consequences of excessive herbicide and pesticide use on biodiversity

Answer 36

Polluted waterways and destroyed ecosystems that live there

Question 37

The consequences of alien species not native to Australia on biodiversity

Answer 37

E.g. rabbits, foxes, cane toads, prickly pear They crowd native species, change entire habitats and destroy native ecosystems

Question 38

Why loss of genetic diversity has occurred

Answer 38

Because farmers have only been focussing on producing a limited number of crops and animals that will provide the greatest yield

Question 39

True or false 90% of our energy and protein comes from only 15 plants and 8 animal species

Answer 39

True

Question 40

What are 'gene' banks used for

Answer 40

To preserve the genetic diversity of crops for future generations Australia is a country already using them

Question 41

Why are heritage animals important

Answer 41

They are an important source of genetic diversity and may be useful in the future when breeding animals suited to an altered climate