7. Ecology 3 Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
The variety of the different species on earth or within an ecosystem
What is the important of biodiversity?
To maintain the stability of an ecosystem
How does biodiversity ensure the stability of an ecosystem ?
It reduces the dependence on particular species for resources eg. food and shelter, so that even if one species is removed other species can still survive.
Why have humans’ consumption of resources and waste production increased ?
- Rapid rise in human population
- Increase in standard of living
Where does pollution occur ?
- Air
- Land
- Water
State an example of water pollutants
- Sewage
- Fertiliser
- Chemicals
How does eutrophication occur ?
Fertiliser from farms pollute the water, causing excessive algae growth, depleting the oxygen in the water, causing other plants and animals to die.
Dead plants are decomposed by bacteria and the oxygen level decreases further.
State an example of air pollutants.
- smoke
- acidic gases
State an example of land pollutants.
- Landfill waste
- Chemicals
Which human activities reduce the land availbe for animals and plants ?
- building
- farmimg
- quarrying
- disposing of waste
Why have peat bogs been destroyed?
To produce compost to increase food production .
Why does the destruction of peat bogs greatly contribute to the greenhouse effect ?
Peat bogs are stores of carbon (carbon sinks) and burning them releases a large volume of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Why have large-scale deforestation activities occurred ?
- To provide land for cattle or rice fields
- To grow crops to prodice biofiels
What is the greenhouse effect ?
Greenhouse gases trap energy from the sun as heat in the atmosphere , keeping the temperature on earth suitable for life
What is causing global warming ?
The increase in levels of greenhouse gases eg. Carbon dioxide and methane , causing the temperature on earth to increase
