8.6 Wilderness environments Flashcards
What are wilderness regions?
Unspoilt and remote regions of the world
What impact does modern transport have on wilderness areas?
Gives easy access to previously inaccessible areas
What do we mean by the gene pool of wild organisms
Genetic diversity achieved by a large number of organisms
Why do scientists need wilderness areas
Outdoor laboratories that act as a ‘control’. Undisturbed plant and animal communities
How do Polar Regions help regulate the Earths temperatures
White snow and ice reflect sunlight, regulating the temperature
What does permafrost keep locked in?
Volume of methane, ice melting is causing methane to be released from rotting animals and plants
What is the slow growth of plants in the tundra a challenge
- Takes many years for the ecosystem to regrow after damage
- 50 years for tyre tracks, left be off-road vehicles to dissapear
What is cultural erosion
Outside influence may cause loss of unique characteristics from the indigenous cultures
Give an example of cultural erosion in Alaska
Language such as Eyak lost their native speaker
Give an example of how protecting traditional culture can conflict with efforts to protect wildlife
- Alaska, Inupiat are still allowed by US law to hunt and kill bowhead whales
