Agroforestry Flashcards
what are agroecosystems?
ecosystems that have been modified to produce food, fiber, and other resources
How much does agriculture contibute to GHG emissions?
25%
How much does livestock contribute to GHG emisions?
14.5%
Do fertilizers also contribute? Why or why not?
Yes, they contribute because of Nitrous Oxide and it is more potent than Carbon
Deforestation lowers ____
carbon sequestration
carbon seuqestration is a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.
what is monoculture
it is the cultivation of a single crop in a given area
what are the consequences of monoculture
Reduces biodiversity, degrades soil health, and increases susceptability to pathogens
Consequences of using pesticides and fertilizers
- Nutrient runoff
- Water pollution
- lower resilience
- increased GHG emissions
agriculture run off is the leading cause of water pollution
what are some examples of mitigation?
- Crop rotation
- Agroforestry
- Organic farming
What is crop rotation and what does it do?
cycles different types of crops in the same soil but different times
* reduces need for synthetic fertilizers
* reduces pest infestations
What is agroforestry and what does it do?
incorporating trees in agriculture
* act as carbon sinks
* provide shade -> reduce soil evaporation
* stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and improve water retention
* increase biodiversity
What is organic farming and what does it do?
minimizing use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms
maintain soil health and productivity
What is fragmentation?
continuous habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches due to agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development
What is the edge effect?
increases exposure to predators, invasive species, and environmental fluctuations
changes in a population or community along the boundary of a habitat
What is the consequence of the edge effect?
Can alter the habitat for species living near the margin
what happens to smaller patches?
the smaller the patch, the more affcted it is by the edge effect
how does the edge effect alter the habitat for species living near the margin
- limits genetic diversity
- weakens ecosystem
- more prone to extinction
What is stress ecology?
studies how species cope with environmental pressures*
*like fragmentation, pollution, and climate-related changes
what happens to species in fragmented landscapes?
experience heightened stress due to altered microclimates and resource limitations
In stress ecology, adaptation comes at a cost. What happens?
- reduce reproductive success
- shorter life span
What are the diffrent ecological scales?
- Ecosystem function
- community
- population
- individual
- metabolism/physiology
What is ecological footprint?
measure of the demands made by people on global natural resources
Contributors of ecological footprint
- Cropland
- Grazing
- Forest products
- fishing grounds
- built up land
What are croplands?
Land used to grow food, fiber, and biofuels.
Impacts: Deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil depletion, and CO₂ emissions from land conversion.
What are grazing lands?
Land used for livestock, especially cattle, sheep, and goats
impacts: Deforestation for pasture, methane emissions, soil erosion, and desertification from overgrazing.
What are forest products?
Use of wood and forest resources for timber, paper, and fuelwood.
impacts: Carbon release from deforestation, loss of carbon sinks, and reduced biodiversity.
What are fishing grounds?
area used for fishing
impacts: overfishing, biodiversity loss, and habitat disruption
What is built up land?
Land used for infrastructure like buildings, roads, and urban development
impacts: Habitat loss, increased impervious surfaces (flooding risk), and urban heat islands
lower income countries usually have ____ footprints than high income countries
lower
