B16 Ecosystem

Question 1

What is the effect of pollution on biodiversity?

Answer 1

• in water, from sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals
• in air, from smoke and acidic gases
• on land, from landfill and from toxic chemicals

Pollution kills plants and animals which can reduce biodiversity .

Question 2

What us the effect of deforestation on biodiversity?

Answer 2

Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas has occurred to:

• provide land for cattle and rice fields
• grow crops for biofuel

Question 3

What is the effect of global warming on biodiversity?

Answer 3

Levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere contribute to global warming and climate change. Much of this carbon dioxide and methane is man made, eg from burning fossil fuels (carbon dioxide) and farming (methane). Global warming causes habitat loss (due to flooding or drought), changes in the distribution of organisms, changes in migration patterns and reduced biodiversity.

Question 4

What is the effect of destroying peat bogs on biodiversity?

Answer 4

The destruction of peat bogs, and other areas of peat to produce garden compost, reduces the area of this habitat and thus the variety of different plants, animals and microorganism species that live there (biodiversity).

The decay or burning of the peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Question 5

What are the main ways that we can help maintain

biodiversity?

Answer 5

Conservation is the preservation of ecosystems and the organisms that live within them. (national parks)

Other ways:

• breeding programs to help preserve endangered species, like the panda
• protection and development of new endangered habitats, often by making National Parks
• recycling rather than dumping waste in landfill sites