B17 Biodiversity and ecosystems

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

the variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem

Question 2

What is the advantage of high biodiversity?

Answer 2

ensures stability of ecosystems by reducing the dependence of one species on another

Question 3

How are humans trying to maintain biodiversity?

Answer 3

• breeding programmes
• protection of rare habitats
• reintroduction of hedgerows
• reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions
• recycling resources

Question 4

Why are more resources being used, and more waste produced, by humans?

Answer 4

rapid growth in human population, and increase in the standard of living

Question 5

Where does pollution occur?

Answer 5

water, air, and land

Question 6

How are humans reducing the land available for other organisms?

Answer 6

building, quarrying, farming, and dumping waste

Question 7

What are the negative impacts of the destruction of peat bogs?

Answer 7

• reduces amount of available habitat, causing decreases in biodiversity
• burning or decay of peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Question 8

Why have humans carried out large-scale deforestation in tropical areas?

Answer 8

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