B3- How Humans can affect the Environment Flashcards
How do humans pollute the environment?
- Waterways➡️Sewage, fertilisers and toxic chemicals.
- Air➡️Smoke and gases such as sulfur dioxide which contributes to acid rain.
- Land➡️Toxic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides which can then be washed into the water.
What has happened as a result of deforestation?
- More CO2 has been released into the atmosphere during the burning of trees or the decay of the wood by microorganisms.
- Reduced rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
- Reduced biodiversity due to loss of food and habitats.
How can bioethanol be produced?
By anaerobic fermentation using yeast.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of factory farming animals (6marks).
-In intensive farming, animals are kept inside to maintain body temperature to limit energy lost from respiration to keep warm, and are close together to restrict energy lost from movement.
✅Advantages: animals grow faster and bigger as less energy is wasted from heat and movement and more energy is used for growth. This means that farmers have more animal/meat to sell.
❌Disadvantages: Considered unethical by the public so they may not want to buy the meat or pay as much.
What are the advantages to using bioethanol?
✅Efficient.
✅Renewable.
✅No toxic gases are produced.
✅Carbon neutral.
Why is biogas not made immediately?
The oxygen must be used up as methane is only produced by the bacteria through anaerobic fermentation.
How can water be polluted by people?
- Herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilisers all get washed into rivers and streams.
- Fertilisers and untreated sweage can cause a high level of nitrates in the water.
- Toxic chemicals from landfill can leak into waterways and pollute water➡️Kills organisms such as fish.
What is meant by ‘sustainable food production’?
Sustainable food production means producing food in ways that we can continue for many years.
What type of food is produced by Fusarium?
Mycoprotein, which is a protein-rich food suitable for vegetarians.
Explain what happens in eutrophication.
When fertilisers run off fields into water (sources), thick layers of algae grow along the surface.
This means that little or no light gets to the bottom so plants along the bottom die.
The dead plants decompose, and the micro-organisms doing this take up O2 meaning there is not enough oxygen for bigger organisms so fish die.
What are the effects of acid rain?
- Buildings and statues with metals and rocks such as limestone are damaged.
- Damages the waxy layer on leaves, making it more difficult for trees to absorb the minerals need for healthy growth➡️Trees may die meaning food and habitats for other organisms are lost.
- Makes rivers and lakes too acidic for some aquatic life to survive.
How is biogas made?
- Plant and animal waste is broken down in biogas generators.
- The generators are maintained at a suitable temperature (30oC) in oxygen-free conditions➡️Ideal for bacteria to reproduce and ferment the carbohydrates.
How can overfishing be solved?
- Introducing quotas➡️Restricting how many fish per year.
- Smaller nets with larger mesh size➡️So small, young fish can escape.
- Seasonal restrictions➡️I.e: ban fishing in breeding season.
How is bioethanol made/fermented?
- Sugar cane juices/maize starch are fermented by yeast➡️Ethanol and CO2 are made.
- Ethanol is purified by distillation.
- Bioethanol can be used as a fuel or added to petrol to form Gasohol.
What are the features of a Fusarium fermenter and why?
- Air supply➡️To provide oxygen for aerobic respiration.
- Stirrers or gas bubbles➡️To keep the microorganisms spread out, nutrient concentration the same throughout and to provide an even temperature.
- Water-cooled jacket around outside➡️To keep cool as the respiring microorganisms release energy which heats the contents.
- Sensors➡️To monitor pH and temperature.
What is a peat bog?
Peat bogs are made from plant material that does not decay (often because it is too cold or acidic).
How can food production be made more efficient?
- The shorter the food chain, the less energy wasted➡️Eating plants instead of meat is more efficient.
- Reducing energy wastage by animals➡️Keeping the animals in warm sheds and preventing animals from moving.
How can deforestation lead to an increase in methane released into the atmosphere?
When the trees are replaced by rice fields and/or cattle, as both of these produce methane.
Why does deforestation occur?
- For growing crops to produce ethanol-based biofuels.
- Cattle and rice fields for food.
- Timber which can be sold and used to build with or as a fuel.
- To clear area in order to build settlements.
- HEP.
- Mining materials.
What is the problem with overfishing?
Overfishing can lead to stocks becoming so low that they are unable to replenish themselves.
