B6.1 Monitoring And Maintaining The Environment

Question 1

What is sampling?

Answer 1

Taking observations or measurements from a small area which represents a large area. Estimates can be made of larger populations and distribution

Question 2

What are the problems with sampling animals?

Answer 2

They move around so it is hard to track them. It is also unethical to kill them or capture them

Question 3

List some methods of sampling animals

Answer 3

Pooters- insects
Kick sampling - aquatic organisms
Tree beating - invertebrates on trees
Pitfall traps - animals and insects 
Long worth traps - rodents
Sweep nets - flying insects
Light trap - insects
Mist nets - bats

Question 4

Describe pooters

Answer 4

The sampler sucks on a mouthpiece to suck insects into a chamber while blocking them from your mouth

Question 5

Describe sweep nets

Answer 5

A net is swung in the air or on plants to catch insects

Question 6

Describe kick sampling

Answer 6

You kick an area of river o sis turn mud and vegetation and hold a net to catch organisms which flow downstream

Question 7

Describe tree beating

Answer 7

Shake or beat a tree or bush and catch falling insects onto a white cloth

Question 8

Describe Pitfall traps

Answer 8

Invertebrates crawl into a hole in the ground and are trapped. There is a roof so that insects don’t drown

Question 9

What is capture recapture?

Answer 9

It is a technique for estimating population of species. First a sample of organisms in an area are captured, marked and counted and the released. A while later, the organisms are recaptured and counted

There is a formula used

Question 10

Capture recapture formula

Answer 10

Number in 1st sample x number in 2nd sample

/ number in 2nd sample marked

Question 11

What are identification keys?

Answer 11

They are a way to identify living organisms from its characteristics. There are 2 types : branched and numbered

Question 12

How does branched key work?

Answer 12

It is like Huffman compression. Yes and no is answered for each question until the organism is narrowed down

Question 13

How does numbered key work?

Answer 13

Like pick your own story. A number is given for an option which you choose and that leads you to a new question

Question 14

How can you sample plants?

Answer 14

Using a quadrat. It is placed on th pe ground to take a sample and record the number of organisms in each section. An average is calculated

Either random or non random sampling is used

Question 15

What is random sampling?

Answer 15

Areas of plant population are selected at random. This prevents bias

Question 16

What is non random sampling?

Answer 16

Samples can be taken along a line to measure distribution over a distance using a transect. For example the sea life as you move further from the coastline. Either Quadrats can be used or organisms which touch the transects can be used

Question 17

What is biodiversity?

Answer 17

The variety of species living in a habitat and the diversity within a species

Question 18

How is biodiversity lost?

Answer 18

Deforestation, intensive farming and agriculture, hunting and fishing, pollution

Question 19

What is deforestation and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 19

Deforestation is the removal of large areas of forest in order to clear land for infrastructure or to use wood.

Deforestation removes trees and other flora and results in loss of habitat for millions of species which reduces population and biodiversity.

Question 20

What other effects does deforestation have?

Answer 20

Climate change - more greenhouse gases in the air which increase the speed of global warming

Removes protection for animals and other plants

Question 21

What is overfishing and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 21

Overfishing leads to fish populations decreasing and going extinct which also leads to other marine animals at the top of the food chain decrease in population. Fish is a popular and healthy food so demand is high.

Fishing reduces the species’ population as well as the species which are caught by accident which leads to the uncontrolled growth of plant species which are eaten. It also affects marine animals which eat fish

Question 22

How can we reduce the impact of overfishing?

Answer 22

Impose fishing quotas and use bigger nets so that young fish can escape. Also creating fish farms reduces the catching of unwanted fish

Question 23

How can we reduce the affect of deforestation?

Answer 23

Protect areas of forest to preserve them, preserve animals

Question 24

What is pollution and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 24

Pollution is the contamination of the environment with substances which are harmful. It happens because of human activity which produces waste. Fossil fuels used for combustion release gases which are greenhouse and cause acid rain. This also leads to global warming

Pollution kills species of animals so the more polluted an area is, the lower the biodiversity

Question 25

How can we reduce pollution?

Answer 25

Reduce the amount of household waste by recycling more, using renewable energy sources like solar, don’t waste energy, use public transport

Question 26

What is agriculture?

Answer 26

Agriculture is framing used to rear animals and grow crops. It is needed in order the meet the increasing demand for food of the growing population. Intensive farming techniques are used to maximise yield but have a bad effect

Question 27

What are the effects of agriculture?

Answer 27

Removing hedgerows reduces the number of plant species and destroys habitats for mice and hedgehogs

Monoculture

Pesticides and herbicides

Eutrophication

Question 28

What is monoculture and how does it affect biodiversity?

Answer 28

Monoculture is growing one crop in an area. Very few animals species are supported by this so it creates low biodiversity

Question 29

What is the effect of pesticides and herbicides?

Answer 29

Pesticides can reduce the food source for animals it is not intended to. The removal of pests reduces food for non target animals and the pesticides also accumulate in the food chain to affect animals up the food chain. Herbicides reduce the plant species present which animals need for food and shelter which reduces biodiversity

Question 30

What is Eutrophication?

Answer 30

Eutrophication is when fertilisers run into lakes one rivers from rainfall and cause a rapid over growth of algae. This prevents light reaching under the water, causing plants to die. Oxygen levels fall because of this which causes fish to die

Question 31

How can we reduce the effect of agriculture on biodiversity?

Answer 31

Use organic farming techniques and as little chemicals as possible as well as natural fertilisers.

Growing plants that attract predators to kill prey is good

Question 32

What is conservation?

Answer 32

Conservation means protecting a natural environment to ensure that habitats are not lost. This increases the organism’s chance of survival nd allows them to reproduce.

Question 33

List some methods of conservation

Answer 33

Protecting habitats
Legal protection against hunting
Educating people
Captive breeding in zoos
Seed banks
Artificial ecosystems

Question 34

What is captive breeding(aim)

Answer 34

Captive breeding is breeding animals in a controlled environment by giving shelter, nutritious food, veterinary treatment, predator free environment.

The aim is to create a stable and healthy population of a species and then reintroducing them into the wild

Question 35

What are the problems of captive breeding?

Answer 35

It is hard to maintain genetic diversity since few breeding partners are available. Organisms born in captivity may not be used to living in the wild

Question 36

How are nature reserves managed?

Answer 36

Grazing is controlled so that plants have time to recover and grow

Human access restricted so that plants aren’t trampled on

Animals are fed so that they they survive and reproduce

Species are reintroduced to areas where population has decreased

Question 37

What are seedbanks?

Answer 37

Seedbanks are a way of conserving plants. Seeds are stored so that they can be grown in the future. This is an example of a GENE BANK underground to provide a backup against extinction in the future

Question 38

What is a gene bank?

Answer 38

A mass store of genetic material

Question 39

Why should we maintain biodiversity?

Answer 39

It protects the human food supply for future generations who may not have food like fish to eat

Ensures minimal damage to food chains - one species can affect an entire food chain

Provides medicine for the future - a lot of medicine comes from plants so if plants go extinct, we will miss out on valuable medicine

Provides materials and fuels - important resources will be difficult to produce if they become extinct

Question 40

What are conservation agreements?

Answer 40

Conservation agreements are there to conserve biodiversity and preserve habitats and species.

Question 41

List some international agreements and what they do

Answer 41

IUCN - publishes a list of endangered animals so they can be conserved

CITES - regulates international trade of plants and animals to prevent exploitation

Rio Convention - an agreement which required countries to develop methods to reduce pollution and maintain biodiversity

Question 42

What are problems with tourism?

Answer 42

Large numbers of humans can lead to habitat destruction and loss in biodiversity. Littering and pollution from vehicles is a major problem

Question 43

What are the advantages of tourism?

Answer 43

Brings in money which can be used to support wildlife, improve habitats and maintain biodiversity

Question 44

What is ecotourism?

Answer 44

Tourism which focuses on the appreciation of nature while having a minimal negative impact on the local ecosystem. Maintaining areas with high biodiversity draws pasple in to visit

Question 45

Advantages of ecotourism?

Answer 45

Money is brought in from visitors and gift shops to support the local economy and help support the ecosystem. Conservation work can be funded

Question 46

Disadvantages of ecotourism

Answer 46

Vehicles carrying tourists contribute to pollution and soil erosion. Trails disturb habitats

Question 47

Why is maintaining biodiversity a challenge?

Answer 47

Sometimes countries aren’t willing to sign up to agreements, eg Norway and the whaling agreement.

Sometimes conservation schemes are objected to by local residents because it reduces their income, eg logging and fishing restrictions)

Keeping track of fishing quotas is hard

Question 48

How do scientists monitor pollution?

Answer 48

Scientists take samples of the type and number of organisms present. A decrease suggests that there has been a change.

Indicator species, such as lichen, give us an idea of the level of pollution. Many species CANNOT tolerate sulphur dioxide so the less lichen, the more pollution

Question 49

Why are lichen a good indicator of pollution?

Answer 49

Lichen get their nutrition from the air from rainwater. Air pollutants like sulphur dioxide can damage lichens and prevent growth. Some lichen can withstand high pollution levels so the types of species can be used to identify levels. Generally less lichen = more pollution

Question 50

What causes water pollution?

Answer 50

Factories release harmful chemicals into water flows.

Question 51

How can water pollution be monitored?

Answer 51

The higher the pollution, the lower the level of dissolved oxygen. Oxygen levels can be read directly or indicator species can be used because different species require different levels of oxygen

Question 52

What is biotic index?

Answer 52

A measure of the cleanest of water by indicating the types of organisms present

Question 53

Name some indicator species which can be used

Answer 53

Mayfly larvae - only present in unpolluted water(biotic index 10). Numbers decrease around sewage discharge points

Freshwater shrimp - low pollution

Water louse - high pollution

Sludge worm - very high pollution - less competition as they can survive in low levels of oxygen

Question 54

How is oxygen levels and pollution related?

Answer 54

The higher the pollution, the lower the oxygen. This is because bacteria feed on the waste and use up oxygen for respiration. (As well as decomposers)

Question 55

How can changes in water levels affect ecosystems?

Answer 55

Animals may need to migrate to find water

Question 56

How can pollution gases affect ecosystems?

Answer 56

Some organisms cannot survive because of certain gases

Polluted water can poison animals