B6.1.3 - Loss of biodiversity

Question 1

How is biodiversity lost by deforestation?

Answer 1

It reduces the number of trees and the number of supported animal species as their food source or home has been lost

Question 2

How is biodiversity lost by pollution?

Answer 2

Pollution can have an impact on the number and types of organism. Generally the more polluted an area, the fewer number of species that can survive

Question 3

How is biodiversity lost by fishing?

Answer 3

Overfishing has led to some fish population decreasing significantly or lost from some areas. Other marine species may also be caught and killed

Question 4

How is biodiversity lost by hunting?

Answer 4

It decreases the target species’ population, which removes food for other species.

Question 5

What is growing only one crop in an area called?

Answer 5

Monoculture

Question 6

How is biodiversity lost by agriculture?

Answer 6

Many farming techniques lead to a loss of biodiversity. For example, farmers:

• Remove hedgerows to free up land for crops but reduces the number of plants species and destroyers habitats of animals such as mice
• Pesticides are used to kill pests. This reduces the number of pests but also removes the food source of other organisms
• Using herbicides to kill plants growing where not wanted reduces the plant species present but also the number of animal species present

Question 7

What is biodiversity?

Answer 7

The variety of living organisms present in a given area