Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

The variety of different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem

Question 2

Why is it good to have high biodiversity

Answer 2

It makes sure that ecosystems are stable because different species depend on each other for things like shelter and food. For humans to survive we need a good level of biodiversity

Question 3

Water Cycle

Answer 3

Energy from the Sun makes water evaporate into water vapour which rises and cools and condenses to form clouds. Water falls from clouds as percipitation onto land as fresh water for plants and animals. This water gets consumed by plants and animals but when animals and plants die they return water to the soil through excretion. Water that doesn’t get absorbed by the soil will runoff into streams and rivers so from here the water drains back into the sea and the cycle repeats

Question 4

Carbon Cycle

Answer 4

CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis. When plants and algae respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2 and when plants and algae are eaten by animals, some carbon become fats and proteins in their bodies. The carbon moves through the food chain. When animals respire some CO2 is released into the environment. When organisms die, microorganisms feed on their remains and respire. Animals also produce waste that is broken down by microorganisms. Combustion of wood and fossil fuel also released CO2. So carbon is constantly being cycled

Question 5

Water pollution

Answer 5

Sewage and toxic chemicals from industry can pollute lakes, rivers and oceans, affecting plants and animals that rely on them for survival. And chemicals used on land into the soil can be washes into water

Question 6

Land pollution

Answer 6

We use toxic chemicals for farming e.g. pesticides. We also bury nuclear waste underground and we dump a lot of household waste in landfill sites

Question 7

Air pollution

Answer 7

Smoke and acidic gases released into the atmosphere can pollute the air e.gl sulfur dioxide causing acid rain

Question 8

Negative effects of global warming

Answer 8

Seawater will expand and ice will melt causing sea levels to rise which can lead to flooding and the loss of habitats
Distribution of wild animal and plant species may change as temp. increases and amount of rainfall changes in different areas
Changes in migration patterns
Biodiversity will decrease if some species are unable to survive a change in climate so become extinct

Question 9

Problems of Deforestion

Answer 9

Cutting down trees means that less photosynthesis occurs so less carbon dioxide is taken in from the atmosphere. Trees can ‘lock up’ carbon and remove for hundreds of years so less is locked up.
CO2 is released when trees are burnt to clear land. Microorganisms will respire when feeding on dead wood.
Habitats like forests can contain a huge number of different species so when destroyed many may become extinct- reducing biodiversity

Question 10

Peat bogs

Answer 10

Bogs are areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged. Plants living in bogs don’t fully decay from lack of oxygen so they gradually build up to form peat. The carbon stored in plants is store in peat instead of being released. But peat bogs are often drained so that the area can be used for farmland or peat is dried to use as a fuel. Peat is being used faster than it forms. When peat is drained is comes in contact with air and microorganisms decompose it which release CO2 from respiration. CO2 is also released when peat is burned as a fuel. Destroying bogs also destroys habitats of organisms living there- reducing biodiversity

Question 11

Programmes set up to maintain a good biodiversity

Answer 11

Breeding programmes- prevent endangered species from extinction, bred in captivity.
Protect habitats- helps protect species that lives there.
Reintroduce field margins- provide habitat for a wider variety of organisms than could survive in a single crop habitat.
Introduce regulations- reduce levels of deforestation.
Encourage public- recycle and reduce waste production

Question 12

Conflicting pressures of maintaining biodiversity

Answer 12

Costs money- money may be prioritised for other things.
Come at a cost to local people’s livelihood for example less jobs from people deforestating which effects local economy.
Protecting food security, sometimes organisms are seen as pests to farmers and are killed to protect crops for more food which can effect food chains.
Development is important and can affect environment