Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity:

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What does high biodiversity mean?

Answer 2

• The ecosystem will be stable
• Species are less dependent on each other for things like food or shelter

Question 3

How is the increasing population negatively effecting biodiversity?

Answer 3

• more resources being used and more waste created
• more land is being used (houses, farms) which destroys habitats
• pollution kills plants and animals

Question 4

What are peat bogs?

Answer 4

• peat is a material that forms when plant material has not fully decayed as there is not enough oxygen
• it accumulates in bogs that are acidic and waterlogged

Question 5

What are peat bogs used for?

Answer 5

They are a habitat for many species

Question 6

Why are peat bogs being destroyed?

Answer 6

• They are being drained to make space for farming
• Peat can be used as compost
• Peat can be dried as fuel as it contains carbon
• It is being used quicker than it is forming

Question 7

What is deforestation?

Answer 7

The cutting down of a large number of trees in the same area, in order to use the land

Question 8

Why does deforestation happen?

Answer 8

• To provide land for cattle and rice fields
• To grow crops
• To use the land for something else

Question 9

Problems caused by deforestation:

Answer 9

• Trees contain carbon so burning them results in carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, which adds to global warming.
• Trees take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis so less trees means less C02 is removed from the atmosphere.
• Destroying habitats decreases biodiversity.

Question 10

What is global warming?

Answer 10

The fact that the temperature around the world is increasing because we are releasing more greenhouse gases, resulting in more heat being absorbed and reflected back to Earth.

Question 11

Consequences of global warming:

Answer 11

• Melting ice caps reduce habitats
• Rising sea levels reduce habitats as areas get flooded
• Temperature and rainfall levels affect migration + distribution of different species as they may no longer be able to survive where they lived
• Loss of habitats mean some organisms become extinct, reducing biodiversity

Question 12

Positive human interactions with ecosystems:

Answer 12

• Maintaining rainforests
• Reducing water pollution
• Preserving areas of scientific interest
• Replanting woodlands

Question 13

Negative human interactions with ecosystems:

Answer 13

• Producing greenhouse gases leading to global warming
• Producing sulfur dioxide in factories leading to acid rain (affects habitats)
• Chemicals used in farms leaking into the environment
• Destroying habitats for land to build on

Question 14

How can we reduce our negative impact on ecosystems?

Answer 14

• Breeding programmes for endangered species
• Protection and regeneration of rare habitats
• Reintroduction of hedgerows (habitats) and field margins (space for things to grow) around land where only one type of crop is grown
• Reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide production
• Recycling rather than dumping waste in landfill