Biodiversity

Question 1

why is biodiversity important

Answer 1

ecosystem function and associated human wellbeing - degrades ecosystem have reduced ecosystem function and resilience

Question 2

what are the threats to biodiversity

Answer 2

human population growth - recent phenomena , today growth rates highest in areas of high biodiversity , human population means impact on environment

habitat destruction - expansion of human population and activities, loss of habitat, damage from pollution and fragmentation

primary loss is habitat destruction

Question 3

proximate mechanisms

Answer 3

agriculture

forestry

mining, hydroelectric and other enterprises

Question 4

how does agriculture affect biodiversity

Answer 4

shifting agriculture - low impact in human population densities and appropriate agricultural methods used

permanent agriculture - important to Brazil - sugar cane plantation ina Atlantic forest - government settlement policies in amazon frontier

Question 5

how does forestry affect biodiversity

Answer 5

results in substantial peripheral damage plus increased fire risk

Question 6

how does mining, hydroelectric and other enterprises affect biodiversity

Answer 6

direct impacts can be small
indirect impacts - downstream ecological change, open up forest for settlement and agriculture
climate changes - local

Question 7

what is the impact of habitat loss on species numbers

Answer 7

reptile and amphibian species on island of decreasing area -
colonisation more on larger islands, less on small islands
extinction - more on smaller islands, less on larger

Question 8

fragmentation

Answer 8

undermine integrity of entire ecosystems - road, urbanisation and agriculture break up natural areas
increased edge effect - interior area of habitat is affected by different conditions of other habitats on its edges

Caledonian forest wood ants move 100 m camt if fragmented
keystone species and apex predators if cant travel affect ecosystem
climate change - animals cant migrate if habitat fragmented

Question 9

solutions to fragmentation

Answer 9

observational studies of existing fragments - look for correlation

experimental studies - create fragments

biological dynamics of forest fragments project BDFFP Manaus, Brazil - collaborative research effort between Brazil’s national institute for Amazonian research INPA and Museum of natural history of the smithsonian