Biodiversity Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
The range of animals and plants in a given area
What is conservation?
Helping to maintain the range of biodiversity in a given area
What does it mean if a species is endangered?
The species is at risk of becoming extinct, due to their low numbers
What is deforestation?
Cutting down trees in an area
What is reforestation?
Replanting trees in an area to replace ones which have been destroyed
What is an indigenous species?
One which is native to an area
What is a non-indigenous species?
One which is not native but has been introduced by humans
Why is biodiversity important?
Living things provide us with resources such as medicines, food and building materials. Biodiverse habitats attract tourists which bring money to areas. Biodiverse environments are important for human happiness and well-being
Why does reforestation increase biodiversity?
The trees improve the quality of the soil and provide resources for animals.
What is an invasive species?
An introduced species which causes problems for local species.
What effect do invasive species have on biodiversity?
Decreases biodiversity
How can humans protect biodiversity
Banning hunting and poaching, removing invasive species, reforestation, using nature reserves, captive breeding programmes
What is overfishing?
When too many fish are fished from the water
What is fish farming?
when fish are grown in captive environments for human consumption
Which type of pollutant causes eutrophication?
fertilizers
Which types of habitats are affected by eutrophication?
aquatic (water)
What happens during eutrophication?
Eutrophication causes plants in the water to grow. These plants block out the sun, meaning plants lower down in the water die. As these are broken down by bacteria, the bacteria take oxygen from the water. Animals in the water therefore do not get the oxygen they need for respiration and also die.
What is an indicator species?
A species whose presence of abundance in an environment provides information about the level of pollution
Which indicator species are associated with clean water?
freshwater shrimps, stonefly
Which indicator species are associated with polluted water?
bloodworm, sludgeworm
Which species can be used to give information about air quality?
lichens, black-spot fungus
What is food security?
A measure of the availability of food in a specific area, if it is of a suitable quality and whether people can access it.
What effect does increasing population size have on food security?
More food is needed for a larger population, meaning food supplies might not be large enough
What effect does increased meat and fish consumption have on food security?
Meat and dairy products require large amounts of land to grow. The animals need resources. This can have a high impact on the environment for little energy gain in food
What effects can pathogens and pests have on food secuirty?
Intensive farming means a higher chance of diseases spreading. Invasive species can damage crops
What effects can climate change have on food security?
Climate change leads to an increase in extreme weathers which can cause droughts and flooding, leading to loss of crops
What effects do producing biofuels have on food security?
Biofuels are grown on land which could be used for crops. More biofuels means less space for crops
