Biodiversity and agriculture

Question 1

what kind of farming methods could not support a population of 8.8 billion people ?

Answer 1

traditional farming methods

Question 2

what did traditional farming methods include ?

Answer 2

they used fields that were subdivided into smaller plots, where a variety of crops were grown
ac smaller plot was surrounded by a hedgerow

Question 3

what happens in intensive agriculture ?

Answer 3

only 1 crop is grown over large surface areas

Question 4

what is it called when only 1 crop is grown ?

Answer 4

mono-culture

Question 5

what happens to hedgerows in intensive agriculture ?

Answer 5

hedgerows are removed

Question 6

what is required in large amounts when hedgerows are removed ?

Answer 6

• fossil fuel energy - CO2 causes climate change
• water - causes dessertification
• fertilisers - causes eutrophication
• pesticides - reduces biomass
• herbicides - bioaccumulation and directly reduces biodiversity

Question 7

benefits of hedgerows
- why are hedgerows ecologically important ? (5)

Answer 7

• providing food and habitats
• habitats for predator and pest species
• acting as corridors for animals to move along
• act as natural windbreak
• stabilise the soil with their roots

Question 8

what does hedgerows acting as corridors allow animals to do ?

Answer 8

this allows animals to migrate and ensures that they are not reproductively isolated

Question 9

what does the roots of hedgerows help to prevent ?

Answer 9

it helps to prevent valuable soil from being blown or washed away