Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems Flashcards
Why have humans consumption of resources and waste production increased?
- Rapid rise in human population.
- Increase in standard of living.
Where does pollution occur?
- Air.
- Land.
- Water.
State an example of water pollutants
- Sewage.
- Fertiliser.
- Chemicals.
How does eutrophication occur?
- Fertiliser from farms pollute the water, causing excessive algae growth, depleting the oxygen in the water as the algae uses it for respiration, causing other plants and animals to die.
- Dead plants are decomposed by bacteria through respiration and the oxygen level decreases further.
State an example of air pollutants
- Smoke.
- Acidic gases.
- Gases created from burning of fossil fuels.
State an example of land pollutants
- Landfill waste.
- Chemicals.
Which human activities reduce the land available for animals and plants?
- Buildings.
- Farming.
- Quarrying.
- Disposing of waste.
Why have peat bogs been destroyed?
To produce compost to increase food production.
Why does the destruction of peat bogs greatly contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Peat bogs are stores of carbon (carbon sinks) and burning them releases a large volume of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases trap energy from the sun as heat in the atmosphere, keeping the temperature on earth suitable for life.
What is causing global warming?
The increase in levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, causing the temperature on earth to increase.
State the consequences of global warming
- Rising sea levels.
- Melting ice caps.
- Changing weather patterns.
- Migration of animals to find suitable habitats.
- Tropical diseases become more common.
- Extinction of species.
