Biodiversity- factors, reasons, maintanance

Question 1

how do humans destroy ecology?

Answer 1

• deforestation: the removal of forests for wood and space used in agriculture
• agriculture: land cleared for planting of a single crop
• climate change: during fossil fuels causing the release of pollutants and carbon dioxide increases global temps
• pollution from agriculture and industry e.g chemical pollution of waterways and littering

Question 2

Explain how deforestation can occur?

Answer 2

• it can occur naturally e.g from lightning

- most occur from human action e.g acid rain

Question 3

How does deforestation affect biodiversity?

Answer 3

• reduces number of trees in a certain area
• species diversity is reduced if a specific type of tree is felled
• reduces number of animal species as it destroys their habitat and food source
• animals are forced to migrate to other areas to ensure survival, reducing biodiversity in a certain area but increasing in another

Question 4

Describe agriculture

Answer 4

farming of a specific crop, plant of animal species based on characteristics which provide high yield reduces biodiversity.

Question 5

How does agriculture lead to reduced biodiversity?

Answer 5

• deforestation: to increase land for growth
• removal of hedgerows: machinery allows planting, fertilising and harvesting. Also gives extra land. This reduces biodiversity as it destroys habitats
• use of chemicals e.g pesticides and herbicides, reduces species diversity and food source
• monoculture: many acres of land are used for production of one crop. This decreases overall biodiversity as few animal species will be supported by one type of plant

Question 6

what are herbicides?

Answer 6

chemical used to kill weeds which are not wanted, reducing plant diversity and food source

Question 7

what are the key findings of climate change from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC)?

Answer 7

• warming trend
• amount of water vapour in air has increased
• temp of ocean has increased as it absorbs most heat from climate system
• rise in sea levels
• artic temps have increased
• mountain glaciers and snow cover has decreased
• upward trend in amount of precipitation

Question 8

what is global warming?

Answer 8

rise in the Earth’s mean surface temperature

Question 9

how does melting ice caps from global warming reduce biodiversity?

Answer 9

can lead to extinction of plants and animals in these regions. Animals may migrate to more favourable habitats such as the north.

Question 10

how does rising sea levels from global warming decrease biodiversity?

Answer 10

due to melting ice caps and the thermal expansion of oceans could overflow land, reducing availability of habitats. Salt water would flow further up rivers, reducing habitats of freshwater plants and animals and surrounding areas.

Question 11

how does higher temps and rainfall from global warming lead to reduced biodiversity?

Answer 11

plant species may fail to survive leading to drought resistance species (xerophytes) becoming more dominant. The loss of the non-drought resistant species of plant will lead to loss animals as they are a food source

Question 12

how does changing insect life cycles and population due to global warming reduce biodiversity?

Answer 12

Insects are key pollinators so if this range changes, it affects lives of plants causing extinction. If tropical insects spread, it can lead to the spread of tropical diseases towards the poles as they carry pathogens

Question 13

what is conservation?

Answer 13

the name given to the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources.

Question 14

what is in situ conservation?

Answer 14

conservation within the natural habitat

Question 15

what is ex situ conservation?

Answer 15

conservation out of the natural habitat

Question 16

Why must we use conservation?

Answer 16

chances of survival are maintained by allowing them to reproduce. Species diversity and genetic diversity can be safeguarded

Question 17

extinct meaning?

Answer 17

no organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world

Question 18

extinct in the wild meaning?

Answer 18

organisms of the species only exist in captivity

Question 19

endangered meaning?

Answer 19

a species that is in danger of extinction

Question 20

vulnerable meaning?

Answer 20

a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the near future.

Question 21

least concern meaning?

Answer 21

a species non-threatened from extinction

Question 22

what is sustainable development?

Answer 22

economic development that meets the needs of people today, without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Question 23

describe in situ conservation

Answer 23

• maintains genetic diversity
• maintains evolutionary adaptations
• preserves interdependent relationships in a habitat therefore interlinked species are also preserved.
• cheaper than ex situ conservation

Question 24

describe controlling grazing as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 24

only allowing livestock to graze a particular area of land for a certain period of time allows species to recover and keep a controlled and maintained number

Question 25

describe restricting human access as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 25

prevents plants being trampled

Question 26

describe controlling poaching as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 26

includes creating defences to prevent access, issuing fines

Question 27

describe feeding animals as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 27

technique ceps ensure more organisms to survive and reproduce

Question 28

describe reintroduction of species as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 28

adding species to areas that have become locally extinct, or whose numbers have decreased significantly

Question 29

describe culling or removal of invasive species as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 29

an invasive species is an organism not native to an area and has negative effects on the economy, environment, or health- competition occurs

Question 30

describe halting succession as an active management in wildlife reserves

Answer 30

succession is a natural process in which early colonising species are replaced over time until a stable mature population is achieved. Preventing halting is an important role to maintain habitats to the future

Question 31

Explain the IUCN and red list

Answer 31

assists in securing agreements between nations. Once a year, IUCN publishes the Red List, detailing the current conservation status of threatened animals. Countries then work together to try and conserve these species

Question 32

Explain the IUCN’s involvement in the establishment of the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES)

Answer 32

This treaty regulates the International trade of wild plants and animal specimens and their products. The effort to regulate the crossing of plants and animals between borders requires international cooperation to safeguard species from over-exploitation.

Question 33

What new agreements were made in the rio convention (earth summit) meeting?

Answer 33

• the convention on biological diversity requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development and maintenance of biodiversity.
• The United Nations framework convention on climate change is an agreement between nations to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations
• the United Nations convention to combat desertification aims to prevent the transformation of fertile land into desert and reduce effects of drought through international cooperation.

Question 34

describe the countryside stewardship scheme

Answer 34

provided governmental payments to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape

Question 35

What are the specific aims of the country stewardship scheme?

Answer 35

• sustaining the beauty and diversity of the landscape
• improving and creating wildlife habitats
• restoring neglected land and conserving archeological and historic features
• improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment