Biodiversity, Human Impacts Flashcards
biodiversity
range of different species living in an ecosystem
factors affecting biodiversity
human population growth, waste, land (destroys habitats, pollution, demand)
land pollution
untreated waste chemicals infiltrate soil, weedkiller wash into waterways affecting animals)
bioaccumulation
toxins cannot be broken down + build up at each stage of food chain
water pollution
fertiliser nitrate washed into waterways, stimulated algae growth increasing competition so fish die, O2 used up, aerobic animals die
peat bogs
carbon sink ecosystem, bogs dry to form peatlands, high acidity
peatland
sphagnum moss, low O2 in peat bogs so do not decompose completely
use of peat bogs
compost, fuel, seed germination, food
why are dead trees worse than no trees?
no CO2 removal, burnt with combustion, decomposers (release CO2)
global warming
some radiation passes through atmosphere, reflected off surface as infrared some escaping back into space, greenhouse gases absorb radiation and reemit
how can we maintain biodiversity
breeding programmes, habitat regeneration + protection, reintroduce fiel margins, recycle, decrease deforestation + CO2 levels
why is the bottom of the biomass pyramid largest?
high energy from Sun, not wasted
how to measure biomass
fresh and dry, evaporation and quadrats
food security
enough food to feed an entire population
factors affecting food security
change in diets, pathogens, population growth, conflict
