Biodiversity & The Human Impact on Ecosystems Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth or within a particular ecosystem.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity is important because it helps ecosystems remain stable provides medicinal resources promotes tourism and is ethically important for future generations.
How do human activities reduce biodiversity?
Human activities reduce biodiversity through deforestation pollution introduction of invasive species hunting and poaching and climate change.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests for purposes such as housing agriculture and wood production reducing biodiversity.
How does pollution affect biodiversity?
Pollution such as acid rain pesticides and chemicals can harm ecosystems especially by damaging habitats and disrupting food chains.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are non-native species that out-compete native species reducing biodiversity in an ecosystem.
What is bycatch?
Bycatch is the capture of unwanted sea life during fishing leading to the unnecessary death of many species.
What is climate change’s impact on biodiversity?
Climate change leads to extreme weather events and habitat loss reducing biodiversity by making environments inhospitable for some species.
What are some forms of pollution?
Water pollution (e.g. sewage and fertilizers) air pollution (e.g. sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) and land pollution (e.g. landfill waste) are harmful to ecosystems.
What is eutrophication?
Eutrophication occurs when excess nutrients like sewage and fertilizers cause algae growth in water disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
How does land use affect biodiversity?
Land use practices such as housing farming quarrying and landfill contribute to habitat loss and a reduction in biodiversity.
What is a monoculture?
A monoculture is the cultivation of a single plant species over large areas which reduces biodiversity in the environment.
What is the role of peat bogs?
Peat bogs store carbon and provide habitats for specialized plants and animals. Their destruction releases carbon dioxide contributing to global warming.
Why is deforestation problematic?
Deforestation reduces carbon dioxide absorption contributes to habitat loss and increases greenhouse gases like methane from cattle farming.
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases
How does human activity increase greenhouse gases?
Human activities like burning fossil fuels deforestation and livestock farming increase greenhouse gases leading to global warming.
What is global warming’s impact on habitats?
Global warming can cause polar ice caps to melt leading to flooding and destruction of habitats for many species.
What is conservation?
Conservation is the protection of species and habitats to prevent extinction and maintain biodiversity.
How can conservation be achieved?
Conservation can be achieved through breeding programs habitat protection reintroducing hedgerows reducing deforestation and recycling waste.
