Biology - Triple 2 Flashcards
What effect does an increasing population have on the environment?
Makes a bigger effect as are actions are more widespread and the environment for cannot adapt so therefore we have a bigger effect
- more pressure on the environment as we take the resources we need
- demand for higher standard of living so more luxuries made therefore more raw materials lost and more energy used in the manufacturing process therefore were taking more from the environment quicker
- we will eventually run out as you cant replace non- renewable sources
Why is population increasing?
Because medicine and farming this has reduced the number of people dying from disease and hunger
Describe the Green House effect
- the gases in the atmosphere absorb heat radiation from the sun like an insulating layer, but there is too many gases so the earth will increase in temperature this is called global warming
- if this didn’t happen the earth wouldn’t be able to keep warm and would be cool
What does sequestered mean?
- its when carbon dioxide is locked up in oceans, lakes and ponds, the green plants store carbon as carbon compounds
- plants remove carbon dioxide in photosynthesis
- carbon dioxide is locked in peat bogs
What is deforestation?
The removal of forests by cutting and burning
Why do you deforest?
- provide timber
- more land for farming
- more food and rice fields or cattle
- grow crops for biofuels
- produce paper for wood
What are the main problems for deforestation?
- More methane in atmosphere
- rice grown in warm, water logged conditions which are prefect for decomposers there release methane when respiring and cattle release methane - More Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- carbon dioxide released when trees burnt as carbon contributes to atmospheric pollution
- microorganisms feed on dead bits of wood released carbon dioxide as a waste product of respiration - Less carbon dioxide taken in
- cutting down trees means less carbon dioxide is removed from atmosphere as photosynthesis is reduced - Less biodiversity
- habitats like tropical rainforest have high biodiversity so when they are destroyed species become extinct
- useful products can never be known about like medicine or food sources that are needed in the future
What are peat bogs?
Areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged
Why don’t plants in peat bogs fully decay?
They don’t decay as there is not enough oxygen, the plants gradually build up to form peat
- therefore the carbon in the plants is stored in peat instead of being released
What happens when peat bogs are drained?
They may be drained to be used a farmland, fuel and compost
- carbon dioxide is released which add to the green house effect
How do you reduce the number of peat bogs being drained?
Don’t buy peat free compost
What are the changes in the climate?
- Changes in weather pattern and climate- extreme unpredictable weather - high winds and flooding
- Rising sea levels - as the earth warms ice cals melt this causes the sea levels to rise
- Reduced biodiversity- climate changes will cause animals not to survive and become extinct
- Changing migration pattern- climates become hotter and colder and the season change the migration pattern
- Change in distribution- more widely distributed or they will expand range as climate change makes conditions more favourable or the range shrinks
What happens in fermentation?
Bacteria or yeast break down sugars by anaerobic respiration
What is the anaerobic fermentation of sugar equation?
Glucose > ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy
What is gasohol?
Ethanol + petrol
How does the fermentation of sugar happen?
Sugar cane juices or glucose can be derived from maize starch by the action of carbohydrase
- ethanol distilled to separate it from the yeast and remaining glucose