CHAPTER 18 Flashcards
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY
the variety of different species of orangisms on earth or in an ecosystem
why is a high biodiversity important
it makes sure the ecosystem is stable because different species depend on each other for things like food or shelter the loss of one species has little impact
2 human activities impacting biodiversity
deforestation
global warming
what has the population of humans increased so much 2
development in medicine - stops people dying
development in farming - stops people starving q
why does a higher number of humans have a larger impact on the environment
we are demanding a higher standard of living
so we use more raw materials and more energy
raw materials are being used quicker than they are being replaced
4 main uses of land
building infrastructure
farming
mining
landfill
how is the growing population impacting land use
the growing population need more land for house etc so we destroy habitats affecting biodiversity
how is waste impacting the air around us
smoke and acidic gases can pollute the air eg acid rain
how is waste impacting the land around us 3
we use toxic chemicals for farming
we bury waste in landfill
nuclear waste is left underground
how is waste impacting the water around us
sewage and toxic chemicals from industry pollutes lakes and rivers
how do people pollute the land in developed countries 2
household waste
industrial waste
how does farming pollute the water
weadkillers and presiticides are used which try to keep these crops healthy
these run off into rivers and stream
they become part of food chains as animals ingest infected water
bioaccumulation- each stage along the food chain more and more toxins build up the the animals
how are we affecting plant life in the water
fertilisers and untreated sewage flow into rivers and streams
this leads to a build up of nitrogen
this stimulates algae and weeds to grow quickly
plants die because they are outcompeted
how are we affecting animal life in water
fertilisers and untreated sewage flow into rivers and stress leading to a build up of nitrogen
this stimulates algae and weeds to grow quickly
plants die because they are outcompeted
this leads to more decomposers
decomposers use up dissolved air in the water
the animals in the water now dont have enough oxygen and can die too
2 ways in which the pH oh water is tested
instruments used to show proportion of toxic chemicals bioindicators
how is acid rain formed
fossil fuels burned
they contain sulphur impurities
the sulfure reacts with oxygen when it burns to form suffer dioxide
acidic sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dissolve in rainwater rto form sulphuric acid snd nitric acid
effects of acid rain 3
kills plantlike
if it soaks into the soil, it can destroy the roots of plants
can infect water ways making them uninhabitable
why is acid snow worse than acid rain
it will all melt in one go
why will clean countries still be affected by acid rain
the sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides are carried high in the air by winds infecting other countries
ways in which have attempted to reduce the effect of acid rain
low sulfur diesel and pretors
strict emission levels
catalytic converters remove polluting gases
what has happened to the amount of acid rain over the past 40 years
it has decreased
impact of smoke on human health
particles breathed in and can damage cardiovasuaclar system
how is smoke damaging our world
the particles in smoke gather in the atmosphere
they reflect sunlight so less light reaches earth
what is smog
a combination of chemicals and smoke that can be seen in the air
impact of suffuse dioxide on people
breathing difficulties
4 impacts of global warming
thermal expansion
changes in distribution of wildlife
changes in migration patterns r
reduced biodiversity
problem of rising sea levels
extreme flooding and loss of habitat
process of global warming
gases in the atmosphere act like an insulating layer
they can absorbs the energy that would be reradiated out to space and reflect it back towards earth
what are the two main greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide and methane
3 main reasons for deforestation
farming
rear cattle
to grow crops to be used as biofuels
what are the three ways in which deforestation increase co2 levels in the atmosphere
less co2 taken in by the trees through photosynthesis
combustion = more co2
decomposers release co2 through respiration
why does deforestation reduce biodiversity
habitats like forests contain a large number os species so when their habitats are destroyed there is an increased risk of them becoming extinct
how is peat made
when plants the live in bogs die they dont fully decay because it is too acidic and there isn’t enough oxygen over time this builds up to form peat
what are bogs
areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged
why are peat bogs so important
huge store of carbon and home to many unique animals
why are peat bogs being destroyed
the peat is cut up and used as a fuel or compost and the area is needed for farmland
why is peat non renewable
it is being used faster than it is being made
why does the sourcing of peat increase co2 levels
when peat is drained it comes into contact with air and microorganisms start to decompose it . hen these organisms respire co2 is released
why are deforestation and methane levels linked
the land which has been cleared by deforestation is often used for cattle farming and growing rice both of which are a source of methane
why will there be more co2 in the air as the oceans warm up
co2 is less soluble in warm water so they are less effective
carbon sinks
why will the distribution of animals change
climate change may make some conditions more favourable for animals more than others so for some their range will expand and for others it’ll shrink
how will global warming impact migration patterns
changing temperature and seasons
5 ways in which we are trying to maintain ecosystems
recycling
reduction of co2 emission and deforestation
breeding programmes for endangered species
protection of rare habitats
reintroduction of hedges
problems with breeding programmes 2
must avoid inbreeding
many animals dont reproduce easily or quickly