Diversity and human activity Flashcards
Biodiversity
The number and variety of species in a particular area
Species diversity
The number of different species and individuals within a specified community and the relative abundance of those species
Genetic diversity
The variety of genes that are found within a population of a specified species
Ecosystem diversity
The range of habitats within a specified area
Direct impacts of agriculture
Grubbing out hedgerows and woodland
Removal of ponds and draining wetland
Overgrazing and overstocking
Monocultures - Crops and nothing else
GROM
Indirect impacts of agriculture
Pollution of water courses from slurry pits and silage stores
Use of pesticides and inorganic fertiliser
Lack of crop rotations and intercropping
PUL
Is species diversity index high or low in agricultural ecosystems + why
Low
Pesticides eliminate species competing for light, water, minerals required by growing crops
What are some conservation techniques
Plant hedges than fences as field boundaries
Intercropping to control weeds + pests rather than herbicide
Leave wet corners of fields rather than drain
Maintain existing ponds + create new ones
Reduce pesticide use
Organic fertiliser
Crop rotation with nitrogen fixing crops to improve soil fertility
PILMROC
What can conservation techniques do
Increase species and habitat diversity
Why may some populations show low genetic diversity
Low population size
Inbreeding
Hunting
