Ecology Flashcards
what is biodiversity?
the variety of all the different species of organisms on earth
species depend on each other for what?
food and shelter
spices help to maintain the environment, for example……
decomposers break down the remains of dead organisms
what does a high level of biodiversity mean?
there are lots of different species, making an ecosystem more stable
what does a stable ecosystem mean?
lots of different species mean that the ecosystem is less dependent on one species, so if the population of the species falls, it is less likely to affect the whole ecosystem.
what is an example of humans having a negative effect on biodiversity?
deforestation - tropical forests contain a very rich biodiversity, large area of these forests are being destroyed, to provide land.
what is the land from deforestation used for?
rice fields or for grazing cattle
grow crops which are used to make biofuels
what does sewage contain?
urine and feaces
what happens in some countries to sewage?
it is released into nearby waterways
what happens to sewage in the uk before being released?
sewage is treated
impact of sewage in biodiversity (water pollution)
in some cases untreated sewage (faeces and urine) is accidentally released into rivers or streams, untreated sewage causes dissolved oxygen levels to fall, killing aquatic organisms, which reduces the number of species resulting in an unstable ecosystem that is more dependent on certain species.reducing biodiversity
impact of farming in bioviersity (water polloution)
fertilises from farms can be released into rivers and streams, this causes dissolved oxygen levels to fall, killing aquatic organisms, which reduces the number of species resulting in an unstable ecosystem that is more dependent on certain species.reducing biodiversity
impact of factories on biodiversity (water pollution)
sometimes toxic chemicals from factories are released into rivers, which can kill animals in the river, which reduces the number of species resulting in an unstable ecosystem that is more dependent on certain species. reducing biodiversity.
air pollution example:
burning coal in power stations, can release acidic gasses, which can cause acid rain.
burning can also release smoke, air pollution like this can kill plants and animals, this reduces biodiversity.
land polloution:
millions of tons of waste are dumped into landfills, landfills destroy habitats for plants and animals. toxic chemicals can also leach out of landfills and pollute the soil. these chemicals kill living orgainsms
what should we do to reduce pollution?
carefully handle waste materials, and dispose of them without harming the environment
what do humans use land for?
buildings (houses, airports, shops and factories)
what other ways do humans use land?
farms quarries landfills
what does the use of land mean for animals
there is less land available for animals and plants, due to this reduction in habitats, biodiversity is decreased
Peat: what do peat bog and lands contain?
large amounts of dead plant materials
is decay fast or slow in peat
decay is very slow
what do peat bogs and lands contain?
trapped carbon
what is happening to peat habitats?
they are being destoryed
what is peat used to produce?
cheap compost for gardens and farms