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Biology > Ecology 2 > Flashcards

Ecology 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem.

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2
Q

Why is high biodiversity important?

A
  • It ensures the stability of ecosystems

(meaning any changes to the ecosystem are less likely to have adverse effects)

-Over 1/2 new medical drugs are derived from wild species

-Pollinators

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3
Q

The future of the human species on Earth relies on us doing what?

A

Maintaining a good level of biodiversity.

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4
Q

Many human activities are _________ biodiversity (e.g. waste production, deforestation, global warming) and only recently have ________ ____ _____ to try to stop this.

A

reducing
measures been taken

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5
Q

Explain how waste has an impact on biodiversity. (water pollution)

A

-Sewage/toxic chemicals from industry pollute water sources

-This affects the plants and animals that rely on them for survival (including humans).

-The chemicals used on land can be washed into the water (eutrophication).

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6
Q

Why is more waste produced now than before?

A

Rapid growth in the human population and an increase in the standard of living .

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7
Q

Why are more resources used now than before?

A

Rapid growth in the human population and an increase in the standard of living

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8
Q

What will be caused unless waste and chemical materials are properly handled?

A

More pollution

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9
Q

Why has the human population increased so much?

(think biology not geography)

A

The introduction of modern medicine and farming methods, which have reduced the number of people dying from disease and hunger.

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10
Q

Where can pollution occur?

A

-in water, from sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals

-in air, from smoke and acidic gases

-on land, from landfill and from toxic chemicals.

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11
Q

How can pollution reduce biodiversity?

A

Pollution kills plants and animals which can reduce biodiversity.

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12
Q

Why is a higher standard of living problematic?

A

People demand more luxury items such as cars and phones.

So, more raw materials are used up (e.g. oil to make plastics)

More energy is also used up in the manufacturing process.

We are taking up more resources from the environment more quickly - many of which are finite.

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13
Q

There are links with this content to GCSE Chemistry 4.9.3.1

A

Atmospheric pollutants from fuels

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14
Q

Explain how waste has an impact on biodiversity. (land)

A

Toxic chemicals from farming (e.g. pesticides), buried nuclear waste, household waste dumped in landfill sites.

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15
Q

Explain how waste has an impact on biodiversity. (air)

A

Smoke and acidic gases released into the atmosphere can pollute the air e.g. sulfur dioxide can cause acid rain/global dimming.

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16
Q

How is human land use damaging?

A

Humans reduce the amount of land available for other animals and plants by building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste.

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17
Q

How does a great biodiversity ensure the stability of ecosystems?

A

By reducing the dependence of one species on another for food, shelter and the maintenance of the physical environment (soil pH etc.)

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18
Q

What are peat bogs?

A

Areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged, containing peat.

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19
Q

Why does peat form?

A

When there’s not enough oxygen so plants don’t fully decay when they die.

The partly-decayed plant material builds up gradually to form peat.

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20
Q

What are the effects of the destruction of peat bogs?

A

-Reduced area of the habitat which reduces the variety of different plant, animal and microorganism species that live there (biodiversity)

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21
Q

What are the effects of burning peat as a fuel?

A

-It releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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22
Q

What are the effects of draining peat bogs so the area can be used as farmland or the peat sold as compost?

A

-The peat comes into contact with the air so microorganisms decompose it

-This requires energy from respiration, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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23
Q

What product is formed from peat bogs or other areas of peat?

A

Garden compost

24
Q

Why has large-scale deforestation occurred in tropical areas?

A

-To provide land for cattle and rice fields (=food)

-To grow crops for biofuels (based on ethanol)

25
Q

Evaluate the environmental implications of deforestation.

A

-Reduces biodiversity, with the danger of many species becoming extinct

-When trees are burned to clear land, this releases carbon dioxide

-Microorganisms feeding on dead wood respire = release of CO₂

-A reduction in the amount of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis

26
Q

Where is carbon dioxide stored in peat bogs?

A

The carbon is stored in the partly-decayed plants.

27
Q

Describe some of the biological consequences of global warming.

A

Higher temperatures mean:

-Expanding seawater and melting ice leading to rising sea levels which cause flooding and habitat loss

-Changes in distribution of species (due to temp increase and changing rainfall patterns)

-Changes in migration patterns (e.g. birds further north)

-Reduction in biodiversity as some species may not be able to survive changes in climate

28
Q

What contributes to global warming?

A

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.

This means more more energy is re-radiated around the atmosphere, instead of being radiated into space.

29
Q

What is the scientific consensus about global warming and climate change based on?

A

Systematic reviews of thousands of peer reviewed publications.

30
Q

Scientists and concerned citizens have put in place programmes to reduce the negative effects of humans on ecosystems and biodiversity.

What do these include?

A

-Breeding programmes for endangered species

-Protection and regeneration of rare habitats

-Reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows in agricultural areas where farmers grow only one type of crop

-Reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions by some governments

-Recycling resources rather than dumping waste in landfill (saves space)

31
Q

How do breeding programmes help to maintain biodiversity?

A

Endangered species are bred in captivity to protect them from extinction (even if they die out in the wild).

Individuals can sometimes be released into the wild to re-establish/boost a population.

32
Q

How does the protection and regeneration of rare habitats help to maintain biodiversity?

A

Preserves the species that live there and the ecosystem.

33
Q

List some rare habitats

A

-Mangroves
-Heathland
-Coral reefs

34
Q

How does reintroducing field margins and hedgerows help to maintain biodiversity?

A

Wild flowers and grasses provide a habitat for a wider variety of species than could survive in monoculture fields.

35
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

36
Q

How does reducing deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions help to maintain biodiversity?

A

Reduces global warming

37
Q

What are some conflicting pressures on maintaining biodiversity?

A

-Cost (money prioritised for other things)

-Cost to people’s livelihoods (e.g. in the tree-felling industry=unemployment=affects local economy)

-Food security (some organisms seen as pests are killed to protect crops, however this can affect food chains)

-Development (land in high demand must be used e.g. for housing or new agricultural land).

38
Q

Describe the process of eutrophication.

A

The concentration of nitrates and mineral ions increases

This causes excessive algae and plant growth

Plants die due to a lack of light/space

Algae on the surface reduces sunlight entering the water source

Less photosynthesis so less oxygen production

Invertebrates die due to a lack of oxygen

Decomposers respire for energy to break down the dead material, using up the remaining oxygen

The ecosystem dies

(mention SOME of this LOL)

39
Q

What is food security?

A

Having enough food to feed a population.

40
Q

Name some of the biological factors threatening levels of food security.

A

-Increasing birth rate

-Changing diets in developed countries

-New pests and pathogens that affect farming

-Environmental changes such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail

-The cost of agricultural inputs

-Conflicts that have arisen in some parts of the world, affecting the availability of food and water

41
Q

Describe how the increasing birth rate has threatened food security in some countries.

A

In developing countries, there isn’t always enough food so children are malnourished.

42
Q

Describe how changing diets in developed countries threaten food security

A

The demand for certain foods to be imported from developing countries increases

So already scarce food resources become more scarce

43
Q

Describe how new pests and pathogens threaten food security.

A

They can result in the loss of crops and livestock, and even widespread famine.

44
Q

Describe how environmental changes can threaten food security.

A

If rains fail or are too heavy this can result in the loss of crops and livestock, and even widespread famine.

45
Q

Describe how the cost of agricultural inputs threatens food security.

A

The high input costs of farming (price of seeds, machinery, livestock) can make it too expensive for people in some countries to maintain (or even start) food production.

This means that there may not be enough people producing food in these areas to feed the people.

46
Q

Sustainable methods must be found to…

A

…feed all people on Earth.

47
Q

How can the efficiency of food production be improved?

A

Restricting energy transfer from livestock to the environment.

This can be done by limiting their movement and by controlling the temperature of their surroundings.

More energy is then available for growth thus more food can be produced from the same input of resources.

Some animals are fed high protein foods to increase growth.

48
Q

How can animals’ movement be limited?

A

-factory farming small animals like chickens (raising them in small pens)

-Same for fish but in cages

49
Q

What are ethical objections to some modern intensive farming methods?

A

-Disease can spread easily between animals kept close together

-making animals live in unnatural/uncomfortable conditions is cruel

50
Q

Why are fish stocks in the ocean declining?

A

We’re fishing too much.

This means there’s now less fish for us to eat, the ocean’s food chains are impacted, and some species of fish may disappear altogether.

51
Q

Why is it important to maintain fish stocks at a level where breeding continues?

A

Else certain species may disappear altogether in some areas. e.g. cod from the north west Atlantic

52
Q

How can we tackle the issue of declining fish stocks and conserve fish stocks at a sustainable level?

A

-Control of net size

-The introduction of fishing quotas

53
Q

How do fishing quotas promote the recovery of fish stocks?

A

Limits are placed on the number and size of fish that can be caught in certain areas.

This prevents certain species from being overfished.

54
Q

How does controlling net size promote the recovery of fish stocks?

A

-There are different limits on mesh size depending on what’s being fished

-This reduces the number of fish accidentally caught and then discarded e.g. shrimp along with cod

-Younger fish can also escape the nets and reach breeding age

55
Q

What is sustainable food production?

A

Making enough food without using resources faster than they can be replaced.

56
Q

NEED TO DO BIOTECHNOLOGY BUT NOT DONE IN CLASS YET - LNKS TO GENETIC ENGINEERING

A

Biology (18 decks)

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