Ecology Pt2 Flashcards
Global warming steps (1-3)
- The sun emits rays of light toward the earth with UV radiation reaching the earth
- The earth absorbs the light rays and then emits it back to the atmosphere
- It is emitted back into space as infrared radiation and is absorbed by CO2, a greenhouse gas, along with methane and water vapour
Global warming steps (4-5)
- The atmosphere is emitting radiation in every direction, most of it goes into space but some comes back to earth
- Heat is trapped within the atmosphere
Where does the issue come from
From humans burning fossil fuels, because before there was a cycle where as much CO2 entered the atmosphere as left it but now there is a net intake
Human population explosion
Improved medical care, higher food and water supply
Land has had to have been removed for other ecosystems for our raw materials
Less developed countries have had to resort to fossil fuels as a result of the explosion
Land pollution
Households see an increased human productivity and unwanted products
Industry sees dyes from fabric run off to soil and waste rock from extracting metals
Pesticides kill animals
Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances such as pesticides in a food chain
Use less pesticides, be more considerate of throwing away, more recycling
Water pollution
Households- use of plastic
Farming- fertilises minerals
Eutrophication- the process of bodies of water becoming uninhabitable to many organisms
Can be monitored by analysing water samples or indicator species that only live in certain PH
Water pollution solutions
Green agriculture
Energy efficient food
Storm water management
Land pollution solutions
Use less pesticides, be more considerate of throwing away, more recycling
Air pollution
Acid rain is formed when fossil fuels are burned, they react with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide gas
Kill leaves, birds, flowers
Destroys roots
Destroys ecosystems
Causes acidification of water
Aerosols and burning fossil fuels cause acid rain, smog, respiratory issues
Air pollution solutions
Use cleaner sulphur fluids
Clean gases in power station chimneys
Use electric or hybrid vehicles
Deforestation
Large scale deforestation is happening for palm oil farming and lumber industry
It leads to increased CO2 because chopped down trees can’t photosynthesise and absorb CO2
Removes habitats and food for animals so affects biodiversity
Recycle more
Peat bog destruction
Peat bogs are formed when materials don’t fully decompose
Peat is used for cooking and domestic heating
Increases CO2 in air as it takes a long time to burn
We need it for food but has an effect on biodiversity
Migratory birds
Affected by temperature and water temperature
They have shifted their migratory grounds north because of an increase in water temperature.
Will soon run out of habitats so we need to make sure they have places to go
Moths
Affected by artificial light, pesticides
Humans are using too much artificial light, which confuses the nocturnal pollinators and stops them from pollinating plants in the night, leading to a decrease in food production
Scientists have tried to increase the fruit productivity of the plants
Malnutrition
A term used to refer to any condition in which the body does not receive the correct amount of nutrients for proper function
Food security
All people at all times have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
Food security affected by
Availability
Accessibility : affordable and fair
Utilisation: if the body is able to use the food effectively
Stability: if the food source is stable over time
Increasing population/availability
Having more people restricts the amount of food that each person is able to have
Could restrict the population growth
Accessibility/ change in diet
Less healthy and nutritious food is cheaper than the nutritious food, meaning that more people are able to afford it
Could increase prices for less nutritious foods
Utilisation/disease
Food can cause disease, particularly if you often have the same food, you have a lot of a nutrient
A solution could be to offer more varied food sources to less privileged people
Weather
If a food source stops, being able to produce them food, it will stop a major food source
We could stockpile foods as a precaution
Rising prices
Inflation in an increase in food prices will stop people from being able to gain access to food
We could make a minimum wage in every country
War
If a country stops allowing people to have a certain source of food, it may restrict people’s ability to have a certain nutrient
We could stockpile food in case of war
Sustainable food production
The production of food in a way that means that we will not run out of food in the future, no long term negative effects
Sustainable Fishing methods
Fishing bans/protected areas Fishing quotas Reduce net size Controlled permits Conservation tax Increased mesh size
Mycoprotein
Sustainable food sources which are grown in a lab as the fungus Fusarium grows rapidly
Golden rice
A variety of rice genetically engineered to certain high concentrations of beta carotene, a vitamin A precursor. Intended for areas with Vitamin A shortages
Fusarium
A fungus used to produce mycoprotein such as Quorn
Fusarium pt2
In optimum conditions it can double its mass every 5 hours. Biomass can be harvested and purified then dried and processed to make mycoprotein. Can be shaped and flavoured in many ways
How is it made
Motor at the top of a water-cooled packet
A pole to measure temperature
Oxygen enters the bottom right for oxygen and an outlet for harvesting is at the bottom
Cold water enters the bottom left and warm water exits the top right
Overfishing solutions
Fishing quotas/ licences
Bigger mesh size
Smaller nets
Bacteria to make insulin
Plasmid removed from bacterium
Insulin cut out of human chromosomes with a restriction enzyme
Same enzyme opens plasmid
Mixed together
Ligase joins them to make recombinant dna
Inserted into a bacterium
Grown in a vat under controlled conditions. Can be harvested and purified to treat diabetes
