effects of human activities and sustainability

Question 1

what is the definition of biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of species (plants and animal life) in the world or in a particular area

Question 2

what is the definition of extinction

Answer 2

loss of species

Question 3

what are the reasons for species becoming endangered/extinct

Answer 3

natural selection
deforestation
habitat destruction
pollution
hunting and collecting

Question 4

what is conservation

Answer 4

the maintenance of biosphere and enhancement of biodiversity locally

Question 5

what conservations enhances biodiversity

Answer 5

natural reserves and SSSIs
restriction on trade (e.g CITES)
Zoo breeding programs
Sperm banks/seed banks
Reintroductions
Pollution control

Question 6

What strategies are there to increase agricultural production

Answer 6

pesticides
artificial fertilisers
removal of hedges to increase field size
drainage of water meadows
large areas under one crop (monoculture)

Question 7

what is the reasons for deforestation

Answer 7

world demand for timber as buolding material
wood used as fuel
land when farm is clear
roads built to provide a transport infrastructure
demand for paper and packaging.

Question 8

How has deforestation made a negative impact on the environment

Answer 8

climate change
destruction of natural habitats
soil erosion

Question 9

what is a particular problem about deforestation

Answer 9

forests support biodiversity, as it provides a habitat for most wild life as well as it fosters medical conservations.

Question 10

how has overfishing led to a loss of biodiversity

Answer 10

when fishes are being caught faster than they can reproduce and replace themselves

Question 11

what are the strategies to combat overfishing

Answer 11

exclusion zones
removing subsidies
quotas/landing
reducing vessels
reducing fishing time
controlling mesh size, discard younger fish
eating non-traditional fish

Question 12

why are disease common on fish farms and why do treatments lead to environmental problems

Answer 12

fish farms are ideal incubators for parasites and infectious diseases. outbreaks are also impossible to quarantine

Question 13

what are the possible benefits of fish farming

Answer 13

economic affects
sustainability
growing demand met

Question 14

why does fish farming cause eutrophication

Answer 14

faces and uneaten food pellets from fish farms alter the organic matter in the sediment, which can change the consumption of oxygen and cause eutrophications.

Question 15

what does coppicing mean

Answer 15

trees are cut down close to the ground and then left to re-grow with a number of new shoots

Question 16

what does rotational coppicing mean

Answer 16

coppice grown as an energy crop

Question 17

how does coppicing encourage biodiversity

Answer 17

its a good way to ensure that there are a variety of different light levels in a woodland

Question 18

what is clear felling and what disadvantages does it have

Answer 18

clear felling is cut down and removal of every tree from an area. it is destructive to water, soil, wildlife and atmosphere

Question 19

what is selective felling and what advatages does it have

Answer 19

as a system it is designed to maintain an uneven number or all-aged forest of trees varying not only in age but species as well. it allows ecosystems to support more wildlife than clear cutting.