Enviromental Impact

Question 1

What can environmental changes be

Answer 1

manmade/natural

Question 2

What is an example of natural environmental change

Answer 2

seasonal changes cause animals to migrate,hibernate or enter dormant states

Question 3

What is an example of man-made environmental change

Answer 3

global warming so acidic and hotter seas have led to coral bleaching and death of algae

Question 4

How has human population impacted biodiversity and land use

Answer 4

More land needed by humans for houses, energy or food. Thus biodiversity decreases

Question 5

What causes eutrophication

Answer 5

run off water containing fertilisers from farm/sewage

Question 6

Explain eutrophication in 5 stages

Answer 6

1) excessive nutrients from farm/sewage
2) cause growth of algae, duckweed and other plants
3) algae blooms as once oxygen depleted algae blocks sunlight from reaching other plants they die and all oxygen in water is depleted
4) decomposition further depletes oxygen as bacteria use up even more oxygen to break down dead plants
5) death of the ecosystem

Question 7

Why is deforestation done

Answer 7

usage of wood, make space , grow crops/ monocultures over huge areas reducing biodiversity

Question 8

What is a peat bog

Answer 8

from over thousands of years in marshy areas as decomposers cannot completely break down plants in acidic conditions with little oxygen so peat forms to store carbon

Question 9

What is peat used for

Answer 9

fuel and cheap compost by gardeners

Question 10

What are the effects of deforestation

Answer 10

• inc. release of CO2
• reduce rate of photosynthesis
• reduced biodiversity
• increased methane if land is used for rice field

Question 11

What does the loss of peat and trees mean

Answer 11

At an unsustainable rate so reduced carbon stores and biodiversity

Question 12

What is global warming caused by

Answer 12

• burning of CO2 and methane

- fossil fuels, petrol, rice corps, cattle farming and deforestation

Question 13

Who will be affected the most by temp. change

Answer 13

species sensitive to temp. change such as possum as they cannot control their temp.

Question 14

Examples of waste substances

Answer 14

• Sewage
• Smoke and toxic gas
• herbicides, fertilisers and pesticides
• lead
• paper, cardboard and plastic

Question 15

What are the main causes of pollution

Answer 15

• Eutrophication due to fertilisers entering waterways
• toxic chemicals spreading to water and soil
• smoke and gas cover and damage tress

Question 16

How is acid rain formed

Answer 16

burning fossil fuels dissolve in water vapour to make acid rain

Question 17

What does acid rain cause

Answer 17

• damages leaves and plants
• Washes Al3- ions into lakes which affects gills in fish
• acidifies water ways

Question 18

What is an indicator species

Answer 18

organisms that can tell us about the levels of pollution in an area by their presence or absence.

Question 19

What is an ecosystem

Answer 19

a community of animals, plants, micro-organisms, non-living things and their shared environment

Question 20

What is a habitat

Answer 20

place where an organism lives

Question 21

What is a community

Answer 21

all living organisms that live in that habitat

Question 22

How can pollution also be measured apart from indicator species

Answer 22

probes attached to computers to directly measure specific conditions and chemicals

Question 23

What are some examples of indicator species

Answer 23

• lichens cannot survive in polluted areas (on trees)
• sludge worms and adler flies inform on water
• many different species in water indicate a healthy environment

Question 24

What are some ways to improve biodiversity

Answer 24

• breeding programmes
• regeneration of habitats
• field margins
• recycling

Question 25

Why are conservation programmes introduced

Answer 25

moral reasons, for medical production, minimise damage to foos chains and protect future food supplies

Question 26

What are the issues surrounding conservation programmes

Answer 26

• Long term funding
• qualified scientists
• lack of policing