FBC- BIODIVERSITY Flashcards
what is biodiversity?
the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic systems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems
what are the 3 levels of biodiversity?
- genetic
- organismal
- ecological
name some ecosystem services relevant to agriculture.
- pollination
- pest and disease management
- fresh water, food fibre, habitat and genetic resources
- recreation and tourism
- spiritual health, cultural identity
- erosion prevention
- protection from natural disasters
- carbon sequestration and storage
- air and water pollution control
- nutrient cycling and soil fertility
what are agroecosystems?
simplified natural ecosystems subjected to exploitation for purposes of food and fiber production.
how do agroecosystems provide ecosystems services?
- regulation of soil and water quality, carbon sequestration, support for biodiversity
how can agroecosystems provide disservices if managed incorrectly?
- loss of wildlife habitat
- nutrient runoff
- GHG emissions
- pesticide poisoning
- sedimentation of waterways
how can the aims of food production conflict with biodiversity?
food production:
- increase land for food production
- intensification of agriculture
- increased inputs
- increased pressure from other land uses e.g. urban
whereas food biodiversity…:
- loss of natural habitat
- increased habitat fragmentation
- pollution
- invasive species
- increased roads
agricultural production is responsible for the majority of … … use. the use of … to produce food almost always comes into conflict with the goals for the … of nature and …
global land
land
conservation
wildlife
agricultural expansion is one of the largest threats to …, primarily through … loss. one third of farmland is already degraded.
biodiversity
habitat
what are the 4 categories of forest fragmentation?
- continuous forest
- partially fragmented
- fragmented and edge effects
- fragmented at equilibrium
what is land sparing?
- separate land for nature from land for farming
- make farmland higher yielding (and therefore often less biodiverse)
- protect other land for: biodiversity & ecosystem services
- creates homogenous landscapes
land sparing creates … landscapes
homogenous
what is land sharing?
- same land for biodiversity, conservation and food production
- agricultural land is less high yielding, but more biodiverse
- more farmland might be needed to produce a given amount of food
- less land is available solely for nature conservation
e.g. agroforestry
in land sharing, agricultural land is less … …, but more …
high yielding
biodiverse
agroforestry is an example of land …
sharing
