Human Activities Flashcards
What stress has the increasing human population caused?
More stress on trying to feed everyone on earth
What is putting a stress on feeding everyone on earth?
The rapid increase in human population
What has reduced biodiversity in farming?
Monocultures - used to grow crops in high volumes and very efficiently
What can natural ecosystems develop to?
Complex communities with a high diversity index
What are agricultural ecosystems controlled by?
Humans
Why do agricultural ecosystems have a lower amount of alleles in the gene pool?
Species are selected with specific qualities
What is the limit for economic benefit between farming capacity?
To be economically viable the numbers have to be large but fields can only support a certain amount of biomass
Why can other (not specifically selected) species survive in an agricultural ecosystem?
Competition
What chemicals reduce species diversity in an agricultural ecosystem?
Pesticides and herbicides
What are 4 ways of directly removing habitats?
1) removing hedgerows and grubbing out woodland
2) creating monoculture
3) filling in ponds and draining marsh/wetland
4) overgrazing of land by animals which prevents regeneration of woodland
What 3 things indirectly effect habitats?
1) pesticides and inorganic fertilisers
2) escape of effluent from silage stores and slurry tanks into water courses
3) absence of crop rotation and lack of intercropping or under sowing
What 4 ways has food production in the UK doubled?
1) use of improved genetic varieties of plant and animals
2) greater use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
3) more biotechnology usage
4) changes in farm practices - larger farms
What can be used instead of erecting fences as field boundaries?
Plant hedges
What is good to be done with ponds to increase biodiversity?
Maintain existing ponds and create new ones
What can be done with wet corners of fields to increase biodiversity?
Leave them - don’t drain
What can be done to areas with low species diversity to increase it?
Plant native trees
What can we use instead to reduce the use of pesticides for a higher biodiversity?
Use biological control or genetically modified plants that are resistant to pests
What type of fertilisers should be used to maintain a high diversity index?
Organic
What can be used in crop rotation to improve soil fertility?
Nitrogen fixing crops
What can be used in place of herbicides?
Intercropping
What can be used instead of grass for silage?
Hay in natural meadows
What change can be made to cutting verges and fields to increase biodiversity?
Leave it until after flowering to conserve seed dispersal
What are conservation headlands?
Areas at the edges of fields where pesticides are used restrictively so wild flowers and insects can breed
What is Ex-situ conservation?
Process of protecting an endangered species, variety or breed of plant or animal outside its natural habitat
What are in-situ conservation methods?
Preserving and protecting organisms and their habitat so maintaining biodiversity
What are the 2 in-situ conservation strategies?
Wildlife reserves and conservation zones
What are 2 positives and 2 negatives of wildlife reserves?
POSITIVE - can be used to research species in their natural habitat
- protects animals and plants by providing safe habitats
NEGATIVE - poachers illegally kill within reserves
- reserves aren’t isolated so wildlife may migrate to unsuitable ecosystems
What are 2 positives and 2 negatives of conservation zones?
POSITIVE - maintains ecosystem balance
- builds resilience to climate change
NEGATIVES - lack of connectivity between protected areas
- human activities (e.g logging, poaching, mining) still occur
What are the 3 ex-situ conservation methods?
- Seed banks , zoos and botanical gardens
What are 2 positives and 2 negatives of seed banks?
POSITIVE - develop drought-tolerant crops
- replenishes crocs lost in natural disasters
NEGATIVE - not all plants can perish
- require lots of time and space for monitoring
What are 2 positives and 2 negatives of zoos?
POSITIVES - save species from extinction by captive breeding
- research animal behaviour + genetics
NEGATIVES - captive breeding reduces biodiversity
- not all zoos can provide habitats for specific needs
what are 2 positives and 2 negatives for botanical gardens?
POSITIVE - keeps plants extinct in wilds alive
- assist in reducing CO2 emissions
NEGATIVE - irrigation system that provides water is costly
- plants share same soil and in close proximity so increased spread of disease
