human activities and biodiversity

Question 1

what is the impact of agriculture

Answer 1

• less variety of alleles as only species displaying the desirable characteristics are farmed
  -large number of the same species in one area for economic benefit
  -increases competition in other species not being farmed because they have less space- most don’t survive competition

Question 2

practices that directly remove habitats reducing species diversity

Answer 2

• removing hedgerows
• monoculture creation eg cereal crops replacing meadows
  -filling in ponds

Question 3

indirect practices effecting habitats and species diversity

Answer 3

-use of pesticides
-absence of crop rotation and lack of intercropping

Question 4

practices that balance conservation and food demand

Answer 4

-maintaining existing hedgerows at a beneficial height
-use of hedges rather than fences as separation
-not draining fields
-organic fertilisers