Human impact on the environment

Question 1

What are planetary boundaries?

Answer 1

A threshold value for global processes that are effected by human activity

Question 2

What could crossing a planetary boundary cause?

Answer 2

Abrupt and irreversible environmental changes

Question 3

What are the nine planetary boundaries?

Answer 3

Climate change
Biodiversity
Land use change
Nitrate and phosphate
Ozone
Ocean acidification
Freshwater
Aerosol
Inorganic pollution (novel entities)

Question 4

Is the climate change boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 4

Crossed

Question 5

Is the biodiversity boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 5

Crossed

Question 6

Is the land use change boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 6

Crossed

Question 7

Is the nitrate and phosphate boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 7

Crossed

Question 8

Is the ozone boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 8

Avoided

Question 9

Is the ocean acidification boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 9

Avoidable

Question 10

Is the freshwater boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 10

Avoidable

Question 11

Is the aerosol boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 11

Unknown

Question 12

Is the inorganic pollution (novel entities) boundary crossed/avoidable/unknown/avoided?

Answer 12

Unknown

Question 13

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the climate change boundary?

Answer 13

Causes = greenhouse gases by cutting trees and burning fuels
Consequences = increased global temps and extreme weather

Question 14

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the biodiversity boundary?

Answer 14

Causes = habitat destruction
Consequences = Species go extinct as change too quickly so can’t adapt. Reduction in species

Question 15

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the land use change boundary?

Answer 15

Causes = deforestation, land change for food, urbanisation and livestock
Consequences = reduced biodiversity

Question 16

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the nitrate and phosphate boundary?

Answer 16

Causes = fertilisers
Consequences = Nitrate - eutrophication. Phosphate into bodies of water

Question 17

What were the causes and consequences of crossing the ozone boundary?

Answer 17

Causes = use of CFC’s in aerosols and refrigerator coolants
Consequences = Hole in ozone layer so UV rays not absorbed

Question 18

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the ocean acidification boundary?

Answer 18

Causes = greenhouse gases dissolve into sea
Consequences = increased acidity (low pH) cause calcium carbonate to leach out of corals and shell - soft so easy to hunt

Question 19

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the freshwater boundary?

Answer 19

Causes = Climate change, pollution, land use (drain wetlands), increased irrigation and industry
Consequences = Decreased availability

Question 20

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the aerosol boundary?

Answer 20

Causes = particles of ash, soot and dust from quarrying and combustion
Consequences = respiratory issues, lung cancer, less photosynthesis as build up on leaves

Question 21

What are the causes and consequences of crossing the inorganic pollutants (novel entities) boundary?

Answer 21

Causes = Inorganic pollutants (micro plastics, radioactive materials and DDT - synthetic organic pollutants)
Consequences = Bioaccumulation in food chains which affects top of food chain

Question 22

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the climate change boundary?

Answer 22

Stop using fossil fuels
Reduce deforestation
Use biofuels

Question 23

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the biodiversity boundary?

Answer 23

Species conservation
Education
Breeding programmes
Quotas

Question 24

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the land use change boundary?

Answer 24

Farm in high yield areas
Reduce meat consumption
More efficient crops

Question 25

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the nitrate and phosphate boundary?

Answer 25

Reduce fertiliser use

Question 26

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the ozone boundary?

Answer 26

Montreal Protocol (1987) Ban CFC's

Question 27

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the ocean acidification boundary?

Answer 27

Reduce deforestation and fossil fuel use

Question 28

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the freshwater boundary?

Answer 28

Stop irrigation of non-food crops Use waste water for irrigation/industry Desalinisation

Question 29

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the aerosol boundary?

Answer 29

None

Question 30

What are some possible remedial measures to stop/reduce the inorganic pollution boundary?

Answer 30

Control use of inorganic pollutants (some already being controlled)

Question 31

What is endangered definition?

Answer 31

A species which is at a serious risk of becoming extinct

Question 32

What is extinct definition?

Answer 32

A species which has no living individuals

Question 33

What is an alien species?

Answer 33

A species introduced into a habit at by man

Question 34

What is a SSSI?

Answer 34

Site of Special Scientific Interest. UK landowners have a legal duty to maintain them

Question 35

What is a CITES?

Answer 35

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Illegal to buy or sell endangered species

Question 36

What is a gene pool?

Answer 36

All the alleles of all the genes in a population

Question 37

What is conservation?

Answer 37

The protection, preservation, management and restoration of natural habitats and their ecological communities

Question 38

Why may species become endangered?

Answer 38

Destroyed habitats Pollution of environments Alien species introduction Monoculture Industry Unsustainable harvesting e.g. overfishing/hunting

Question 39

How is conservation achieved?

Answer 39

Habitat protection Breeding programmes Sperm and seed banks Pollution control Reintroduction of species Prevent overuse of land

Question 40

Why is there conflict between agriculture and conservation?

Answer 40

Both want to use land for same reasons. Negative to each other