Human Impacts - Loss of Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

Name three methods to remove alien plants.

A
  • Mechanical removal
  • Chemical removal
  • Biological control
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2
Q

What are IAP’s?

A

Invasive alien plants

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3
Q

Why were Port Jackson and Hakea species imported?

A

To establish the sandy soil in the Cape Flats.

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4
Q

Why are invader plants so successful?

A
  • They grow faster than indigenous plants
  • The plants and their seeds can withstand extended periods of droughts
  • Have few natural enemies to control their population growth
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5
Q

Habitat destruction can occur in two forms

A
  • Habitat degradation
  • habitat transformation
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6
Q

What human activities result in Habitat destruction?

A

More land for:

  • agriculture
  • Housing
  • Industrial
  • leisure activities
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7
Q

What is the most destructive industry in South Africa?

A

Mining

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8
Q

Effects of mining to the environmnet

A
  • Trucks destroy the surrounding ecosystems
  • Produces tonnes of solid waste, gas emmissions and liquid effluent
  • Change the landscape
  • Reduce the drainage ability of soil
  • Soil erosion
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9
Q

How do Golf estates cause serious environmental degradation leading to loss of biodiversity

A
  • Use large amounts of water
  • Use of recycled sewage effluent to water greens and fairways adds nutrients to ecosystems leading to eutrophication
  • In W Cape nutrients leach surrounding areas and discourage growth of indigenous fynbos with relies on a nutrient-poor soil
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10
Q

Effect of illegal trade and poaching of wildlife and excessive harvesting of indigenous plants.

A

Damages biodiversity and potentially leads to extinction of species.

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11
Q

List 5 targeted species of illegal trade and poaching of wildlife

A
  • Medicinal plants
  • Cycads
  • Succulents
  • Ornamental plants
  • Host of vertebrates
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12
Q

Example endangered primates in Africa

A

Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

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13
Q

Why are primates in Africa endangered?

A

Because of the trade in “bushmeat”.

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14
Q

What is mechanical removal of alien plants?

A

By digging out the whole plant, including the roots.

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15
Q

What is chemical removal of alien plants?

A

Using herbicides and poisons to kill alien plants

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16
Q

What is biological removal of alien plants?

A

Using other species (natural predators) to keep the alien population in check

17
Q

What is poaching?

A

The illegal removal of an organism from its environment, often for trade.