Human impacts on the environment Flashcards
Define “Biodiversity”
A measure of the variety of all the different species of organisms within an ecosystem
What are two major problems from the exponential increase in human population?
More natural resources are used up, more waste produced, decreased biodiversity
State four sources of land pollution
Human sewage + Household wastes + industrial wastes + pesticides and herbicides in farming
How does human sewage contribute towards land pollution?
Harmful microbes and bad chemicals lead to spread of diseases on land
Explain how household and industrial wastes pollute land
Take up space in landfills + Toxic/radioactive chemicals leads to poison soils + destroys habitats
State four sources of water pollution
Untreated sewage + Fertilisers + Industrial wastes + Pesticides and Herbicides, acid rain
Name a source of air pollution
Combustion of fossil fuels
Give two examples of good carbon stores
Forests and peat bogs
Give a reason for deforestation
To provide resources, provide land for agriculture, provide land to make biofuel, land for mining
Give a reason for peat destruction
Provide fuel/ garden compost
Name two major impacts deforestation and peat destruction have on the environment and out biodiversity
More carbon dioxide release (more global warming and acid rain), decreased biodiversity
How does a decrease in biodiversity have a negative impact on humans?
Loss of potential new sources of food and medicine, loss of resources
Name three major greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour
Suggest a source of carbon dioxide release
Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, peat destruction
State three affects of global warming
Climate change, ice caps melting, warming seas dissolve less carbon dioxide
What biological consequences does climate change bring about?
Changes in migration patterns and species distribution
State three methods to maintain biodiversity
Breeding programs, protect and regenerate rare habitats, grow hedgerows, reduce deforestation and carbon emissions, recycling
What is food security?
Having enough food to feed a population
What are the biological factors threatening human food security?
Rapid population growth, increasing birth rates, new pests and pathogens, changing diets, environmental changes, conflicts, costs of agricultural inputs
How can the efficiency of food production in farming be increased?
Limiting movement of animals, control temperature of surroundings, use antibiotics, use fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
