Human influences on ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

how have humans have increased food
production. name examples

A

-agricultural machinery to use larger areas of
land and improve efficiencient
- chemical fertilisers to improve yields
- insecticides to improve quality and yield
- herbicides to reduce competition with weeds
- selective breeding to improve production by
crop plants and livestock

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2
Q

Describe the advantages of
large-scale monocultures of crop plants

A

farmers benefit from higher profits
high efficiency
technology advances
specialized production
simpler to manage

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3
Q

Describe the disadvantages of
large-scale monocultures of crop plants

A

destroys soil nutrients
pollutes groundwater supplies
uses a lot of fossil fuel energy
requires a lot of water to irrigate
destroys overall soil degradation and erosion

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4
Q

Describe the disadvantages of
intensive livestock production

A

increases risk of disease and pest outbreaks
upsets natural balance of soils since if too many of the same plant species in one field area rob the soil of it’s nutrients resulting in decreasing verities of bacteria and microorganisms that are needed to maintain fertility of the soil

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5
Q

Describe the advantages of
intensive livestock production

A

crop yield is high
helps farmer to easily supervise and monitor land
protection from livestock from being hurt

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6
Q

Define biodiversity

A

the number of different
species that live in an area

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7
Q

Describe the reasons for habitat destruction. Name examples

A
  • increased area for housing, crop plant
    production and livestock production
  • extraction of natural resources
  • freshwater and marine pollution
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8
Q

How can humans have a negative impact on habitants in our biodiversity

A

through altering food webs and food
chains

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9
Q

Explain the undesirable effects of deforestation
as an example of habitat destruction

A

reducing biodiversity,
extinction,
loss of soil,
flooding
increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere

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10
Q

Describe the effects of untreated sewage and
excess fertiliser on aquatic ecosystems

A

nutrient rich materials from fertilizers(especially nitrogen and phosphorus) and waste materials cause eutrophication in both fresh and marine ecosystems

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11
Q

Describe the effects of non-biodegradable
plastics, in both aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems

A

they’re eaten by terrestrial animals which further chokes and gets trapped in the digestive system of the animals

plastics get accumulated in organisms and is passed down the food chain- increasing amount of each higher trophic level which is known as biomagnification

they last for long period of times
they can disintegrate into smaller pieces and form microplastics and accumulate in the environment and remain in the ecosystem for a very long time

can cause habitat destruction- plastics can cover the sunlight for photosynthesis to occur or plastic can also block the roots and prevents root growth.

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12
Q

Describe the sources and effects of pollution of
the air by methane and carbon dioxide

A

the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate
change

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13
Q

Explain the process of eutrophication of water

A
  • increased availability of nitrate and other
    ions
  • increased growth of producers
  • increased decomposition after death of
    producers
  • increased aerobic respiration by decomposers
  • reduction in dissolved oxygen
  • death of organisms requiring dissolved
    oxygen in water
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14
Q

Define a sustainable resource

A

one which is produced as rapidly as it is removed from the
environment so that it does not run out

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15
Q

Can some resources can be conserved and
managed sustainably? Give an example and explain

A
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16
Q

How can forests be conserved? state options

A

education, protected areas, quotas and replanting

17
Q

Explain how fish stocks can be conserved

A

education, closed seasons, protected areas,
controlled net types and mesh size, quotas and
monitoring

18
Q

Explain why organisms become endangered
or extinct

A

climate change, habitat
destruction, hunting, overharvesting, pollution
and introduced species

19
Q

Describe how endangered species can be
conserved

A
  • monitoring and protecting species and
    habitats
  • education
  • captive breeding programmes
  • seed banks
20
Q

Describe the reasons for conservation
programmes

A
  • maintaining or increasing biodiversity
  • reducing extinction
  • protecting vulnerable ecosystems
  • maintaining ecosystem functions, limited
    to nutrient cycling and resource provision,
    including food, drugs, fuel and genes
21
Q

Explain the risks to a species if its population size
decreases, reducing genetic variation

A
22
Q

Describe the use of artificial insemination (AI)
and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in captive breeding
programmes

A
23
Q

Explain the risks to a species if its population size
decreases, reducing genetic variation (knowledge
of genetic drift is not required)

A