Humans and biodiversity Flashcards
What is biodiversity
The variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth or within an ecosystem
What is the advantage of high biodiversity
Ensures stability of ecosystems by reducing the dependence of one species on another
How are humans trying to maintain biodiversity
Breeding programmes in zoos
Protection of rare habitats
Reintroduction of hedgerows - to provide habitats
Reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions
Recycling resources
Why are more resources being used and more waste products produced by humans
Rapid growth in human population and increase in standard of living
Where does pollution occur
Water
Air
Land
How are humans reducing the land available for other organisms
Building
Quarrying
Farming
Dumping waste
What are the negative impacts of the destruction of peat bogs
Reduces amount of available habitat, causing decreases in biodiversity
Burning or decay of peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Why have humans carried out large scale deforestation in tropical areas
Provide land for cattle and rice fields
Grow crops for biofuels
What is food security
Having enough food to feed a population
What are the biological factors threatening human food security
Rapid population growth and increasing birth rate
New pests and pathogens
Changing diets in developed countries
Environmental changes
Conflicts
Costs of agricultural inputs
How can the efficiency of food production in farming be increased
Limit movement of animals
Control temperature of the surroundings
Feed animals high protein foods
Give animals antibiotics
Regularly use fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides
What gases are increasing in atmospheric levels and contributing to global warming
Carbon dioxide
Methane
How can fish stocks be maintained at a suitable level
Controlling net sizes
Introducing fishing quotas
How is biotechnology used to maintain the growing human population
Large quantities of microorganisms cultured for food
GM bacteria producing treatments like human insulin
GM crops providing higher yields or improved nutritional values
What are peat bogs
Areas of partially decayed vegetation
