Importance of biodiversity

Question 1

Maintaining biodiversity is important for …..

Answer 1

Ecological reasons

Question 2

Organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent-they depend on each other to survive. This means that the loss of just one species can have pretty drastic effects on an ecosystem, such as:

> Distribution of ….(1)

Answer 2

Food chains, Some species of bear feed on salmon, which feed on herring. If the number of herring decline it can affect BOTH the salmon and the bear population.

Question 3

Organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent-they depend on each other to survive. This means that the loss of just one species can have pretty drastic effects on an ecosystem, such as:

> Distribution of ….(2)

Answer 3

Nutrient cycles, e.g. decomposers like worms improve the QUALITY OF SOIL by recycling nutrients.
If worm numbers decline, soil quality will be affected.
This will affect the GROWTH of plants and the AMOUNT OF food available to animals.

Question 4

What are keystone species?

Answer 4

There are some species on which many of the other species in an ecosystem DEPEND and without which the ecosystem would CHANGE DRAMATICALLY-these are called Keystone species.

Question 5

Why are keystone species needed?

Answer 5

Keystone species are often PREDATORS-keeping the population of the prey in check, but could also be MODIFIERS-maintaining the environment needed for the eco-system (e.g. beavers building dams), or HOSTS -plants that provide a particular environment, such as palm trees.

Question 6

Example of a keystone species drastic effect on an ecosystem?

Answer 6

The WOLF is a keystone SPECIES in America. Wolf populations were ELIMINATED in most AMERICAN STATES during the 20th Century.

Without the wolves to hunt them, ELK POPULATIONS INCREASED, leading to OVERGRAZING.

This led to the LOSS OF PLANT SPECIES as well as the loss of species that depend on those plants such as BEAVERS and SONGBIRDS

The situation has since been reversed in some national parks.

Question 7

Biodiversity is important to maintain…

Answer 7

Genetic resource.

Question 8

What is a Genetic resource?

Answer 8

Genetic resources refer to any MATERIAL from PLANTS, ANIMALS or MICROORGANISMS, containing genes, that we find valuable.

Genetic resources could be crops, plants used for medicines, microorganisms used in industrial processes, or animal breeds.

Question 9

Genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday product, such as:

> Food and drink, explain how?

Answer 9

Plants and animals are the sources of almost all FOOD and some DRINKS.

Question 10

Genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday product, such as:

> CLOTHING, explain how?

Answer 10

Clothing - a lot of FIBRES and FABRICS are made from plants and some animals (e.g. cotton from plants and leather from animals)

Question 11

Genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday product, such as:

> Drugs, explain how?

Answer 11

Drugs - many are made from plant compounds (e.g. the painkiller MORPHINE is made from POPPIES).

Question 12

Genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday product, such as:

> Fuels, explain how?

Answer 12

We use a number of organisms to produce RENEWABLE fuels, including ethanol and biogas.
Fossil fuels are NON-RENEWABLE (they’ll run out), so other sources are of MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.

Question 13

Genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday product, such as:

> Other industrial materials, explain how?

Answer 13

A huge variety of other materials are produced from plant and animal species, including WOOD, PAPER, DYES, ADHESIVES, OILS, RUBBER and chemicals such as PESTICIDES.

Question 14

Many genetic resources are important to the GLOBAL ECONOMY. Explain why?

Answer 14

Products derived from plant and animal species are traded on a global and local scale.

Question 15

How can genetic resources aid us in a changing planet?

Answer 15

Genetic resources allow us to ADAPT to changes in the ENVIRONMENT. For example, CLIMATE CHANGE may mean that some crops won’t be able to grow in the same areas as they do now, .e.g, there may be DROUGHTS in those areas

However, we may be able to use GENES from a plant that are RESISTANT to droughts to genetically engineer a DROUGHT-RESISTANT CROP.

Question 16

Different ways to Reduce soil depletion:

> Monoculture, explain?

Answer 16

Is growing a SINGLE VARIETY of a single crop.

Question 17

Different ways to Reduce soil depletion:

> Continous monoculture, explain?

Answer 17

Continous monoculture involves growing the same crop in the same field without interruption.

Question 18

How would farmers prevent nutrients from the soil being completely used up due to monoculture?

Answer 18

Continous monoculture causes SOIL DEPLETION because the nutrients required by the crop are gradually USED UP.

In more traditional farming methods crops are rotated with other types of crops, so the nutrients and organic matter are replaced

Question 19

Why is soil depletion an economic cost?

Answer 19

The ECONOMIC COST of soil depletion includes INCREASED SPENDING on FERTILISERS (to artificially replace nutrients) and DECREASED YIELDS

Question 20

Name two reasons why biodiversity should be conserved for aesthetic reasons?

Answer 20

Areas RICH in biodiversity provide pleasant, ATTRACTIVE LANDSCAPES that people can enjoy.
By maintaining biodiversity we PROTECT these beautiful LANDSCAPES.
The more biodiversity in an area the more VISITORS the area is likely to ATTRACT -this also has some economic advantages.