Living Environment - Human Activities, NatOrgs and Conservation + Conflicts between Stakeholders Flashcards
Natural Hazards
examples
- forest fires
- earthquakes
- volcanic activity
- tsunamis
- hurricanes
forest fires
impacts:
- result in a loss of habitat
- flames kill organisms
- allows ecosystems a chance to rebuid
lodgewood pine (adaptation):
- layer of resin around cone that only poens in high temperatures (forest fires)
volcanic activity
- lava flows destroys what it comes into contact with
- over 150 years the ecosystem can recover, more diverse than before
tsunamis
- loss of human life and habitats
- destoys coral reefs and other marine life
- ruins soils fertility due to salination and increases chance of erosion
deforestation
definition and impacts
the clearing of areas of natural forest without replanting
impacts:
- habitats destroyed
- flooding
- higher levels of CO2
- decreases ecosystems stability
pollution
definition and impacts
the presence of a substance that is harmful to organisms, looks unpleasant or damages surroundings
impacts:
- chemical imbalances
- kill individual organisms, and/or species
- destroy habitats
climate change
impacts
social
- rising sea levels causes flooding, displacing people
- loss of agricultural land due to drought/flood leads to food shortages
- water shortages causes conflict
- heatwaves kill elderly and those with existing health conditions
economic
- rising sea level flooding means money is needed to repair damage/build new homes and industry
- high costs for sea defences
- reduced energy demands due to shorter winters
- arctic ports become ice free encouraging more trade
environmental
- habitat loss
- reduction in biodiversity
- changes in species distribution
- risk of forest fires
- more extreme weather
- loss of sensitive ecosystems e.g. coral reefs
- ice sheets and glaciers melt
overexploitation
definition and impacts
to use a resource at a rate that is not sustainable
impacts:
- distrupt balance in ecosystems
- interupts food chains/webs
- can lead to the extinction of species
crop monoculture
definition, positives and negatives
growing a single crop over a wide area
positives:
- farming is more efficient increasing crop yield
negatives:
- removal of hedge rows destroys habitats
- increases need for agrochemicals
herbicides
definition, positives and negatives
removal of competing plants from the crop growing area
positives:
- reduces interspecific competition between crop and other species allowing the crop’s improved growth
- increases crop yield
negatives:
- killing of ‘weeds’ reduces the biodiversity of an area
isecticides
definition, positives and negatives
An agrochemical which removes pest species and diseases from crop
positives:
- increases crop yield by removing pests that are eating or damaging the crop
negatives:
- insecticides can be toxic and build up through the food chain causing great harm to the top predators (bioaccumulation)
- it kills non-target species like bees
fertilisers
definition, positives and negatives
a substance which increases the nutrient levels in the soil
positives:
- increaed nutrients available for the plant will increase growth and therefore crop yeild
negatives:
- leaching of fertilisers can cause eutrophication (algal bloom)
extinction
occurs when the last member of a species dies
conservation
definition and methods
conservation aims to protect species from extinction, maintain and restore habitats and protect biodiversity
methods:
- reintroduction of species
- rewilding
- captive breeding
SSSI
Sites of Special Scientific Interest are areas which best represent the natural heritage including diversity of plants, animals, rocks, and landforms
national organisations
SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency
NS - NatureScot
SEPA
role in protecting nature
- monitoring environmental quality
- advising government, industry, and public on the most sustainable and environmentally friendly practice
NatureScot
role in protecting nature
- promote and care for natural heritage (care)
- help people enjoy nature responsibly (enjoy)
- spread awareness and understanding of nature (educate)
- promote sustainable use of scotland’s natural heritage (sustain)
