Nat5 Biology Unit Three Life On Earth Key Area 5 Food Production Flashcards
Increasing _____ requires an increased ____
Increasing HUMAN POPULATION requires an increased FOOD YIELD
What can increase the food yield?
Fertilizers
Pesticides
What do Fertilizers do?
Provide chemicals such as nitrates which increase crop yield
What do Pesticides do?
Kill plants and animals which reduce crop yield
What nutrient is it that the plants need and why?
Nitrates. They are used to produce amino acids which are synthesized into plant proteins
______ consume _____ or other animals to obtain
_____ for protein synthesis.
ANIMALS consume PLANTS or other animals to obtain AMINO ACIDS for protein synthesis.
When Fertilizers are added to soil, what do they do?
The increase the nitrate content of the soil
Fertilisers can ____ into fresh water, adding extra, _____ ______
Fertilisers can LEACH into fresh water, adding extra, UNWANTED NITRATES
What can leached fertilisers cause?
An increase in algal populations, which can cause algal blooms
Which will reduce light levels, killing aquatic plants
These dead plants, as well as dead algae, become food for bacteria which increase greatly in number
The bacteria use up large quantities of oxygen, reducing the oxygen availability for other organisms
What can reduce the use of Fertilisers?
Genetically Modified (GM) crops
____ sprayed onto crops can _____ in the bodies of _____ over time.
PESTICIDES sprayed onto crops can ACCUMULATE in the bodies of ORGANISMS over time.
What is Bioaccumulation?
The build-up of toxic substances in living organisms
What can be alternative uses to Pesticides?
Biological Controls (animals to eat the pests) Genetically Modified (GM) crops
What happens when Bioaccumulation is passed along food chains?
Toxicity increases can reach lethal levels
