[Part 4]- B17- Biodiversity and ecosystems ♻️

Question 1

Describe the processes of the greenhouse effect 🌍

Answer 1

1) Electromagnetic radiation at most wavelengths passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.

2) and the Earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up.

3) the earth then radiates energy as infrared radiation.

4) and some of the infrared radiation goes into space.

5) ; some of the infrared radiation, is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the lower atmosphere warms up.

Question 2

Explain in detail the causes and effects of rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 🧪

Answer 2

• cause: a second cause of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, is due to releasing chemicals into the atmosphere
• effect: and because of this, air temperatures will go up.
• meaning more water vapor evaporates into the atmosphere, amplifying the greenhouse effect and altering the function of it- [since it’s meant to be a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.]

Question 3

Explain in detail the causes and effects of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. 🔥

Answer 3

• cause: for many decades, humans have released huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, due to burning fossils fuels [coal and oil]
• effect: since it’s a greenhouse gas, it will trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.

Question 4

Why do greenhouses gases trap heat in the atmosphere ? ⚛

Answer 4

• because, greenhouse gases are in fact more complex than other gas molecules in the atmosphere.
• they have a structure that can absorb heat because, these gas molecules [e.g-carbon] all are made of three or more atoms.
• and these atoms are held together loosely enough, that they vibrate when they absorb heat.

Question 5

Explain in detail the causes of rising methane levels in the atmosphere. 🗑️

Answer 5

• cause: a cause of rising methane levels in the atmosphere is the decomposition of landfill waste.
• This is because, when organic material decomposes in anaerobic conditions, this releases methane into the atmosphere.
• as in less than 1 year, anaerobic conditions are etablished [in landfill], meaning certain bacteria [that can only be present without oxygen], will start to decay the waste.
• This will generate methane- which is then released into the atmosphere.

Question 6

What are the effects of rising methane levels in the atmosphere ?

Hint: OIL RIG

Answer 6

• effect: rising methane levels in the atmosphere will contribute to global warming.
• This is because, methane leaves the atmosphere through oxidation [the loss of electrons and the gain of oxygen].
• ; methane also leaves the atmosphere, by forming water vapour and carbon dioxide
• This means that methane will directly contribute to global warming; it will also indirectly contribute to global warming through the release of carbon dioxide. [into the atmosphere]

Question 7

What does OIL RIG stand for ?

Answer 7

• oxidation is, loss of electrons and gain of oxygen.
• reduction is, gain of electrons and loss of oxygen.

Question 8

How can we reduce the negative effect of humans, on biodiversity ? 🐯🐅

Answer 8

• we can maintain biodiversity by: using breeding programmes for endangered species
• For example, only a few hundred Sumatran tigers remain in the wild.
• therefore, to increase the numbers of these species of tigers, most zoos will take part in a breeding programme-
• where they lend their own Sumatran tigers to other zoos, in the hope they will breed. Though many other endangered species are also part of breeding programmes

Question 9

What are some other ways how we can reduce the negative effect of humans, on biodiversity ? 🌊

Answer 9

• we can maintain biodiversity by: the protection and regeneration of rare habitats-
• Because the destruction of habitats can reduce biodiversity, large areas of wetlands have been protected- so they can never be drained.
• ; in other parts of the country, wetlands that had been previously drained, are now being reflooded.
• This is because, wetlands have high levels of biodiversity; over the last century many wetlands have been drained to grow crops- so rare habitats are protected and regenerated, to persevere biodiversity.

Question 10

What’s another way that we can reduce the negative effect of humans, on biodiversity ? 🌾

Answer 10

• we can maintain biodiversity by: the reintroduction of field margins and hedgegrows in agricultural areas, where farmers grow only one type of crop-
• some areas where biodiversity is very low, is on farms.
• This is because, farmers tend to grow large fields containing one type of crop- meaning very few plants and animals are found in these type of fields.
• therefore, to reduce the negative effect of humans on biodiversity, many farmers will leave a strip of land around fields, where wild plants and animals can live. [field margins].

Question 11

What’s another way that farmers can maintain biodiversity ? 🌾

Answer 11

• ; farmers may also plant hedgerows between fields- as lots of different species of plants and animals, will live in hedgerows- like field margins, this also helps to preserve biodiversity on farms.

Question 12

How else can reduce the negative effect on biodiversity, by humans be reduced?🪓

Answer 12

• reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions by some governments-
• governments can also play a really important role in maintaining biodiversity.
• This is because, many governments have taken steps to reduce deforestation [as habitats are being destroyed by deforestation, and global warming].
• For example, the Brazilian government has established national parks, in an attempt to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Question 13

Explain other way how biodiversity can be maintained 🪓

Answer 13

• reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions by some governments-
• other governments around the world, are taking actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
• For example in the UK, a very large proportion of our electricity is now generated by a renewable method [such as windpower].

This is because, increasing the use of renewables will reduce global warming. Therefore, by reducing deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions, governments can reduce the loss of biodiversity.

Question 14

What’s a final way how biodiversity can be maintained ? ♻️

Answer 14

-recycling resources, rather than dumping waste in landfill-

• individuals can also make a contribution, to maintain biodiversity.
• For example, they can recycle waste materials- This reduces the negative effect of humans on biodiversity because, a lot of waste is simply dumped into landfills- this would destroy habitats for plants and animals.
• ; if we recycle, less waste ends up in landfills= fewer habitats are destroyed. [this has a positive effect on biodiversity]

Question 15

Describe steps one to two, of the greenhouse effect 🌍

Answer 15

1) Electromagnetic radiation at most wavelengths passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.

2) and the Earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up.

Question 16

Describe steps three to four, of the greenhouse effect 🌍

Answer 16

3) the earth then radiates energy as infrared radiation.

4) and some of the infrared radiation goes into space.

5) ; some of the infrared radiation, is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the lower atmosphere warms up.

Question 17

Describe the process of eutrophication

Answer 17

1) Sewage or fertiliser run-off increases the nutrient concentration of the water.

2) these extra nutrients cause increased growth of the aquatic plants/algae – this is known as an algal bloom.

3) The algal bloom then covers the water’s surface and kills any plants below the surface because light and oxygen cannot reach them.

4) Algae will then die as the nutrients run out.

5) Aerobic bacteria will decompose the dead plants.

6) the Bacteria will them use up oxygen for respiration.

7) and finally, Fish and other organisms will die from a lack of oxygen.