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Biology > Populations and Sustainability > Flashcards

Populations and Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

State the 3 stages of a sigmoidal population growth curve

A

Slow growth
Rapid growth
Stable state - carrying capacity

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2
Q

State the features of slow growth in a sigmoidal population growth curve

A

small number of organisms

slow increase

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3
Q

State the features of rapid growth in a sigmoidal population growth curve

A

exponential increase

no constraints to limit population increase

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4
Q

State the features of stable state in a sigmoidal population growth curve

A

reached carrying capacity
further increase prevented by external constraints
birth rate approx. = death rate

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5
Q

Define carrying capacity

A

size of a population that an ecosystem can support

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6
Q

Define limiting factor

A

A factor that prevents a population from increasing above carrying capacity

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7
Q

Name 3 biotic limiting factors

A

predators
disease
competition

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8
Q

Name 5 abiotic limiting factors

A 
temperature
water
soil
ph
light intensity
space
humidity
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9
Q

Describe the 3 stages of how intraspecific competition changes population size

A

1- population increases
food and resources plentiful
more individuals survive and breed

2- population decreases
increasing intraspecific competition for food and resources
death rate > birth rate

3 - population increases
fewer organisms now competing
more individuals survive and breed

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10
Q

Define immigration

A

Individuals moving into an area

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11
Q

Define emigration

A

Individuals moving out of an area

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12
Q

Define density-independent factors

A

tend to be physical
have major effect regardless of population size
eg. fire/flood/light intensity

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13
Q

Define density-dependent factors

A

impact is proportional to size of population

eg. disease, competition

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14
Q

define the competitive exclusion principle

A

If 2 species are competing for the same resources, that which is less well-adapted will be outcompeted

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15
Q

Define conservation

A

Maintenance of biodiversity through human action or management

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16
Q

Define reclamation

A

restoring ecosystems that have been damaged or destroyed

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17
Q

Give an example of reclamation

A

controlled burning, halts succession - increases biodiversity

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18
Q

State 3 aims of conservation

A

maintains:

  • diversity between species
  • genetic diversity within a species
  • habitats
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19
Q

Define preservation

A

restricting or banning human interference so ecosytsmes are kept in their original states

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20
Q

Give an example of a preservation technique and where it could be used

A

No visitation eg. nautire reserves or marine conservation zones

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21
Q

Give one social, economic and ethical importance of conservation/preservation

A

economic - maintains resources and sources of income over a long period of time

social - able to continue enjoying natural beauty 0 benefits to wellbeing

ethical - we should not have a right to interfere and destroy ecosystems - moral responsibility for the future

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22
Q

Outline a small scale sustainable timber production technique

A

Coppicing/pollarding
cut back trees to stump/ trunk
trees re grow in 7 - 20 years
done on rotation

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23
Q

why is rotational coppicing/pollarding beneficial?

A

maintain biodiversity by creating a large range of habitats

allows consistent income

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24
Q

Outline a how a large scale timber production technique can be sustainable

A

logging

  • replace trees
  • cut down biggest trees only
  • don’t replant too close together
  • inspect trees regularly for pests/diseases
  • leave some areas undisturbed
25
Q

Outline the environmental disadvantages to unsustainable timber production

A
  • soil erosion
  • habitat loss
  • reduced soil fertility
  • new roads for trucks
  • therefore air and noise pollution
26
Q

What is the aim of sustainable timer production

A

forests managed to provide continuous supply of timber and maintain biodiversity

27
Q

What is the aim of sustainable fishing

A

catching the maximum fish without a decline in fish population

28
Q

Name 5 techniques used in ensuring sustainable fishing

A 
Quotas
Permits
Mesh sizes
Restrictions on unsustainable methods
Sanctions/ penalties
29
Q

State 2 disadvantages for imposing sustainable fishing practices

A

Difficult to monitor

Dead fish thrown back into sea so quota not breached

30
Q

State some disadvantages to land based fish farming

A

disease
small gene pool
expensive
ethical concerns

31
Q

Name the 6 case studies for populations and sustainability

A 
Masai Mara Nature Reserve - Kenya
Terai Region - Nepal
Galapagos Islands - Ecuador
The Lake District - England
Snowdonia National Park - Wales
Peat bogs
32
Q

What is the ecosystem like in the Masai Mara?

A

Savannah regions
Fertile regions close to river (rich grass and woodland)
Open plains far from rivers - trees and shrubs

Zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhino

Acia - but many were removed to reduce habitats for disease vectors and via grazing/fires

33
Q

How has ecotourism affected the masai mara?

A

ecotourism - sustainable tourism - reduce impact and aid conservation
ADVANTAGES:
- does not exploit environment or communities
- consults locals on developments
- ensures infrastructure benefits locals too
DISADVANTAGES:
-use fo trails and transport - soil erosion and habitat changes

34
Q

Outline a conservation effort in the masai mara

A

Protection against black rhino poaching
- employment of rangers, given communication equipment, vehicles etc.
SOC and ECON benefit to locals, ENV benefit to rhinos
Population has since increased

35
Q

Outline the human impact to the masai mara via farming activity

A 
Live stock grazing
-increase in population has led to more cattle
- increased soil erosion
- now limited to edges
Cultivation
-increased recently
-converts grassland to cropland
-reduces nutrients in soil so reliance on fertilisers
36
Q

Outline 4 ways the Masai Mara ecosystem is is changing/ being managed

A 
elephants
- threaten cultivation - trampling/eating
-fenced but not good for migration
hunting 
- cull excess animals
- maintains populations
- but must be constantly monitored
livestock
- migratory wildlife compete eg. with wildebeest for grass
- diseases introduced/spread
humans
- more homes, cattle, land
- wildlife density declines
37
Q

What is the ecosystem like in the Terai Region?

A

subtropical plants - pipal and bamboo
bengal tiger, sloth bear and Indian Rhino
Large areas have been cleared for agriculture
- exacerbated monsoon flooding

38
Q

Outline the forest management in the terai region and its impact

A 
conservation of forests
steady income - increased development
local forestry groups
-set prices, rules and rates
- FSC
  • -improvement in conservation and biodiversity
  • soil and water management
  • increased retail price, increase econ. input
  • increased employment
  • sustainable wood fuel sources provide (3/4 of household needs)
39
Q

Outline the methods for promoting sustainable agriculture in the Terai region

A
  • fruit and veg in hills and mountains - avoids intensifation of terai
  • irrigation - enhances crop production
  • cropping - no monocultures
  • N-fixing crops eg. pulses and legumes enhance fertility
  • crop varieties - resistant to soil, climatic or biotic changes
  • Fertilisation techniques - increase yield

All create max yield with current space, prevent further loss of biodiversity, allow more econ. income etc.

40
Q

What is the location and significance of the Galapagos islands?

A

Pacific, ecuador
never been connected to mainland, flora and fauna had to survive crossing the ocean
Speciation/adaption between islands different

41
Q

Name 5 management techniques in the Galapagos

A 
introduction of park rangers
limiting human access
controlling migration
strict control of introduction of animals
national park established
42
Q

What animals are present in the galapagos

A

Mostly reptiles
Only mammal is the Galapagos rice rat (arrived on floating vegetation)

Flightless cormorant - reduced wings - better fishing underwater - no need to fly to escape mainland predators
marine iguana - can swim - black and dark grey - heat lots in sun so can swim for food for longer

43
Q

What plants are present in the galapagos

A

Costal - salt toleretn species eg. mangrove/saltbush
Arid - drought tolerent species eg. cacti/carob tree
Humid - dense cloud forest - mosses and liverworts

44
Q

How has historic human activity impacted the galapagos

A

Whaling trade disrupted the ecosystem
Islands used as stop over points
Domestic animals roamed free
Forests chopped down for fires to render whale fat
Tortoises removed for food
Goats were introduced - outcompete tortoises

45
Q

What are peat bogs and what is their importance?

A

wet spongy ground made from dead vegation
carbon sink - store of co2
preservation important for climate crisis

46
Q

How are peat bogs formed?

A

Dead material can not decompose
acidic and anaerobic conditions
wet and boggy areas

47
Q

What animals and plants are present in peat bogs?

A

Insects - butterflies, moths, dragonflies
Few predators - birds often nest

Plants adadpted to wet environment with few nutrients:
Sphagnum mosses, Bog cotton, Heather, Cotton sedge

48
Q

How do we conserve peat land?

A

Leave it undisturbed and as wet as possible
– ditch blocking to raise water levels
Tree removal
– high water requirement, reduce ability to support bog vegetation
Controlled grazing
Remove threats
– eg. don not let me drained for agriculture of harvested for gardening
RSPB
–conserve ecosystem

49
Q

Why has tourism to our UK case studies increased?

A

Increased awareness from media
less access to green spaces
obvious tourist routes
exercise and wellbeing

50
Q

What the advantages and disadvantages to increased tourism to our UK case studies?

A 
AD:
economic (local)
aware of personal impact on environment
DIS:
-disruption to local habitats
- pollution (noise, light, air)
- littering/waste
-soil erosion to paths
51
Q

What animals and plants are present in Snowdonia

A

coastal and estuary birds
forest birds
moorland and mountain birdds
badgers, voles, deer and hedgehogs

snowdon lily, oak, alder, witchelm

52
Q

What animals and plants are present in the lake district

A

water vole, toads, bats, deer, red ssquirrells
vendance - endangered and only found here

purple saxifrage, dwarf juniper, dwarf willow, alpine cinquefoil, sundew

53
Q

How can we control human activity in Snowdonia/ the Lake district

A

Fixed paths for walking
Limit areas for cycling or quad biking
Visitor centre to educate - litter, keeping to paths…
Warning about invasive species eg. mud on boots carrying seeds or pathogens
Park rangers

LAkes
Permit on taking boats out and control on fishing

54
Q

reason of importance and location - antarctica

A

southern most contient
remote and ice covered
contains 70% of worlds fresh water
carbon sink

55
Q

State 2 threats to antartica

A

Global warming

increased tourism

56
Q

Why may tourism have increased in antarctica?

A

cheaper travel
increased awareness
research
more accessible

57
Q

WHat are the advantages and disadvantages to increased tourism to antarctica?

A
  • more awareness
  • more research
  • better conservation
  • more money
  • damage to sensitive habitats
  • pollution
  • waste
58
Q

How is the antarctic being managed

A 
Antarctic treaty - 1961
ban on hunting
controlled fishing
restrictions on waste disposal
removal of dogs
permits for human access

Biology (17 decks)

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