Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity Flashcards
What are the 3 categories for the reasons for maintaining biodiversity?
-Economic
-Ethical/Ecological
-Aesthetic
What are the economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?
-Tourism
-Scientific Research
-Sources of Medicine
What are the ethical/ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity?
-Part of habitat
-Part of food web/chain (keystone species)
-Soil depletion
What are the aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?
-Beautiful to look at
-Enjoyed for generations
Why is tourism important for maintaining biodiversity?
Without it places with high biodiversity would lack income so would affect their GDP.
-Places such as Kenya attract tourists due to high biodiversity
Why is Sources of medicine important for maintaining biodiversity?
Medicine can be sold to sell to companies
Why is scientific research important for maintaining biodiversity?
Helps us to understand the world around us and our evolution which provides scientists with money
Why is soil depletion important for maintaining biodiversity?
Continuous monoculture leads to the rapid use of nutrients as each plants of the same species will have the same nutrient demands
Why is being part of a food web important for maintaining biodiversity?
If a locus is destroyed it will ruin food source leading to potential extinction
What is a keystone species?
Is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way and ecosystem functions
Why is aesthetics important for maintaining biodiversity?
-Inspires art and literature
-Is our responsibility that future generations have access to it
What is genetic resource?
Is any material from plants, animals or microorganisms that contain genes which we find valuable
What are 2 reasons why we need to maintain genetic resources?
-As they provide us with a variety of everyday products
-Genetic resources allow us to adapt to changes in the environment
In what ways do genetic resources provide us with a variety of everyday products?
-Food and Drink
-Clothing
-Drugs
-Fuels
-Other Industrial Materials
Give and example of how Genetic resources allow us to adapt to changes in the environment
Climate change may mean that some crops won’t be able to grow in the same areas as they do now e.g. due to droughts but we are able to use genes from a plant there which is resistant to droughts to genetically engineer a drought resistant crop
