Theme 3 Chapter 2 - Ecosystems under threat

Question 1

How do people economically benefit from ecosystems?

Answer 1

• Beautiful landscapes can generate tourism for countries

- Countries use good (like wood) for trade and development

Question 2

How do people socially benefit from ecosystems?

Answer 2

• Can provide food like nuts, fruits and honey

- Plants used for medicine

Question 3

How do people environmentally benefit from ecosystems?

Answer 3

• Helps regulate greenhouse effect
• Prevent soil erosion
• Reduce flood risk

Question 4

What is the human gain of using the desert for solar energy generation?

Answer 4

Greatly reduces CO2 emissions by not making electricity conventional way

Question 5

What is the ecosystems loss of using deserts for solar energy pollutions?

Answer 5

• Plant removed during construction

- Birds killed by concentration sun’s ray

Question 6

What is the human gain of using the mangrove forests for shrimp and prawn farming?

Answer 6

-Main source of export to USA, Japan, EU

Question 7

What is the ecosystems loss of using the mangrove forests for shrimp and prawn farming?

Answer 7

• Loss in wild fish habitats

- Makes coastline more vulnerable to erosion

Question 8

What is monoculture?

Answer 8

Only one crop is grown over a very large area of land

Question 9

Human causes and their causes in savannahs?

Answer 9

1) Farmers allowing their goats to overgraze vegetation
- > This means soils become more vulnerable to soil erosion by stronger winds in wet season

2) Hunting
- > Can cause an interference in food chains in ecosystems

3) Trees deforested to clear land for space for houses and crops
- > Less carbon dioxide absorbed from atmosphere by photosynthesis -> poor air quality for locals

4) Global warming
- > Warmer conditions dry up water sources for locals

5) Monoculture
- > Soil lack nutrients (as different plants returning different types of nutrients to soil don’t exist)

6) Less vegetation so less water returned to atmosphere by evapotranspiration
- >This means precipitation becomes more scarce, less water for crops

Question 10

How does deforestation effect soil in Rainforests + this means..?

Answer 10

1) The area no longer has the canopy layer to help protect the ground against soil erosion

…This means…

2) Soil erosion will occur faster

…This means…

3) Sediment including the nutrients enter the rivers

…This means…

4) Steps of Eutrophication

Question 11

How does deforestation effect rivers in Rainforests + this means..?

Answer 11

1) The area no longer has trees that acts as a barrier for rivers at times of floods

…This means…

2) The rivers overflow and spread over vast areas

…This means…

3) Homes and farmers crops destroyed

…This means…

4) Farmers lose income

…This means…

5)Families not able to afford basic medication and education

Question 12

What type of solutions should be offer to LIC countries?

Answer 12

• Cheap
• Doesn’t require manual (no reading for illiterate people)
• Easy to use

Question 13

How are savannahs managed in a sustainable way?

Answer 13

Stone bunds:

• Surface flow of water from rain is slowed by bunds giving more time for infiltration into farmer’s soil
• Any eroded soil is trapped by bunds and deposited

Afforestation: Roots can help soil in place

Collect rainwater: water collected and stored for drier times in need

Keeping livestock in an enclosed space: preventing overgrazing in other areas

Question 14

How are Tropical Rainforests managed in a sustainable way?

Answer 14

Zoning: Identifying areas of the rainforest where trees can be cut and cannot be cut

Heli-logging: Helicopters lift deforested trees which reduces needless destruction

Afforestation: planting more trees

Selective logging: Only selective trees are cut. Older and stronger trees are left

Ecotourism: Encouraging tourist projects to generate income which is used for initiatives to protect the rainforests.