Topic 7 - People and the Biosphere (Humans and the Biosphere) Flashcards
Define indigenous people
People who are native to an area
Define subsistence farming
The practice of growing crops and raising livestock sufficient only for one’s own use, without any surplus for trade.
Give 4 examples of goods living organisms are used for by indigenous people:
1) Food
2) Medicine
3) Building materials
4) Fuel
Explain how indigenous people use living organisms for food:
Many indigenous people get all of their food directly from plants and animals. Some forage for food, picking wild fruit, vegetables and nuts, hunting and trapping animals and catching fish. Others grow food for their own uses (subsistence farming), e.g. growing cereals fruit and vegetables and raising livestock.
Explain how indigenous people use living organisms for medicine:
Lots of plants have medicinal properties and are used to cure illnesses and keep people healthy. Plants species in tropical forests have been used to create over 7000 drugs.
Explain how indigenous people use living organisms for building materials:
Trees and other plants are often used as building materials e.g. pine from taiga forests is used to make furniture and to build houses. Sap from trees can be used as glue or to make buildings waterproof, reeds and straw can be used for roofs and plant fibres can be used to make rope.
Explain how indigenous people use living organisms for fuel:
Indigenous people rely on plants and animals for cooking and keeping warm. Wood, moss, dried grass and dried animal dung is burnt as fuel. Some indigenous people in areas with little vegetation (like the tundra), use animal fat, e.g. blubber from seals, as fuel for oil lamps.
Why is the biosphere being exploited by humans?
The biosphere is exploited by companies for commercial gain (to make a profit). Increasing demand and improving technology is increasing the scale of commercial exploitation.
Why is the demand for energy increasing?
The demand for energy is increasing as the world populations increases and people have more electronic devices.
How is the increasing demand for energy damaging the biosphere?
Large areas of forest are cut down to clear land for the growing of crops that can be used to make bio fuels, or to make way for coal mines or power stations. Some areas of tropical forest have been flooded by the building of hydroelectric dams. Drilling for oil and gas in the tundra is damaging the biosphere because pipelines are melting the permafrost.
Why is the demand for water increasing
The demand for water is increasing because of increases in global population.
How is the increasing demand for water damaging the biosphere?
Water resources, e.g. lakes, rivers and aquifers (underground water stores), can be over-exploited - this is happening in arid areas like the Sahara desert. This can cause damage to the biosphere, as plants and animals no longer have enough water to survive.
How is the increasing demand for minerals damaging the biosphere?
Minerals such as gold and iron are used in building, scientific instruments, electrical appliances and lots of other things - and demand for them is increasing. Minerals are often extracted by mining. Mines in tropical forests are responsible for lots of deforestation and toxic chemicals are washed into streams and rivers, killing wildlife.
