Topic 9 - Ecosystems and Material Cycles Flashcards
What are the two main ways we can do to conserve and maintain biodiversity?
Reforestation
Conservation schemes
What is reforestation and how do the schemes work?
When Land where a forest previously stood is replanted to form a new forest
Schemes need to be carefully planned. E.g. replanting a variety of trees will cause a higher biodiversity than one species of tree
How does reforestation help to conserve biodiversity?
Forests generally have high biodiversity because they contain a wide variety of trees and plants - Provide food and shelter
What are conifer trees?
Trees that are needled and typically evergreen (Stays all season)
What is the opposite of evergreen trees?
Deciduous trees
typically broad-leaf trees
How do conservation schemes help biodiversity?
They prevent species from dying out
What are the two main types of Conservation?
Protecting a species natural habitat
Protecting species in safe areas outside of their natural habitat - Zoos, captive breeding progams
Use of seed banks to store and distribute seeds of rare and endangered plants
What benefits does protecting biodiversity have?
Protecting human food supply
Minimun damage to food chains
Providing future medicines
Cultural aspects - E.g. Americas bald eagle
Ecotourism / Jobs
Why doesnt everyone have food security?
- The world’s population is rapidly growing
- Food production has to grow with this
What is food security?
Having access to enough food that is safe to eat and has the right amount of nutrition
What 4 biological factors affect the level of food security?
An increasing consumption of Meat and fish (animal farming)
Environmental changes caused by human activity
Sustainability
New pests and pathogens
Why does an increasing consumption of Meat and fish (animal farming) affect the level of food security?
Wealthier people = Variety in diet = Consumption of more meat and fish ( expensive )
Less energy and Biomass at top of food chain - Plants easier to produce than animals. - Animals fed plants which otheriwise humans could eat
Risk of overkilling fish
Why do environmental changes caused by human activity affect the level of food security?
Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 - Global warming
Climate change affects growth of crops and yield e.g. changin rainfall patterns
Other things like soil pollution
Why does sustainability affect the level of food security?
Increase on growth of crops to make biofuel - takes up land space
High input of costs (fuel, fertilisers, machinery) for farming disables farmers to farm in some locations in the future
Why do new pests and pathogens affect the level of food security?
Pests and pathogens can cause damage to livestock and crops
New emerging pathogens and pests can cause decline in yield as biomass isnt resistant / herd immunity to disease.
