Year 12 Assesment 1

Question 1

Natural biomes?

Answer 1

A community of life forms adapted to a large natural area. Natural biomes may cover a region made up of ecosystems

Question 2

Anthropogenic biomes?

Answer 2

Human biomes show activity, created as a direct result of human interactions with the ecosystem and environment.

Question 3

Land cover change: and examples

Answer 3

The changes to natural elements due to a variety of natural (cyclones, floods, droughts) or human induced causes (agriculture, urbanisation)

Question 4

What is biodiversity loss?

Answer 4

When there is a decrease in the number, type or variety of living organisms within an environment or ecosystem.

Question 5

What is climate change?

Answer 5

The long term permanent shift in some or all parts of the weather conditions experienced in an area

Question 6

Sustainability:

Answer 6

Meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, economic and social adaptations.

Question 7

What are the 6 impacts of changes to the water cycle?

Answer 7

Damming
Irrigation
Land cover change
Deforestation 
Air born pollutants
Overuse of groundwater

Question 8

Define the nature/cause of soil erosion/degradation?

Answer 8

With greater demand for palm oil, coffee, cotton and soybeans a greater demand for land cover change also follows.

Question 9

What is the impact of soil erosion?

Answer 9

less fertile land and an increase in levels of soil acidity. Due to land cover change the impact includes soil erosion, soil compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation and soil salinity.
As a result of farming processes there are clogged waterways from sediment and soils becoming prone to flooding because they have lost water retention qualities.

Question 10

What causes the loss of habitat and biodiversity?

Answer 10

Caused by deforestation and degradation of forests.

Question 11

What are the 3 impacts of degradation to the aquatic/marine environments?

Answer 11

Pollution
Damming
Ocean acidification

Question 12

What are the 8 impacts of loss of ecosystem services?

Answer 12

• Food security
• A loss of energy security (having access to native wood products- if not LEDCs women and children have to travel further to fetch)
• Difficulty in providing clean water (due to elimination of marshes, wetlands, diversion of surface water and creation of urban infrastructure)
• A loss of social relations (indigenous culture)
• A loss of freedom in choice
• Invasion by non native species
• A lock of pollination in plants
• An impact of climate regulation

Question 13

What causes urban heat islands ?

Answer 13

Caused due to the removal of natural surfaces which absorb and use a greater level of heat, whereas as built environments use materials that are non-reflective and water resistant meaning they radiate more heat

Question 14

describe the impact pollution has on marine/aquatic environments?

Answer 14

chemicals cause damage

eutrophication occurs when fertilisers enter waterways and cause algal bloom (this reduces oxygen)

Question 15

describe the impact of ocean acidification on degredation of marine environments?

Answer 15

occurs as a result of a rise in CO2 levels in atmosphere, this is then absorbed by the oceans. PH levels decrease and water becomes more acidic

Question 16

describe what damming does to the degradation of marine environments?

Answer 16

stops normal flow of sediment through rivers and streams
changes the water temperature and levels of nutrients (causing an increase in pest fish, water weeds and mosquitos due to stilled water)

Question 17

population size and density australia vs china

Answer 17

AUSTRALIA

• 6th largest country
• 24 million population
• 88.9% of population living urban

CHINA

• 4th largest country
• population of 1.4 billion
• 57% living urban

Question 18

economic world standing australia’s vs china

Answer 18

AUSTRALIA

• 12th largest economy
• GDP $67,548
• relies on agricultural and mining exports

CHINA

• 2nd largest economy
• GDP $6,807

Question 19

types of government and economy australia vs china

Answer 19

AUSTRALIA

• local, state and federal
• capitalism and socialism allows for controlled yet personal economic freedom
• for land cover change, must be approved by all 3 governments

CHINA

• communist
• socialist market economy
• land cover change for agriculture, large population, coal and urbanisation is common

Question 20

land ownership australia vs china

Answer 20

AUSTRALIA
-private land ownership is
high yet policies influence the rate and location of land cover change

CHINA

• before 1778, due to communism there was no housing market
• in urban areas although people may own houses, the land is still owns by the government
• in rural areas farmland is owned by collectives

Question 21

ideology and cultural views australia vs china

Answer 21

AUSTRALIA

• value outdoor lifestyle and environment
• land cover change influence is done via proposals from stakeholder groups

CHINA

• people prioritise cultural beliefs and wealth (this may mean sacrifice of environment)
• human beings reign superior
• due to mass pollution (up to 500,000 deaths a year) and more education, this view is staring to change

Question 22

what are the 6 main impacts of land cover change?

Answer 22

changes to the water cycle
soil erosion and degradation 
loss of habitat and biodiversity
degradation of aquatic environments
loss of ecosystem services
urban heat islands and changes to regional climate