Biodiversity

• Biodiversity - the variety of different species within an ecosystem.
• Environmental changes which affect the distribution of species;

  • Temperature
  • Availability of water
  • Atmospheric gas composition

  These changes may be seasonal, geographical or caused by human interaction.
• If there is a high biodiversity in the ecosystem then it will be stable. This is because the species are less dependent on each other.
• Human activity which can affect biodiversity;

  • More land is used, for farming, houses, shops etc - this destroys habitats
  • Pollution from sewage, fertilisers, land fill and different gasses - kills plants and animals
  • Using up raw materials quicker than they are produced.