Biodiversity and waste

• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of different species on Earth
• How does the biodiversity of a rainforest compare to that of an average field?

  Rainforests have far higher biodiversity
• Why is high biodiversity considered beneficial?

  It helps make ecosystems stable
• What happens to an ecosystem if one species goes extinct?

  The ecosystem can remain stable with other species
• How many species of animals are known to act as pollinators?

  Around 200,000 species
• What is a significant source of new medical drugs?

  Living organisms
• Why is biodiversity essential for human survival?

  It helps provide potential medicines
• What human activity reduces biodiversity?

  Damaging the environment
• How has the human population changed in the past 1000 years?

  Increased from 300 million to 7.7 billion
• What is one consequence of higher living standards on the environment?

  Increased pressure on natural resources
• What happens when natural resources are used faster than they can be replaced?

  We could run out of them
• What species was driven to extinction by poaching?

  Western black rhino
• What is a common process involved in obtaining resources from ecosystems?

  Deforestation
• How does waste affect the environment?

  It can pollute land, water, and air
• What are some sources of pollution mentioned?

  Sewage, toxic chemicals, and farming chemicals
• What can seep into surrounding ecosystems from landfills?

  Toxic chemicals
• What is a consequence of burning fossil fuels?

  Release of sulfur dioxide into the air
• How does pollution affect organisms?

  It can harm them directly or indirectly
• What is a long-term effect of greenhouse gas release?

  Contributes to global warming
• What are the main human activities that threaten biodiversity?

  • Damaging the environment
  • Increasing population pressure
  • Higher living standards and consumer demands
  • Resource depletion and deforestation
  • Pollution from waste and industrial processes
• What are potential solutions to biodiversity loss?

  • Changes in human attitudes
  • New technologies and techniques
  • Conservation efforts
  • Sustainable resource management