Biodiversity

• What is biodiversity


  the variety of different species of organisms on earth / within an ecosystem
• Importance of biodiversity

  Stabilise ecosystems

  species depend on eachother for shelter and food

  also help humans survive
• What happens when waste isn’t handled properly

  harmful pollution is made

  this kills plants

  therefore reducing biodiversity
• What can pollute water

  sewage

  toxic chemicals

  pesticides

  fertilisers

  herbicides
• How land can be polluted

  pesticides

  herbicides

  fertilisers

  nuclear waste buried under ground

  waste in landfill
• How the air is polluted

  smoke

  acidic gases

  this can make acid rain ( sulfur dioxide)
• Consequences of global warming - sea levels

  Water expands and ice melts

  this affects people and animals in low lying areas

  this leads to flooding and loss of habitat
• Changes is species distribution

  Species will distribute to the places where the climate suits their needs and they can thrive

  eg if uk becomes hot, mosquitoes may migrate here and bring malaria
• Changes in migration pattern


  some birds may migrate further north because northern areas are getting hotter
• How climate can reduce biodiversity

  a species can become extinct because they can’t adapt and survive in the change of climate
• What is a bog

  areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged

  they lack O2 so plants that die don’t fully decay and release CO2
• How bogs protect the environment

  Their lack of O2 means that dead plants don’t decay and release CO2

  this means that carbon is stored in the peat rather than the environment
• Why peat bogs should be protected

  when drained, they come in contact with microorganisms that cause decay

  when these microorganisms respire they release CO2

  CO2 is released when peat is burned as a fuel
• How trees protect the atmosphere

  They absorb CO2 in photosynthesis

  The CO2 is trapped in the tree for many years
• The effects of deforestation


  less trees = less CO2 removed

  CO2 is released when trees are burned

  Microorganisms that feed on dead bits of wood release CO2 when they respire
• Breeding programmes

  Prevent endangered species from going extinct

  animals are bred in captivity

  this ensures that they dont go extinct
• Habitat protection


  programmes to protect and heal rare habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves
• what is a peer review 


  where a scientist checks over another scientists work/ study / research

  this helps detect false claims and ensures published research is valid
• FIELD MARGAINS


  Famers leave a strip of a land around fields where wild animals and plants can live