Biodiversity & Effect of Humans on Ecosystems

• It is important to prevent species from becoming extinct. Give one reason why.

  May have products useful to humans or not
• Give two effects of the temperature increase on the environment.

  Climate change

  Forest fires
• Give two reasons why some farmers are in favour of growing GM crops.

  Higher yield

  Less use of pesticides
• Give two reasons why many people are against the growing of GM crops

  Fewer bees

  Might breed with wild plants
• In many areas of the world the mass of household waste produced each year is increasing. Give two reasons why the mass of household waste is increasing each year.


  growth in population

  increasing standard of living
• What effect does the destruction of peat bogs have on the gases in the atmosphere?

  Increase carbon dioxide
• Describe one effect of deforestation on ecosystems.

  Reduces biodiversity
• Give two reasons why forests in tropical areas are being cut down at a high rate

  Timber

  Agriculture
• Explain why rain forests are being burnt to provide land for crops in many parts of the world.

  Increased population and standard of living
• Explain why such cleared land will often produce crops for only a few years.

  Nutrients absorbed by plants not replaced
• Suggest two reasons why a supermarket might decide to import tomatoes rather than buy them from British growers.

  Cheaper

  Better quality
• Importing tomatoes may be more damaging to the environment than selling tomatoes grown in this country.

  Greater distance

  Transport needs energy