Impact of environmental change

• describe how environmental conditions affect communities

  • affect the abundance and distribution of organisms within communities
  • eg. rising global temp have been linked to extinction of frog species
• how can different temperatures be bad for certain communities?

  • temp too low = growth will be slower as organisms will use more energy to stay warm
  • temp too high = organisms can die and water will become limited as evaporation increases
• how can change in water levels affect ecosystems?

  • animals may have to migrate to find water
  • melting ice caps may destroy the habitats of some animals
• how can atmospheric gases affect ecosystems?

  • some organisms can’t survive when certain gases are present
  • polluted water can cause illness to animals that drink it
• what impacts can sulfur dioxide have on the environment?

  • formed when fossil fuels containing impurities are burnt
  • sulfur dioxide can dissolve in water to form acid rain which can erode buildings and pollute water sources
• what impacts can carbon monoxide have on the environment?

  • formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
  • binds irreversibly to haemoglobin which prevents it from carrying oxygen
  • too much exposure can cause unconsciousness and death
• name 5 greenhouse gases

  • water vapour
  • carbon dioxide
  • nitrous oxide
  • methane
  • CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
• give 3 human activities that contribute to greenhouse gases

  • burning fossil fuels
  • deforestation
  • large scale livestock farming
• how do greenhouse gases lead to global warming?

  • allow heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere
  • gases act as blanket and trap the heat in the atmosphere
• 3 consequences of global warming

  • sea level rise due to melting icebergs
  • disrupted farming and agriculture
  • increased spread of diseases in warmer climates