Biodiversity

Cards (10)

  • Biodiversity
    • The variety of different species of organisms on earth.
    • High biodiversity means ecosystems are more stable as species depend on each other for shelter and food.
  • Factors that put biodiversity at risk:
    • Availability of water
    • Temperature
    • Atmospheric gases
  • Waste management
    • As the human population increases, the volume of waste pollution increases.
    • Polluting the ecosystem harms or kills the organisms that live within it.
  • Water pollution
    • Open sewers can lead into water courses such as streams and rivers which can cause serious illnesses for humans if they drink contaminated water.
  • Air pollution
    • Combustion of fossil fuels release carbon dioxide which contributes to the greenhouse effect and leads to global warming.
  • Land use
    • When land is cleared for humans such as buildings, biodiversity is reduced.
    • The larger the human population, the more land we require.
    • More houses built, more resources, more food grown and more waste produced.
  • Deforestation
    • Leads to destroying habitats of organisms and kills many species.
    • Up to an estimate of several hundred species lost each day as a result of deforestation.
  • Greenhouse effect
    • The increased release of greenhouse gases creates an enhanced greenhouse effect.
    • Leading to global warming.
  • Consequences of global warming
    • melting of polar ice caps
    • the rise in sea levels
    • weather patterns changing
    • species becoming extinct
    • animals will migrate to find other suitable habitats.
  • Maintaining biodiversity
    1. Breeding programs
    2. Protection and development of new endangered habitats
    3. Reducing deforestation
    4. Recycling waste