How Humans Reduce Biodiveristy

• What is biodiversity? 

  The variety of living things on earth, or within a particular ecosystem
• Give three reasons why maintaining high biodiversity is important.

  It increases the stability of the ecosystem, so that changes are less likely to have adverse affects

  Many species provide specific services, such as pollination

  Many of our medicinal drugs come from wild species
• Select two impacts of rapid growth in the human population.

  More waste is being produced

  More resources are being used

  • The more humans there are, the more resources we use and the more waste we produce. 
• As humans produce more and more waste, it pollutes the water, land and air.
• Which two of the following substances contribute most to water pollution?

  Fertiliser from agriculture 

  Sewage from cities 
• Which two of the following substances contribute most to air pollution?

  • Acidic gases from burning fossil fuels 
  • Smoke from combustion 
• Which two of the following substances contribute most to land pollution?

  Landfill

  Nuclear waste