Biodiversity and ecosystems

• biodiversity 


  the variety of all the different species of organisms on earth
• high level of biodiversity


  • more stable ecosystem, reduce dependence on one species and environment is maintained
• effect on land and resources

  • deforestation - destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity
  • more land used for farming, building infrastructure, quarries to obtain rocks and ores
  • waste pollutes environment
• human population growth

  • more resources are used
  • more waste is produced
• water pollution

  • untreated sewage (urine and faeces) and toxic chemical e.g. fertilisers released into rivers or streams
  • dissolved oxygen levels fall, kill aquatic organisms, reduce biodiversity
• air pollution

  • smoke, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide
  • kill animals and plants, reduce biodiversity
• how acid rain is formed

  • carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels
  • sulfur impurities react with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide
  • sulfur dioxide dissolve in water and react with oxygen to produce sulfuric and nitric acid
• land pollution

  • landfills destroy habitats
  • toxic chemical dumped onto land, pollute the soil
  • kill organisms
• reasons for deforestation

  • food production
  • land for cattle and growing crops
• deforestation 


  the cutting down of a large number of trees
• how peat forms


  dead plant material cannot fully decay due to lack of oxygen
• peatlands and peatbogs

  • contain trapped carbon
  • unique ecosystem
• uses of peat


  • burnt to release energy
  • cheap compost
• decay/buring of peat


  releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere