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Human influences on biodiversity (Impact of sewage/ importance of…
Human influences on biodiversity
intensive farming
Eutrophication
Is an increase in nutrient levels into water, mainly nitrates and phosphates
Nutrients arrive from the excessive use of fertilisers on fields
the nutrients either run off the land with rain water or leached from the soils and enter the water table
Bioaccumulation
is the selective absorption of molecules into the body tissues of organisms so there is an greater background comcentration
the accumulation of harmful substances becomes toxic and cause death to the organism
Biomagnification
the sequence of processes in an ecosystem by which higher concentrations of a chemical are reached in organisms higher up the food chain.
responses to Eutrophication, bioaccumulation and biomagnification
Fertilisers
The concentration of fertilisers added to fields has to be controlled to reduce the level of nitrates and phosphates
the concentrations are stated in government legislations and guidance on nutrients
Codes say: avoid polluting water protect the soil as a valuable resource meet minimum standards for new or improved manure stores
Pesticides
Codes of practice when using pesticides
Only approved pesticides can be used
The maximum residue levels for pesticides permitted in crops are laid down in legislation
Impacts on Biodiversity of urbanisation
Environmental assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environment implications of development are considered before a development is made
The assessment can be for
Individual projects, environmental impact assessment (EIA)
Public plans or programmes strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
Formation of acid rain
The precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids from the atmosphere
Solutions are formed by mixing rain with industrial pollutants
Sulphur dioxide- burning of fossil fuels Nitrogen oxides- vehicle exhausts Hydrogen chloride
Impact of sewage/ importance of indicator species
Untreated sewage contains organic matter, minerals and bacteria
The bacteria use the sewage as a respiratory substrate
This depletes the dissolved oxygen in the fresh water
This causes an increase in the rivers biological oxygen demand (BOD)
An indicator species is a group of organisms which shows the level of an environmental factor, such as pollution, by its presence or absence
Impact of climate changes on biodiversity
Climate change is being brought about by increasing levels if greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases causes the Earth to retain more heat energy and warm up global warming
Global warming is the average increase in the surface temperature of the earth
Global warming causes changes in weather patterns wind patterns and precipitation
Impacts of non native species
non native species are in competition with native species
example grey squirrel
Legislation and policies
Scottish Natural heritage (SNH)
Promotes care for and improvement of the natural heritage
Scottish Environmental protection Agency (SEPA)
purpose to protect and improve the environment
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS)
Delivery of multiple benefits by promoting the sustainable management of trees and woods
Marine Scotland (MS)
Responsible for integrated management of Scotland's seas