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B17 - Biodiversity and ecosystems - Coggle Diagram
B17 - Biodiversity and ecosystems
The human population explosion
Humans reduce the amount of land available for other animals and plants by building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste.
The future of the human species on Earth relies on us maintaining a good level of biodiversity. Many human activates are reducing biodiversity and only recently have measures been taken to address the problem.
High biodiversity helps to ensure the stability of ecosystems by reducing the dependence of one species on another for food, shelter and the maintenance of he physical environment.
Rapid growth in the human population and an increase in the standard of living mean that ever more resources are used and more waste is produced.
Biodiversity is the variety of all different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem.
Air pollution
Air pollution kills plants and animals, which can reduce biodiversity.
Pollution can occur in the air from smoke and from acidic gases.
Deforestation and peat destruction
The destruction of peat bogs and other areas of peat to produce garden compost reduces the area of this habitat and this the biodiversity associated with it.
The decay or burning of peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Large-scale deforestation in tropical areas had occurred to provide land for cattle and for rice fields, as well as to grow crop as biofuels.
Maintaining biodiversity
Scientists and concerned citizens have put programmed in place to reduce the negative effects on human in ecosystems and biodiversity
Global warming
Levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are increasing, and contribute to global warming.
Biological consequences of global warming include loss of habitat when low-lying arear are flooded by rising sea levels, changes in the distribution patterns of species in areas where temperature or rainfall has changed, and changes to the migration patterns of animals.
Land and water pollution
Pollution can occur in water from sewage, fertilisers, or toxic chemicals.
Pollution kills plants and animals , which can reduce biodiversity.
Pollution can occur on land, from landfill and from toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, which may also be washed from land to water.
Unless waste and chemical material are properly handled, more pollution will be caused.