Human Impact Biodiversity Pollution And Conservation

What is Biodiversity?

• Biodiversity is the number of different species living in a particular area.
• High biodiversity is needed for stable ecosystems.
• Human activities tend to reduce biodiversity.

What is biodiversity?

• The number of individuals of one species in an area
• The number of different species in an area
• The total mass of living organisms in an area
• The variety of habitats in an ecosystem

Human Pressures on Biodiversity

• Habitat destruction by humans is a major downward pressure on biodiversity.
• The increasing human population causes destruction of habitats like rainforests, woodlands, and marine areas.
• Habitats are destroyed to make space for economic activities or by pollution, reducing biodiversity and interrupting food chains.

Which of these are true about habitat destruction?

• Habitat destruction reduces biodiversity.
• Habitat destruction only affects rainforests.
• Habitat destruction can interrupt food chains.

Deforestation

• Deforestation is the clearing of trees on a large scale.
• If trees are replanted, it can be sustainable; usually it is not.
• Undesirable effects include extinction of species, loss of soil, flooding, and increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Deforestation can lead to ____ of species, loss of ____, flooding, and an increase of ____ in the atmosphere.

Endangered Species

• An endangered species is at risk of becoming extinct.
• Reasons include hunting, climate change, pollution, loss of habitat, and introduction of non-native species.
• Conservation measures include education, captive breeding, legal protection, and seed banks.

Which of the following is a reason a species may become endangered?

• Increase in genetic variation
• Introduction of non-native species that outcompete native species
• Decrease in habitat destruction
• Increase in biodiversity

Conservation Measures

• Education programmes raise awareness about endangered species.
• Captive breeding programmes help increase population numbers.
• Monitoring and legal protection safeguard species and their habitats.
• Seed banks store seeds of endangered plants for future growth.

Which of these are conservation measures for endangered species?

• Captive breeding programmes
• Increasing pollution
• Seed banks
• Legal protection of habitats

Reasons for Conservation

• Moral, cultural, and scientific reasons drive conservation.
• Conservation reduces extinction rates and protects food chains and vulnerable ecosystems.
• It also protects future food supply, nutrient cycles, and potential sources of medicines and fuels.

Conservation programmes help protect future food supply, maintain ____ cycles, and preserve possible sources of future ____ drugs and ____.

Pollution and Its Impact

• Pollution from human activities damages habitats and reduces biodiversity.
• Types include air, water, and land pollution.
• Pollution can directly harm organisms or alter ecosystems, leading to species decline.

How does pollution affect biodiversity?

• It increases the number of species.
• It damages habitats and reduces biodiversity.
• It has no effect on biodiversity.
• It only affects marine species.

Summary: Human Impact on Biodiversity

• Human activities like habitat destruction, deforestation, and pollution reduce biodiversity.
• This leads to loss of species and unstable ecosystems.
• Conservation efforts are essential to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.