How does removing hedgerows reduce biodiversity?

It destroys habitats, nesting sites and corridors used by animals.

Growing a single crop species over a large area.

Why does monoculture reduce biodiversity?

It supports few plant species, so there are fewer niches and food sources for animals.

How do herbicides reduce biodiversity?

They kill wild plants, so insects and other animals lose food and habitat.

How do pesticides reduce biodiversity?

They kill insects, so insect-eating animals have less food and food chains are shortened.

How do inorganic fertilisers reduce plant species richness?

They favour fast-growing species that outcompete other wild plants.

How does overgrazing reduce plant diversity?

Plants are eaten and trampled before they can flower and set seed.

Why does draining wetlands and filling in ponds reduce biodiversity?

It removes aquatic and wetland habitats, so species dependent on them are lost.

What is a field margin?

An uncultivated strip around a field where wild plants and animals can live.

Give two ways farmers can conserve biodiversity.

Leave field margins and replant hedgerows; use crop rotation; reduce pesticide and fertiliser use.

How can wildlife benefit farming?

Pollinators and natural predators of pests can increase yields or reduce pesticide costs.

What is needed for a good answer on balancing farming and conservation?

Points on both food production and conservation, with a justified conclusion.

Farming and conservationAQA A-Level Biology: Flashcards

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Question

Name three farming techniques that reduce biodiversity.

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Name three farming techniques that reduce biodiversity.: Removing hedgerows, monoculture, and the use of herbicides and pesticides (also draining wetlands, fertilisers, overgrazing).
How does removing hedgerows reduce biodiversity?: It destroys habitats, nesting sites and corridors used by animals.
What is monoculture?: Growing a single crop species over a large area.
Why does monoculture reduce biodiversity?: It supports few plant species, so there are fewer niches and food sources for animals.
How do herbicides reduce biodiversity?: They kill wild plants, so insects and other animals lose food and habitat.
How do pesticides reduce biodiversity?: They kill insects, so insect-eating animals have less food and food chains are shortened.
How do inorganic fertilisers reduce plant species richness?: They favour fast-growing species that outcompete other wild plants.
How does overgrazing reduce plant diversity?: Plants are eaten and trampled before they can flower and set seed.
Why does draining wetlands and filling in ponds reduce biodiversity?: It removes aquatic and wetland habitats, so species dependent on them are lost.
What is a field margin?: An uncultivated strip around a field where wild plants and animals can live.
Give two ways farmers can conserve biodiversity.: Leave field margins and replant hedgerows; use crop rotation; reduce pesticide and fertiliser use.
How can wildlife benefit farming?: Pollinators and natural predators of pests can increase yields or reduce pesticide costs.
What is needed for a good answer on balancing farming and conservation?: Points on both food production and conservation, with a justified conclusion.

Exam questions on Farming and conservation

A farmer removes the hedgerows that divide several small fields, creating one large field. The whole field is sown with wheat every year, and the farmer sprays it with a herbicide and an insecticide.
Explain how spraying the field with a herbicide and an insecticide would reduce the biodiversity of the farmland.2 marks
A hill farmer increased the number of sheep on a grassland from 2 to 12 per hectare. The farmer also began applying inorganic nitrate fertiliser every spring to increase grass growth.
Suggest why a fall in the number of plant species on the hill could lead to a fall in the number of insect species.2 marks
A farm manager joins a government scheme that pays farmers to leave uncultivated margins around the edges of their fields, to replant hedgerows and to stop spraying insecticide near the hedges. The margins will take up 5% of the farm's cropland.
Explain how the measures in the scheme would increase biodiversity on the farm.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).