3.2 Human impact on biodiversityIB Environmental Systems and Societies SL: Flashcards
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Define a direct influence on biodiversity, with an example.
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- Define a direct influence on biodiversity, with an example.
- Harm caused by the activity itself, e.g. overfishing or habitat clearance.
- Define an indirect influence on biodiversity, with an example.
- Harm caused through a change in the environment, e.g. nutrient runoff or climate change.
- Why is it important that most ecosystems face multiple impacts?
- The impacts combine, so ecosystems are less able to cope and recover.
- What is an invasive alien species?
- A species introduced by humans outside its native range that spreads and harms native species.
- Name three ways invasive species reduce biodiversity.
- Competition for limited resources, predation, and introduction of diseases or parasites.
- Give an example of an invasive species causing predation losses.
- Burmese pythons in the Everglades eating native mammals and birds.
- Which organisation publishes the Red List?
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Name the threatened Red List categories.
- Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered.
- Why is a global conservation status useful?
- It publicises vulnerability and lets governments, NGOs and citizens choose conservation priorities.
- Give an example of a species extinct due to human activity.
- The thylacine (hunting and habitat loss) or the passenger pigeon (commercial hunting).
- Give an example of a critically endangered species and its main threat.
- Sumatran orangutan: forest clearance for plantations and agriculture.
- Give an example of a species whose status improved through intervention.
- The Arabian oryx: captive breeding and reintroduction moved it from Extinct in the Wild to Vulnerable.
- Define the tragedy of the commons.
- Overuse and depletion of a shared resource, because each user gains from taking more while the cost is shared.
- Give two ways to avoid a tragedy of the commons.
- Quotas or licences; community management or regulation; international agreements.
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).