Edexcel Biology Gcse - Biodiversity and the Effect of Human Interaction on Ecosystems Part 1

The range of animals and plants in a given area.

A type of energy source derived from renewable plant and animal materials, eg ethanol (often made from corn in the United States and sugarcane in Brazil), biodiesel (vegetable oils and liquid animal fats) and biogas (methane from animal manure).

The process of burning by heat.

Where no energy is lost. If 10J of potential energy is conserved by a falling object, the object’s kinetic energy will be 10J when landing.

The cutting down of trees and forests to allow a different land use.

The living organisms in a particular area, together with the non-living components of the environment.

Animals that are close to extinction because of their low numbers.

‘Hyper-nutrition’ resulting from fertiliser pollution of aquatic ecosystems.

A set of numbers that increase more and more rapidly.

The retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases.

The gases responsible for global warming - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).

Peat bogs are poorly drained areas made up of partially decomposed organic matter due to waterlogging.

Contaminating the air, water or ground with harmful substances.

The replanting or regeneration of areas of forest which have previously been damaged or destroyed.

A type of pollution that is a mixture of smoke and fog.

An activity which does not consume or destroy resources or the environment.

Areas like tropical rainforests have millions of different species and are very biodiverse. Other areas like the Polar Regions have far fewer species and are less biodiverse.

Ecosystems with higher biodiversity have fewer species that depend on just one other for food, shelter and maintaining their environment.

Maintaining important biological resources such as food and medicines - we rely on many different species as food or sources of medicine so it is important to the health of future generations that organisms that supply us with these resources are not lost. This is an example of the importance of biodiversity on a global scale. For recreation and tourism - for example, forests with a high biodiversity are attractive places to visit. They benefit local people who use the ecosystem for recreation. It also provides an income to many by attracting other people to the area. This shows why local biodiversity is important. Activities that create air and water pollution, are reducing biodiversity in many ecosystems - conservation of species and habitats by charities, governments and individuals helps to maintain the range of biodiversity.

better health care so people are living longer new medicines are being developed so people don’t die of previously fatal diseases farmers are able to produce more food using new breeds and equipment

As the human population increases, the volume of waste and pollution that is produced also increases. Polluting an ecosystem harms or kills the organisms that live within it.

Modern society is more consumable, which means humans manufacture more products and replace them more often. This consumption is not sustainable. Many natural materials, including fossil fuels, will soon run out and scientists argue that there is already too much waste.

In some parts of the world, open sewers can lead into water courses, such as streams and rivers, which can cause serious illness in humans that may drink the contaminated water.

Some farmers use too many fertilisers, which can run off fields during heavy rain. This can pollute nearby streams and rivers leading to eutrophication. Some water pollution even comes from toxic chemicals released illegally by factories.