Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems - AQAMaintaining biodiversity
Biodiversity is a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem. Human activities like changing land use, deforestation and peat bog destruction reduce this.
Areas like tropical rainforests have millions of different speciesA type of organism that is the basic unit of classification. Individuals of different species are not able to interbreed successfully. and are very biodiversityThe range of animals and plants in a given area. . Other areas like the Polar Regions have far fewer species and are less biodiverse.
The increase in the human populationAll of the members of a single species that live within a geographical area. and waste it produces, deforestationThe cutting down of trees and forests to allow a different land use., peat bogPeat bogs are poorly drained areas made up of partially decomposed organic matter due to waterlogging. destruction and global warmingThe rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. are all reducing biodiversity. conservationKeeping the environment healthy and productive by careful use of its resources. helps reverse this. Conservation is the preservation of ecosystemThe living organisms in a particular area, together with the non-living components of the environment. and the organisms that live within them.
Scientists and concerned members of the public help maintain biodiversity by:
breeding programs to help preserve endangered speciesAnimals that are close to extinction because of their low numbers., like the panda
protection and development of new endangered habitatA place where plants, animals and microorganisms live., often by making National Parks
replanting hedgerows because there is higher biodiversity in them than the fields they surround
reducing deforestation and the release of greenhouse gasThe gases responsible for global warming - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
recyclingReusing materials or reprocessing waste materials to produce new materials. rather than dumping waste in landfill sitesPlaces where refuse is buried underground.
Nicola Hallot from Knowsley Safari Park talks about the endangered animals at Knowsley including Père David's deer, Bactrian camel and scimitar-horned oryx. She also explains how zoos and safari parks across Europe work together to maintain biodiversity
