- Alien species introduced to a tropical rainforest will reduce biodiversity because the alien species may be an aggressive plant and therefore remove natural materials, minerals and substances taken up by the indigenous plants thus killing these plants and reducing biodiversity. Slight changes in the amount of substances cause significant harm to many types of plants in a forest.
- Some Alien species may also be prolific, reproducing extremely fast, using intense amounts of substances and killing pre-existing plants.
- Alien Species may also be immune to disease in the area and predators may avoid such Alien species
- Alien species may also be harmful fungi or bacteria. These species may cause harm or feed on the indigenous plants. In turn reducing biodiversity.
Monday, 13 May 2013
3B. Explain how any one of the factors given on the diagrtam contributes to a loss of biodiversity in tropical rain forests.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
3c) Explain three reasons why biodiversity in tropical rainforest should be preserved
Explain: Give a detailed account giving reasons or causes.
1) Maintain the food chain – a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from a species that eats no other species in the web and ends at a species that is eaten by no other species in the web. Plants are the primary producers. Insects and animals are consumers that rely on plants to provide them for food. As humans are on the top of the food chain, we rely on the primary producers and consumers etc. to supply us with food. Without biodiversity, humans would lose their food source and eventually die off.
2) Biodiversity sustains our lives and the earth. Plants, animals and micro-organisms supply humans with a multitude of free ecological services, such as generating soil, controlling pests, balancing atmospheric gasses and many other biological processes. These processes are vital to our existence, and for the health of the planet. For this reason it is essential for our well-being that we protect biodiversity - the variations in species, their lives and their habitats - because biodiversity is necessary for sustaining life and our standard of living.
3) Humans rely on plants for many types of medicines. Medicines for heart disease, for example, are still produced today from wild foxgloves. Wild plants are constantly being screened in search of cures for cancer, AIDS and other diseases. We can never tell which species might prove useful: chemicals extracted from jellyfish, for example, are now being used by medical researchers studying the development of cancers.
Links:
http://www.capenature.co.za/biodiversity.htm?sm%5Bp1%5D%5Bcategory%5D=595
1) Maintain the food chain – a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from a species that eats no other species in the web and ends at a species that is eaten by no other species in the web. Plants are the primary producers. Insects and animals are consumers that rely on plants to provide them for food. As humans are on the top of the food chain, we rely on the primary producers and consumers etc. to supply us with food. Without biodiversity, humans would lose their food source and eventually die off.
2) Biodiversity sustains our lives and the earth. Plants, animals and micro-organisms supply humans with a multitude of free ecological services, such as generating soil, controlling pests, balancing atmospheric gasses and many other biological processes. These processes are vital to our existence, and for the health of the planet. For this reason it is essential for our well-being that we protect biodiversity - the variations in species, their lives and their habitats - because biodiversity is necessary for sustaining life and our standard of living.
3) Humans rely on plants for many types of medicines. Medicines for heart disease, for example, are still produced today from wild foxgloves. Wild plants are constantly being screened in search of cures for cancer, AIDS and other diseases. We can never tell which species might prove useful: chemicals extracted from jellyfish, for example, are now being used by medical researchers studying the development of cancers.
Links:
http://www.capenature.co.za/biodiversity.htm?sm%5Bp1%5D%5Bcategory%5D=595
2c) Explain how the progress in education can help regions advance towards meeting one other MDG. (5 marks)
Education can help reduce child mortality rates. Parents who are educated and literate are more likely to be employed and have higher incomes; allowing them to be able to afford basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and vaccinations. Additionally they are more likely to send their children to school and hospitals; keeping them off the streets from crime, and slums. Education will also help inform parents on nutrition, sanitation, and safety from natural disasters. Thus children will be less likely to be malnourished, injured, or suffer from diseases. Moreover, educated women are more likely to have less children due to the lifestyles of their careers. If a women has less children, more resources and time can be spent on her other children, thereby increasing their chance of survival.
http://www.worldbank.org/mdgs/education.html
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Education can help reduce child mortality rates. Parents who are educated and literate are more likely to be employed and have higher incomes; allowing them to be able to afford basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and vaccinations. Additionally they are more likely to send their children to school and hospitals; keeping them off the streets from crime, and slums. Education will also help inform parents on nutrition, sanitation, and safety from natural disasters. Thus children will be less likely to be malnourished, injured, or suffer from diseases. Moreover, educated women are more likely to have less children due to the lifestyles of their careers. If a women has less children, more resources and time can be spent on her other children, thereby increasing their chance of survival.
http://www.worldbank.org/mdgs/education.html
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
4b) Suggest 2 reasons why some areas of the world are unlikely to depend entirely on renewable energy sources.
1. In LEDCs, they are constrained by their economical an political uncertainty. The may not have the right resources or capital to fully fund a renewable energy source such us solar power. In page 91 of the course companion, one of the disadvantages of solar power is its high cost. The high costs of solar power make it difficult for the industry to achieve its full potential. as see on page 91
2. The construction of HEP may have some geographical constraints to it. For example it relies on the river regime as it needs a reliable supply of water. Geology also plays a factor in creating these schemes. It needs stable and impermeable bedrock to support it's structure.
1. In LEDCs, they are constrained by their economical an political uncertainty. The may not have the right resources or capital to fully fund a renewable energy source such us solar power. In page 91 of the course companion, one of the disadvantages of solar power is its high cost. The high costs of solar power make it difficult for the industry to achieve its full potential. as see on page 91
2. The construction of HEP may have some geographical constraints to it. For example it relies on the river regime as it needs a reliable supply of water. Geology also plays a factor in creating these schemes. It needs stable and impermeable bedrock to support it's structure.
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There are many negative economic impacts of an ageing population. There is an increase in dependency ratio as more people will be claiming benefits such as sate pension, which are paid for by the working population through taxes, and less people working and paying for income taxes. There is also an increase government spending on health care and pensions and those in retirement tend to pay lower income taxes since they are not working and due to this, those in work may have to pay higher taxes. Also, there is a shortage of workers hence pushing up wages causing wage inflation. In 1900s, there were 22 people of working age for every pensioner but by 2024, there will be less than three. However, there are also positive economic impacts. Since there will be an increase in number of retired people, it will create bigger market for goods and services linked to older people and this will create more jobs for people so there will be less work shortage. Also, ageing population means that there will be a decline birth rate so there will be less young people, thus saving government money because young people require education money and pay no taxes.
Links:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/key-issues-for-the-new-parliament/value-for-money-in-public-services/the-ageing-population/
http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/The-United-Kingdoms-Ageing-Population.htm
http://www.geographybase.co.uk/IB%20Geog%20HL%20Populations%20in%20TransitionRevision%20Notes%202012.pdf