- 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.
3.b) Explain how any one of the factors given on the diagram contributes to a loss of biodiversity in tropical rainforests. (climate change)
The world's climate is currently changing due to different factors such as change in solar energy output. The change in climate will cause the lose of biodiversity, as most animals can only adopt to specific environments, and this change in environment will cause endangerment of the species as they are unable to adopt to the changes of the environment at a quick enough rate. Some animals will become endangered due to increase in water level drowning species that live close to the sea level. This will result in more loss of biodiversity due to the system of the food chain, creating a multiplier effect. As one of species become extinct, this causes the predators to lose a source of their food. This will either lead to the endangerment of the predators as they are unable to have enough nutrition. Or that the predators will hunt down other preys, which will decrease the population of a third species, creating the multiplier effect.
4 c) Analyze how the global pattern of oil production has changed in recent decades (5 marks)
AO2 - 'Analyze' = Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure
Pattern = Global oil production + WHERE it is produced
See this image:
or here:
The global pattern of oil production has changed over the recent decades. Overall, oil production on a global scale has increased significantly, and there are several specific countries which have emerged as key players. For example, in 1965, one of the lowest oil producing countries was the Asia Pacific which was producing about 30 million barrels of oil per day. However, in 2010, it was the highest oil producer and produced around 60 million barrels of oil/day. In the next few years up until 2015, Asia Pacific is expected to maintain its status as being one of the top producers of oil, producing around 70 million barrels of oil a day. Alongside the Asian Pacific region, in 2009, total oil production was 84 million barrels/day and the top 8 producers consisted of Saudi Arabia, USA, Russia, Iran, China, Venezuela, Mexico and Norway. These 8 countries accounted for over 50% of global production. On the other hand, the pattern of global oil production in some countries has not changed significantly. An example of this is North African where since 1965 and predicted until 2015, oil production has been stagnated at 10 million barrels of oil being produced everyday. Oil production is marginal and non-existent in a large number of countries, including many in Western Europe and Africa.
The global pattern of oil production has changed over the recent decades. Overall, oil production on a global scale has increased significantly, and there are several specific countries which have emerged as key players. For example, in 1965, one of the lowest oil producing countries was the Asia Pacific which was producing about 30 million barrels of oil per day. However, in 2010, it was the highest oil producer and produced around 60 million barrels of oil/day. In the next few years up until 2015, Asia Pacific is expected to maintain its status as being one of the top producers of oil, producing around 70 million barrels of oil a day. Alongside the Asian Pacific region, in 2009, total oil production was 84 million barrels/day and the top 8 producers consisted of Saudi Arabia, USA, Russia, Iran, China, Venezuela, Mexico and Norway. These 8 countries accounted for over 50% of global production. On the other hand, the pattern of global oil production in some countries has not changed significantly. An example of this is North African where since 1965 and predicted until 2015, oil production has been stagnated at 10 million barrels of oil being produced everyday. Oil production is marginal and non-existent in a large number of countries, including many in Western Europe and Africa.
1a. Describe the predicted population pyramid for a country in 2025.
- Describe - give an account in words, including all the relevant characteristics, qualities or events.
The pyramid takes on a chimney effect. The top 50% of the graph is very narrow, showing that there is a high death rate amongst the older population. The most common age amongst population is between 20-24. This means that in the future, the elderly will make up most of the population. The crude birth rate is seen as decreasing, in the lower part of the graph. There is a high youthful dependency ratio. The divide between male and female is nearly equal below the age of 44. However, after this age the elderly women take over most of the elderly population which makes the sex ratio uneven amongst the elderly.
1b. Distinguish between a population projection and population momentum (original)
Population
projections are predictions about future population based on trends in
fertility, mortality, and migration. Population
is the tendency for population to grow despite a fall in the birth rate or
fertility levels. From the definitions we can see that population projections are only predictions of population growth, while population momentum is an increase in the population even if birth rates and fertility rates fall - there is no predictions within population momentum.
Definitions taken from IB
Definitions taken from IB
4a)
Identify and rank the top three renewable sources of energy shown on the graph from highest to lowest
Identify: Provide an answer from a number of possibilities
(My Answer is the first comment)
Mark Scheme:
Identify and rank the top three renewable sources of energy shown on the graph from highest to lowest
Identify: Provide an answer from a number of possibilities
(My Answer is the first comment)
Mark Scheme:
The top three are: Biomass, Hydro and Geothermal, in that order [2 marks].
Award [1 mark] if all three are identified, but not ranked correctly, or if any one of the three are incorrectly identified. No credit may be given if only one of the three is correct.
3a - State on physical factor and one human factor not shown on the diagram that contribute to a loss of biodiversity
Diagram shows:
1. Physical Factor
- Natural hazards
- Floods
- diseases
- droughts
- volcanic eruptions
- fires
- introduction of invasive species (can be both physical or human)
2. Human Factor
- Urbanization
- Deforestation
- Mining
- expansion of agricultural areas
- expansion of settlements
- overexploitation
I know we all love practice papers so we will be using one today. Please add your answers and comments to this Blogg.
The missing resource for question 2 can be found at this web site.
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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