Biology human influences on the environment

What are some biological consequences of an increase in greenhouse gases

Ice caps melt-->loss of habitat

flooding

Extinction (like oorganisms in islands, floods ect)

Loss of biodiversity

Food chain collapse

Global warming

Increase in distribution of tropical diseases like malaria

Describe the process of Eutrophication

Fertilisers added to soil leach into rivers

Algae absorbs the nitrates and grow in number

The algal bloom on the asurface of the water blocks sunlight reaching the aquatic plants, which means they cannot photosynthesise

AS plants die there is no dissolved oxygen being produced

Decomposers will decompose dead organisms and further reduce the oxygen conc in the water

This leads to animals dying due to a lack of oxygen for aerobic respiration

Name the 5/6 main greenhouse gases

Carbon Dioxide

Radon

Methane

Water Vapour

Nitrous Oxide

CFCs

Describe biological consequences of sewage pollution

Living organisms (Algae plants fish) die

No oxygen in water

Decomposes in water decompose the raw sewage, numbers increase

Oxygen requiring process, the decomposers use up the oxygen available to other organisms

Dissolved oxygen conc decreases

Organism die

How does deforestation lead to an increased greenhouse effect

Fewer trees--> less photosynthesis. SO less CO2 is absorbed

A consequence is an enhanced greenhouse effect--> global warming

Forests act as stores of water

Deforestation eads to more evaporation of water into the atmosphere

How do roots prevent leaching and soil absorbtion

Less nitrates leaching into the water--> prevents eutriphication

Roots anchor trees to soil preventing erosion

Human activities that release specific greenhouse gases CO2 Ch4 Nitrous oxide CFCs

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Methane (CH4): Cattle farming and decomposition of waste in landfills.

Nitrous Oxide: Vehicle exhausts and heavy use of artificial agricultural fertilisers.

CFCs: Fridges Air Con

Mechanism of the enhanced greenhouse effect

Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation (heat) reflected from the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. An increase in these gases traps more heat, warming the planet.