Food Production and Biodiversity Impact

Study Notes

Food Production Impact on Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Agricultural practices, including machinery, fertilizers, insecticides/herbicides, and selective breeding, are intensifying food production.
These practices often lead to reduced biodiversity due to monocultures (single crop varieties).
Intensive livestock farming contributes to pollution, high resource use, and animal welfare issues.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of species in a given area.
Farming practices, especially monoculture, decrease biodiversity by limiting species diversity.

Habitat Destruction

Conversion of land for crops, livestock, housing, and resource extraction leads to habitat loss.
This results in pollution across land, freshwater, and seas.
Deforestation severely impacts habitats, reduces biodiversity, worsens soil erosion, and increases carbon dioxide levels.

Pollution

Untreated sewage and fertilizers contaminate waterways, reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic ecosystems.
Non-biodegradable plastics damage ecosystems and harm animals that ingest or come into contact with them.
Greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) released from fossil fuels, livestock, and rice paddies contribute to climate change.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation strategies aim to protect forests through education, protected areas, logging quotas, replanting, and safeguarding fish stocks via quotas, closed seasons, and regulated fishing methods.
Species protection involves monitoring habitats, education, captive breeding, and seed banks.
Conservation is vital for maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem health, and access to essential resources like food, medicine, and genes.

Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

Bacteria in Biotechnology

Bacteria are valuable for rapid reproduction, creating complex molecules, and offer ethical advantages (e.g., plasmids).

Anaerobic Respiration

Yeast produces CO2 (which leavens bread) and ethanol (used as biofuel).

Enzymes in Biotechnology

Pectinase breaks down pectin, enhancing juice yield and clarity.
Biological washing powders contain enzymes (e.g., protease, lipase) to eliminate stains (proteins/fats/starches).
Lactase breaks down lactose, benefiting lactose-intolerant individuals.

Fermenters

Fermenters create controlled environments for growing bacteria/yeast to produce useful products (e.g., ethanol, insulin, CO2).

Genetic Modification (GM)

Genetic modification alters genetic material through gene removal, insertion, or modification.

Applications of GM

Bacteria are modified to produce human proteins (insulin, growth hormones) for medical use.
Herbicide-resistant crops reduce weed control reliance on herbicides.
Pest-resistant crops minimize pesticide use by making crops resistant to insects.
Golden rice is enriched with beta-carotene to alleviate vitamin A deficiency.

GM Process

Restriction enzymes cut human genes; DNA ligase combines them with bacterial plasmids; plasmids are inserted into bacteria.
Bacteria multiply, expressing the desired protein.

Controversies of GM Crops

Debates surround the health, environmental, and ethical impacts of GM crops like soybeans, maize, and rice.

Description

This quiz explores the relationship between food production practices and their effects on biodiversity and ecosystems. It covers topics such as agricultural practices, habitat destruction, and pollution resulting from intensified farming methods. Understand how these factors contribute to reduced biodiversity and environmental challenges.