Human Impact on Ecosystems Quiz

Ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from sources like spray cans, refrigerators, insulating foam, and industrial detergents. Some fire extinguishers (halons) and agricultural sprays (fumigants) also destroy ozone. The effects of ozone depletion include increased UV radiation, which can damage DNA, cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, weakened immunity, damage crops and plant life, deplete plankton, and affect aquatic food chains.

Conservation practices in fisheries include reducing pollution to prevent fish deaths, setting fish quotas to prevent overfishing and ensure stock replenishment, and using large-mesh nets to allow young fish to escape and breed.

Waste management practices in the agri-industry involve controlling the release of nutrients into rivers and lakes to improve water quality. Slurry, a waste material produced by animals, contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus which can cause algal bloom and eutrophication. Storing slurry in leakproof pits and spreading it on dry land in the summer as nutrients for plants helps control eutrophication.

<p>Problems associated with waste disposal include attracting vermin, unpleasant odours, and contamination of groundwater. Microorganisms play a role in waste management by treating sewage through biological oxidation to break down organic waste and destroy pathogens, as well as in bioremediation to remove pollution and restore areas to their unpolluted state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Waste minimization is important to conserve resources. It can be achieved by reducing packaging, reusing items such as carrier bags and glass bottles, and recycling household waste through bring banks or collection schemes. Using compost bins for vegetable peelings and garden waste also contributes to waste minimization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ozone forms a protective layer above the Earth and absorbs incoming UV radiation. Substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from spray cans, refrigerators, insulating foam, industrial detergents, fire extinguishers (halons), and agricultural sprays contribute to ozone depletion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The release of nutrients into rivers and lakes can be controlled by managing the storage and spreading of slurry, which contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The addition of nutrients to fresh water is called eutrophication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Problems associated with waste disposal include attracting vermin, unpleasant odours, and contamination of groundwater. These issues can be mitigated by properly managing waste to prevent vermin attraction, controlling odours, and preventing unsuitable items from contaminating groundwater.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human interference, such as land clearing for farmland, leads to a reduction in biodiversity as only a small number of crops are grown, resulting in a loss of variety of organisms in the ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Global warming, reduction in biodiversity, pollution, and the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics are some of the issues that result from human activity on an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human interference, particularly land clearing for farmland, leads to a loss of biodiversity as it reduces the variety of organisms in the ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dumping, sewage disposal, litter, radioactivity, and noise are examples of pollutants from human activities that affect the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The types of pollution mentioned are domestic pollution (household wastes) and agricultural pollution (use of sprays to control pests and weeds, overuse of fertilisers, and disposal of farm wastes such as slurry and silage effluent).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human activities such as dumping, sewage disposal, and use of sprays to control pests and weeds contribute to the spread of pollutants in an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural pollutants include volcanic emissions and smoke from forest fires, while human-induced sources of pollution include dumping, sewage disposal, litter, and use of sprays to control pests and weeds.</p> Signup and view all the answers