Impact of Food Production on Biodiversity

Study Notes

Impact of Food Production on Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Intensive farming practices, including machinery, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, and selective breeding methods, significantly impact biodiversity.
Monocultures dramatically reduce the variety of species in an area.
Intensive livestock farming leads to pollution, high resource consumption, and ethical concerns regarding animal welfare.

Habitat Destruction and Biodiversity Loss

Land use for crops, livestock, housing, and resource extraction directly results in habitat destruction.
Deforestation reduces biodiversity, increases soil erosion, and raises carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
This habitat loss negatively affects various ecosystems and disrupts their delicate balances.

Pollution and Ecosystem Damage

Agricultural runoff, particularly sewage and fertilizers, depletes oxygen levels in waterways, harming aquatic life.
Non-biodegradable plastics pose a serious threat to ecosystems and harm wildlife.
Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, released from fossil fuels, livestock, and rice paddies contribute to climate change and further disrupt ecosystems.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts are crucial to preserve biodiversity and maintain essential ecosystem functions.
Strategies for forest conservation include education, establishing protected areas, implementing logging quotas, and reforestation programs.
Sustainable fishing practices involve controlling fishing quotas, establishing closed seasons, and carefully monitoring fishing methods.
Protecting species encompasses monitoring habitats, promoting environmental education, establishing captive breeding programs, and creating seed banks.

Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

Bacteria in Biotechnology

Bacteria have crucial applications in biotechnology due to their rapid reproduction and ability to produce complex molecules.

Anaerobic Respiration

Yeast, through anaerobic respiration, produces carbon dioxide for processes like bread-making and ethanol for biofuel production.

Enzymes in Biotechnology

Enzymes like pectinase are used to improve juice production, while biological washing powders contain enzymes to remove stains from clothes.
Lactase is crucial for breaking down lactose, making dairy products safe for lactose-intolerant individuals.

Fermenters

Controlled environments, called fermenters, allow bacteria or yeast to create products such as ethanol and insulin.

Genetic Modification (GM)

Genetic modification involves manipulating an organism's genetic material by removing, altering, or inserting genes.

Applications of GM

Genetic modification allows bacteria to produce human proteins like insulin and growth hormones.
Herbicide-resistant crops reduce the need for herbicides, enabling selective weed control.
Pest-resistant crops decrease pesticide use by making crops less susceptible to insect damage.
Golden Rice is genetically engineered to contain beta-carotene, addressing vitamin A deficiency.

GM Process

The GM process involves isolating the desired human gene using restriction enzymes, inserting it into bacterial plasmids, and then reintroducing the modified plasmid into the target organism through DNA ligase.

Controversies

Genetically modified crops, notably soya, maize, and rice, remain a subject of ongoing debate and discussion.

Description

This quiz explores how intensive farming practices, habitat destruction, and pollution affect biodiversity and ecosystems. It examines the consequences of agricultural practices on various species and the overall health of ecosystems. Test your knowledge on these critical environmental issues.