GCSE Biology revision

Maintaining biodiversity

Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems

AQA 4.1.1.1

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AQA student objectives

Learning pathway

All · Most · Some

ALL 🎯

Identify and describe Breeding Programmes for Endangered Species, Protected Areas & Habitat Regeneration and Conservation on Farmland in the context of maintaining biodiversity.

MOST 🎯🎯

Explain the relationships between Breeding Programmes for Endangered Species, Protected Areas & Habitat Regeneration and Conservation on Farmland and how they contribute to maintaining biodiversity.

SOME 🎯🎯🎯

Apply and analyse knowledge of Breeding Programmes for Endangered Species, Protected Areas & Habitat Regeneration and Conservation on Farmland to interpret unfamiliar information about maintaining biodiversity.

Revision summary

Key knowledge

Read on screen, then print for Cornell-style active revision.

Breeding Programmes for Endangered Species

Breeding programmes involve raising endangered animals in captivity to safely increase their population numbers
Once numbers are sufficient, animals can be reintroduced to the wild to join existing populations or establish new ones
A key limitation is that if the natural habitat remains unsafe or damaged, reintroduced populations are likely to decline again

1. Breeding Programmes for Endangered SpeciesAQA

Notes

Breeding programmes involve raising endangered animals in captivity to safely increase their population numbers
Once numbers are sufficient, animals can be reintroduced to the wild to join existing populations or establish new ones
A key limitation is that if the natural habitat remains unsafe or damaged, reintroduced populations are likely to decline again

Protected Areas & Habitat Regeneration

Creating protected areas helps safeguard ecosystems so that organisms living there are not threatened by human activity
Regenerating rare habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs helps restore biodiversity in damaged ecosystems
If habitats are properly protected, breeding programmes may become unnecessary as species can thrive naturally

2. Protected Areas & Habitat RegenerationAQA

Notes

Creating protected areas helps safeguard ecosystems so that organisms living there are not threatened by human activity
Regenerating rare habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs helps restore biodiversity in damaged ecosystems
If habitats are properly protected, breeding programmes may become unnecessary as species can thrive naturally

Conservation on Farmland

Field margins are narrow strips around the edge of fields where a variety of plants are allowed to grow freely
Hedgerows are borders of shrubs and trees planted around fields that provide additional habitats and food sources
Both field margins and hedgerows increase biodiversity by supporting a greater range of species alongside the crops being grown
Governments encourage these practices by introducing laws or offering financial incentives to farmers

3. Conservation on FarmlandAQA

Notes

Field margins are narrow strips around the edge of fields where a variety of plants are allowed to grow freely
Hedgerows are borders of shrubs and trees planted around fields that provide additional habitats and food sources
Both field margins and hedgerows increase biodiversity by supporting a greater range of species alongside the crops being grown
Governments encourage these practices by introducing laws or offering financial incentives to farmers

Government Regulation & Legislation

Governments set quotas to limit the amount of deforestation permitted each year, helping to protect forested habitats
Regulations also cap the amount of carbon dioxide that businesses are allowed to release into the atmosphere
Legal frameworks play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of industries and large-scale human activities

4. Government Regulation & LegislationAQA

Notes

Governments set quotas to limit the amount of deforestation permitted each year, helping to protect forested habitats
Regulations also cap the amount of carbon dioxide that businesses are allowed to release into the atmosphere
Legal frameworks play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of industries and large-scale human activities

Individual Actions & Waste Reduction

Individuals can help by recycling waste instead of sending it to landfill sites
Reducing unnecessary consumption means less waste is produced, leaving more land undamaged
Keeping waste out of landfill also reduces the risk of toxic chemicals leaching into the surrounding environment

Economic Barriers to Conservation

Protecting biodiversity is expensive, and individuals, companies, and governments often prioritise spending their limited funds elsewhere
Many people underestimate the economic and ecological benefits that high biodiversity provides to human society
The cost of conservation competes with other pressing financial demands, making it difficult to implement solutions at scale

6. Economic Barriers to ConservationAQA

Notes

Protecting biodiversity is expensive, and individuals, companies, and governments often prioritise spending their limited funds elsewhere
Many people underestimate the economic and ecological benefits that high biodiversity provides to human society
The cost of conservation competes with other pressing financial demands, making it difficult to implement solutions at scale

The Conflict Between Living Standards & the Environment

Maintaining high living standards often requires environmentally damaging practices, such as using fertilisers and pesticides to produce enough food
Mining for rare metals needed in technology such as phones and computers causes significant habitat destruction
There is a difficult trade-off between meeting human needs and preserving the natural environment

7. The Conflict Between Living Standards & the EnvironmentAQA

Notes

Maintaining high living standards often requires environmentally damaging practices, such as using fertilisers and pesticides to produce enough food
Mining for rare metals needed in technology such as phones and computers causes significant habitat destruction
There is a difficult trade-off between meeting human needs and preserving the natural environment

Conservation Challenges in Developing Countries

In developing countries, people often depend directly on the environment for their livelihoods, making conservation more complex
Forests may be cut down to provide timber for homes, firewood for cooking, or land for growing crops
Addressing conservation in these regions requires balancing environmental protection with the basic needs of local communities

8. Conservation Challenges in Developing CountriesAQA

Notes

In developing countries, people often depend directly on the environment for their livelihoods, making conservation more complex
Forests may be cut down to provide timber for homes, firewood for cooking, or land for growing crops
Addressing conservation in these regions requires balancing environmental protection with the basic needs of local communities