Photo AI
Biomes are altered by human activity - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 18 - 2014
Question 18
Biomes are altered by human activity. Discuss.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Biomes are altered by human activity - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 18 - 2014
Step 1
Aspect 1: Deforestation
Answer
Deforestation significantly alters biomes by removing trees, which are crucial for maintaining ecological balance. Trees play a vital role in carbon sequestration, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, and when they are cut down, this carbon is released back, contributing to global warming. This practice also disrupts habitats, leading to loss of biodiversity as species are threatened or forced to relocate.
Moreover, deforestation can lead to soil erosion, declining soil quality, and changes in water cycles, impacting the flora and fauna that rely on a stable environment.
Step 2
Aspect 2: Urbanization
Answer
Urbanization replaces natural land with cities and infrastructure, which leads to habitat fragmentation. This process decreases the available habitat for wildlife, leading to population declines or extinctions. Urban areas also create 'heat islands,' altering local climates and affecting weather patterns.
Additionally, urban runoff often pollutes nearby waterways, degrading aquatic ecosystems and impacting the organisms that inhabit them. The alteration of land for infrastructure can also introduce invasive species that threaten local biodiversity.
Step 3
Aspect 3: Agriculture
Answer
Agricultural practices, especially monoculture farming, significantly alter biomes. These practices require significant amounts of water and often depend on pesticides and fertilizers that can result in chemical runoff, negatively impacting local ecosystems.
The conversion of land into farmland removes natural habitats, and the application of chemicals can lead to soil degradation and contamination of water sources. Additionally, intensive farming can affect local climate conditions by altering the natural vegetation cover, which plays a critical role in local and regional climates.