Question 1: Define biodiversity and explain its importance in ecosystems.

Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is important because it contributes to ecosystem stability, resilience, and the provision of resources for humans.

Question 2: Describe how urbanisation can lead to a decrease in local biodiversity.

Answer: Urbanisation involves the expansion of cities and infrastructure, which leads to habitat destruction, pollution, and fragmentation, all of which reduce the variety of species locally.

Question 3: What is meant by land use change, and give two examples relevant to agriculture and urban development.

Answer: Land use change refers to the modification of the land's purpose or cover, such as converting forests into farmland or building urban areas on natural land.

Question 4: Explain the mechanism by which deforestation affects biodiversity.

Answer: Deforestation removes habitats, leading to loss of species that depend on forest environments, reducing biodiversity and disrupting ecological interactions.

Question 1: Calculate the percentage decrease in biodiversity if the number of species in a habitat drops from 120 to 90 due to land development.

Answer: 25%

Question 2: A conservation project aims to restore 15 hectares of natural habitat. If the original habitat was 50 hectares and has been reduced to 35 hectares due to land use change, what percentage of the original habitat is being restored?

Answer: 30%

Question 1: Design a simple experiment to test how different types of land use (e.g., urban, agricultural, natural) affect insect diversity. Include the variables you would control and measure.

Answer: The experiment would involve selecting comparable habitats with different land uses, sampling insect populations using traps, and recording species diversity. Controlled variables include habitat size, time of sampling, and season. The independent variable is land use type, and the dependent variable is insect diversity.

Question 2: List three safety precautions to consider when conducting field studies on land use and biodiversity.

Answer: Wear suitable protective clothing, obtain necessary permissions, and be aware of local wildlife and environmental hazards.

Question 1: In a study, a natural reserve with 200 species was compared to an adjacent urban area with only 50 species. Discuss what factors could account for this difference and how land use might have contributed.

Answer: Factors include habitat availability, quality, and fragmentation; human disturbance; pollution; and resource exploitation. Land use changes such as urbanisation reduce natural habitats, leading to lower biodiversity in urban areas.

Question 1: Explain how sustainable land management practices can help preserve biodiversity while allowing for land development. (6 marks)

Answer: Sustainable land management involves practices like creating protected areas, maintaining habitat corridors, reducing pollution, and implementing eco-friendly farming methods. These practices help conserve species diversity, prevent habitat destruction, and promote ecological resilience while accommodating land use needs.

Question 2: Which of the following land uses is most likely to have the greatest negative impact on biodiversity? A) Reforestation B) Urbanisation C) Organic farming D) Wetland conservation

Answer: B) Urbanisation

Question 1: Describe how land use planning can contribute to maintaining biodiversity in urban areas.

Answer: Land use planning can designate green spaces, create wildlife corridors, enforce pollution controls, and limit habitat destruction, all of which help sustain biodiversity within urban environments.

Question 2: Discuss the role of ecological corridors in land use strategies aimed at conserving biodiversity.

Answer: Ecological corridors are strips of natural habitat that connect isolated patches, allowing species to migrate, reproduce, and maintain genetic diversity. They reduce habitat fragmentation caused by land use changes and are crucial for species survival in fragmented landscapes.