Quiz 1

1. What is biodiversity

(2 Marks)

2. Give four values of biodiversity

(4 Marks)

3. Give four threats to biodiversity

(4 Marks)

4. Give four impacts of human activities towards the environment

(4 Marks)

5. Briefly discuss the function of forest in the ecosystem.

(4 Marks)

1. What is biodiversity

(2 Marks)

The variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this
includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems (CBD, 1992).

2. Give four values of biodiversity

(4 Marks)

Utilitarian values : food, medicines, structural materials

Intrinsic/ecological /services values : pollinators, decomposers (insects), watershed,

replenishing oxygen, tourism

Aesthetical values : beauty, green colour to emotional development

Moral values : right to live, uniqueness

Cultural, religious values : Elephant, Cow to Hinduism,

3. Give four threats to biodiversity

(4 Marks)

Conversion of land use from forest to agricultural, settlements (new townships etc), basic
facilities (schools, offices etc),
Pollution (air, soil, freshwater and marine environment form agrochemicals pollution,
siltation, oil spills)
Deforestation
Forest fire
Degradation
Erosion of traditional knowledge (some plant wild varieties are not looked after and now
extinct because traditional knowledge on use of these varieties was not practiced)
Loss of genetic pools

 Unsustainable harvesting of natural resources (such as using fine meshed nets when catching
fishes), fish bombing and poisoning
Climatic change and global warming (biodiversity has specific life regime, over which will
cause death)

4. Give four impacts of water pollution

(4 Marks)

Impacts of Water Pollution

Unsuitable for human consumption

Can cause diseases (i.e. cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, parasitic infection)

Corrosion potential of water

Problematic for certain irrigated crops, reduced crop yields

Affects biodiversity (i.e. aquatic organisms, birds feeding on aquatic animals)

Blockage of drains, overflowing sewerage systems

5.

Briefly discuss the function of forest in ecosystem

Green lung O2 replenishing

Climate modifier

Water shed

Habitat for flora & fauna

Tourism

Plants source of food, medicine, building materials, etc

5. List two most common air pollutants

Sulfur oxides (SOx)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Volatile organic compounds

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Ammonia NH3

6. List 4 types of natural disaster

Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
Tsunami
Cyclones
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Land slides

(2 Marks)

(4 Marks)