Cold Environment Biodiversity Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

True or false? Cold environments have low biodiversity compared with tropical rainforests.

True. The harsh climate and short growing season mean few species can survive there.

Why is the tundra ecosystem described as fragile?

Few species and slow growth mean damage takes decades to recover and food chains are easily broken.

Give two human activities that threaten biodiversity in cold environments.

Drilling for oil and mineral extraction; also commercial fishing, tourism and road building.

How does climate change threaten species in cold environments?

Melting snow and ice make adaptations like white camouflage less useful and force animals to migrate or forage further.