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Human Influences on the Environment Practice Questions

Question 1

4 marks

A zoo runs a captive breeding programme for the Amur leopard, an endangered big cat found in the forests of eastern Russia. Fewer than 120 Amur leopards are left in the wild.

(a)

State what is meant by the term biodiversity.

(b)

Which one of these human activities would increase the biodiversity of an area of farmland?

Put a cross ( ☒ ) in the box next to your answer.

☐ A spraying all the crops with a pesticide

☐ B replanting hedgerows between the fields

☐ C draining a pond to make a larger field

☐ D spreading extra nitrate fertiliser on the fields

(c)

Explain two ways in which a captive breeding programme in a zoo can help to conserve the Amur leopard.

Question 2

5 marks

A stream runs along the edge of a field of wheat. A farmer spread nitrate fertiliser on the field at the end of March.

The table shows the mean nitrate concentration of the stream water each month.

Month Mean nitrate concentration in stream water (mg/dm³)
January 2.1
February 2.4
March 2.8
April 9.6
May 11.4
June 7.2
(a)

Calculate the increase in the mean nitrate concentration of the stream water between March and May.

(b)

Explain why the nitrate concentration of the stream water increased after the farmer spread the fertiliser.

(c)

In May, a thick green layer of algae grew over the surface of the stream.

Name the process by which the increase in nitrates caused this growth of algae.