Urbanisation
What is urbanisation?
The process where more people move into cities, resulting in the growth and expansion of urban areas.
Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, Geo(Litho)sphere
What is land degradation?
The decline in the quality of land, often due to human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, or poor farming.
Which world view holds that humans have a duty to protect and care for the environment?
Stewardship
What is an invasive species?
A non-native species that causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
Name one environmental impact of urbanisation.
Multiple answers
Define 'extinct'
having no living members; no longer in existence.
How does soil salinisation affect farming?
It reduces crop yields and soil fertility.
What worldview does this scenario show:
A government approves the construction of a new highway through a forest because it will make transport easier for people and help the economy, even though some wildlife habitats will be affected.
Anthropocentric
Name a common invasive species in Australia.
Answers will vary - teacher discretion.
Why do cities often have poorer air quality than rural areas?
Higher concentration of vehicles and industrial activity.
The loss of colour in corals due to stress is referred to as what?
Coral bleaching
What is desertification?
The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
What does an anthropocentric worldview emphasise?
That humans are the most important and should manage the environment for human benefit.
What impact do cane toads have on the Australian ecosystem?
Cane toads were introduced to Australia to control insect pests but spread rapidly. They poison native predators (such as snakes, goannas, and quolls) that try to eat them, reducing native populations and disrupting ecosystem balance.
Name one strategy to reduce urban heat islands.
Planting more trees and increasing green spaces.
The ability of human communities around the world to maintain their independence and have access to the resources required to meet their needs.
Sustainability
What role does deforestation play in land degradation?
It removes trees that protect soil, leading to erosion and nutrient loss.
What is an environmental worldview?
A person's or society's beliefs and values about the environment and how it should be managed.
What impact do European rabbits have in Australia?
Rabbits cause severe land degradation by overgrazing native vegetation, which leads to soil erosion and the loss of habitats for native species. Their burrowing also destabilises the soil.
What is a major cause of the urban heat island effect?
The abundance of concrete and asphalt which absorbs and retains heat.
Which farming practice can help reduce land degradation?
Crop-rotation or paddock rotation.
Give a example that demonstrates an ecocentric
Ecocentric - a worldview that places the preservation of environments above all other needs and wants.
Examples will vary - up to teacher discretion.
How do invasive species typically affect native species?
They compete for resources, often leading to a decline or extinction of native species.