# A conservation organisation is working to protect a rainforest ecosystem that contains a large number of different species. Explain why maintaining a high level of biodiversity in this ecosystem is important, and suggest two human activities that could reduce biodiversity in this area.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 2.5 Biodiversity · Explain · 5 marks

> Rainforests cover less than 6% of the Earth's surface but are estimated to contain more than half of the world's plant and animal species. Rates of deforestation in tropical rainforests have increased significantly over the past 50 years.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. A greater variety of species / higher biodiversity provides more stable ecosystems / food webs because if one species is lost others can fill its role
2. Loss of one species is less likely to cause the collapse / extinction of other species when biodiversity is high
3. High biodiversity is important for human welfare, e.g. potential new medicines / food sources / raw materials could be lost
4. One human activity that reduces biodiversity, e.g. deforestation / land clearance for agriculture / urbanisation
5. A second, different human activity that reduces biodiversity, e.g. pollution / hunting / introduction of invasive species / monoculture farming

## Key terms

- [biodiversity](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/biodiversity)
- [ecosystem](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/ecosystem)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-conservation-organisation-is-working-to-703c945e) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.