Explain how the destruction of rainforests reduces biodiversity.

WJEC GCSE Biology (Wales) — 2.1.2 Biodiversity · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Rainforests cover less than 6% of the Earth's surface but are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species. Large areas of rainforest are cleared every year for farming and timber.

Model answer (4 marks)

Destruction of rainforest removes the habitats that many species rely on, so those organisms lose the place where they live.
Species that cannot survive elsewhere may become extinct.
The loss of food sources and shelter also affects other species that depend on the rainforest species, so their numbers fall.
Overall, the number of different species in the area decreases, which reduces biodiversity.

Examiner tips

  • Use the word ‘habitat’ and ‘extinct’ to match the mark scheme.
  • Show the chain of effects: loss of habitat → extinction → loss of dependent species → lower biodiversity.
  • Keep each point short and to the point.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Destruction of rainforest removes habitats for species that live there
  2. Species that cannot survive elsewhere may become extinct
  3. Loss of food sources / shelter means other species that depend on rainforest species are also affected
  4. Overall number of different species in the area decreases, reducing biodiversity

Key terms in this question

biodiversity

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