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Attempt either A or B - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 11 - 2022
Question 11
Attempt either A or B. Write your answer in the space below. A Write notes on problems with the use of chemicals to control pests and biological control methods to ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Attempt either A or B - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 11 - 2022
Step 1
Write notes on problems with the use of chemicals to control pests and biological control methods to overcome these problems.
Answer
The use of chemicals in pest control presents several significant problems:
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Toxicity to Non-Target Species: Chemicals often affect not only the intended pests but also beneficial organisms, including pollinators and natural pest predators.
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Persistence in the Environment: Some chemicals do not break down easily, leading to long-lasting environmental contamination. This can result in unintended exposure for various organisms.
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Bioaccumulation: Harmful chemicals can accumulate in the tissues of organisms, leading to toxic effects as they move up the food chain.
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Biomagnification: This refers to the increasing concentration of pesticides as they move up through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, posing risks to higher-level predators, including humans.
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Resistance in Pest Populations: Over time, pests can develop resistance to these chemicals, necessitating the use of stronger and potentially more harmful alternatives.
Biological control methods aim to address these issues by introducing natural predators or pathogens to control pest populations. However, caution is required as:
- A biological control organism may become invasive and disrupt local ecosystems.
- There is a risk that the introduced predator could face resource limitations, failing to keep pest populations in check.