GCSE Geography | Managing Ecosystems to Prevent their Destruction

Geography Quiz - Managing Ecosystems (Questions)

Managing ecosystems means looking after habitats, species, and resources so they stay healthy. This GCSE Geography quiz explores how people balance conservation with economic and social needs.

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Fascinating Fact:

Monitoring biodiversity, water quality, and soil health helps managers judge whether an ecosystem is recovering, stable, or under new pressure from human activity or climate change.

In GCSE Geography, managing ecosystems involves studying how people use and protect environments such as forests, wetlands, and coasts. Pupils learn about conservation strategies, protected areas, sustainable resource use, and the importance of monitoring environmental indicators so that decisions support both nature and human communities.

Key Terms

Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with the non living environment around them.
Conservation: Actions taken to protect habitats, species, and natural resources so that they are not lost or damaged.
Sustainable management: Using natural resources in ways that meet present needs without reducing options for future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does managing ecosystems mean in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, managing ecosystems means planning how environments are used and protected so that biodiversity, soils, water, and resources remain healthy while still supporting people and the economy.

Why is it important to monitor ecosystems?

Monitoring ecosystems is important because it shows whether habitats are recovering or being damaged. Data on species, water quality, and soils helps managers adjust policies before serious harm occurs.

What are examples of sustainable ecosystem management?

Examples include protected areas with controlled tourism, sustainable fishing quotas, selective logging instead of clear felling, habitat restoration projects, and community schemes that link local income to conservation.

Try These Related Quizzes

The 'Buy a Cardinal, Save a Tree' project encouraged fish keepers in economically advanced nations to buy aquarium fish caught in a sustainable manner by locals to the Amazon region. How does this encourage sustainability in the Amazon?

[ ]	People are made aware of the importance of the ecosystem and will be more inclined to protect it
[ ]	The local people protect the forest and the river system in order to protect the fish which provide a worthwhile income
[ ]	The fish would have damaged the natural environment if left in the wild
[ ]	Species kept in captivity can be released back into the wild at a later date

What is agroforestry?

[ ]	Removing trees to plant crops
[ ]	Burning trees to enrich soils
[ ]	Growing trees as a crop
[ ]	Growing trees and crops at the same time

Which of the following is not an example of sustainable logging?

[ ]	Trees are only felled when they reach a particular height. This allows young trees a guaranteed life span and the forest will regain full maturity after around 30-50 years
[ ]	Trees are removed individually using traditional methods such as pony logging. These trees are often removed to improve the overall health of the forest
[ ]	Mimicking natural disasters such as forest fires, tornados and land-slides in areas where the ecosystems have adapted to this occurrence
[ ]	Growing monocultures of fast-growing trees that are removed in one single occurrence. Often these faster-growing trees are conifers and similar

How do nature reserves help protect biodiversity?

[ ]	The reserves allow animals and plants to exist and breed in safety
[ ]	The reserves stop entire species being hunted or harvested
[ ]	The reserves allow hunting in that area alone, protecting the rest of the landscape
[ ]	The reserves prevent all access by people to the area

In some forests, as trees are chopped down, they are replaced and allowed to grow to a reasonable size before being logged in turn. What is this known as?

[ ]	Afforestation
[ ]	Deforestation
[ ]	Cycle logging
[ ]	Reserve planting

What is pollarding?

[ ]	Cutting the bark of a tree to allow it to die naturally
[ ]	Digging up the roots of tree stumps to clear the land
[ ]	A traditional method of woodland management involving hard pruning to keep the trees smaller
[ ]	A modern method of growing trees by allowing the roots to grow into specific mediums and water troughs

There has been a shift away from clean forests towards leaving wood to rot on the forest floor. What does leaving tree trunks and branches to rot do for the ecosystem?

[ ]	It discourages people from walking through the woodland
[ ]	It draws up toxins from the soil
[ ]	The fallen trees and branches may take root and regrow
[ ]	It encourages wildlife and fungi

Which of the following is not an advantage of ecotourism?

[ ]	The number of tourists can disrupt breeding and nesting
[ ]	Money is put into the economy, providing jobs for the locals
[ ]	Sustainable hunting can give money to regions with no other tourist resources
[ ]	Local infrastructure may be improved to take cars and provide places for the tourists to stay

Which of the following is not a way recreational users of ecosystems (such as cyclists, walkers, and horse riders) can negatively impact the natural environment?

[ ]	Footpath erosion
[ ]	Taking money from the local economy
[ ]	Leaving behind litter
[ ]	Moving seeds of invasive species around the environment

10.

Which of the following is not a way that humans manage ecosystems?

[ ]	Urban sprawl
[ ]	Preventing poaching
[ ]	Removing bracken from particular areas
[ ]	Building footpaths

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Ecosystems

Geography Quiz - Managing Ecosystems (Answers)

[ ]	People are made aware of the importance of the ecosystem and will be more inclined to protect it
[x]	The local people protect the forest and the river system in order to protect the fish which provide a worthwhile income
[ ]	The fish would have damaged the natural environment if left in the wild
[ ]	Species kept in captivity can be released back into the wild at a later date

Projects which work with local populations to export high-value products which require the natural ecosystem to be maintained, encourage sustainable use of those resources. Fish can command 10 times the price as aquarium pets than they do as a food source

What is agroforestry?

[ ]	Removing trees to plant crops
[ ]	Burning trees to enrich soils
[ ]	Growing trees as a crop
[x]	Growing trees and crops at the same time

Growing crops among the trees allows farmers to use the shelter provided by the tree canopy. The trees reduce the soil erosion and the crops benifit from the nutrients resulting from decaying organic matter

Which of the following is not an example of sustainable logging?

[ ]	Trees are only felled when they reach a particular height. This allows young trees a guaranteed life span and the forest will regain full maturity after around 30-50 years
[ ]	Trees are removed individually using traditional methods such as pony logging. These trees are often removed to improve the overall health of the forest
[ ]	Mimicking natural disasters such as forest fires, tornados and land-slides in areas where the ecosystems have adapted to this occurrence
[x]	Growing monocultures of fast-growing trees that are removed in one single occurrence. Often these faster-growing trees are conifers and similar

As well as logging, there are multiple ways that people can generate an income from forests in a sustainable manner. Coppicing, and harvesting of higher priced speciality products, can provide more than cutting down large amounts of trees does

How do nature reserves help protect biodiversity?

[x]	The reserves allow animals and plants to exist and breed in safety
[ ]	The reserves stop entire species being hunted or harvested
[ ]	The reserves allow hunting in that area alone, protecting the rest of the landscape
[ ]	The reserves prevent all access by people to the area

Reserves act as reservoirs for the ecosystem. Many marine species often breed in specific locations before moving into the wider ocean. By protecting the reefs, beaches and estuaries where breeding and the juvenile stages occur, the entire species is assisted. Harvesting of the plants and animals can still take place outside the reserve

In some forests, as trees are chopped down, they are replaced and allowed to grow to a reasonable size before being logged in turn. What is this known as?

[x]	Afforestation
[ ]	Deforestation
[ ]	Cycle logging
[ ]	Reserve planting

Afforestation can also refer to the planting of trees for later logging or for other purposes, such as habitat renewal or to protect species of economic value

What is pollarding?

[ ]	Cutting the bark of a tree to allow it to die naturally
[ ]	Digging up the roots of tree stumps to clear the land
[x]	A traditional method of woodland management involving hard pruning to keep the trees smaller
[ ]	A modern method of growing trees by allowing the roots to grow into specific mediums and water troughs

By pollarding, the trees grow numerous small branches. These are cut and used for thatch, canes, fencing, firewood and more

There has been a shift away from clean forests towards leaving wood to rot on the forest floor. What does leaving tree trunks and branches to rot do for the ecosystem?

[ ]	It discourages people from walking through the woodland
[ ]	It draws up toxins from the soil
[ ]	The fallen trees and branches may take root and regrow
[x]	It encourages wildlife and fungi

Many species have evolved to make use of fallen tree trunks and branches. By our removing this part of the ecosystem many species have suffered in the past

Which of the following is not an advantage of ecotourism?

[x]	The number of tourists can disrupt breeding and nesting
[ ]	Money is put into the economy, providing jobs for the locals
[ ]	Sustainable hunting can give money to regions with no other tourist resources
[ ]	Local infrastructure may be improved to take cars and provide places for the tourists to stay

Recently, tourists have gathered to see turtles come ashore in such large numbers that they have physically stopped the turtles finding places to nest. Whilst systems like hunting may seem disagreeable, it can be a better option than some