Local and Global Changes to Ecosystems

4 dot points, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.

How did human chemicals damage the ozone layer, and how was the problem addressed?

Explain the role of the ozone layer, how human-made chemicals cause ozone depletion, and how international action has begun to reverse it.

The stratospheric ozone layer, how CFCs deplete ozone, the Antarctic ozone hole and its UV impacts, and the Montreal Protocol recovery, with Tasmanian relevance, for TASC Environmental Science Level 3.

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Why is biodiversity declining, and what role do introduced species and habitat change play in Tasmania?

Explain the major causes of biodiversity loss, including habitat change, introduced species and disease, and describe their effects on Tasmanian ecosystems.

Drivers of biodiversity loss including habitat destruction, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution and disease, with Tasmanian examples such as foxes, urchins and Devil Facial Tumour Disease, for TASC Environmental Science Level 3.

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How does clearing and fragmenting land change ecosystems locally and globally?

Explain the causes and consequences of land clearing, deforestation and habitat fragmentation for biodiversity, carbon and ecosystem function.

Causes and consequences of land clearing and deforestation, edge effects and habitat fragmentation, and impacts on biodiversity and carbon, with Tasmanian forestry examples, for TASC Environmental Science Level 3.

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How is the enhanced greenhouse effect changing the climate, and what does it mean for Tasmanian ecosystems?

Explain the greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect, and describe the observed and projected impacts of climate change on Tasmanian and global ecosystems.

The natural and enhanced greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, feedback loops, and observed and projected climate impacts including the East Australian Current and marine heatwaves, for TASC Environmental Science Level 3.

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