Explain why it would be incorrect to describe any of the three environments listed in Table 5.1 as an ecosystem.
The expansion in forest area in Italy has happened because farmers have cultivated less of their land or have given up their farms entirely. Describe how this change in land use may influence biodiversity. In your answer, consider the three different levels of biodiversity.
Two large mammals native to Italy are the grey wolf and the lynx. Fig. 5.1 shows a grey wolf and Fig. 5.2 shows a lynx. Some facts about the survival of these large mammals in Italy are given below. In 1971: - there were fewer than 100 wolves in Italy - lynx were extinct in Italy - wolves were given protected status in Italy - lynx were successfully re-introduced to Switzerland, which shares a border with Italy In 1973: - lynx were successfully re-introduced to Slovenia, which also shares a border with Italy In 2014: - the number of wolves in Italy was estimated at 800 - the number of lynx in Italy was estimated at around 25 Suggest what actions may have been needed at local, national and global levels to contribute to the successful conservation of biodiversity of Italy’s large mammals.