1B - Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A unit that includes all biotic (living) parts (e.g. plants and animals) & abiotic (non-living) parts (e.g. soil and climate) in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a producer?

A

Organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a consumer?

A

Organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms (e.g. Eats producers or other consumers)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

Organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material (e.g. dead producers, dead consumers or fallen leaves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a food web?

A

Shows lots of food chains and how they overlap

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a food chain?

A

Shows what eats what

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What determines what type of ecosystem forms?

A

The climate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name the 6 main types of ecosystems

A
  • Grassland
  • Temperate Deciduous Forest
  • Polar
  • Hot Desert
  • Tropical Rainforest
  • Tundra
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Name the two types of grassland

A

Savannah & Temperate grasslands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where are Savannah grasslands found and describe the climate?

A

Between the tropics - there are distinct dry and wet seasons, although rainfall is relatively low

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What vegetation is found in the Savannah grasslands?

A

Mostly grasses with a few scattered trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where are temperate grasslands found and describe the climate?

A

Found at higher latitudes where there’s more variation in temperature and less rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What vegetation is found in the temperate grasslands?

A

Just grasses (no trees)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where are temperate deciduous forests found and describe the climate?

A

Found mainly in mid latitudes where there are four distinct seasons: summers are warm, winters are relatively mild & there’s rainfall all year round

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter?

A

To cope with the colder weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where are polar ecosystems found and describe the climate?

A

Found along north and south poles - very cold, icy & dry

17
Q

Can there be vegetation found in polar ecosystems?

A

Not much grows at all

18
Q

Why is the growing season very short (2 months) in the polar ecosystems?

A

Because they remain dark for several months

19
Q

Where are hot deserts found and describe the climate?

A

Found between 15° and 35° north and south of the equator where there’s little rainfall - it’s very hot during the day and very cold at night

20
Q

What kind of vegetation can you find in hot deserts?

A

Shrubs and cacti (are very sparsely distributed in sandy soil)

21
Q

Where are tropical rainforests found and describe the climate?

A

Found around the equator, between the tropics, where it’s hot and wet all year round

22
Q

What is the vegetation like in tropical rainforests?

A

They’re areas of lush forests with dense canopies of vegetation forming distinct layers

23
Q

Where is the tropic of cancer situated?

A

23.5° N of equator (above it)

24
Q

Where is the tropic of capricorn situated?

A

23.5° S of equator (below it)

25
Q

Where is tundra found?

A

At high latitudes (above 60° N) in northern Europe, Alaska and northern Canada

26
Q

What is climate like in the tundra?

A

Winters are very cold, summers are brief & there’s hardly any rainfall

27
Q

What is the vegetation like in the tundra?

A

Hardly any tress - has mosses, grasses and low shrubs

28
Q

What’s permafrost and where can it be found?

A

A layer of permanently frozen ground - found in tundra