2 Flashcards
Biomagnification and Bioaccumulation - Minamata Bay (environmental accident)
Mercury-containing wastewater was released into Minamata bay, Japan from a factory. Estimates 24 tonnes was of mercury was released 1932-1968. Thousands of people suffered from mercury poisoning. In 1968 the release stopped and the Chisso corporation is giving compensation. Bacteria to Shrimp to Fish to Humans.
Succession - Dunes
Dorset, England, Dunes.
1. Bare sand colonized by pioneer plants, survive temporary submersion. Marram grass dominant on seaside.
2. Sandy Soil develops from humus. Supports ‘pasture’ grasses. Hawthorn, sea buckthorn. Nitrogen-fixing plants. Shorter species faze out as scrub develops.
3. Forest – pine then oak and ash woodland. Climatic vegetation. Climatic vegetation is temperate deciduous forest. Diversity declines.
4. As succession develops, there are increases in vegetation cover, soil depth and humus content, soil acidity, moisture content and sand stability.
Zonation - Mountains
Low Altitude:
Tropical Rainforest
Temperate deciduous forest
Coniferous forest
Tundra
Ice and snow
High Altitude.
As limiting factors and climate change so does the plant life. Hotter to cooler. Precipitation middle. Insolation higher higher up. Soil decomposition faster lower, warmer. Biotic factors change with plant life.
Importance of Burning - Kakadu
Tropical Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
Limiting Factors:
High P and T and I
Little Seasonal Variation
Leaching from heavy rain - nutrients may limit plant growth
High biodiversity
Hot Desert
Sahara
Limiting Factors:
Water limiting
Low P, and E>P
low biodiversity
soils rich in nutrients - no leaching
NP low
Tundra
Alaska
Limiting Factors:
Low T and P and I
high winds
permafrost
plants and animals active in summer, constant daylight mostly.
NP low
Temperate Forest
Pacific Northwest
Limiting Factors:
P>E (leaching can occur)
T range is high
Lower biodiversity than TRF
Deep Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Limiting Factors:
Pressure increases with Depth
T low at low Depth
I zero below 1000m
nutrients low
NP low
Temperate Grassland
North American Prairies
Limiting Factors:
P=E, or P>E
T range is high, sea cannot moderate T
Clear skies
Drought is threatened
P medium
Local Species
Species - Koala
Population - 224k to 524k
Community/Habitat/Ecosystem - Open Forest and Woodland
Biome - Tropical to Temperate Forests
International Species
Species - Ring-tailed Lemur
Population - 2k
Community/Habitat/Ecosystem - Arid, Open Areas and Forests
Biome - Rainforest (Madagascar only)
Irish Potatoes
Tragedy of the Commons - Lower class of Ireland was completely reliant on the potato. Only one type of potato was grown in Ireland, ‘Irish Lumper’. A disease called ‘P. Infestans’ his the population of the potato and decimated. Lower class went into famine as no food. 1 million deaths in 5 years.
