24.9 environmentally sensitive ecosystems

Question 1

what are environmentally sensitive regions

Answer 1

regions that are less resistant to change than others

Question 2

management techniques used in many environmentally sensitive regions (5)

Answer 2

• limiting areas tourists can visit
• controlling movement of livestock
• introducing ant-poaching methods
• replanting forests/native plants
• limiting hunting through quotas/seasonal bans

Question 3

where are the Galapagos islands

Answer 3

volcanic islands that rise up from the bed of the Pacific Ocean

Question 4

Galapagos Islands- animals present

Answer 4

• most land animals are reptiles
• only one land mammal = the Galapagos rice rat
• animals and birds have adapted to the environment in isolation

Question 5

how did the land animals arrive on the Galapagos Islands

Answer 5

being washed away from mainland river banks, floating on rafts of vegetation

Question 6

what are some of the unique species present on the Galapagos Islands

Answer 6

• the Galapagos giant tortoise (over 150cm in length)
• flightless cormorant (reduced wings for better underwater fishing)
• marine iguana (mutation to swim effectively, appear black when not attracting mates allowing ectotherms to bask in sun and raise body temp before swimming allowing them to forage for food longer)

Question 7

what are the 3 regions that support different plant species on the Galapagos Islands

Answer 7

• the coastal zone = salt-tolerant species (mangrove and saltbush)
• the arid zone = drought-tolerant species (cacti and carob tree)
• the humid zone = dense cloud-forest (supports populations of mosses and liverworts)

Question 8

Galapagos Islands - control of human activities (4)

Answer 8

• introduction of park rangers across the islands
• limiting human access to certain islands/ parts of islands
• controlling migration to and from the islands
• strict controls over movement of introduced animals (e.g pigs)

Question 9

describe the continent of Antartica

Answer 9

• coldest, highest, driest, windiest, and emptiest continent
• covered by sheet of ice (2km thick with 70% of the world’s fresh water)
• average temperature is below -30 degrees Celsius
• only 2 seasons (24h sunlight in summer/24h darkness in winter)

Question 10

Antartica - animals present

Answer 10

• endothermic animals rely on thick layers of blubber for insulation
• few invertebrates live on the continent

Question 11

what are the 3 regions that support different plant species on Antartica

Answer 11

• Weddel seal (10cm blubber layer)
• emperor penguin (only warm-blooded animal in winter. females lay egg in June(mid-winter) and go to sea while meals stay on land with no food and keep egg warm)
• wingless midge (one of the invertebrates with body size of only 5mm)

Question 12

Antartica - plants present

Answer 12

• only how in ice-free regions (2% of the continent)
• lichens and moss grow in favourable niche
• algae grow in many sheltered areas

Question 13

what effects has human activity had on Antartica (4)

Answer 13

• planet-wide impacts (e.g. global warming (breaks coastal ice sheet) and ozone depletion)
• hunting of whales and seals and fishing
• soil contamination especially near scientific research stations
• discharging waste into the sea (human sewage)

Question 14

what are some of the provisions of the Antarctic treaty (5)

Answer 14

• scientific cooperation between nations
• protection of the Antarctic environment
• conservation of plants and animals
• designation and management of protected areas
• management of tourism

Question 15

describe Snowdonia National Park

Answer 15

• countryside in northern-west Wales
• highest mountain range in England/Wales
• 4 peaks>1000m
• rugged terrain with lakes and fast-flowing rivers
• wide tracts of ancient woodland and heath

Question 16

Snowdonia - animals present

Answer 16

• coast and estuary birds
• forest birds
• moorland and mountain birds
• over 40 species of land mammal (badgers, voles, deer, and hedgehogs)

Question 17

Snowdonia - plants present

Answer 17

• Snowdon lily (top of mountains, hardy arctic-alpine plants that can cope with extreme conditions)
• lower down the slopes = woodlands of oak, alder, and which elm

Question 18

what are the main purposes of the Park authority (3)

Answer 18

• conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage
• promote opportunities for the understanding/ enjoyment of the Park’s special qualities
• enhance the economic and social well-being of communities in the park

Question 19

the Dinorwig power station (what?why?where?impact?)

Answer 19

• pumped-storage hydroelectric power station
• built to meet demands of the National Grid when sudden bursts of energy were required
• located deep inside a mountain, inside tunnels and caverns
• minimised impact to the environment and helps meet human energy demands

Question 20

describe the Lake District

Answer 20

• England’s largest national park
• contains England’s highest mountain and deepest lake
• regions of moorland and fell
• 16 lakes dammed by glacial moraines (soil/rock debris)
• dales and fringes of lakes provide many habitats

Question 21

the Lake District - animals present

Answer 21

• wide range of wildlife (water voles, natterjack toads, bats, red deer)
• birds of prey (golden eagle and osprey)
• native species are under threat (red squirrel and the vend ace, fish species only in this area)

Question 22

the Lake District - plants present

Answer 22

• in the central fells, habitats that exist above tree line which support arctic-alpine plants
• specialised trees evolved in these harsh habitats (dwarf juniper and dwarf willow)
• sundew in the lower regions = carnivorous plants (trap insects in leaves by a sticky mucilage and enzymes are then secreted to digest the insect and release its nutrients)

Question 23

the Lake District - control of human activities

Answer 23

• role of the park authority is to conserve the region and enable access for millions of visitors
• active management of the countryside
• e.g. replanting native tree species