3. Battle for the Biosphere Flashcards
Define eco-system
A grouping of plants and animals that interact with each other and the local environemnt
Define biome
A large ecosystem - a grouping of plants and animals over a large area of the Earth
Describe + locate the coniferous biome
North America/Canada
Coniferous forests are at higher altitudes where the Sun’s rays are weak. Trees are adapted to the cold with needle like leaves.
Describe + locate the deciduous biome
Western Europe
Deciduous forests have high rainfall and there are seasonal variations in the Sun’s rays. Trees lose their leaves in the cool winter
Describe + locate the tundra biome
Russia
The tundra is within the Arctic Circle. The Sun gives little heat here and there is little rainfall. Only tough, short grasses survive.
Describe + locate the tropical biome
Brazil
Tropical rainforests are mostly found either side of the Equator. The temperature is hot and there is heavy rainfall.
Describe + locate the desert biome
Sahara Desert - North Africa
Deserts are close to the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This is where hot dry air sinks down to the Earth’s surface and the Sun’s rays are concentrated making it very hot in the day.
What does the biosphere do?
Regulates the water cycle:
Plants slow the flow of water to rivers and filter water to make it clean.
Regulates gases that make up the atmosphere:
Plants absorb CO2 and produce O2 for us to breathe in.
Keeps soils healthy for plants to grow:
New nutrients are provided by rotting plant material.
What is the biosphere?
The biosphere is the Earth’s support system. It provides humans with a wide range of essential goods.
What goods are provided by the biosphere?
Food: Fish Meat Fruits Nuts Berries
Medicines:
Vitamins
Raw materials: Timber Bamboo Rubber Water Fossils fuels
Name the ways humans are destroying the biosphere directly
- Deforestation
- Mining
- Quarrying
- Farming
- Overfishing
Name the ways the humans destroy the biosphere indirectly
Pollution and climate change cause:
- sea temperature ruse
- seawater acidification
- -melting of polar ice caps
- changes in amount of rainfall
- treeline changes
- stress within ecosystems due to rapid change
What are the reasons for rainforest destruction?
- Timber is used for buildings, furniture and fuel
- Creation of agricultural land for growing crops or raising animals
- Mining and quarrying of minerals for construction industry, jewellery, etc
- transport routes
- Building human settlements
- Building dams and power stations to provide power
What are the possible economic tensions when managing the biosphere?
Individuals and communities often want to make as much money as possible and may use the resources in the biosphere to do this. This provides tensions as it may damage or even destroy the environment in the long-term. This would mean it’s not sustainable economically either and it may harm or explore other people
now or in the future.
What are the possible social tensions when managing the biosphere?
To be socially sustainable something must not befit one group/individual at the expense of another, including future generations. It also means consulting people on an equal basis. This can provide tensions because it everyone is to benefit, this may put the environment at risk. There are also economic tensions as some businesses may flourish at the expense of others.
