3.B - Arctic CS

Question 1

environment/ terrain

Answer 1

• 14.5M km2 area of Greenland ice sheets and tundra biome, north Alaska
• plants have short root to avoid permafrost = low shrubs
• high winds bc lack of tall vegetation
• hunting terrain

Question 2

climate

Answer 2

• winter temps -20 degrees
• summer = continuous daylight and low temps = short growing seasons = net primary productivity low 140 g/m2 annually
• Low moisture = moisture-deficient plants

Question 3

ecosystem

Answer 3

• fragile
• lack of nitrogen-fixing plants and low recycling of organic matter limits fertility
• short food chains

Question 4

indigenous people

Answer 4

• farming techniques: hunting, herding, fishing and gathering
• Northern Canada: mussel farming - rich source of minerals and vitamins
• Northern Greenland: narwhal hunting - source of vitamin C and sustainable
• Alaska: whale hunting - meat and oil source

Question 5

threats to food security in the artic

Answer 5

• low species diversity

- affects of climate change

Question 6

affects of climate change threatening food security

Answer 6

• slushy ice = reduced hunting ability, travel routes elongated
• increase danger as less ice means animals go on land; polar bears and walrus’
• polar bears on land = eat vegetation = reduction in body mass and less to hunt for indigenous people
• fish stock declined
• herding delayed as lakes aren’t frozen
• reindeers decline
• earlier spring = calves born post prime of foliage availability = less survive
• southernly animals moving north increasing disease

Question 7

impacts of threats on diet

Answer 7

• increased pollution and contamination = safety and quality of wild resources decrease
• disease in food and water = increase in store bought food, increasing obesity and malnutrition
• economic problems - increased prices, decreased budgets as low incomes and restricted job opportunities

Question 8

what are sea shepherds

Answer 8

people to protect whales from hunting but are criticised by modern world