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Geography > 4) Sustaining Ecosystems - The Arctic and Antarctic > Flashcards

4) Sustaining Ecosystems - The Arctic and Antarctic Flashcards

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1
Q

Flora in the Arctic

A

Low shrubs and grasses e.g. Arctic poppies

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2
Q

Flora in the Antarctic

A

Almost no vegetation e.g. lichens

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3
Q

Climate in the Arctic

A

Average of 0c in summer and -40c in winter

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4
Q

Why are the Arctic and Antarctic so cold?

A

Lack of direct sunlight

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5
Q

Climate in Antarctic

A

Average of -28c in summer and -60c in winter

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6
Q

Average amount of precipitation in Arctic

A

Less than 500 mm

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7
Q

Average amount of precipitation in Antarctic

A

Around 100 mm

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8
Q

Features of the land and sea in the Arctic

A

Not a land continent
Ice reaches a height of 2-3 metres
It is sea pack ice surrounded by oceans
Mountains, tundra

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9
Q

Features of the land and sea in the Antarctic

A

A land mass which is 99% covered by an ice sheet
Ice can be 4.5 km thick in some places
Quite mountainous

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10
Q

Human activities in the Arctic 3

A

Population of over 4 million people
Many indigenous people
Mining

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11
Q

Human activities in the Antarctic

A

Scientific bases

Tourist visitors

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12
Q

What are the three indigenous tribes living in the Arctic?

A

Inuit
Sami
Yupik

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13
Q

Fauna in the Arctic

A

A variety of birds and mammals, e.g. whales, caribou etc

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14
Q

Fauna in the Antarctic

A

No terrestrial mammals
They all rely on the sea for food and breeding
Penguins, seals, whales etc.

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15
Q

The future of the Arctic 2

A

Threats from climate change

Extraction of oils, gases and metals

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16
Q

The future of the Antarctic 3

A

Threatened by climate change
Extraction of fossil fuels
Claims of sovereignty

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17
Q

Why are the colder ecosystems much more vulnerable to change?

A

There is low biodiversity because of the harsh conditions

18
Q

Why are ocean currents and winds important in colder climates?

A

They open up gaps in the sea ice. This means more light can get through so plants can produce more food, feeding the whole food chain

19
Q

Why will climate change have such a huge impact?

A

Many animals rely on the sea ice for feeding and breeding, so this threatens their survival

20
Q

Why is the soil low in nutrients in the Arctic?

A

Because of the cold conditions, it means that plants and animals are broken down very slowly, which reduces nutrients in the soil and therefore plant growth rates

21
Q

What is the permafrost?

A

Land which is permanently frozen

22
Q

What is the active layer?

A

The layer on top of the permafrost which can melt

23
Q

Soil conditions of the tundra 2

A

The ground is often frozen or saturated from meltwaters

There is only a thin layer of humus as decomposition takes a long time

24
Q

Characteristics of plants in the tundra 3

A

They have short roots
Small leaves to reduce transpiration
Low and compact, reaching a maximum height of 30cm

25
Q

Why does tourism have a huge impact on the polar ecosystems? 3

A

Increased pollution
Tourists can damage habitats
Litter and waste stays in the ecosystem for a long time

26
Q

Why is litter a huge concern in the polar ecosystems?

A

It takes such a long time to decompose because of the extreme conditions

27
Q

Why is fishing such a huge problem?

A

Because of the low biodiversity, over-fishing has major impacts on other animals in the ecosystem

28
Q

Why is scientific research good here?

A

It means they can monitor climate change and get more information about the ecosystem

29
Q

Why is scientific research bad here?

A

They can dump litter, which pollutes the ecosystem

30
Q

Why is whaling such a concern?

A

They are slow breeders so it takes them a long time to recover

31
Q

Why is mineral extraction so dangerous? 3

A

Oil spills are harmful to wildlife
Lots of pollution
Pipelines have to be built, which damages environments

32
Q

Where do the Sami people come from?

A

Northern Europe

33
Q

Where do the Inuit people come from?

A

Greenland, Canada and USA

34
Q

Where do the Koryak people come from?

A

Russia

35
Q

How do indigenous people impact the polar ecosystems?

A

They build homes, which increases pollution and kill animals to feed themselves and their families

36
Q

How do the Sami people impact the ecosystem?

A

They are killing and eating fish that are a huge part of many ecosystems

37
Q

How do the Inuits impact the ecosystem?

A

They hunt and fish

38
Q

How do the Koryak people impact the ecosystem?

A

They hunt and herd reindeer

39
Q

How is the Antarctic being managed?

A

The Arctic Treaty - SEE CARDS

40
Q

Give an example of a small scale project that uses sustainable management in the Arctic

A

The Clyde River Marine Wildlife Sanctuary - SEE CARDS

Geography (30 decks)

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