7.1 Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
The study of the biotic and abiotic aspects of an environment such as a woodland where the living things interact between each other and also with the non-living environment they are found within
What is a biome?
A large scale ecosystem found across the globe across the globe; each biome has its own group of plants and animals and climate which makes it unique and distinctive.
How does latitude affect biomes?
Latitude affects temperature, hours of sunshine, and seasonality. Eg. Equatorial locations have warm climates throughout the year as they are near to the equator meaning they receive direct sun rays all year round, higher temp, and more hours if daylight.
What is precipitation affected by?
Latitude - desserts and tundra are found at high pressure as no clouds form so no rain hence less vegetation can form. Opposites for forests (both tropical and temperate)
What is the climate like in a Tundra
Low temp. (-5 to -10 in summer, -30 in winter) Low rainfall (less than 250mm per year) Most falls as snow Almost 24hrs sunlight in summer, barely any in winter
What is the climate like in a Boreal forest
Short summers long winters Winter temps - below -20 Summer temps - 10° average Low precipitation Clear skies Lots of daylight in summer, close to non in winter
What is the climate like in a temperate forest?
4 distinct seasons
Warm summers cold winters
High rainfall all year round
Short days in winter longer days in summer
What is the climate like in a temperate grassland?
Hot summers (up to 40°) and cold winters (down to -40) 250-500mm rainfall each year, most in late spring and early summer. Further from equator means amount of sunlight varies through year
What is the climate like in a desert?
Low rainfall (less than 250mm per year)
Might only rain once every 2 or 3 years.
High temps in day (up to 45°) cold at night (0°)
More sunlight in summer as less cloud cover. Lots of sunlight in day
What is the climate like in a tropical grassland?
Quite high rainfall (800-900mm)
Distinct wet and dry seasons.
Temps highest before wet season (35°) and coldest just after it (15°)
Lots of sunlight
What is the climate like in a tropical forest?
Same climate all year round.
Hot as theyre near equator
Day length is same all year round
High rainfall (2000mm per year)
What is the vegetation like in a tundra?
Cold climate and lack of light make it hard for plants to grow.
Hardly any trees.
Vegetation includes mosses, grasses, and low shrubs.
Layer of permafrost below soil surface stopping water draining away
Soil is thin and nutrient poor
What is the vegetation like in a boreal forest?
Most trees are evergreen so grow whenever theres light
Coniferous trees (eg. Pine) are common as are low growing mosses and lichen
Needles from trees decompose slowly so soil so soils are quite thin and nutrient poor and acidic.
In some areas the ground is frozen
What is the vegetation like in a temperate forest?
Fewer plant species than tropical forests but more than boreal forests
Often made up of broad-leaved trees that drop leaves in autumn
Shrubs and undergrowth plants lose leaves in autumn and decompose quickly so soil is thick and nutrient rich
What is the vegetation like in a temperate grassland?
Dominated by small plants and grasses
Few trees
High temps in summer means soil is thick and nutrient rich