9.3 Ecosystems Flashcards
abiotic
non-living parts of an ecosystem
example of an abiotic organism
climate, soil
biome
worldscale ecosystem
example of ecosystem
rainforest, hot desert
biotic
living parts of an ecosystem
example of a biotic organism
plants, animals
canopy
the cover of trees in a rainforest which limits sunlight
consumer
things in an ecosystem that consume others to get energy
examples of consumers
carnivores
decomposer
help decompose dead things in an ecosystem
example of a decomposer
bacteria
ecosystem
a community made of living and non living things
example of an ecosystem
pond, woodland
emergent
tallest trees in the rainforest that grow above the others to get sunlight
food chain
the relationship between who eats what in an ecosystem
food web
a more complex pattern between consumers and producers in an ecosystem
producer
convert sunlight into energy through plants
C: Name some global ecosystems
-tropical rainforest
-tundra
-desert
-polar region
I: Describe the location of tropical rainforest ecosystem
30degrees N - 20degrees S
along the equator
South America, India
I: Describe the location of tundra ecosystem
60degrees - 70degrees N
North of north America, North of Asia
Russia
Explain the characteristics of tropical rainforest
climate
-hot
-high rainfall
plants
-high biodiversity
animals
-various animal species
Explain the characteristics of a desert ecosystem
climate
-hot
-dry
plants
-low biodiversity
animals
-small
-nocturnal
Explain the characteristics of tundra ecosystem
climate
-cold
-windy
plants
-low plants
-small and short trees in warmer areas
animals
-wolves
-reindeers
Explain the characteristics of polar region ecosystem
climate
-very cold
plants
-very few plants
-mosses and lichens
animals
-polar bears
-penguins
what is a food chain made up of?
producer–> herbivore/consumer –> omnivore/consumer –> carnivore/consumer
What affects climate around the world?
Built up areas
Distance from the sea
How does distance from the equator affect climate around the world? (temperature)
Distance from the equator:
The closer a country is to the equator the hotter it will be. This is because the sun’s rays are more concentrated here as thay have a shorter distance to get to the earth’s surface.
The further away from the equator the colder it will be as the sun’s rays are less concentrated as they have longer distance to travel to get to the earth’s surface.
How do built up areas affect climate locally?
More cars can be found in urban areas and they emit heat. While houses and streets hold heat. This means urban areas will be warmer than rural areas.
How does distance from the equator affect climate around the world? (precipitation)
The warm air found near the equator rises9as it is less dense than cold air). This then cools, condenses and forms clouds. The clouds will eventually become too heavy and unable to withhold the water so it rains.
What are some natural features of a rainforest?
waterfalls
lots of wildlife
layers of tropical rainforest
I: Describe buttress roots (physical feature of rainforest)
roots, which are strong, stabalising and wide
I: Describe Lianas (physical feature of rainforest)
vines that wrap around trees
I: Describe epiphytes (physical feature of rainforest)
plants, which grow on trees
How have buttress roots helped adapted plants to it’s environmet?
They stabalise the tree so it can grow tall enough withour falling. Trees need to grow tall so they can reach sunlight
How have lianas helped adapted plants to it’s environmet?
They allow plants to gain sunlight so they can grow and photosynthesise
How have epiphytes helped adapted plants to it’s environmet?
Growing on trees mean they can receive sufficient sunlight so they can photosythesise and grow
C: State some some human uses of the rainforest
mining
logging
medical research
I: How do loggers use the rainforest?
Gather a variety of wood for furniture or firewood
How do miners use the rainforest?
Extract ores and minerals e.g. copper, iron
How do medical researchers use the rainforest?
Use the plants within the rainforest for medicines
Benefits of logging
-creates jobs
-rainforest is more accessible
Benefits of mining
-mining ores can lead to a lot of money
Benefits of medical research
-cures are created to treat the suffering
Problems with logging
-mass harvesting
-damages environment
… contributes to climate change as it leaves more CO2 in the atmosphere
Problems with mining
-pollute rivers, threatening local/indigineous communities
-deforestation has to occur before mining can take place
-habitats and homes are destroyed
problems with medical research
-indigenous people are fully relient on this job, they have no back plan if it fails
-can lead to mass extraction for the medicine
Problems for the future of rainforests
If we continue destroying rainforests at current rates, then rainforests are likely to disapear in 100 years.]
Currently 10 species a day are being lost due to mass deforestation.
What is being done to protect rainforests?
International agreements
-2015 Paris Agreement
-global leaders work together to help reduce the impact of the disaster
Ecotourism
-minimises damage to environment
-benefits locals e.g. tour guides
-waste and litter is disposes properly
outsourcing
getting another company to find cheaper resources
Positives of Tnc’s
LIC
-Offers people jobs who otherwise be without income
-money that people earn go toward helping the local economy, improving the area (multiplier effect)
-living standard is raised from tax and investments
Positive of Tnc’s
HIC
negatives of tnc
LIC
-work long hours with little pay, exploitation
-few environmental laws in place, causing high pollution levels and industrial accidents
negatives of tnc
HIC
-move profits so they can avoid paying tax, illegal
TNC
a business or company which is in two or mroe countries
