AS Important Ecosystems

Question 1

Antarctic conservation

Answer 1

The Antarctic Treaty (1959), fisheries control, waste management, tourism control

Question 2

Antarctic features

Answer 2

very low temperatures , low precipitation, high albedo, high levels of marine nutrients, large variations in ice cover, extreme seasonal changes

Question 3

Antarctic importance

Answer 3

water store, ice albedo, carbon sequestration, resources, research

Question 4

Antarctic threats

Answer 4

global climate change, ozone depletion, tourism, overfishing, future mineral exploitation, scientific research

Question 5

Antarctic Treaty (1959)

Answer 5

An international agreement signed by many countries to protect and manage Antarctica. Aspects of the treaty include control of military activities, waste disposal, mineral exploitation, wildlife conservation and tourism.

Question 6

Broadleaf Woodland conservation

Answer 6

designated protected areas, legal protection of ancient woodland in the UK, conservation management.

Question 7

Broadleaf Woodland features

Answer 7

regular water supply, summers not very hot, winters not very cold, seasonality

Question 8

Broadleaf Woodland threats

Answer 8

deforestation for other land uses, fragmentation of remaining woodland, management change.

Question 9

Cetaceans

Answer 9

Marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Question 10

Broadleaf Woodland Importance

Answer 10

high biodiversity, resources, climate control, soil erosion control, recreation.

Question 11

Cnidarians

Answer 11

A taxon of animals that includes corals and jellyfish.

Question 12

Coppicing

Answer 12

The process of regularly cutting down tree branches close to ground level. The regrowth produces thin straight branches. It was traditionally done on a cycle of six to ten years for making fence panels and wall panels. Short-rotation willow coppice is now used as a biofuel.

Question 13

Debt for nature swaps

Answer 13

These are agreements whereby an organisation agrees to pay part of a country’s debt in return for a commitment to a wildlife conservation programme.

Question 14

Deep Water Coral Reef conservation

Answer 14

establishment of protected areas, control of damaging activities

Question 15

Deep Water Coral Reef features

Answer 15

cold and dark, slow coral growth

Question 16

Deep Water Coral Reef importance

Answer 16

research, fisheries

Question 17

Deep Water Coral Reef threats

Answer 17

demersal trawling, oil and gas exploration, ocean acidification

Question 18

Halophyte

Answer 18

An organism that thrives in conditions with a high salt concentration.

Question 19

International tropical timber organisation (ITTO)

Answer 19

An intergovernmental organisation which promotes the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources.

Question 20

Mangroves conservation

Answer 20

reforestation, control of damaging activities, establishment of protected areas

Question 21

Mangroves features

Answer 21

tropical climates, halophytic trees, low oxygen availability

Question 22

Mangroves importance

Answer 22

coastal erosion protection, fisheries, timber supplies, trap suspended solids

Question 23

Mangroves threats

Answer 23

clearance for urban development/ aquaculture, coral reef destruction, pollution, global climate change

Question 24

Oceanic Islands conservation

Answer 24

eradication of introduced species, control of developments and visitors

Question 25

Oceanic Islands features

Answer 25

isolation, few or no indigenous mammal predators, endemic species

Question 26

Oceanic Islands importance

Answer 26

endemic species

Question 27

Oceanic Islands threats

Answer 27

species exploitation, introduced species, habitat change/destruction, sea level rise

Question 28

Pollarding

Answer 28

The process of regularly cutting down tree branches above ground level, usually to prevent the regrowth being eaten by animals such as livestock or deer. It is usually done on a cycle of 5 to 30 years.

Question 29

Salinity

Answer 29

A measure of the salt concentration of a solution.

Question 30

Tropical Coral Reef conservation

Answer 30

control of damaging activities, establishment of protected areas

Question 31

Tropical Coral Reef features

Answer 31

cnidarians, nutrition systems, high light levels, warm, stable temperatures, low turbidity, constant salinity.

Question 32

Tropical Coral Reef importance

Answer 32

fisheries, erosion protection, medicinal discoveries, climate control, tourism.

Question 33

Tropical Coral Reef threats

Answer 33

physical damage caused by human activities, souvenir collection, sedimentation, climate change, pollution, fishing, introduced species

Question 34

Tropical Rainforest conservation

Answer 34

establishment of protected areas, Debt for Nature Swaps, sustainable exploitation

Question 35

Tropical Rainforest features

Answer 35

warm/hot, high rainfall, high light levels, inter-species relationships, low seasonality

Question 36

Tropical Rainforest importance

Answer 36

high biodiversity, resources, carbon sequestration, hydrological cycle, soil erosion control

Question 37

Tropical Rainforest threats

Answer 37

fuelwood collection, timber for construction and furniture, agricultural expansion, mineral extraction, reservoirs, global climate change, exploitation of individual species