Battle For the Biosphere Flashcards
Name five biomes
Tropical rainforest desert temperate deciduous forest taiga (coniferous forest ) Tundra
Explain three ways that we can conserve the biosphere
People can visit national parks he’s allowed the scenery of the biomes to be admired while reducing deforestation which destroys habitats- which destroys habitats (3)
International agreements such as CITES, this agreement protect endangered species is and makes it prohibited to hunt them which allows them to increase and not become extinct
What is an ecosystem?
A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment
What is a biome?
A large ecosystem , a grouping of plants and animals over a large area
Explain the roles of temperature in explaining biome location
Temperature is the most important factor in by Biome location temperature : affects the length of the growing season ,the average temperature needs to be above 6°C for plants to grow
Certain animals can only survive in certain temperatures
Explain how precipitation affects the location of biomes
Different species need different amounts of rain to survive
Amount of rainfall determines whether a biome will be :temperate rainforest; grassland or desert
Name the local factors affecting biome distribution
Altitude
Soils
Explain how local factors affect the location of biomes
Altitude affects the distribution of biomes because every 1 hundred metres upwards the temperature drops by half a degree Celsius. Explains why mountainous regions on the equator have coniferous forests and tundra.
Different plants grow at different temperatures and may not survive if they are not in the right conditions this is why tough grasses are usually found on higher parts of mountains and trees are found near the bottom of mountains
Soil and geology has an influence as certain rocks can affect the fertility of soil in a biome ę.g Limestone creates dry soil conditions ,trees are less likely to be found in these areas
Soil is also important because less fertile soils will not support diverse plant life
Frozen soils are often impermeable ,which prevents root penetration and hinders growth of vegetation
Where are coniferous forests normally found?
These are at higher latitudes in Russia the coniferous forest is the most common found biome
Where is the Tundra Biome found?
In the Arctic Circle
What is a good?
Something that the biosphere gives us that is tangible
What is a service ?
Things the biosphere provides for us that are not tangible
State the services the biosphere provides for us
Gas regulation
Maintains soil health
Hydrological cycle
What does the biosphere do to maintain soil health and why is this important ? (Service)
-Dead leaves and plants add nutrients to the soil
- Insects and animals burrow into the soil, helping it to breathe,
This is important as if the soil is healthy, plants will grow well.
What does the biosphere do to regulate the composition of the atmosphere and why is this important ? (Service)
Plants absorb carbon dioxide which helps lower green house gas levels
Plants release oxygen which helps us to breathe
What does the biosphere influence the hydrological cycle and why is this important ? (Service)
The hydrological cycle filters water and makes it clean
It provides us with rain which is needed for plants to grow
State the goods that the biosphere provides us with
Foods
Medicines
Raw materials
How does the biosphere provide us with food (Good) and why is this important?
Provides us with sustainable ways to get food such as harvesting fruits berries and nuts
Animal products such as meat and fish
This is important as we need food to survive so we must rely on the biosphere
How does the biosphere provide us with Medicine (Good) and why is this important?
Many naturally occurring substances act as medicines ‘Quinine’ is a natural medicine derived from the cinchona tree found in the tropical rainforest. Quinine is used as a Malaria treatment
Madagascar (tropical rainforest) gives us the Rosy periwinkle which is a plant that is can be used to make the cancer fighting medicine Vinblastine which has increased the survival rate of childhood leukaemia from 10% to 95%
How does the biosphere provide us with raw materials (Good) and why is this important?
We need raw materials for industrial activities and our basic needs. Water is the most basic raw material.
The baobab tree in the tropical rainforest of Madagascar has a trunk that stores water this is essential especially for people living in in rural areas where rainfall is rare.
Natural products such as rubber which is made from trees is used to make tyres
Trees are a natural flood defence as they soak up water especially Mangrove trees found in latitudes between 25 degrees North and 25 degrees south
State the two ways the biosphere is being destroyed
Human Impact
Climate change
State the ways that Human Impact is destroying the biosphere
Industrial deforestation for Cattle farming and soy bean farming
Large HEP dams being built that flood the rainforest
Deforestation for small subsistent farming
Explain the ways human activity destroys the biosphere
Since 1970 20% of the Amazonian rainforest has been cleared
Most of the deforestation is for farming mainly cattle farming and Cows produce methane.
the clearance of trees leads to less carbon dioxide being absorbed which raises green house gases. Since trees are a carbon store when they are cut down carbon dioxide is released.
Higher green house gas emissions leads to climate change which leads to a change in weather patterns and temperature.
Large scale HEP dams such as the Belo Monte have flooded large areas of the rainforest
State how the biosphere is directly and indirectly being destroyed
Direct: Deforestation of tropical rainforest eg Amazonian
Indirect:Climate change
Explain the indirect ways defeatism of the biosphere occurs
The cutting of trees leads to increased gas emissions ➡️ Climate change which can lead sea level to rise and weather events may become more extreme also changes in weather patterns and temperature may occur ➡️ Tropical Rainforests die as temperature becomes arid
Animals may migrate because of change in climate/ loss of habitat
Species may become extinct which means there’s less biodiversity
Give an example of how the biosphere is conserved on a global scale and explain it
The CITES treaty protects 34,000 species of endangered plants and animals by banning trade in them. CITES hopes to ban illegal hunting and poaching
Give an example of how the biosphere is conserved on a national scale and explain it
National parks cover 13% of the earths land surface they preserve valuable landscapes and the biosphere within them while allowing people to enjoy the landscape
Give an example of how the biosphere is conserved on a local scale and explain it
UNESCO biosphere reserves: are used to manage conservation areas
They contain 3 Zones: A core protected zone,buffer zone, Intermediate Zone ( economic development education and work takes place here)
Or
Lalo loor Dry forest reserve :in Ecuador which conserves 500 acres of tropical rainforest from being cleared for Soya Production. The rainforest is hones to a large number of plants and animals
Volunteers care for the land and run deforestation schemes
State reasons for why it may be difficult to produce sustainable outcomes
GM crops are unethical
Global Demand:
Many people enjoy eating meet (cattle ranching essential ) especially in developed countries
Population growth in Brazil meens trees are cut down to make space for housing and farming increase from 60 million in the 1960s to 200 million
