battle for the biosphere

Question 1

what is a biome?

Answer 1

A very large ecosystem e.g. desert, rainforest

Question 2

describe the distribution of global biomes

Answer 2

• along the Equator– Tropical rainforests
• Hot countries along the Tropic of Cancer-Hot deserts
• North of Tropic of Cancer-temperature deciduous forests
• tundras

Question 3

what factors affect the distribution of global biomes

Answer 3

• altitude – every 100 m climbed temperature drops by 1° e.g. Kilimanjaro is Equatorial yet the summit has snow and ice
• Latitude – distant from equator. Temperature drops further and area is from Equator. temperature is cooler areas closer to Poles as sun is at a lower angle in the sky so more energy lost
• precipitation – alternates with distance from equator. On equator suns energy is highest so air is warm resulting in low pressure and high precipitation
• soil type – nutrient rich soils encourage the growth of ecosystems e.g. Deltas often have greater biodiversity such as Camargue, France
• Distance from the sea – coastal areas warm in summer miles in winter. Inland areas hot in summer cold in winter

Question 4

what are the roles of the biosphere in regulating the composition of the atmosphere?

Answer 4

• forests remove CO2 atmosphere (carbon sinks) – reducing global warming
• forests give out oxygen – purifying atmosphere and regulating climate

Question 5

what are the roles of the biosphere in influencing the hydrological cycle?

Answer 5

• Forest protect watersheds from soil erosion and intercept precipitation – preventing flash flood
• Forests keep water pure by trapping silt
• Reefs and mangroves provide protection from coastal storms

Question 6

what is the role of the biosphere in maintaining soil health?

Answer 6

•Nutrient cycling – forest provide leaf litter forming humus – Making soil more fertile for growing crops

Question 7

what is the role of the biosphere for humans?

Answer 7

• food e.g. fish meat fruits nuts and berries
• medicines e.g. vitamins plants which make medicines
• Raw materials e.g. timber bamboo rubber and water

Question 8

what are the direct human activities causing rainforest destruction?

Answer 8

• Cattle ranch farming – used to expand land owning. Happens because food is needed
• mining– For gold copper diamond and other precious metals involves gold deposits and mined by large scale operators and illegal miners. Causes new roads to be built
• logging– Timber. Unsustainable developed countries with an increased demand for wood have been linked to logging
• plantation farming
• Subsistence farming

Question 9

what are the indirect human activities causing a rainforest destruction?

Answer 9

• climate change –
>Increased temp from global warming would cause a rise in global sea levels causing flooding
>Fluctuating temp mean plants cant survive – aren’t adapted
>Increased temp – less rainfall causing droughts
• population growth –
> increased car ownership – more trees cutdown for fuel
> increased demand for food – more trees cut down for farming land e.g. cattle ranching
• globalisation –
>Urbanisation and business – trees cutdown so more space for buildings eg.homes
•Pollution

Question 10

name and give advantages and disadvantages of a global scale approach to biosphere conservation

Answer 10

ramsar convention on wetlands 1971
• 168 countries signed
• conserves over 1,500,000 km² of wetlands around the world
• 1700 wetlands

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•International mutual agreement of how best to manage wetlands
• achievable and practical due to wise use policies
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• difficult to implement
• not all countries signed
•Developing countries unable to afford
•Limits economic development

Question 11

name and give advantages and disadvantages of a local approach to ecosystem management

Answer 11

Kilum Forest reserve, Cameroon Republic
• future use – selective logging, afforestation

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• economic development for local poor people
• run by locals – more effective
• easy to monitor
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• Limited funding schemes – poor communities
•Different schemes aren’t as successful

Question 12

what are the challenges of producing sustainable outcomes of biosphere management?

Answer 12

economic –
• people and communities will want to make money – often involves using the biosphere
• most likely to damage your biosphere in long term – tension will arise

social –
• some businesses may flourish at the expense of others
• everyone needs to benefit and not at the expense of another person for something to be socially sustainable

environmental –
•To be sustainable involves not harming natural resources so they are unable to regenerate long-term

Question 13

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 13

and area made up of living things and their non-living environment e.g. pond forest desert