case study ecosystems epping forest

Question 1

where is epping forest

Answer 1

east london

Question 2

what makes up epping forest

Answer 2

bogs

ponds and has it own unique species

Question 3

what is epping forest used for

Answer 3

hunting ground for royals timber resources and recreation

Question 4

what are the characteristics of epping forests food web

Answer 4

biodiversity is high because of careful management so there are complex food webs composed of thousands of species

Question 5

what is epping forest home to

Answer 5

oak elm ash beech trees holly and hazel grass bambles fern flowering plants and moss many insects mammels birds and 700 species of fungi

Question 6

how is the ecosystem interdependent

Answer 6

most trees loose leaves in winter to conserve energy so have large leaves to maximise photosynthesis in summer
so by mid autumn forest floor is covered in leaves by spring they have disappeared because of the work of decomposers and detritivores
nutrients stored in leaves and now in the soil ready to help new growth

Question 7

how do physical and human forces disturb the ecosystem balance give an example and what was the effect

Answer 7

periods of extreme weather as a result of climate change disturbs the ecosystem
in 1976 -77 england had 18 months of drought which killed many trees
population of consumers fell in food chain

Question 8

give an example of ecosystem resisliance

Answer 8

after the 76 drought when many tress died and consumer population fell secondary forest growth took place and consumers came back

Question 9

how can an ecosystem be permanantly damaged

Answer 9

by deforestation

Question 10

what are the effects of deforestation

Answer 10

removing the trees exposes the forest soil to rainfall which can be washed away making it impossible for ecosystem to recover

Question 11

Give an example of long term human induced change in an ecosystem

Answer 11

climate change threatens the balance of ecosystems - changes in temperature make it hard for epping forest to survive in its current form

Question 12

how does loss or gain of a species effect a food chain

Answer 12

direct impacts
if 1 species is effected by disease it impacts on those who feed on it - there is less available to eat so their numbers fall but will leave more of the producer as not as many are feeding on it
indirect impacts
other species are effected by secondary decline as primary consumers may feed more on other species which impacts on the species that usually feed on that

Question 13

how can management restore the balance

Answer 13

ecosystem restoration- introduce species eg grey wolf in yellowstone

Question 14

how can climate explain distribution of global eccosystems

Answer 14

tropical rainforest along the equator heavy rainfall with little variation perfect for evergreen forests

deserts found close to tropics dry air brings arid conditions
temperate grasslands
between rainforests and desserts dry for half the year becasue of hadley cell

temperate grasslands between 40 and 60 degrees north and south of equator away from the sea

mediteranean
30 -40 degrees north and south of equator where drought resistant evergreen shrubs survive

deciduous forests
grow at high latitude, where lots of storms - north america and new zealand

coniferous forests
where winter temperatures are cold because of lack of isolation

tundra arctic circle temperatures below freezing tough plants survive