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KAJ Geography AS > Cold KQ2 > Flashcards

Cold KQ2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the Ecosystem controls?

A

Climate - Precipitation, Temp, Sunlight, Wind
Edaphic - Soils
Topography - Altitude, Slope Angle, Aspect
Human Modification
Biotic - Living components

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2
Q

Define Ecosystems?

A

Set of living organisms and their interaction with their physical and chemical environments to produce a stable open system

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3
Q

What does self regulated mean?

A

In a state of equilibrium

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4
Q

What does resistance mean?

A

The ability for an ecosystem to withstand a disturbance

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5
Q

What does resilience mean?

A

The capability to recover

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6
Q

What does homeostasis mean?

A

The maintenance of an equilibrium

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7
Q

What does fragility mean?

A

Easy of disturbance

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8
Q

What are the 2 components of a ecosystem?

A

Biotic - living - producers and consumers

Abiotic - non living - climate and soils

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9
Q

What is biomass?

A

Total amount of living matter at any one time

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10
Q

What is dead organic matter?

A

Litter, twigs, leaves (decaying matter)

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11
Q

Explain the typical tundra soils?

A 
Bottom to top
Impermeable permafrost
Angular rock fragments
Waterlogged soil with slow deposition 
Peat bog
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12
Q

Why is the Tundra ecosystems so fragile?

A 
Low availability to nutrients
Short growing season
Extreme weather
Waterlogged soil
Limited precipitation
Low levels of resistance/resilience 
Short food webs
Low productivity
Low species diversity
Permafrost
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13
Q

How have plants adapted to suit the alpine environments?

A

Grow within rock - algae
Tree with a lateral trunk (shelter from wind)
All nutrients used - egg decay of bone lead to miniature gardens forming
Insulated stems and flowers that track the sun - arctic sun

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14
Q

Why is a hummock shape a good adaption?

A

It is like a cushion plant and the shape conserve the energy and keeps in 7 degrees warmer

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15
Q

Explain the Tree Groundsel?

A

Their dead leaves stay attached and act as lagging on the plant protecting it from the frost

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16
Q

Explain Alpine Meadows?

A

Full of flowers, decay is slow and peaty soil forms over solid rock - trees would be swept away avalanches
So shallow rooted perennials dominate

17
Q

Why are there low biodiversity?

A

Very harsh climate - low precipitation, low temp, limited sunlight & strong winds
Poor soils - lacking nutrients, top layer partially frozen, permafrost, waterlogged
Human Impacts - pollution associated oil industries

18
Q

Is net primary productivity high or low?

A

Low meaning there is little energy made available to plants and animals

19
Q

Are there many decomposers?

A

No it is limited

20
Q

What happens to the soils in the summer?

A

They become very waterlogged and prevent maximum growth - no oxygen

21
Q

Why are cold environments so fragile?

A 
Harsh climate - preventing growth of plants
Low resistance 
High disturbance 
Low resilience 
Short food chains
22
Q

How many species of birds animals are found in the arctic?

A

70/8600 species of bird

23/3200 species of animals

23
Q

What are the stores in the nutrients cycle?

A

Soil
Biomass
Litter

24
Q

What are the inputs in the nutrients cycle?

A

Precipitation

Weathering rock

25
Q

What are the outputs in the nutrients cycle?

A

Run off

Leaching

26
Q

What are the processes in the nutrients?

A

Uptake path - Soil to biomass
Fall out path - Soil to litter
Decomposition path - Litter to soil

27
Q

What is the climate like in the Tundra?

A

Long winters below freezing for up to 11 months
Little precipitation about 250mm p/a
Strong winds

28
Q

What are the human impacts on the Tundra?

A 
Oil drilling - Alaska 
Iron ore mining - Sweden 
Gold mining - Alaska
Tourism - Alaska
Transport - Alaska - Trans Alaska Highway 
Military Exercises - Norway
29
Q

What are the animals like in the Tundra?

A

Pigmentation - colour changes - arctic hares, arctic foxes, weasels that turn white in winter then brown in the summer
Insulation - lots of fur
Small size - reduce heat and moisture loss
Migration - to find food supplies

30
Q

What are the soils like in the Tundra?

A 
They are:
Shallow
Infertile
Acidic
Waterlogged
Peaty
31
Q

What is the vegetation like in the Tundra?

A

Low lying plants
Wide roots
Coarse grass - herbs - lichen - moss
NPP is low

KAJ Geography AS (11 decks)

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