describing biodiversity - classification of ecosystem

Question 1

biomes

Answer 1

the regions of the world with similar climate, animals & plants

Question 2

terrestrial ecosystems

Answer 2

land based ecosystems (e.g. tundras, deserts, forests, grasslands)

Question 3

aquatic ecosystems

Answer 3

water based ecosystems that are either marine (saltwater) or freshwater (e.g. oceans, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps)

Question 4

dominant species

Answer 4

usually the namesake of an ecosystem, usually a plant (e.g. mangrove swamp, coral reef)

Question 5

climate

Answer 5

the general weather conditions found in an area averaged over a long period of time

Question 6

main australian ecosystems

Answer 6

deserts, grasslands, scrublands, woodlands, alpine, open (sclerophyll) forests, closed (rainforest) forests, reefs & marshes

Question 7

substrate

Answer 7

a supporting surface on which an organism such as a plant grows. the substrate may simply provide structural support, or may provide water and nutrients. a substrate may be inorganic, such as rock or soil, or it may be organic, such as wood

Question 8

deserts

Answer 8

-round cover is in patches, widely spaced. true deserts are areas with rainfall less than 100 mm a year on average; 18% of mainland australia is desert. many desert plants are ephemerals, short-lived
species that appear following good rain. they rapidly germinate, grow, flower and set seed, while the desert soil is still moist. deserts also feature xerophytes, plants that have physical adaptations suited to the dry environment, such as having fewer, smaller leaves to minimise water loss, an example being the australian wattle

Question 9

grasslands

Answer 9

in arid regions, ground cover is typically hummocks and tussocks with a very low cover of <30%. the dominant species are grasses, which vary in height from 2cm-2m, many species are adapted to fire & drought

Question 10

scrublands

Answer 10

foliage cover of 30–70%. scrublands can also be called shrublands and heathlands, and they contain many different vegetation types. the typical vegetation is shrubs with a variable overstorey of small trees such as mulga (Acacia aneura) or eucalypts. scrublands are adapted to drought, fire and low (but highly variable) rainfall

Question 11

woodlands

Answer 11

widely spaced canopy cover of 10–30%; well-developed shrubs and grasses. the widely spaced trees are fewer and more scattered than in forests. woodlands are mainly dominated by eucalypts and
found mostly in southern, temperate australia

Question 12

alpine

Answer 12

low, fairly continuous ground cover. alpine ecosystems are found in cold mountain regions, including above the tree line (where altitude makes even summer temperatures too low for much tree
growth). this ecosystem has rocky landscapes, and may contain
glacial lakes and have seasonal snow coverage

Question 13

open (sclerophyll) forests

Answer 13

fairly open canopy cover of 30–70%; good understorey and ground cover. these forests are 25–35 m high, with fairly even height and moderately dense canopies that often join up. the forest floor can range from dry to damp and is covered with grasses and shrubs. these forests are dominated by eucalypts and are the most
common forest type in australia (the bush)

Question 14

closed (rainforest) forests

Answer 14

dense canopy cover of 70–100%; distinct layers or storeys within forest. rainforests are filled with mostly evergreen trees and
typically receive high amounts of rainfall. tropical rainforests are found near the equator, with high average temperatures
and humidity, while temperate rainforests lie mostly in coastal, mountainous areas within the mid-latitudes

Question 15

reefs and marshes

Answer 15

dense growth. a reef is a ridge of material at or near the surface of the ocean. reefs can occur naturally. Natural reefs are made of rocks or coral, which is the remains of skeletons of small animals. a marsh is a wetland, an area of land where water covers ground for long periods of time