ecosystems

Question 1

describe small scale ecosystem (pond)

Answer 1

1. plants like reeds grow in the water around the edge of the pool
2. banks grow grasses, bushes, and trees
3. at the edge of the pond water is shallow and water Lillies grow here
4. At the centre it will be deeper and this is where fish are found
5. On the surface are ducks and small insects

Question 2

what caused changes to the pond ecosystem (natural causes) ?

Answer 2

extreme weather events such as droughts can be devastating to ponds and lakes as it causes plants to dry out. Fish are starved of oxygen.

Question 3

What causes changes to the small-scale ecosystem, forest (human activities)?

Answer 3

1. Woodcut down destroys habitat for birds.
2. Hedgegrows removed to make space for fields, habitats destroyed
3. agricultural fertilizer can lead to eutrophication; nitrates cause algae to grow will deplete oxygen and fish will die
4. Ponds drained for farming uses, causing aquatic plants and fish to die.

Question 4

Where are tropical rainforests found?

Answer 4

close to the equator

Question 5

where are deserts found?

Answer 5

30 degrees north and south of the equator

Question 6

Where are polar regions found?

Answer 6

arctic/antarctic

Question 7

Deciduous and coniferous forest

Answer 7

50-60 degrees north and south of the equator

Question 8

Where are Temperate grasslands found?

Answer 8

30-40 degrees north and south of the equator, away from coasts.

Question 9

Where are Mediterranean areas found?

Answer 9

40-45 degrees north of the equator. Only some areas south (South Africa and western Australia)

Question 10

Where are Tropical grasslands found?

Answer 10

between 15-30 degrees north and south of the equator

Question 11

Where are the tundras found?

Answer 11

from the arctic circle to about 60-70 degrees north.

Question 12

what are the threats to Malaysia’s rainforest?

Answer 12

logging
Commercial farming 
population pressure
mineral extraction 
subsistence farming

Question 13

what is logging (Malaysia)?

Answer 13

In Malaysia, they used clear-felling where they cleared large areas of forest, which led to the destruction of the rainforest. However, it is now that they use selective logging more often, this is where they only cut down fully developed trees and leave the trees most essential to the ecosystem unharmed.

Question 14

mineral extraction in Malaysia

Answer 14

Trees are being cleared in order to make area to extract minerals and road construction. Drilling for oil and gas has also begun.

Question 15

Population pressure in Malaysia

Answer 15

In the past poor urban people were encouraged to move to the countryside by the government. This resulted in 15000 Hectares of trees being cut down in order for there to be space for the new residents.

Question 16

Commercial farming in Malaysia

Answer 16

Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world.. Large areas of land have been cleared for palm oil plantations.

Question 17

Subsistence farming?

Answer 17

Local people will use empty pockets of land to grow crops and plants. One method of clearing an area is called slash and burn this is where they use fire to burn away areas of land, the burning creates valuable nutrients for plants to grow, however, if it gets out of control it can damage large areas of trees and plants.

Question 18

environmental impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

Answer 18

Soil erosion

Loss of biodiversity

Question 19

Soil erosion

Answer 19

Soil takes thousands of years to form, but it can be stripped away in hours. Removal of soil by wind and rain is called soil erosion. The roots of plants and trees bind the soil together, this means that deforestation leaves the soil loose and can be easily eroded.

Question 20

Loss of biodiversity

Answer 20

Rainforests have the largest range of biodiversity in the world, this means when deforestation occurs animals that live on the ground or in the trees lose their habitats.

Question 21

Deforestation, contribution to climate change

Answer 21

Plants and trees use photosynthesis to take CO2 from the air which they convert to oxygen. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, if there are fewer plants to extract it there is more in the atmosphere. Trees also give off moisture by use of transpiration, deforestation results in a drier climate. The process of evaporation uses up the heat and cools the air, if trees are cut down cooling stops results in temperature rise.

Question 22

Deforestation, economic gains in Malaysia.

Answer 22

1. development for mining or farming, leads to more jobs for local people
2. companies will pay tax to the government which can be used to improve public services such as education or water supply
3. improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas for industrial development and tourism
4. Hydroelectric power provides cheap and powerful energy
5. minerals like gold are valuable

Question 23

Deforestation, economic losses in Malaysia

Answer 23

1. pollutions of water sources and an increasingly dry climate may result in water shortages
2. fires can burn out of control destroying areas of valuable forest
3. Rising temperatures can stop types of farming
4. Plants that are used for medical reasons and make a high profit may become extinct
5. Climate change may have an economic cost as people have to adapt to living in a hotter climate
6. Number of tourists attracted to rainforests could decrease.