Ecosystems Flashcards
Global effects on ecosystem distribution
Latitude is the distance a place is from the equator - the temperature decreases the further away from the equator due to the earths curvature.
So, deserts and rainforests found at lower latitudes.
Pressure belts are alternating areas of high and low pressure due to global wind patterns.
Low pressure areas create rainfall due to rising air, creating biomes such as TRFs and TDWs.
Local effects on ecosystem distribution
Continentality is when land is quick to heat and cool, whereas water is slow to heat and cool.
Continental areas have greater temperatures.
Coastal regions have lower temperatures.
Altitude is where temperature decreases by 1’C for every 100m above sea level.
Eg. Forest biomes decrease with altitude and are replaced by grass
Changes to function due to climate change in the TRF
Dry season means less vegetation due to increased surface runoff, leading to more sediment into drainage systems and polluted water bodies.
More CO2 emitted than soaked up leading to forest fires -CO2 released into the atmosphere.
Changes to structure due to climate change in the TRF
Lack of vegetation means animals feed off stored food or hibernate.
Trees drops leaves to avoid water loss through transpiration.
Deep roots to reach groundwater and are adapted to store water.
Animal adaptations in the TRF
Flying frog has fully webbed hands and feet and loose skin to glide from plant to plant.
Toucan has a large bill to reach and cut fruit from branches too weak to support its weight.
Plant adaptations in the TRF
Tree trunks are tall & thin to reach the sunlight .
Epiphytes live on tree branches in canopy and gain nutrients from air and soil.
Goods and services of rainforests
Goods - Stock of medicinal plants such as wasai for diuretics are in interest of global healthcare to be harvested sustainably and deliberately cultivated as crops.
Food sources such as cocoa, sugar and bananas.
Services - TRF’s are one of the largest carbon sinks in the world, protecting the earth from a flood of CO2.
28% of the worlds oxygen comes from the TRF, preventing the climate from becoming too hot and dry
Nutrient cycle in the TRF and TDW
Biomass is the largest store in both TDW and TRF, but is larger in the TRF due to more biodiversity.
Smaller litter store in both TDW and TRF as leaves drop into litter store and decompose quickly.
Decomposition occurs more in autumn than in winter.
Soil store is smallest in TRF as nutrients released into the soil are ‘hoovered up’ quickly.
In TDW, soil store is almost as large as the biomass as the soil can support more plants that are present.
Madagascar - Association Mitsinjo
Commodity value - Association Mitsinjo manages a rainforest restoration project since 2002.
Help offered to improving crop yields if farmers set aside land as a nursery for growing rainforest trees.
–> More than 1 million trees planted on over 1000 hectares.
Ecotourism - Association Mitsinjo started 15 years ago by wildlife guides who planned a community-based nature tourism association.
Money brings in 1/3 of the associations income annually while they patrol 10,000 hectares for illegal logging and animal hunting.
Plant adaptations in TDW
leaves and acorns contain acid tannin - protection from grazing.
Oak trees supply of water its cut off by a seal between leaf and twig - preserve water for winter.
Animal adaptations in TDW
Hedgehogs spend winter hibernating so their metabolic rate drops- little energy to survive.
Birds migrate south to warmer conditions such as Northern Africa.
Goods and services of temperate deciduous woodland
Goods - 13 million tonnes of timber produced in 2014 used for building - mostly from coniferous as quick to grow.
Medicinal plants such as horse chestnut relieves pain and inflammation
Services - Woodlands are popular for recreational activities such as cycling, dog walking and nature walks.
TDW is a carbon store, capturing one million tonnes a year, preventing a flood of carbon into the atmosphere.
The New Forest - Sustainable woodland management
Conifers in conservation’s cut down and replaced by native species - deciduous trees.
Pesticides + herbicides used to avoid damage to the ecosystem .
Work between April and august is minimised so nesting birds are not disturbed.
The New Forest - Sustainable uses
Carparks in New Forest so people don’t park on roadside verges - special cycle routes have been set up through the park to guide visitors away from vulnerable areas.
Hotels and campsites encouraged to join in sustainable transport schemes eg. The New Forest tour.
Electric bikes & vehicles with charge points around the park.
Visitor leaflet ‘5 ways to love the forest’ explains why people should drive slow and / or leave the car behind
TDW layers managing biodiversity
Well developed humus layer on the soil, where is a lot of biological activity in the spring and summer that breaks down litter from the previous autumn.
In spring, species such as bluebells in the herb layer flower early before leaves grow back in the canopy blocking out the available light through the summer.
Deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn to preserve water and energy during low temperatures.
