Ecosystems

Question 1

What are the planet’s natural systems?

Answer 1

Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere

Question 2

Where the biosphere found between?

Answer 2

Between the lithosphere and atmosphere

Question 3

What is the human value of the biosphere?

Answer 3

Used for materials, food, water and energy - valuable resources for economies

Question 4

What is the natural value of the biosphere?

Answer 4

The planets’ animals, air, water, soils and minerals

Question 5

What’s the climate like in tropical rainforests?

Answer 5

• Average temperature is 28°C
• 2000mm of rain per year
• No seasons

Question 6

What’s the soil like?

Answer 6

• Red in colour and rich in iron
• Thick layer of litter, thin fertile layer
• Nutrients washed out due to heavy rainfall

Question 7

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 7

The study of the living and non-living things in an environment where the living things interact between each other and also with the non-living environment that are found within

Question 8

What are the biotic aspects of the rainforest?

Answer 8

• Animals
• Vegetation
• Detritivores - millipedes and worms
• Decomposers (bacteria & algae)
• Dead animals and plants

Question 9

What are the abiotic aspects of the rainforest?

Answer 9

• Air
• Water
• Soil
• Climate (temperature, water, light)

Question 10

What do leaves do?

Answer 10

Enable photosynthesis by using carbon dioxide, warmth and sunlight

Question 11

What do trees do?

Answer 11

They produce their own energy from light for the whole ecosystem - producers

Question 12

What does soil do?

Answer 12

It’s crucial for growth as it produces minerals for cell growth

Question 13

What are the primary consumers?

Answer 13

Caterpillars, who eat the leaves/fruits (herbivores)

Question 14

What are the secondary consumers?

Answer 14

Birds - they eat both animals and plants (omnivores)

Question 15

What are the top consumers?

Answer 15

Jaguar - they only eat animals (canivores)

Question 16

What happens when animals and plants die?

Answer 16

Bacteria, funghi and worms decompose them quicky due to the humid conditions

Question 17

What happens to the minerals and where are they found?

Answer 17

They are found in dead animals and plants and returned to the soil where it’s used for growth by vegetation

Question 18

What are some facts about the rainforest?

Answer 18

• 16,000 tree species
• 40,000 plant species
• 1,300 bird species
• 10,000 animal species

Question 19

Why is there such high biodiversity in the TRF?

Answer 19

• The climate is perfect for year-round growth and reproduction
• Rainforests are ancient and have a stable climate, so thousands of different species have evolved
• The multiple layers in a tropical rainforest provide numerous different, specialised habitats so plants and animals have evolved to take advantage of these

Question 20

Why are leaves on the forest floor dark?

Answer 20

Dark colours absorb more light so photosynthesis is more effective - more light is transformed into chemical energy

Question 21

What are lianas and their adaptations?

Answer 21

They are climbing plants that loop around tree trunks to get to the light faster as they have no support other than the trees

Question 22

What are emergents and their adaptations?

Answer 22

40m high trees with no branches so all their energy can reach the light through their height

Question 23

What are Buttress roots and their adaptations?

Answer 23

3m wide roots which support the emergents but because the soil is poor, the roots must grow wide and shallow

Question 24

What are epiphytes and their adaptations?

Answer 24

Plants that grow on trees’ branches so they can be above the canopy and also have aerial roots which take in nutrients from the air

Question 25

What are vegetation leaves and their adaptations?

Answer 25

Due to large amounts of water, having a drip tip allows the leaf to photosynthesise and create energy

Question 26

What does the Efe tribe do?

Answer 26

• Gather yams, nuts, berries from the forest
• They hunt monkeys and antelope for meat and fish the rivers
• They hunt giant forest hog and trade its meat for utensils

Question 27

What do ‘slash and burn’ farmers do?

Answer 27

• Farmers clear small areas by cutting and burning the trees
• The ash from burning adds nutrients to the soil
• The land is farmed for food for 5 years but after that the soil becomes infertile and the farmers move to a new area

Question 28

How sustainable is ‘slash and burn’ farming?

Answer 28

• When it’s done by small amounts it’s sustainable

- Too many farmers can destroy the land

Question 29

What is the definition of sustainable?

Answer 29

Meeting the needs of the present population without compromising it for the next generation. To ensure sustanability, environment, people and money should be considered equally.

Question 30

What do TNCs do?

Answer 30

Clear large areas to:

• Commercially farm beef, or to grow soy
• Grow commercial crops such as palm oil or cocoa
• Mine metal ores
• Timber

Question 31

How do TNCs exploit the forest?

Answer 31

Although it provides profits for them, jobs for people and income for government, it can lose natural services from the ecosystem such as the carbon store and water cycle

Question 32

How does economic development attribute to deforestation?

Answer 32

• Devloping countries’ economies are boosted through the building of roads, cities and damming rivers
• The Tacuri Dam flooded 1750km^2 of water

Question 33

How does debt play a part in deforestation?

Answer 33

• Countries are driven to cut down forests to export timber or cash crops
• 6 million hectares of palm oil cut used as a biofuel, cosmetics and foodstuff

Question 34

How has Brazil played a part in deforestation?

Answer 34

• Cattle ranches have earned money from internal exports to pay off debt
• The grass is grazed by cattle and the meat sold

Question 35

How has the middle class played a part in deforestation?

Answer 35

• Its growth is biggest in South America and Asia - where the world’s rainforests are
• Bigger houses, more furniture

Question 36

How has global economy played a role in deforestation?

Answer 36

25% of the world lives in informal settlements (1.8bn) - a big challenge for communities and governments

Question 37

What can TNCs do with departments in many different countries?

Answer 37

• Lower production costs

- Increase sales income