Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts.
What is a biome?
Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate (weather, temperature) animals and plants.
What is the distribution of tropical rainforests around the world?
Tropical rainforests are mainly located between the latitudes of 23.5°N (the Tropic of Cancer) and 23.5°S (the Tropic of Capricorn)—the tropics. Tropical rainforests are found in Central and South America, western and central Africa, western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea, and Australia.
What are the 4 layers of a tropical rainforest?
Emergent, canopy, under-canopy and forest floor
How have drip tips adapted to their environment?
Drip tip get their name from the shape of the leaf which lets rain drip off to protect themselves and they have a thick waxy coat which protects them against rain and insects. They also have sharp edges to keep hungry things away.
Adaptations of lianas:
Thick vines called lianas reach sunlight by looping around tree branches.
Adaptations of buttress roots:
The tallest trees have buttress roots, to stop themselves falling over
Epiphytes adaptations:
Plants called epiphytes just perch on high branches. They feed on rain and nutrients from rotting leaves.
Name 3 impacts of deforestation in tropical rainforests:
The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for Indigenous people.
How can we prevent deforestation?
- Buy responsibly sourced products
- Support indigenous communities
