Ecosystems

Question 1

Define ecosystems

Answer 1

A community of living organisms sharing an environment

Question 2

Define biome

Answer 2

A very large ecosystem (e,g tropical rainforest)

Question 3

Name the 6 biomes

Answer 3

Polar, temperate, Mediterranean, mountainous, arid, tropical

Question 4

Describe what an arid climate would be like

Answer 4

Desert or a very hot, dry area. Little rainfall. Very hot summer and cooler winters; very cold at night

Question 5

Describe what a temperate climate would be like

Answer 5

Normally warm summers with mild winters, however temp can fluctuate. Consistent rainfall all year.

Question 6

Describe a Mediterranean climate

Answer 6

Hot summers, mild winters. Little rainfall and droughts in the summer, quite wet winters.

Question 7

Describe a tropical climate zone

Answer 7

Hot all year round, little temp fluctuation. Rains all year round, heavier in spring. Very humid

Question 8

Describe threats to coral reefs

Answer 8

Overfishing - too much of one type of fish
Climate change - coral cannot survive if too hot
Pollution
Coastal development - coral reefs are destroyed/have sewage directly poured onto them from coastal infrastructure
Coral mining
Careless tourism

Question 9

Describe threats to oceans

Answer 9

Overfishing - loss of sea life, food chain changed etc
Sea levels rise - people lose homes, water plants that need to be close to surface die
Coastal development- loss of sea life; new construction over aquatic habitats
Temperature rise - too hot for sea life. Oxygen dead zones with no marine life
Oil Spills - toxic chemicals infested by sea life. More acidic oceans
Plastic pollution - animals ingest plastics, choke and die

Question 10

Describe the ideal environmental conditions for coral reefs to grow

Answer 10

Hot temperature around 18’c all year round, clear/light blue water which is quite shallow (no more than 30m deep). Needs to be in the continental shelf section of the ocean - around land on sea bed.