Ecosystems Flashcards
What is the climate like in High altitude areas
Cold
Thinner air
What is the soil like in high altitude areas
Frozen
How does a very cold climate in soil impact plants?
Slows growth
Low biodiversity
What are plants like in high altitude areas?
Deciduous/coniferous??
Coniferous
Define large-scale ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment on a large scale
State two characteristics about the boreal forest ecosystem
Very cold winters
Coniferous trees
Rainfall less than 500 mm per year
50 to 60° north/south
Rising air (low-pressure)
State two characteristics of temperate forest ecosystems
Rainfall about 1000 mm per year
Deciduous trees
40 to 60° north/south
Moorland
Found in Highland areas
With heavy rainfall
E.g. North Yorkshire
Soils are acid and peaty
Only certain plants can survive e.g. Bracken and Birds such as grouse
Heathland
Found in lowlands
Such as the Gower in Wales
Dry, sandy soil
Small shrubs, like gorse
Animals such as hares
Woodland
Oak and Ash trees
Broadleaf deciduous trees
Can be plantations of conifers in Upland areas
Mainly trees
Moss grows under trees
Animals deers badgers
tawny owls
Wetland
Ponds and streams to rivers
Eg the fens
Peaty fertile soils
Occasionally waterlogged
Lots of reeds and bulrushes
Otters
Marine systems
- value
Provides
energy
food
Habitats
attraction - good for economy
New jobs
Marine ecosystems
- degraded
Overfishing
Construction- wind turbines - cables
Smothered habitats - sea bed
beeches flooded with sewage
Biotic definition
Living organisms in an area
Plants
Animals
(Decomposers)
Humans
Etc
Abiotic definition
Physical non living environment of an area
Climate
Soil
Water
Light
Where is the tropical rainforest located
Around 0°
Either side of equator
Between 23.5°N (tropic of cancer)
And 23.5°S (tropic of Capricorn)
In:
Central America
Africa
Asia
Austrilasia
Where are deciduous woodlands located
Between 40°N and 65°N of the equator in:
North America
Europe
Asia
Temp and rainfall in d woodland
Less steady temp - hottest in summer
Steady rainfall ≈50mm
The high altitude location of the deciduous woodland causes its climate to be seasonal with a large range of temperature. This is because of the earths tilt causing different amount of solar energy throughout the year, making seasons e.g. summer winter.
Temp and rainfall in t rainforest
Steady high temp ≈ 27°
Less steady rainfall - least in summer
They are located along the equator, which means the suns rays are concentrated so less variation
Some rainforests have dryer seasons due to the Inter tropical conversion zone (ITCZ) moving due to the earths tilt
Band of low-pressure – hot high rainfall
Biomass size
Deciduous versus tropical rainforest
Deciduous
Warm summers inconsistent Wayne, long hours of daylight in summer most growth occurs in spring and summer
Tropical rainforest
There is a huge biodiversity because it’s both hot and wet all year round
Soil size
Deciduous versus tropical rainforest
Deciduous
Nutrients flow freely between the stores decomposition occurs in autumn providing nutrients to the soil. Not much meeting occurs with rain is not intense earthworms mix in the nutrients, deep tree roots help break down rocks
Tropical rainforest
The nutrients in the soil it taken up quickly by the large number of plants, or they are washed away, but I have a heavy rainfall
Leaf litter size
Deciduous versus tropical rainforest
Deciduous
Trees lose their leaves in the autumn, and they are broken down into the winter in wet conditions
Tropical rainforest
The climate (hot and wet) provides an ideal environment for decomposers, which led to rapid rate of decomposition. Heavy rain may wash leaves away
Tropical rainforest
Roots
Biodiversity
Shallow roots
Quick nutrient cycle
Shallow soil
More biodiversity
Variety
Habitats for species
Four Layers.
Layers in TRF
Emergents
Main canopy
Under canopy
Shrub later
(Ground level)
Layers in d woodland
Canopy layer
Sub-canopy layer
Herb layer
(Ground level)
Impacts of climate change
On tropical rainforest
Trees cut down, means less rainfall means less transpiration from leaves
Climate change means less rainfall means higher temperatures species, go, extinct, food, chains are broken, less biodiversity
Less trees, less carbon storage, less water cycle, no more habitats, impacts tourism, which impacts economy
Causes
Social growing population means more buildings and infrastructure needed
Economic using natural resources to generate income
Impacts of climate change on deciduous woodlands
No major impact
Fast entry price trees live long can adapt
Storms, unstable, drought means less water forest fires, are more susceptible to disease
Mild winters fruiting in flowering disrupted pests and diseases, not killed by frost
Species will have to move North by 300 km for heat some species under threat, for example, plants, like bluebells, disrupts complex, food, webs of ancient woodlands
Cauzes
Social population growth demand for land and food
Economic - need for timber
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Tropical rainforest
Agriculture
Cleared for our culture – which soil is that can support lush vegetation
Theresa Feldon burned as nutrients to the soil
After a few years, lots of fertiliser needed to produce high yields, which is less profitable. The first flight is going to be causing, eutrophication their abandoned or left to cattle ranches.
Some flood plane land can be used for growing cash crops, although it’s risky for disease spread
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Tropical rainforest
Resource extraction
Governments like Brazil sold rights to minerals in the rainforest to raise money to develop the country. However, the indigenous inhabitants were really consulted, causes disagreements because they believe they own the land of the government doesn’t have the right to grant minarets two large companies.
Cleared for large-scale mining operations and access to roads and settlement workers to live
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Tropical rainforest
Population pressure
Timber is being felt for use as fuel and building materials would increase of deforestation as more resources are needed
Deforestation definition
The cutting down or removal of all, or almost all of the trees in a forest area
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Deciduous woodland
Agricultural change
Economic
Higher demand for land to be used for agriculture
Hi, deforestation rate because land needed because there are more people
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Deciduous Woodland?
Timber extraction
Off the wall there is a short supply, only 5% of the UK forest remained in 1919. This led to the government set up the forestry commissioN
Social and economic causes of deforestation
Deciduous woodland
Urbanisation and population growth
I demand for resources like food growth in urban areas for people to live caused the removal of more of the native forest
Biotic characteristics and adaptations
Canopy trees
TRF
Buttress roots, give them stability, nutrient store
Trees in canopy have small leaves to prevent water loss to transpiration
Deciduous woodland
In Spring Grove, lightweight leaves, captures sunlight grow quick exposed surface area for code loses leaves
Biotic characteristics and adaptations
Forest floor
Tropical rainforest
Plants on Forest floor large leaves, lack of light
Deciduous woodland
Flower, early in the year before trees above can block out light
Biotic characteristics and adaptations
Animals
Tropical rainforest
Toucans live in canopy, long beaks, which fruit on small branches
Sloth lives in canopy camouflage still in branches can’t be seen
Chameleons camouflage, pray can’t see them
Deciduous woodland
Hedgehogs hibernate code once slow heart rate and breathing survive on body fat
Nightingale migrates to Africa to avoid cold months with little food
Squirrel store feet underground in colder months. Food is still available.
