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Geography > Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Abiotic

A

Relating to nonliving things

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2
Q

Biotic

A

Relating to living things

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3
Q

Consumer

A

Creature that eats herbivores and/or plant matter

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4
Q

Nutrient cycling

A

A set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil water

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4
Q

Decomposer

A

An organism such as a bacterium or fungus which is then recycled to the environment

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5
Q

Global ecosystem

A

Very large ecological areas on the Earth surface (or biomes)

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6
Q

Fauna

A

Animals

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7
Q

Flora

A

Plants

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8
Q

Producer

A

An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the Sun through photosynthesis

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9
Q

Ecosystem characteristics

A

-take hundreds of years to develop
-need to be in balance, if there is a change to one of the components, it may well affect the rest of the ecosystem

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10
Q

Causes of change in the ecoystem

A

-Global scale changes, such as climate change
-local scale change such as changes to a habitat
-for example when a hedge is removed

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11
Q

Natural changes in the ecosystem

A

-Extreme weather events like a drought can be devastating to ponds and lakes
-plants will dry out and die
-Fish starved of oxygen might not survive

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12
Q

Human changes in the ecosystem

A

-agricultural fertilisers can lead to eutrophication
-ponds may be drained to use for farming

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13
Q

Ecosystems of ecosystems:Local ecosystem

A

A pond, hedge or woodland

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14
Q

Different types of ecosystems: Global ecosystem

A

A tropical rainforest or deciduous forest. The global ecosystems are called biomes

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15
Q

Types of biomes

A

-tundra
-temperate forest
-tropical rainforest

16
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variety of life in the world or a particular habitat

17
Q

Commercial farming

A

Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies

18
Q

Debt reduction

A

Countries are relieved of some of the debt in return for protecting the rainforests

19
Q

Deforestation

A

The chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest

20
Q

Ecotourism

A

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustained the well-being of the local people yet keeps impact on the local ecosystem minimal

21
Q

Logging

A

The business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmill

22
Q

Mineral extraction

A

The removal of solid mineral resources from the Earth which contain valuable amounts of metal

23
Q

Selective logging

A

The cutting out of trees which are mature or inferior to encourage the growth of the remaining trees in a forest of wood

24
Q

Soil erosion

A

Removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced

25
Q

Subsistence farming

A

A type of agriculture producing food and materials for the benefit only of the farmer and his family

26
Q

Sustainability

A

Actions and forms of progress that meets needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs

27
Q

Location of tropical rainforests

A

These lie along the equator in Asia, Africa and South America

28
Q

Characteristics of the tropical rainforest

A

cliamate:
-High rainfall and high temperatures throughout the year

vegitation:
-dense vegetation cover

soil:
-isn’t very fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away

animals:
-rainforests have more species than any other ecosystem

people:
-Home to many people, who have adapted to life over many generations

29
Q

Deforestation case study-Malaysia

A

The rate of deforestation in Malaysia is increasing faster than any tropical country in the world

Causes:
-logging-Malaysia became the worlds largest exporter of tropical wood in the 1980s
-Energy development-Bakun dam generates electricity, at the reservoir flooded 700 km² of forests

30
Q

Sustainable management in rainforests

A

-selective logging and re-planting
-conservation and education
-ecotourism
-International agreements-hardwood forestry and debt reduction

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