Ecosystems Flashcards
Define ecosystem
A natural environment consisting of plants, animals and their surrounding physical environment
What is a biotic factor
A living thing
What is an abiotic factor
A non-living thing
What are the primary producers of a food chain
Any plant - they use photosynthesis to make their food
What is a primary consumer or herbivore
An animal that eats plants
What is a carnivore
A secondary consumer that eats herbivore
What is a top level carnivore
A carnivore that eats both other carnivores and herbivores e.g. a wolf or lion
What is a trophic level
The level that an animal is on in a food chain e.g. primary producer, or top level carnivore
What is biomass
Total mass or weight of an organism or animal
What happens to the weight of biomass as we go up the trophic level
The biomass decreases
What are some reasons that biomass weight decreases down a food chain
Many parts of plants or animals are not eaten e.g. bone is not eaten
Energy is lost at each level in several ways, for example for respiration, digestion etc
What is an organism that breaks down dead matter called
Decomposer
What is a detritivore
A bacteria or organism that breaks down dead material
What is nutrient cycling
The constant movement of nutrition in an ecosystem
What are the three nutrient stores in the nutrient cycle
Leaf Litter / Litter
Biomass
Soil
What is interdependence
The dependence on other organisms by an organism e.g. animals are dependent on plants for oxygen, and plants dependent on animals for carbon dioxide
What is an example of an ecosystem in the UK
Epping Forest
Explain the nutrient cycle
A nutrient store is a plant, such as a tree. The plant periodically sheds its leaves as leaf litter, and the leaves fall on the ground as another store of nutrients. On the ground, composers such as detritivores decompose or break down the leaf litter so the nutrients are released into the soil, and the plants take in the nutrients from the soil, and the cycle continues
What could be the effect of losing a significant number of a population of species in an ecosystem
There will be a disruption to the food chain, as the species who feed on that population may decline, and species which that organism normally feeds on may thrive, reducing overall competition
Name some examples of biomes
Tundra or Cold Desert
Hot Desert
Tropical Rainforest
Deciduous forest
Coniferous forest
Savannah
Where are tropical rainforest found and why
Equator - there is a high amount of insolation, so the air is heated rapidly. Due to this, the warm air rises, and cools and condenses at the top to create clouds and precipitation, and a low pressure system
Name the largest rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
Describe the climate in tropical rainforests
Moist, humid, temperature exceeding 26 degrees C, often over 2500mm of rain
What is the vegetation like in a tropical rainforest
A lot of biodiversity, trees that can grow to 30-45m tall
What is the soil quality like in tropical rainforests
The soil quality is poor because most of the nutrients are stored in the plant biomass or leaf litter
What are the four layers of a tropical rainforest
Shrub layer
Undercanopy
Canopy
Emergent Layer
What is the main competition for plants in tropical rainforests
Sunlight
What are some adaptations of plants in the tropical rainforest
Large leaves to absorb maximum sunlight
Buttress and stilt roots to support large weight
Drip tips to prevent leaves and branches from snapping
Epiphytes - plants that live on the surface of other plants for sunlight
What is a symbiotic relationship
The relationship between a plant and an animal
What is an example of a symbiotic relationship
An animal may eat a fruit and deposit the seeds of that fruit in another part of the forest, helping to pollinate that plant
What is the rate of deforestation in South America
One football pitch of rainforest lost every five seconds
What are the eight different causes of deforestation in the Amazon
Logging
Road use
HEP
Settlement
Hunting and poaching
Cattle ranching
Crop farming
Mineral extraction
What us the biggest cause of deforestation in the Amazon
Cattle ranching - accounts for 10%
What are some local impacts of deforestation
Soil erosion
Loss of indigenous tribes
Local climate change
River pollution
Conflict
What are some global impacts of deforestation
Global Warming
Loss of biodiversity
How many species are lost every year from deforestation
50,000
What are some natural resources that can be harvested from rainforests
Wild fruit
Natural medicine
Rubber
Cocoa
Rope
Banana
Vanilla
What is the name given to the rainforest due to its ability to absorb large amounts of carbon
Carbon sink
What are four ways that tropical rainforests can be managed sustainably
International Agreements
Debt reduction
Non-Governmental Organisations
National Government law enforcements
Name some ways that deforestation can be managed
Selective logging
Replanting
Agroforestry
Stopping illegal logging
Les destructive mining
Creating a biosphere reserve
Eco-tourism
What is the definition of a hot desert (in terms of rainfall)
Less than 250 mm of rainfall a year
What are four opportunities for development in the Western Desert
Mineral Extraction
Tourism
Energy
Farming
What is the name of the largest open pit mine located in the Western Desert
Bingham Mine, Utah
Give the name of two national parks in the Western Desert
Joshua tree national part
Grand Canyon national park
Approximately how many visitors a year visit Las Vegas?
37 million
Name two types of energy that can be harnessed in the Western Desert
Hydro-electric Power
Solar power
Name two dams in the Western Desert
Hoover Dam
Glen Canyon Dam
How much of Colorado’s water supply are farmers allocated
80%
What are the two types of challenges that development in the Western Desert faces
Accessibility
Climate
What is a desert fringe
Areas at the borders of hot deserts, where there is greater biodiversity
What is desertification
The process where fertile land becomes desert
What can cause desertification
Drought
Inappropriate agriculture
Deforestation
What is an example of a desert fringe which is experiencing desertification
The Sahel Region Africa
What are the physical causes of desertification
Long term reduction in rainfall
Global warming is causing unpredictable fluctuations in rainfall
What are the demographic factors of desertification
High birth rate causes strain on agriculture
Migration - causes more desertification due to more inappropriate agriculture
What are the human factors of desertification
Overcultivation
Overgrazing
Chopping wood for building and fuel
What are three methods of reducing the effects of desertification
Bunds - trap water and cause infiltration
Selective pruning
Appropriate technology - efficient stoves use less energy and can also charge phones
Planting trees
