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Geography > Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

Define ecosystem

A

A natural environment consisting of plants, animals and their surrounding physical environment

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2
Q

What is a biotic factor

A

A living thing

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3
Q

What is an abiotic factor

A

A non-living thing

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4
Q

What are the primary producers of a food chain

A

Any plant - they use photosynthesis to make their food

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5
Q

What is a primary consumer or herbivore

A

An animal that eats plants

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6
Q

What is a carnivore

A

A secondary consumer that eats herbivore

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7
Q

What is a top level carnivore

A

A carnivore that eats both other carnivores and herbivores e.g. a wolf or lion

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8
Q

What is a trophic level

A

The level that an animal is on in a food chain e.g. primary producer, or top level carnivore

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9
Q

What is biomass

A

Total mass or weight of an organism or animal

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10
Q

What happens to the weight of biomass as we go up the trophic level

A

The biomass decreases

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11
Q

What are some reasons that biomass weight decreases down a food chain

A

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

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12
Q

What is an organism that breaks down dead matter called

A

Decomposer

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13
Q

What is a detritivore

A

A bacteria or organism that breaks down dead material

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14
Q

What is nutrient cycling

A

The constant movement of nutrition in an ecosystem

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15
Q

What are the three nutrient stores in the nutrient cycle

A

Leaf Litter / Litter
Biomass
Soil

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16
Q

What is interdependence

A

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

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17
Q

What is an example of an ecosystem in the UK

A

Epping Forest

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18
Q

Explain the nutrient cycle

A

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

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19
Q

What could be the effect of losing a significant number of a population of species in an ecosystem

A

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

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20
Q

Name some examples of biomes

A

Tundra or Cold Desert
Hot Desert
Tropical Rainforest
Deciduous forest
Coniferous forest
Savannah

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21
Q

Where are tropical rainforest found and why

A

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

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22
Q

Name the largest rainforest

A

Amazon Rainforest

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23
Q

Describe the climate in tropical rainforests

A

Moist, humid, temperature exceeding 26 degrees C, often over 2500mm of rain

24
Q

What is the vegetation like in a tropical rainforest

A

A lot of biodiversity, trees that can grow to 30-45m tall

25
Q

What is the soil quality like in tropical rainforests

A

The soil quality is poor because most of the nutrients are stored in the plant biomass or leaf litter

26
Q

What are the four layers of a tropical rainforest

A

Shrub layer
Undercanopy
Canopy
Emergent Layer

27
Q

What is the main competition for plants in tropical rainforests

A

Sunlight

28
Q

What are some adaptations of plants in the tropical rainforest

A

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

29
Q

What is a symbiotic relationship

A

The relationship between a plant and an animal

30
Q

What is an example of a symbiotic relationship

A

An animal may eat a fruit and deposit the seeds of that fruit in another part of the forest, helping to pollinate that plant

31
Q

What is the rate of deforestation in South America

A

One football pitch of rainforest lost every five seconds

32
Q

What are the eight different causes of deforestation in the Amazon

A

Logging
Road use
HEP
Settlement
Hunting and poaching
Cattle ranching
Crop farming
Mineral extraction

33
Q

What us the biggest cause of deforestation in the Amazon

A

Cattle ranching - accounts for 10%

34
Q

What are some local impacts of deforestation

A

Soil erosion
Loss of indigenous tribes
Local climate change
River pollution
Conflict

35
Q

What are some global impacts of deforestation

A

Global Warming
Loss of biodiversity

36
Q

How many species are lost every year from deforestation

A

50,000

37
Q

What are some natural resources that can be harvested from rainforests

A

Wild fruit
Natural medicine
Rubber
Cocoa
Rope
Banana
Vanilla

38
Q

What is the name given to the rainforest due to its ability to absorb large amounts of carbon

A

Carbon sink

39
Q

What are four ways that tropical rainforests can be managed sustainably

A

International Agreements
Debt reduction
Non-Governmental Organisations
National Government law enforcements

40
Q

Name some ways that deforestation can be managed

A

Selective logging
Replanting
Agroforestry
Stopping illegal logging
Les destructive mining
Creating a biosphere reserve
Eco-tourism

41
Q

What is the definition of a hot desert (in terms of rainfall)

A

Less than 250 mm of rainfall a year

42
Q

What are four opportunities for development in the Western Desert

A

Mineral Extraction
Tourism
Energy
Farming

43
Q

What is the name of the largest open pit mine located in the Western Desert

A

Bingham Mine, Utah

44
Q

Give the name of two national parks in the Western Desert

A

Joshua tree national part
Grand Canyon national park

45
Q

Approximately how many visitors a year visit Las Vegas?

A

37 million

46
Q

Name two types of energy that can be harnessed in the Western Desert

A

Hydro-electric Power
Solar power

47
Q

Name two dams in the Western Desert

A

Hoover Dam
Glen Canyon Dam

48
Q

How much of Colorado’s water supply are farmers allocated

A

80%

49
Q

What are the two types of challenges that development in the Western Desert faces

A

Accessibility
Climate

50
Q

What is a desert fringe

A

Areas at the borders of hot deserts, where there is greater biodiversity

51
Q

What is desertification

A

The process where fertile land becomes desert

52
Q

What can cause desertification

A

Drought
Inappropriate agriculture
Deforestation

53
Q

What is an example of a desert fringe which is experiencing desertification

A

The Sahel Region Africa

54
Q

What are the physical causes of desertification

A

Long term reduction in rainfall
Global warming is causing unpredictable fluctuations in rainfall

55
Q

What are the demographic factors of desertification

A

High birth rate causes strain on agriculture
Migration - causes more desertification due to more inappropriate agriculture

56
Q

What are the human factors of desertification

A

Overcultivation
Overgrazing
Chopping wood for building and fuel

57
Q

What are three methods of reducing the effects of desertification

A

Bunds - trap water and cause infiltration
Selective pruning
Appropriate technology - efficient stoves use less energy and can also charge phones
Planting trees

Geography (8 decks)

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