Ecosystems Flashcards
What is the definition of an ecosystem?
A natural system made up of living things and their non-living environment and all the interactions between them
What is the definition of a biome?
An ecosystem on a global scale. Large bands of land running roughly parallel to the equator that share the same types of plants and animals because they share the same general climate
What are examples of biomes?
Tundra, Taiga, Hot desert, Savannah, Tropical Rainforest, Temperate Deciduous Woodland
What are the layers that make up a tropical rainforest?
Emergent, Canopy, Under-canopy & Forest floor
Explain the four layers of the rainforests
Emergents - Tallest trees
Canopy - Thickest layer where most animals live
Under-canopy - Young and shorter trees
Forest floor - Ferns and other ground plants
Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests around the world
Over 80 countries have some tropical rainforests. 10 of them share 80% between them
Explain how drip tips are adapted to rainforests
Lets rain drip through funnel shaped leaves
Describe how rainforests are responsible for daily rain
Water rises from leaf surfaces as vapour which condenses and rains
What species thrive on the dark rainforest floor?
Fungi
Every 10 years, how many hectares rainforest have been destroyed in Madagascar?
1 million hectares
Name 3 species of animals that live in rainforests
Spider Monkey
Swordbill Hummingbird
Red bird of paradise
Wilson’s bird of paradise
River dolphin (in flooded areas)
What is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon Basin?
Agriculture (Cattle & Soya beans)
Mining for gold and iron ores
Hardwood timber
What is the main cause of deforestation in the Congo Basin?
Logging of hardwood trees for furniture
What is the main cause of deforestation in Southeast Asia?
Palm oil industry
What are the consequences of deforestation?
Losing a major carbon sink
Losing animal and plant species
Greater risk of wildfires
What are solutions to conserving rainforests?
National parks
REDD Agenda
Ecotourism
Consumer Power (E.g. RSPO, Rainforest Alliance)
Explain how buttress roots are adapted to rainforests
They are roots under tall trees to stop them from from falling over
Explain how epiphytes are adapted to rainforests
They perch on high branches and feed on rain and nutrients from rotting leaves
Explain how lianas are adapted to rainforests
Reach sunlight by looping around tree branches
