Ecosystems Flashcards
In order what are the levels of the food chains (top to bottom)
Tertiary consumers
Secondary consumers
Primary consumers
Producers
What would happen if the grass died?
The primary consumers don’t have any energy but less animals that need to eat grass
Elements of the nutrient cycle
Biomass -> litter -> soil ->
What is litter
Leaves and dead material on the floor
What is biomass
Amount of vegetation
Between 1986 and 1993 how many miles of hedgerows did Britain’s loose
83,000
3 causes of hedgerow removal
- Chemical sprays and fertilisers damage the plant and animal life leading to poor hedgerows
- Larger machinery meant that larger fields were needed
- Desire for larger profits meant larger fields were needed
What are biomes?
A biome is a global/ world scale ecosystem. As geographers we recognise 8 main biomes..
What are the 8 main biomes?
Tropical rainforests
Tropical Savanna
Hot desert
Temperate deciduous forest
Boreal (coniferous) forest
Tundra
Freshwater
Oceans
2 main rainforests
Congo basin
Amazon rainforest
Temperature range in the rainforest
2 degrees celcius
Month with the most rainfall in rainforest
March - 260mm
What month has the least rainfall in rainforest
August 40mm
What month is the coldest in the rainforest
Feb -June 27oc
What month is the hottest in the rainforest
Oct - nov 29oc
What is the average annual rainfall in the rainforest
2000mm
Why is it so hot in the rainforest
Closest part of earth to sun (on equator)
What are the layers of trees in rainforest
Emergent layer, canopy, under canopy, shrub layer
What is the top layer of trees in the rainforest
Emergent layer
What is the lowest layer of trees in the rainforest
Shrub layer
Shrub layer def
Dark and gloomy with little vegetation, often flooded
Under canopy def
Little sunlight so saplings grow in any gaps
Canopy def
Uppermost layers where most trees are found, lianas climb trees to reach sunlight
Emergent layer def.
Tallest trees up to 40m
What is an epiphyte
A plant that grows harmlessly on another plant
What is the function of an epyphytes airroots
Gain moisture and nutrients from rainwater
Anchor them selves to the tree
Why do tall trees have branchless trunks
Use all energy to grow tall
How do pitcher plants get there energy
Luring prey in with their sweet sent
How are rainforests leaves adapted?
Have waxy leaves to shed rainwater
Have drip tip so water drips of the end
How are jaguars adapted to the rainforest?
Can swim
Fur keeps them camouflaged
Very strong, can move slowly and silently
Move extremely fast
How are poison dart frog’s adapted to the rainforest?
Bright colours show danger to predators
Exerts position through skin
Some are not poisonous but developed bright colours to scare predators
How are 3 toed sloths adapted to the rainforest?
-tan coats to match the trunks
- grow algae in fur to camouflage
- extra neck bones to turn their neck 270degrees
-thick coats to keep them dry
-long shark claws to help them climb trees
How are geckos adapted to the rainforest?
-tail falls off if caught by predator
-green to camouflage
- large pads with sticky scales on their underside to help grip to trees
How are spider monkeys adapted to the rainforest?
- a large range of vocal sounds for communication
-tail allows monkey to be able to grasp trees - tail like another arm, can swing with it, carry things and pick fruit
How are toucans adapted to the rainforest?
-Colourful feathers provide camouflage in tropical habitat
-long beaks to reach deep into the trees
- sharp claws provide good grip on trees
How is the Amazon river dolphin adapted to the rainforest?
-Neck vertebrae not fused so able to turn heads 180degrees
- can swim between trees and tangles of branches
- long snout used to dig for fish
Deforestation definition
The complete clearance of forested land.
What is logging? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
Anyone who buys forest products (palm oil) provides a reason for more deforestation
(Lumber, toilet paper, tires, food, palm oil)
What is mining ? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
Amazon is rich in precious materials such as iron gold and copper
Large scale deforestation needed to get to the mines
Pollutes local water supply’s
What is production of energy? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
Growth of mining and logging lead for demand in energy, large hydro- electric dams have been built to create energy
The resevoirs created flood the rainforest
Eg: the belo-monte dam diverts 80% of water from the xigu river displacing 20,000 tribes people
What is building of new roads? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
Trans Amazonian highway is 4000km long
Other roads have been developed of off it leading to widespread deforestation
What are indigenous people? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
-Make medicine, food and homes from different recourses in the Amazon
-As deforestation increases, animals die they have less food to eat
-hundreds of species are dying out (could be the cure to diseases like cancer)
What is cattle ranching? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
-80% of land deforested for cattle ranching
- trees removed and burnt leading to increase in co2
- once trees are removed soil becomes desert after 10 years
- 1/4 of global meet is produced in the Amazon
What is palm oil? And why is it causing deforestation? Examples
-In close to 50% of packaged products
- destroying endangered species
- trees not meant to grow in rainforest (rainforest trees being cut down to palm ones to grow)
Degradation definition
Damage caused to ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity which can eventually lead to their destruction
5 local effects of deforestation
-Mercury used in mining making its way to rivers and killing fish
-fewer trees means less interception of rainfall and increased surface runoff off.
-increased surface runoff and soil erosion leads to stilting of rivers, which makes them more likely to flood.
-as soil goes infertile after taking the trees out, large amount of fertilisers used to try grow crops, fertilisers pollute rivers killing the fish
- indigenous people will loose there homes and livelihoods along with culture and heritage, contact with ‘outsiders’ can lead to disease
3 global effects of deforestation in rainforests
-loss of forest contributes to global warming
-up to 50,000 species a year become extinct due to deforestation
-burnt and dead trees release co2 and other poisonous gasses
What 3 values does the TRF fit into?
- Global life support
- Provides goods
- Provides services
What is the rainforests value as a life support system?
- the earths lungs, removes co2 releases O
-protects water from soil erosion by trapping silt, forests have pure water - biodiversity rich, provides homes for a huge range of organisms
- provides leaf litter which forms humus, this makes the soil more fertile
What is the rainforests value in providing goods?
Any products that can be harvested from the rainforest and used in manufacturing eg wood
What is the rainforests value in providing services?
Any form of help that the rainforest provides that maintains the planet in a sustainable way
eg: turning co2 into O
Sustainable management definition
Meeting the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of the next generation
Compromise definition
An agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
What is afforestation? Pros cons examples
-Once a mature tree is cut down it must be replaced
-Canopy + habitats all maintained
-not all replanted trees are the right species
-large companies often plant trees to reduce their carbon footprint
What is ecotourism? Pros cons examples
-tourists pay to see the rainforest and all its plants and animals
-tourists spend money in the local area
-buildings made to look very natural
-rainforest is protected by money earnt
What is selective logging? Pros cons examples
-individual trees on,y cut down when mature
-canopy preserved
-slow growing trees have plenty of time to grow before being cut down
What are conservation swaps? Pros cons examples
-reducing a country’s debt but benefiting them at the same time
- a country (USA) that is owed money, cancels part of debt from other country (Brazil) in exchange for conservation projects
What is education? Pros cons examples
-Teaching people worldwide how they can do their bit
- advertising sustainable products
-encouraging small scale projects
-encouraging ecotourism
What are the rules and laws? Pros cons examples
-making laws to protect rainforest include:
Banning use of wood from non-sustainable forests
-preventing illegal logging
-putting pressure on industry to use sustainable methods
What is a cold environment?
Experience temperatures at or below 0degrees C for a long time
What does the word tundra mean
From Finnish word ‘tunturia’ meaning treeless land
Why don’t trees grow in cold environments
Layers of soil are permafrost meaning the roots can’t penetrate the soil
Where can you find the tundra
North of the arctic circle
Highest recorded temperature in tundra (hebron Canada)
8degreesC
Lowest temperature in tundra (hebron Canada)
-20degreesC
Temperature range in tundra
28degrees C
What month has the highest precipitation in tundra
September (39mm)
Month with Lowest rainfall in tundra
December (10mm)
Permafrost definition
Permanently or semi permanently frozen ground
How much of the northern hemisphere is permafrost
1/4 +
5 conditions plants and animals have to deal with in the tundra
- Low temperatures (-20 — 8)
- Decomposition happens slowly (thin infertile soil)
- Soil is frozen most the year( then waterlogged)
4.snow cover in winter (reduces chances of life)
5.in winter permanent darkness and in summer permanent sunlight
How is the Alaskan wolf adapted to the tundra
-shorter legs, more rounded ears, shorter muzzle to keep warm
-have fur coat and thick undercoat to trap heat
-large feet to help them walk across uncompacted snow
Caribou (raindeer) adaptations
-have split hooves to spread the surface area (helps them swim)
-in winter they eat lichen, which they can smell under the snow, allows them to survive when there was nothing to eat
- have a double coat (like wolf)
-noses have a special chamber to warm icy air
Snowshoe hares adaptations to the tundra
-fur different colours depending on season (white winter, brown summer)
-longer back legs, have more fur, and larger toes, provide larger surface area for walking on snow
-name is a reference to its hind legs
How are the musk oxen adapted to the tundra
-not camouflaged as it doesn’t have a threat
-hair hangs low to the ground to create a warm ‘tent’ for their young
-thick fur
-warmer air trapped within hollow hairs keeping it warm
