Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
A natural system made up of living things (animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi) and there non living environment and all interactions between them.
Define a biome
An ecosystem on a global scale, large bands of land, running parallel to the equator
What is the distribution of tropical rainforests around the world?
The tropical rainforests are in the tropics
What are the four layers in the rainforest?
The emergents, the canopy, the under canopy, the shrub layer
What are the emergents?
They are the tallest trees and are up to 60m tall to reach sunlight
What is the canopy?
The thickest layer and where most animals live
What is the under canopy?
It has young trees, shorter trees and bushes
What is the shrub layer?
Ferns and plants that grow close to the ground
What are lianas and how are they adapted?
Thick vines that reach sunlight by looping around tree branches
What are epiphytes and how are they adapted?
They perch on high branches and feed on rain and nutrients from rotting leaves
What are buttress roots and there adaptions?
The tallest trees have these to stop them from falling over?
What is a drip tip?
It is the tip of a leave that allows rain to drip off
What are the major threats to tropical rainforest eco systems?
- areas are being burned to clear land for farming
- to set up cattle ranches or palm oil plantations
- logging company’s cut down trees for timber and furniture and doors
What are three impacts of deforestation?
1.6 billion people rely on rainforests for food, fuel and shelter, We lose species like orangutans, they are home to indigenous tribes
What are two strategies to reduce rates of tropical rainforest deforestation?
National parks, Consumer power
