Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
a community of living organisms in a particular area
What does biotic mean?
Living organisms
e.g plants + animals
What does abiotic mean?
Non-Living factors
e.g light intensity, temperature and moisture levels
What are biomes?
areas of the planet with a similar climate and landscape, where similar animals and plants live
e.g rainforest, desert
What does biomass mean?
the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time
What does interdependence mean?
all organisms rely on each other and without one the other would not be able to survive
Where is the Epping forest?
east London
abiotic and biotic factors of White Oak tree?
a - water, sunlight, soil, temperature, nutrients
b - branch, roots, leaves, trunk, birds
What is the nutrient cycle?
The cyclic pathway by which nutrients pass-through, in order to be recycled and reutilised
What is the importance of the nutrient cycle?
.move valuable minerals like nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium through the ecosystem. .Decomposers (small bacteria and fungi) break down dead vegetation and animals and return nutrients to the soil.
What type of ecosystem is Epping forest?
deciduous woodland
Why was it bad wolves were reintroduced?
.people camping in the area are at bigger risk of attack by wolves
Why is it good wolves were reintroduced?
.elk no longer had time to stop and eat the gross
.trees could go
.mean the riverbanks were more stable
.so less erosion on river banks
.beavers came back (cleaner and safer water)
How is Epping Forest interdependent?
.trees lose leaves in autumn because there dead and cant photosynthesise need to save energy for winter.
.thick layer of leaves. disappear by decomposers.
.nutrients in leaves made into humus in soil ready to support new growth.
What was reintroduced in Yellowstone national park?
Wolves
Why were wolves reintroduced?
elk no longer had a predator to run away from
so they ate all the greenery around
What does latitude mean?
distance or angle from the sun
Types of Biomes?
.Tundra
.Taiga
.deciduous forest
.tropical rainforest
.desert
.Tropic Grassland/ savannah
Climate and biodiversity in a Tundra?
.remain below 0°C most of the year
.wolves, reindeer, owls, and mountain goats
.moss, lichen
Climate and biodiversity in a Taiga/ coniferous forest?
.Winters are very cold and no sun. They have short warm summers.
.Evergreen trees
.moose
Climate and biodiversity of Tropic Grasslands?
. lots of sunshine and high temperatures of 20oC to 35oC
.grasses or small plants
.giraffes, elephants and zebras
Climate and biodiversity of desert?
.very dry 35-40 degrees
.camels
.Cactuses
Climate and biodiversity of Rainforest?
.Very wet and warm
.jaguar, howler monkeys
.lots of trees and grass
Climate and biodiversity of deciduous forest?
.mild and wet conditions
. Rabbits, foxes, racoons, squirrels, bear, deer, moose
.oak, beech and elm
Where are Tropical rainforests?
on or close to the equator
What does adaptation mean?
biological mechanism by which plants and animals adjust to new environments or adjust to changes in current environments.
Features in the canopy (rainforest)?
.dry between rainstorms, bright sun, string winds.
.thick layer of vegetation 20-40mm high
.a lot of animals live there
features of the Understory (rainforest)?
.2-15% sunlight
.no wind, humid
features of shrub layer (rainforest)?
.dark thin layer of fallen leaves, seeds, fruit and branches.
.quick to decompose
plant adaptation in the emergent layer (rainforest)?
.tallest tree up to 60m
.small and waxy leaves to keep evaporation to a minimum
KAPOK TREE
plant adaptation in the canopy (rainforest)?
.trees can absorb as much sunlight as possible
.leaves have drip tips so water runs off
.liana uses the trees for support to grow and reach sunlight
plant adaptations in the understory (rainforest)?
.grow in shade so don’t need much light
.monstera has big leaves so bugs can see
plant adaptation in the shrub layer (rainforest)?
.trees are thing with smooth bark, allow water to flow down easy
.no leaves because of lack of sunlight
.buttress roots support base of tree, transport water
animal adaptation in the emergent layer (rainforest)?
.harpy eagle
nest in emergent for view of prey, talon to catch prey, sharp eyesight for spotting prey.
animal adaptation in the canopy layer (rainforest)?
.howler monkeys, large gripping tail swing between branches and secure when sleep.
hairless underside, sensitive to detect texture. oversized vocal be heard over other sounds.
.red eyed frog, suction cup to climb vertically, nocturnal, bright colours discourage animals to go near them
animal adaptation in understory layer (rainforest)?
.gecko, camouflage, nocturnal, leaf shaped tail to balance weight
.jaguar, swim, camouflage, climb
what is deforestation?
permanent removal of trees to make room for something else e.g agriculture, construction
What is subsistence farming?
type of agriculture producing food and materials for the benefit of only the farmer and his family.
What is forest degradation?
a reduction in the ability of a forest to produce goods and services
goods obtained from the rainforest?
.wood/ timber
.berries/ nuts
.medicine
.water
.minerals
.zoo animals
.energy (HEP)
services rainforest can offer to people?
.produces oxygen so people can breath
.habitats
.absorb CO2 - CARBON SINK
.water
.biodiversity
causes of deforestation?
.cattle farming
.house building
.soy farming
.logging
.mining
.agriculture
.illegal trade in wildlife
economic impacts of deforestation?
.provides an income and jobs
Environmental impacts of deforestation?
.its a carbon sink if you cut trees down cant store as much carbon
.losing top soil due to soy farming
What is a stakeholder?
anyone with an interest in the tropical rainforests
Climates and location of cold environments?
below 0 degrees
just above Arctic circle north are Tundras
south by Antarctic circle are polar regions
plant that has adapted to the cold environment?
.bearberry plant in tundra
thick stem with bark for stability
small leathery leaves help retain water
hairy stems to retain heat
Why are cold environments so cold?
.Latitude (curvature of earth)
.Tilt of Earths axis
.Height above sea level (cold sinking air leads to high winds)
.D-albedo (reflectivity of a surface. snow, white = high albedo)
animals that have adapted to live in cold environments?
.arctic fox in tundra
live on little food
thick fur to keep warm
white fur for camouflage
.musk oxen
2 layers of fur to insulate
wide hooves walk on snow + water logged area.
What is out case study for cold environments?
Svalbard
Where is Svalbard located?
Norway
located in the Arctic Ocean well north of the Arctic Circle
What is the capital of Svalbard?
Longyearbyen
How does tourism provide economic opportunities for Svalbard?
evidence?
provides over 300 jobs, host, fishing, drive
70,000 tourists stayed in 2011 so they always had an income
What is life like in Longyearbyen in winter?
.-30 degrees
.cant work outside
.dangers of frost bite
.extremities can fall off
.3-4 layers of clothing needed
why are cold environments under threat?
.easily damaged take ages to repair themselves
.global warming melts glaciers
How to get to Svalbard?
1 airport
ships
snow mobiles only 50km of road
what is a fragile environment?
an environment that is both easily damaged and difficult to restore
economic opportunities for Svalbard?
.tourism
.Mineral extraction
.fishing
economic challenges in Svalbard?
.Extreme cold temperatures - cant work in winter
.Inaccessibility to areas
environmental challenges in Svalbard?
.Winter temperatures can fall below −30°C
.mineral extraction destroy habitats
.global warming melt glaciers
social opportunities in Svalbard?
.leisure activities such as hiking, kayaking and riding snowmobiles
.jobs
what isa green belt area?
a distinct area of undeveloped land surrounding specific cities, with the aim of preventing urban sprawl
challenges in Svalbard?
.construction, cant work outside in winter too cold and less light
.services
.inaccessibility
.temperature
