Ecosystems Flashcards
How much rainfall does the TRF get annually?
2000-3000mm
Where are tropical grasslands mostly found?
Africa, southern India, northern Australia, central America
What is the average temperature of the TRF?
27-30° all year
What is the average temperature of tropical grasslands?
25-30° year round
How much rainfall do tropical grasslands get annually?
500-1000mm
What is the temperature in deserts?
Above 30°
How much rainfall do deserts get annually?
Less than 250mm
What is the latitude of temperature grasslands?
40-60° north and south
What sort of climate do temperate grasslands have?
Seasonal: with warm summers and cold winters
In temperate grasslands, what is the average temperature in summer?
18°c
In temperate grasslands, what is the average temperature in winter?
5°C
What sort of trees grow in temperature grasslands?
Deciduous
How much rainfall do temperate grasslands get annually?
1000mm
Where are boreal forests found?
Russia, Scandinavia, Canada
What sort of climate do boreal forests have?
Seasonal: with warm summers and extremely cold winters
In boreal forests, what is the average temperature in summer?
16-30°
In boreal forests, what is the average temperature in winter?
Below 0°C
What sort of trees grow in the boreal forest?
Coniferous
What is a climatic adaptation of coniferous trees?
Trees have needles instead of leaves to survive cold, dry conditions.
Where are tundras found?
Near the north and south poles
How much rainfall does the tundra get annually?
Less than 250mm
What is the biosphere?
A vital system that provides us with essential resources - the ecosystem of living things
What is an example of water demand leading to water deprivation?
Hamoun Wetlands
What are the 4 land ecosystems in the UK?
Moorlands, heaths, woodlands, wetlands
How many hectares of land in the UK is moorland?
350,000
Where in the UK are moorlands usually found?
Upland areas - mostly in Scotland
What sort of plants is in the moorland?
Rough grasslands, low-growing crops like heather
Where in the UK are heaths found?
Lowland areas
Why are heathlands important?
Often provide habitats to rare species, like the sand lizard
Where are wetlands usually located?
East Anglia, Scotland
What is the plant life of wetlands like?
Waterlogged soils, low in nutrients with distinctive plants such as bog mosses
What percentage of the UK is woodland?
12%
How many tourists are estimated to visit the UK coastline each year?
250 million
Name 2 examples of abiotic factors.
Climate, soil, water
What store is the largest in the nutrient cycle in the TRF?
Biomass
Why are nutrients recycled quickly in the TRF?
Year-round plant growth, rapid decomposition
What are smaller stores in the nutrient cycle of the TRF?
Soil, litter
Name, from top to bottom, the layers of the rainforest.
- Emergent layer
- Canopy
- Sub-canopy
- Shrub layer
- Herb layer
Name one way animals have adapted to the TRF.
E.g: monkeys have strong hands and feet to travel across trees in canopy and emergent layer
Name 3 examples of goods provided by the TRF.
Timber, foods, plant species for medicine…
Name 3 examples of services provided by the TRF.
Home for indigenous tribes, carbon store (absorbs 2 billion tonnes a year), revenue
Name 2 ways climate change could affect the TRF.
Reduced biodiversity, cloud functioning, etc.
How much of Madagascar is forested now, compared to 1950?
20% - half the amount of 1950
Why is there deforestation in Madagascar?
Tavy (agriculture), logging, population growth…
Name an example of government sustainable rainforest management strategies have been implemented in Madagascar.
Association Mitsinjo
What industry contributes heavily to the income of Association Mitsinjo?
Tourism
How does Association Mitsinjo reduce deforestation? Has it been successful?
Members are paid for patrol the rainforst for illegal logging and hunting. It has been successful.
How is Association Mitsinjo restoring the rainforest?
In return for improved crop yield, farmers set aside land to grow rainforest.
How many new trees have been planted due to Association Mitsinjo?
1 million
How has Association Mitsinjo had social impacts?
Educating farmers on sustainability, funded local healthcare and environmental education
What are 2 disadvantages to Association Mitsinjo?
- Those not in the Association are still using logging/unsustainable practices
- It relies on aid
Name 2 ways the Amazon rainforest is being sustainably managed.
The government has offered grants to timber for logging companies in specific areas, carried out surveys to see which areas need the most protection, reduced-impact logging is more profitable and offers protection to the TRF…
Name 2 biotic characteristics of the deciduous woodland.
Deep, fertile soil created by annual leaf fall, slow leaching of nutrients and bogs, ponds provide habitats for plants and animals, etc.
In the nutrient cycle in TDW, which stores are a similar size?
Soil, biomass are a similar size
Why is the soil in TDW fertile?
- Annual leaf fall adds a lot of nutrients to the soil
- Colder temperatures in winter result in less decomposition than in spring
Name, from top to bottom, the layers of the deciduous woodland.
- Canopy
- Sun-canopy
- Ground layer
- Herb layer
Name 2 reasons TDW has lower biodiversity than the TRF.
- Smaller ecosystem so less space for organisms
- Lower food preduction in winter
- Located at higher latitude -> lower temperatures and less sunlight, so less photosynthesis
Etc.
Name 2 adaptations of plants in the deciduous woodland.
- Deciduous trees drop leaves in autumn to conserve water during in colder winter months
- Trees spread branches to access sunlight
- Trees have large, deep roots for stability and to access nutrients
Etc.
Name 2 adaptations of animals in the deciduous woodland.
- Birds migrate in winter to warmer conditions
- Squirrels store food for winter
- Some animals hibernate to survive harsh winters
Name 2 goods provided by TDW.
Fuel, timber, non-timber forest products, etc.
Name 2 services provided by TDW.
Recreation, carbon store, conservation, etc.
How many people live in the New Forest area?
175,000
How many tourists are attracted by the New Forest National Park each year?
15 million
Name 3 challenges to sustainability posed in the New Forest area.
- Erosion of paths
- Increased pollution
- Timber extraction
- 40% of woodland privately owned and often unmanaged
Etc.
Name 3 ways the Green Leaf Tourism Scheme has impacted New Forest.
- Promotes the use of local products. In return, businesses give a percentage for local wildlife conservation and encourage visitors to walk or use bikes.
- Sustainable transport schemes to reduce congestion, air pollution
- Landowners provided funding to plant native tree species
- Tree felling controlled - older trees felled more than younger
How successful has the sustainable management of New Forest been?
Reduced damage to ecosystem, particularly by tourists and reduced deforestation
