Ecosystems

Question 1

Characteristics of the savanna

Answer 1

distinctive dry and wet seasons
Low rainfall 800-900mm
Highest temp up to 35 degrees
Grasses, few scattered trees
Soils are thin and acidic
Soil moisture budget changes throughout the year

Question 2

plant adaptations

Answer 2

small waxy leaves
Tap roots
Dormant plants
Fire resistant
Leaves drop
Grow from a low point on the ground

Question 3

animal adaptations

Answer 3

migrate seasonally
Burrow underground
Nocturnal
Hunt in the open spaces

Question 4

name the causes of human impacts on the savanna

Answer 4

fires
Hunting and poaching
Grazing

Question 5

explain how fire has impacted the savanna

Answer 5

Farmers start them to clear land
Helps to maintain the ecosystem as burns young trees - prevents woodland taking over
Removes dead grass but roots are left intact
Kill off small animals - food for others
Changing patterns of fires = issue

Question 6

explain how hunting and poaching is impacting the savanna

Answer 6

Small scale hunting = sustainable
Poaching is an issue
Demand for bushmeat is increasing
People are selling illegal bushmeat
Poached for other products - rhino horn and ivory
Elephant population is declining
Trophy hunting = paying to shoot animals to have as trophies

Question 7

explain how grazing is impacting the savanna

Answer 7

native people keep livestock
Help to maintain the grassland - prevents woodland growing - young trees eaten
Nomadic lifestyle = prevents overgrazing and soil erosion = land has a chance to recover

Question 8

name development issues in the savanna

Answer 8

population change
Economic development
Agricultural intensification

Question 9

Explain how population change is impacting the savanna

Answer 9

in tropical regions/ developing countries - expanding human populations = pressure on biome
Conflict between animals and people
Crops are raided , livestock/ people killed by wild animals - killed in retaliation
Nomadic populations are no longer able to move about due to growing populations - increasing overgrazing

Question 10

explain his economic development is impacting the savanna

Answer 10

demand for food is increasing as prosperity and development level increases
Leads to agricultural changes
Tourism can boost economy and used for conservation
But caused issues - pollution, habitat loss, disturb animals

Question 11

explain how agricultural extension and intensification is impacting the savanna

Answer 11

more land used for subsistence crops
Land is poorly suited to farming - advances in technology = commercial farming has increased eg. Cash crops, variations of soy beans grown
Crop rotations used - reducing time fields are left fallow = land doesn’t recover
Slash and burn used - soil fertility decreases
Yield of plants decreased
Water drawn for irrigation = water table lowered
Salty layer forms

Question 12

implications of human activity for biodiversity

Answer 12

directly reducing biodiversity
Destroying habitats etc.
Causing fragmentation by changing land use - issue for roaming animals
Domestic livestock reduces resources for wild herbivores
Domestic species are replacing wild species
Threatened by invasive species

Question 13

Implications of human activity for sustainability

Answer 13

overgrazing and intensive agriculture = unsustainable = soils erosion, desertification, plants can’t regrow - worsen with climate change
Controlled fires needed = if prevented organic material builds up and uncontrolled fires occur
Water needs to be managed
Game reserves created - controls on hunting, grazing, farming etc. = increasing sustainability

Question 14

characteristics of the serengeti

Answer 14

30000km of Tanzania and South west Kenya
15000km is the national park -,established in 1951
Maasai indigenous people - keep livestock, nomadic, have rights over land, trade livestock etc.

Question 15

Name how the serengeti is facing ecological change

Answer 15

land use
Poaching
Invasive species
Climate change

Question 16

explain how land use is causing ecological change in the serengeti

Answer 16

Rapidly growing shanty towns, grazing pastures, lodges for tourism
Large areas converted to wheat fields
Removes natural vegetation which reduces biodiversity, increase soil erosion, fertilisers pollute rivers
natural habitats are lost = ranges of animals are restricted, migration routes disrupted

Question 17

explain how poaching is causing ecological change in the serengeti

Answer 17

killed by visitors for sport, food, products
Decline in numbers
Increasing population = increasing demand for bushmeat, 100000 wildebeast killed yearly
Legislation is banning trade to reduce poaching

Question 18

explain how invasive species is causing ecological change in the serengeti

Answer 18

eg. Mexican poppy outcompete native plants and crops - makes area unsuitable for farming
Spread disease - virus from domestic dogs killed 1/3 of serengeti lions

Question 19

explain how climate change is causing ecological change in the serengeti

Answer 19

increased temperatures - dry season is longer
Rains become more intense = soil erosion
Vegetation produced has declined = reduces the ability to support herds

Question 20

How is the local community responding to changes in the serengeti

Answer 20

Wildlife management areas
- community based approach
- provide income, food, reduce illegal poaching
Tourism
- popular for safaris
- money put into conservation
- boosts local economy
- ranger presence has reduced poaching
Conservation education
- the park supports conservation clubs in 74 primary schools
- involves local people
Controlled burning
- planned, controlled fires
- removes flammable material

Question 21

Name the human activity that can impact coral reefs

Answer 21

tourism
Drainage basin schemes
Fishing
Pollution
Onshore development
Desalination

Question 22

explain how tourism is impacting the great barrier reef

Answer 22

over 2 million people visit yearly
Largest commercial activity
Creates pollution
Coral can be damaged by boat anchors and poor diving practices
Coastal developments eg. Hotels can damage them

Question 23

Explain how fishing is impacting coral reefs

Answer 23

removes certain species eg. Snapper
Predators removed = over abundance of prey = algae and coral bloom
Methods are unsustainable = trawling

Question 24

explain how drainage basin schemes are impacting coral reefs

Answer 24

35 drainage basins which drain into a coral reef = changes can impact the reef
200000 hectares of forest was removed in Queensland - pollutants and sediments runoff into reef
Dams change the flow and timing of freshwater into the reef

Question 25

Explain how pollution can impact coral reefs

Answer 25

runoff from farmland - fertilisers = algae blooms Land based runoff also contains other pollutants eg. Heavy metals Disrupts reproduction of marine animals Ships can spill oils, dispose waste etc.

Question 26

Explain how onshore developments can impact coral reefs

Answer 26

can destroy mangroves, increases the amount of nutrients and sediments added to coral reefs Too much sediment blocks sunlight - limits growth Expansion of ports involves dredging - destroys habitats

Question 27

explain how desalination impacts coral reefs

Answer 27

can change the chemistry of water and can affect coral growth

Question 28

Importance of the andros barrier reef

Answer 28

coastal protection Fish breeding grounds Tourism Scientific research Over 160 fish species

Question 29

future prospects for the Andros Barrier reef

Answer 29

Bahamas national trust - protecting 20% of its near shore habitat Andros Westside National Park - promoting resource conservation, recreational fishing etc Marine parks - regulates activities Crab Replenishment reserves - stable crab population ensured Exuma Cays Land and sea park - coral nursery established

Question 30

Future prospects for coral reefs

Answer 30

Climate change is making problems worse 27% of reefs have been lost More then 60% are under threat 75% are threatened by thermal stress etc. Mass coral is becoming more frequent

Question 31

The broads

Answer 31

largest wetland ecosystem In Norfolk and Suffolk Man made ecosystem Natural climatic climax is a woodland Lakes formed from flooded pits after people extracted peat for fuel

Question 32

Habitats in the broads

Answer 32

broads and rivers - 63 broads and 7 rivers that connect them - aquatic plants and animals Fens - boggy areas - reeds, rushes Grazing marshes - areas of wet grassland with clay and sit soils Carr woodland - forms where fens are allowed continued succession

Question 33

human influence on the broads

Answer 33

drainage and agriculture - areas have been artificially drained by humans - make land suitable for grazing livestock - recent improvements in tech - land drained more effectively Water quality - nutrient rich = vulnerable to eutrophication - 58 out of 63 braids suffer with pollution Climate change and sea level rise - low lying area = floods - increased flooding etc. - storm surges etc. Tourism - 7m visitors - £400m to local economy - damage done from trampling, litter etc. - propellers have churned up the water

Question 34

Sustainable development in the broads

Answer 34

Broads authority aim to Fen conservation - other species are removed to protect the fens - 25 grazing ponies - restored by cutting/ clearing areas Commercial cutting - Reed and sedge are cut and sold toy thatcher's - small patches cut in rotation = sustainable Improving water quality - to support biodiversity, attract tourists - preventing eutrophication, agricultural pollution

Question 35

Name ecological change And human activity in Ainsdale

Answer 35

pine tree plantations Urban change Agriculture

Question 36

explain the impacts of pine tree plantations in Ainsdale

Answer 36

Early 1900s large areas were planted with pine trees to stabilise the dunes, provide crop of wood prevents sunlight reaching the floor Acidic needles - change pH of the soil Major reduction in biodiversity Colonised by red squirrels Unplanned invasions of non native species

Question 37

explain the impacts of urban change on Ainsdale dunes

Answer 37

half of all sand dunes have been built on Close to large towns eh. Liverpool Number of visitors has increased New car park, caravan sites been built Increased demand for water

Question 38

explain the impacts of agriculture on the Ainsdale dunes

Answer 38

17/18th rabbits were bred - grazed on the habitat Sandy soils Dunes were levelled

Question 39

managing changes in the Ainsdale dunes

Answer 39

national nature reserve in 1965 Restore and maintain the ecosystem Pine plantations removed Vegetation regularly cut, invasive species removed Grazing from animals to prevent woodland taking over Asparagus farming is limited Activity is restricted