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A2 Geography > Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Biome

A

Large global ecosystem or biotic community characterised by dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

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2
Q

Name 8 world biomes

A 
Tropical forest 
Savanna 
Desert
Coniferous forest 
Temperate decidious forest 
Chaparral 
Temperate grassland 
Tundra
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3
Q

Ecology

A

Study of communities of living organisms and the relationship between them and their physical surroundings

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4
Q

Name the 4 types of ecological units

A

Biomes: large areas across continents with its own characteristics of fauna/flora

Zones: units within biomes e.g. Layers in rainforest

Habitats: more specific locations with a particular set of conditions and adapted community e.g. Freshwater pond

Micro-habitats: small specific locations e.g. Under a leaf

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5
Q

Biomass

A

Total mass of plant and animal life in an ecosystem

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6
Q

Abiotic definition and what it includes

A

Non/living chemical and physical components of the ecosystem

Includes: 
Climate 
Soil characteristics 
Underlying parent rock 
Relief of land 
Drainage characteristics
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7
Q

Food chain

A

Hierarchy of organisms in a community, each member feeds upon another in the chain and is eaten in turn

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8
Q

Food web

A

When organisms within a community eat more than one type of food and food chains become interlinked

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9
Q

Tropic level

A

A feeding level within a food chain

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10
Q

Gersmehl diagrams

A

Shows how nutrients within the main stores of a biome are recycled

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11
Q

Leaching

A

When rainwater which is slightly acidic drains through the soil dissolving basic minerals and carrying them away in solution

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12
Q

Succession

A

Evolution of plant communities at a site over time from pioneer species to climax vegetation

At each stage the plant community alters the soil and microclimate allowing establishment of another species

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13
Q

Name 5 stages of succession

A 
Invasion 
Colonisation 
Competition 
Domination 
Decline
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14
Q

Sere

A

An individual stage in a plant succession

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15
Q

Plagio climax

A

A stable plant community that has arisen as a result of human intervention in natural succession

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16
Q

Sub climax

A

If vegetation does not reach its climax as a result of interruptions by local factors such as soil changes or differences in parent rock

17
Q

Ecosystem

A

Interaction of all living organisms (plants, animals and bacteria) with each other and with the physical (non living) characteristics in which they live

18
Q

Name the 4 soil layers

A 
O Horizon (organic layer)
A Horizon (mineral + organic layer)
B Horizon (mineral layer)
C Horizon (unweathered parent material)
19
Q

Name 3 soil layers in the O Horizon

A

Fermentation: made of leaves and partly decomposed material

Litter: made of loose leaves and little decomposition

Humus: well decomposed and original structures are no longer visible

20
Q

Wasteland

A

Unused or vacant land that has essentially been left to nature
Usually associated with inner city areas
Range from 0.1 - 10 hectares in size

21
Q

Urban Niche

A

An urban habitat which is specialised on a site

Contains micro habitats for plants and animals to colonise

22
Q

Name 4 stages of heather succession

A

Pioneer
Building
Mature
Degenerative

23
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variability amongst living organisms including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic systems

24
Q

Name 3 levels of biodiversity

A

Genetic
Species
Ecosystem

25
Q

Quality of life

A

Used to evaluate the general well being of individuals and societies

Usually defined in terms of health and happiness rather than wealth

26
Q

Standard of living

A

Based primarily on income and what level of income will allow a person to buy necessities and luxury goods

27
Q

Carnivorous plants adaptation

A

Adapted to attract, capture and digest small animals and insects
Obtain nutrients from animal matter
Venus fly trap

27
Q

Llianas adaptation

A

Woody climbing plant that hangs from trees
Begin life on forest floor and depend on trees for support
Climb upwards for sunlight and survival
Attach themselves to trees with sucker roots or tendrils
Wind themselves around trees
Network of vines gives support against strong winds to shallow rooted, top heavy trees

28
Q

Buttress roots adaptation

A

Large roots on all sides of a shallow rooted tree
Typically found in nutrient poor rainforest soils
Do not penetrate deeper layers
Roots spread out across forest floor as nutrients are found on top layers
Can be 15ft above ground

29
Q

Drip tips adaptation

A

Leaves of forest trees

A2 Geography (3 decks)

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