Ecosystems Flashcards
1
Q
What is the earths climate driven by?
A
The Suns energy
2
Q
What does temperature decrease with?
A
It decreases with latitude. The equator receives the most heat from the sun because the sun is directly overhead and therefore it’s rays are most intense here. Further away from the equator the temperature decreases
3
Q
What does the high surface temperatures at the equator all year round power?
A
It powers a convection cell of rising air. As this air rises it cools, the moisture it contains condenses and a lot of rain falls.
4
Q
Turn to page 128 in the text book and study the map
A
Go
5
Q
What are the characteristics of the tropical rainforest?
A
Hot all year (27-30 degrees)
Wet all year (average annual precipitation 2000-3000 mm)
A huge variety of broad leaved plants. Trees dominate, with other plants come ring for light
Found near the equator
6
Q
What are the characteristics of tropical grasslands?
A
Hot all year (25-35 degrees)
500-1000 mm of rainfall a year but always with a dry season
Tall grasses with scattered, drought-adapted trees and shrubs
Found either side of the equator on edges of tropical rainforests
7
Q
What are the characteristics of deserts?
A
Very hot all year (above 30 degrees)
Very low rainfall (less than 259 mm annual average)
Plants have water-storing features, spines instead of leaves and extensive root systems
Hot, dry deserts found near the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, cold deserts found near the Arctic
8
Q
What are the characteristics of temperate grasslands?
A
Hot in summer (25 degrees), very cold in winter (as low as -40 degrees)
500-900 mm of rainfall a year, most in late spring and summer
Grasslands with very few trees or shrubs
Found in the middle latitudes of interior continents
9
Q
What are the characteristics of the temperate forest?
A
Warm summers (around 18 degrees),cool winters (around 5 degrees)
Precipitation all year round (1000mm)
Deciduous trees, which drop their leaves in Autumn
Found in the eastern half of North America, the middle Europe, Asia and southern Australasia
10
Q
What are the characteristics of a boreal forest?
A
Warm summers (16-30 degrees), very cold winters (below 0)
Low precipitation (less than 500 mm) mainly in summer
Coniferous trees with needles instead of leaves to survive cold and reduce water loss.
They stretch over Erasia and North America, near the top of the world
11
Q
What are the characteristics of tundra?
A
Temperatures below 0 for most of the year, only reaching 10 degrees in the summer
Low precipitation (often less than 250 mm)
Very few plants can live here, mostly lichens and mosses. Trees are rare and stunted (short height)
Located north at the top of the world
12
Q
What are the characteristics of mountains?
A
10-15 degrees in the summer and below 0 in the winter
300 mm on annual rainfall
200 species, small ground over plants, so they don’t get blown over in the breeze
Found all over the world usually about 10,000 feet high
13
Q
What are the characteristics of of the Mediterranean?
A
Between 10-40 degrees
380-1000 mm on rainfall
Most plants have small, hard leaves that hold moisture such as cacti
14
Q
The cooled air falls over the tropics of cancer and Capricorn, which creates high pressure zones of clear skies. As the air falls it warms, what does this mean?
A
This means that temperatures are high but precipitation is low here
15
Q
What does the tilt of the Earth on its axis create?
A
Seasons, theses often have different precipitation patterns,nth equator is least affected by this so has similar precipitation all year round
16
Q
The inter-tropical convergence zone shifts northwards in June, following the overhead sun, to bring a wet season to the tropical grasslands of the northern hemisphere. Why are these grasslands dry in winter?
A
Because the inter-tropical convergence zone has moved to the Southern Hemisphere
17
Q
In the interior of the worlds continents, summer temperatures are much higher and winter temperatures much lower that in locations near the coast, where the sea moderates temperature extremes. What biomes are affected by this?
A
Temperate grasslands and deserts
18
Q
High mountains force air to rise and cool as it passes over them, what does this mean?
A
This means that precipitation is high in the mountains. When the air has passed o ear the mountains it has lost its moisture. This is called the rain shadow affect
19
Q
How does altitude affect of large-scale ecosystems?
A
Because temperature drops by 1 degree for every 100 metres gain in height, high mountains in the tropics can have cold temperature ecosystems
20
Q
How do soils affect ecosystems?
A
The characteristics of an ecosystem can change when the underlying geology or relief produces different types of soil or soil conditions. The vegetation in a poorly drained, swampy area will be different from that of a well-drained area
21
Q
What is the biosphere?
A
It’s a vital system that provides us with some of our most essential resources such as: food, medicines, building materials and sources of fuel
22
Q
What have modern technology done to the biosphere?
A
It has reduced our day to day dependence on the biosphere but has led to an increase in the exploitation of the biosphere.
23
Q
What does the huge demand for water (for rapidly growing cities for industry and agriculture) mean for the biosphere?
A
It means that parts of the biosphere are deprived of water.
24
Q
Biofuels are a valuable alternative to fossil fuels because they provide renewable energy. However What is the problem with this?
A
Commercial production of biofuels means that huge areas of land are devoted to biofuel crops instead of food crops. Forest land has also been cleared for biofuel crops instead of food crops. This makes vital resources from the biosphere (food and fuel) more expensive for local people and impacts of biodiversity.
25
Mineral resources are not part of the biosphere
But an increasing demand has an impact on the biosphere
26
What food can we get from the biosphere?
Natural vegetation can be replaced with rice and wheat, there is a sustainable harvesting of fruits, berries and nuts, and fish and meat
27
What medicines can we get from the biosphere?
The periwinkle plant is used to treat leukaemia and Hodgkin's disease, the aloe plant has soothing properties and aloe Vera is used in many cosmetics, poppies are a the source of the painkiller morphine
28
What are the fuel resources from the biosphere?
Animal dung is dried and burned as fuel, wood from trees and shrubs, and biofuels convert plant products to fuel a range of different processes eg bioethanol made by fermenting crops like sugar cane
29
What building material can be got from the biosphere?
Timber, essential for construction comes from trees, and animal dung can be mixed with clay and straw to make bricks, and straw the dry stalks of cereal plant is used for roofing and insulation.
30
What is the nutrient cycle?
It's the transfer of nutrients between the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem
31
What did a scientist called Philip Gersmehl do?
He used a model based on nutrient cycles to explain differences between ecosystems. Gersmehls model said that all ecosystems have the same three basic compartments: soil, litter and biomass. Each store is a store for nutrients. Nutrients are transferred between the stores. The size of these stores is different in different ecosystems, as is the amount of nutrient transferred between stores.
32
What is a model?
It's a scientific theory that allows complete systems to be understood more easily.
33
What are the living parts of an ecosystem called?
Biotic components (bio means life). Nutrients allow the biotic components to survive and grow, but nutrients are not biotic components.
34
What are the parts of an ecosystem that are not living but essential to life called?
Abiotic components, eg water, light temperature, atmosphere and soil.
35
Biotic and abiotic factors are interdependent, what does this mean?
They are closely connected and interlinked.
36
Describe the stages of the nutrient cycle
As plants and animals die, their tissue falls into the litter store.
As living tissue decomposes, nutrients are transferred to the soil store.
Some nutrients are lost from litter by surface sun off.
Plants take nutrients from the soil, soil loses nutrients by leaching, but gains nutrients from weathering of rock beneath it.
37
What are the three basic compartments in an ecosystem?
Soil, litter and biomass
38
Go to page 131
And look at the diagram
39
Go to page 132
And look at the map
40
Describe the woodland ecosystem in the UK?
Of the UK land area, 12% is woodland, 5% is ancient forest; 80% is less than 100 years old. In England this is mostly deciduous. Scotland and Wales have many monoculture non-native plantations.
41
Describe the moorland ecosystem in the UK?
Distribution: upland areas that are too high to be used for crops.
Characteristics: rough grassland and peat bogs; low growing plants.
Distinctive plants and animals: heather often dominates, rare birds eg the ring ouzel. Moorland is managed for grouse shooting.
42
Describe the wetlands ecosystem in the UK
Distribution: scattered across the UK in lowland locations; about 95,000 ha in all.
Characteristics: some heaths are dry and sandy, others are marshy.
Distinctive plants and animals: has species rarely found anywhere else eg marsh gentian and sundews, ladybird spider, land lizard.
43
Describe marine ecosystems
Marine ecosystems around the UK together make up an area that is three and a half times as big as the whole of the UKs land area. Marine ecosystems can be divided into inshore and offshore.
44
Describe inshore habitats in a marine ecosystem
Inshore habitats are those close to the shore and coastal margins. These are very important for recreation and tourism in particular.
45
What are offshore ecosystems in marine ecosystems?
Offshore ecosystems are found away from the shoreline and are important for commercial fishing and energy production. They have a vital role in the buffering of global warming.
46
Name the varied marine ecosystems
Estuaries, lagoons, salt marshes, seaweed beds, deep sea beds, beaches, coral reefs, oyster beds, seafarers beds, sea caves
47
Describe how marine ecosystems provide tourism
250 million people visit the UKs coats, supporting 200,000 jobs in coastal tourism, which brings about £3 billion into the UK's economy.
48
Describe how marine ecosystems providing fishing is a benefit
The UK fishing fleet is the seventh largest in the EU with around 6400 fishing boats. 12,000 people work on the fleet and 14,000 more work in fish processing.
49
Describe how marine ecosystems providing energy: oil is a benefit
The UK has oil reserves of around 24 billion barrels in the North Sea (off the east coast of the UK), enough for another 30'years of production. The industry employs 450,000 people.
50
Describe how marine ecosystems providing energy: offshore wind farms is a benefit
The London array in the Thames estuary, 20km from the Kent coast, is the world's biggest wind farm, with 175 turbines
51
What are the ways human activity damages marine ecosystems?
Eutrophication, which is caused by fertilisers used on farmland being washed into the sea; it may also be caused when the sea is used to break down and detoxify sewage.
The construction of deep-water ports and navigation channels, essential for global trade.
Economic development of the coastline, which often removes coastal ecosystems such as salt marsh.
The construction of large wind farms interferes with bird migration routes and the noise they make may disturb animals that rely on sound, such as Dolphins
52
How does overfishing damage the UKs marine ecosystem?
Although the UK has many thousands of small boats in its fishing fleet, one-half of the UK catch each year is made by just 4% of the fleet which is made up of very large vessels that are extremely efficient at catching fish. In 2011 there was a collapse in cod stocks in some UK marine areas. The removal of an important species such as cod has a big effect on the whole ecosystem.
53
What are the characteristics of a tropical rainforest?
Although rainforest trees are deciduous, different species lose their leaves at different times (only for a few weeks) so the forest always looks green.
Trees grow very tall between 30-40M, but they have shallow roots.
Stratification ( the five separate layers in TRF: emergent, canopy, understorey, shrub layer, forest floor)
Soil is low on nutrients even though there is rich and abundant life
54
Describe stratification
The rainforest has different layers. The tree canopy is one layer. Above that is the emergent layer - very tall trees that grow another 10M above the canopy. Below the canopy, where there is less light, is the understorey: shorter trees of around 20M, their air is still there and the humidity is very high. Below that is the shrub layer. Only around 3% of light reaches the layer through the canopies above. The final layer is the dark forest floor.
55
Describe the biotic characteristics of TRF in terms of the nutrient cycle.
The nutrient cycle is key to understanding TRF ecosystem, the biggest stores is biomass (b) which is all the biotic factors in TRF. When leaves fall or branches drop into the litter store (L), they decompose very quickly. As soon as the nutrients are released into the soil (S), the plants on the TRF Hoover them up. The trees have shallow roots because the only fertile part of TRF soils is a very thin nutrient layer at the surface. The nutrient cycle returns nutrients to the biomass stores very quickly.
Another biotic factor is human activity. Humans play an important role in May TRF ecosystems. People hunt animals for food, spread the seeds of rainforest plants through the fruits, nuts and seeds that they eat, and affect the ecosystem through their use of fire.
56
Describe the abiotic factors of the TRF
The warm temperatures and moist conditions are perfect for chemical weathering of the bedrock, which released minerals into the soil. However, TRF soils are often 30 or 40M deep so these nutrients do not reach the upper layers. The constant rainfall means that a lot of water travels down through TRF soils. As it trickles through the soil, the water takes nutrients and mineral salts with it.
57
What do food webs show?
They show the interactions between species in an ecosystem
58
Turn to page 134 and 135
And look at the diagrams
59
Are are TRF the most diverse ecosystems on earth
It will be explained why in other flash cards
60
How have plants and animals adapted to TRF conditions?
The canopy layer is extremely humid. Almost all plants have drip tip leaves, which means water runs off them quickly. This is important because otherwise moss and sage would quickly grow over the leaf, cutting off its light.
The trees have buttress structures at their base, because nutrients are concentrated in the top level of the soil only, rainforest trees only need shallow roots and the buttress have evolved to keep their tall slender trunks upright.
61
Describe plants and animals in TRF
The different tree species produce flowers, leaves and fruit at different times, and some animals travel through the canopy to eat them as they appear. In Madagascar lemurs have gripping hands and feet, strong legs and log tails that enable them to leap from tree to tree.
Hundreds of bird species live in the canopy, including the Madagascan serpent eagle which flies through the canopy. It's wings are adapted for fast manoeuvring and it uses its powerful legs to grab lemurs, frogs, birds and snakes that it spots with a it good eyesight.
62
Rainforest offer optimum condition for plant growth, what does this then support?
Animal biodiversity
63
Rainforests are usually very old, what does this result is?
Evolutionary species
64
In the Madagascan rainforest, how many creatures live in the canopy?
80%
65
in the canopy layer what does species do to avoid being eaten?
They use different forms of sunshine to avoid being eaten. Some insects mimic sticks and leaves, birds have colour action and stripes to make them harder to see. The chameleon can change its skin to fit their surroundings
66
Describe 5 examples of TRF goods
More than 7000 drugs have their origins in TRF plant and animal products.
Oxygen - rainforests have been called the lungs of the world as the huge amount of plant life produces oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis.
Hardwood timber, such as ebony and rosewood, has valuable properties for furniture manufacture. Timber is used for construction and wood for fuel.
By preventing soil erosion and encouraging infiltration, forests produce clean water supplies that would otherwise be polluted by slits.
For the people who live in or near the forest, the ecosystem is a source of food and its soils are used to grow crops.
67
Describe five example of TRF services
Maintaining biodiversity - TRF are the most biodiversity ecosystems on earth and without them life would be much less varied. This would have impacts for pharmaceutical research.
Climate change buffering services - plants store carbon and soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Amazon rainforest soaks up 2 billion tonnes of CO2 a year.
TRF brings in tourist which brings in money.
The forest canopy protects the soil from being eroded by the heavy rainfall, and the vegetation reduces surface runoff that could otherwise cause flash flooding downstream or landslides.
For indigenous people the TRF is their home, identity and culture.
68
What happens to the TRF structure when the dry season starts to last for several months?
Most trees drop their leaves in the dry season to avoid water loss through transpiration.
There is no canopy in the dry season and thick underbrush can grow among the trees.
The lack of vegetation in the dry season means animals are adapted to live on stored food or go into a sort of hibernation. Biodiversity is still high but much lower than in TRF .
Trees have deep roots to reach groundwater (no buttress) or adapted to store water, eg baobab trees with swollen trunks.
The falling leaves make a deep litter layer, but decomposition is very slow in the dry season so the soil becomes a bigger store of nutrients and the biomass is smaller.
69
When the dry season starts to last for several months how does TRF change its function?
Less vegetation cover means that when it does rain, surface runoff will increase because of a reduction in infiltration. More sediment will be carried into drainage systems, polluting water quality. Increased slit in rivers harm some freshwater species.
The TRF ecosystem itself influences precipitation because of the vast amounts of water vapour that are pumped out by the extensive vegetation. Less dense forest means lower rainfall in surrounding areas.
TRF on mountains is know pin as cloud forest. These forests have a function called cloud stripping where they soak up moisture from passing clouds like a giant sponge, the slow release of this water into the drainage system provides areas downstream with a steady supply of water all year, dry conditions could stop this function.
Drier forest emits more CO2 than it soaks up, and if dry forest burns in forest fires this adds to the CO2
70
If the dry season lasts several months in TRF how could the biodiversity change?
TRF Plant species cannot tolerate drier conditions - that cannot survive prolonged drought or forest fires. Temperatures in TRF ecosystems are very similar all year round and species cannot cope with fluctuations.
As conditions become drier and warmer, other plant species suited to the new conditions would spread and out-compete TRF species. This may also include the spread of pests and diseases that TRF species are not immune to.
Not all areas of the TRF ecosystem would be affected in the same way, however, as temperature drops by one degree with every 100M TRF on hills and mountains would not heat up so much. Some biodiversity would be preserved if species were able to migrate to higher areas.
71
When does deforestation happen in TRF?
Deforestation happens when forest is converted to farmland, when trees are cut down to sell as timber and because of mining, especially open-cast mining. Around the world 7.3 million hectares are cleared each year.
72
Climate change is making tropical areas hotter and drier, what could this have an impact on?
TRF structure function and biodiversity
73
Describe the deforestation in the Madagascan rainforest
Madagascar is the worlds fourth largest island, located off the east coast of the African continent. Deforestation has been extensive since the 1950s. Now only about 20% of Madagascan land if forested - one half the amount there was in 1950, each year 1400 hectares is deforested.
74
Around 80% of the deforestation in Madagascar is due to tavy, what is this?
It's a type of slash and burn agriculture. Trees are cut down on a small plot and the undergrowth burned, and then crops planted. The nutrients in the soil are quickly exhausted and weed growth takes over. At this point the farmer often decides to clear another plot.
75
How does population growth impact deforestation?
In the 1940s, inculcation programmes resulted in a big drop in Madagascan infant mortality. This produced rapid rise in the population from 4 million people in 1950 to 20.7 million in 2010. Over the next ten years, Madagascar's population will increase to 30 million. Madagascar's population puts pressure on the amount of land available for agriculture. The pressure to feed growing families means that farmers try to get more from their tavy plots meaning that more plots have to be cleared.
76
How does logging impact deforestation?
In the 20th century the Madagascan government sold rainforest timber to get money to pay the interest on international debt. There are now strict controls on logging, but a lot of illegal TRF logging still goes on this is because:
There is a high demand for rosewood, a rainforest product.
Madagascan people are poor and illegal logging pays well.
There is corruption - police and government officials often allow illegal logging in return for money.
77
What are the government policies in the Madagascan rainforest?
Most rainforest in Madagascar is owned by the government. 20 years ago the Madagascan set up a scheme for local communities to manage their own resources sustainably. International advice was that sustainable rainforest management (SRFM) would only succeed if local people were in charge. One very successful project is association Mitsinjo.
78
Describe ecotourism in the Madagascan rainforest
Association Mitsinjo started 15 years ago when a group of local wildlife guides, employed to take tourists round the Analmazoatra reserve, planned a community-based nature tourism association. Money from tourism brings in one-third of the association's income each year. Its members patrol 10,000 hectares of their reserve area to look out for illegal logging and snares for animals. This has been very successful in preventing illegal logging and hunting.
79
Describe the rainforest services in the Madagascan rainforest
Association Mitsinjo also manages a rainforest restoration project, which began in 2002. In return for help with improving their crop yields, local farmers agree to set aside some of their land as a nursery for growing young rainforest trees. More than 1 million new trees have been planted, from 150 local species, on an area of 1000 hectares.
80
Describe sustainable agriculture in the Madagascan rainforest
Association Mitinjo has educated farmers about a sustainable alternative to tavy, called system of rice intensification (SRI - developed in Madagascar and now used all over the world). Using this technique, more food is grown and there is no need to clear more land.
81
Describe the social benefits of the Madagascan rainforest
Association Mitsinjo is involved in funding better healthcare, including a health clinic, and environmental education in the area. If children learn about the importance of the rainforest not, then they may grow up to care for it in the future.
82
Describe the problems in the Madagascan rainforest
The area has 14,000 inhabitants, most of whom are living in poverty. Those not in the association are trying to make a living from activities such as logging and tavy agriculture. The association also depends for two-thirds of its income on international aid organisations. It is not financially sustainable without aid.
83
Describe the Analmazoatra reserve in the Madagascan rainforest
The reserve is amazingly biodiversity with, 800 flowering plat species, 70 species of reptile, 90 bird species and 13 species of lemur some of them are very rare. The biggest tourist attraction is the indri, a large species of lemur with a distinctive booming call.
This is one of Madagascar's most popular tourist destinations.
The reserve covers 12,000 ha forested hills and river valleys.
Annual rainfall is 1800mm.
There is a hotel outside the park, 30,000 tourists visit the reserve each year.
It's a four hour drive from the capital city Antananarivo so accessible to international tourists.
Mantadia National park is 20 km north of Analamazotra. This 150km national park was once joined to Analmazoatra but deforestation split the two fragments.
84
Where are deciduous woodland ecosystems located?
In the temperate forest biome, which have cool summers and mild winters all year round.
85
Which tree species dominate the deciduous woodland ecosystem?
Deciduous trees and they shed their leaves each year for several months to cope with reductions to light and lower temperatures.
86
Describe the layers of deciduous woodlands.
Woodland has a canopy layer between 20 and 30 metres above the ground, a sub-canopy layer of saplings and shade-tolerant bushes and a herb layer of plants such as bluebells, brambles and ivy.
87
Describe what happens in the deciduous woodland in spring.
In spring, species in the herb layer flower early, before the trees of the canopy come into leaf and their broad leaves block out much of the available light through the summer. The canopy is not continuos and young trees grow up where there are canopy gaps.
88
Why do deciduous woodland trees have deep root systems?
So they can access groundwater and nutrients.
89
Deciduous woodland soil has a well-developed humus layer at the top. What does it break down?
Where there is a lot of biological activity in the spring and summer it breaks down the leaf litter from the previous Autumn.
90
Go to page 140
And study figure 9
91
How can worms be useful?
They bring organic matter deep into the soil.
92
What does dark brown soil mean?
There is a lot of organic matter.
93
What does leaching gradually bring down through soil?
Minerals
94
Describe the deciduous woodland
Deciduous woodland is a productive ecosystem with a large biomass because there is plenty of precipitation and summer warmth. The biomass store is much smaller than in the tropical rainforest, where optimum conditions for plant growth are present all year.
95
Describe the nutrient cycle in the deciduous woodland. (It's a biotic factor)
The soil and the biomass are a similar size in the deciduous woodland ecosystem. The annual leaf fall adds a lot of nutrients to the soil. While temperatures are too low in winter for soil bacteria to function and for too much decomposition to occur, in the spring decomposition becomes rapid as temperatures rise. These processes make deciduous woodland soils very fertile.
96
A biotic factor in the deciduous woodland in human activity. What do they do?
They manage many deciduous woodlands, which has a big impact on these ecosystems.
97
Describe the abiotic factors in a deciduous woodland.
Woodland soils are not as deep as TRF soils as they have not existed for as long and the processes of soil formation are slower. The deep roots of the trees (biotic) help to break up the bed rock, and weathering of this rock adds nutrients to the soil (abiotic). There is much less leaching than in TRF soils and it happens more gradually because rainfall is not as high or continuos as in TRF. The leaf litter and ground layer of plants and tree roots prevents lots of surface runoff.
98
Different food and animal species are closely interlinked. Humans and their livestock have had a very significant role in this woodland ecosystem for at least 1000 years. People have their rights to keep livestock in the forest, and these animals have a significant impact. Describe which animals live in the new forest (a deciduous woodland in the UK) and their impacts.
There are 3000 new forest ponies, which live wild in the new forest. They graze selectively, meaning they eat tall grasses but leave flowers behind. In Autumn they also eat bracken, a plant which is toxic to most other species. This means the herb layer of the ecosystem is less dense, allowing more species to grow. Pigs also roam freely in the new forest, eating acorns and nuts from trees. When they root around for food they mix around the leaf litter, aiding decomposition.
99
Describe the deciduous woodland biodiversity.
Deciduous woodland ecosystems have only moderate biodiversity compared with tropical rainforests. They have fewer species than tropical biomes. This is because of the low-temperature conditions that slow down the production of food in winter.
100
In the UK what is the dominant deciduous woodland tree?
The oak tree.
101
Describe the shape of oak trees
Oaks are large, strong trees which spread their branches horizontally, ensuring their leaves capture as much of the available light as possible.
102
Describe the oak trees leaves.
Oak leaves are broad and soft. Their width maximises the amount of solar energy the oak can access and they are soft because they do not need a waxy coating to protect they from excess water loss.
103
Describe oak tress in Autumn
In Autumn the supply of water to the leaves is cut off by a seal that forms between the leaf and the thing it is attached to. This causes the leaf to die and fall off. This enables the oak to survive through the short days and weak sunlight of the cold winter.
104
How do oak trees have protection from grazing?
Their leaves and acorns contain a lot of acid tannin. Tannin is postings for some animals eg horse, and tastes bitter to others eg deer.
105
Why do oak trees have enormous root systems?
It securely anchors the tree against winter gales and enabling it to access groundwater in drier conditions.
106
Describe how oaks are mini-ecosystems in themselves
Oaks support 200 insect species. Their fruit, acorns, are large and packed with energy that the oak sampling uses as it started to grow, and these are a valuable food source for animals. So that they do not support ever-increasing populations of animals who eat all their acorns, oaks only produce a big crop of acorns every few years.
107
Oaks drop their leaves later in Autumn than many other deciduous species, what does this do?
This gains the maximum advantage from their large canopies, but then are later to grow new leaves in spring than some otter species.
108
What does the dominance of oaks and other deciduous species such as beech and ash mean?
It means that plants species in the sub-canopy and herb layer have to be adapted to shady conditions to most of the growing season. Plants such as the bluebell are adapted to flower at the very start of spring, before the trees come into leaf, to maximise both light and access to pollinating insects.
109
Animals in the deciduous woodland are adopted to survive cold winters when there is not much food to eat. What are the 3 main adaptations?
Migration, hibernation and food storage
110
Describe how animals survive cold winters through migration
Many bird species move south to warmer winter conditions. Eg the swallow leaves the UK in September to spend the winter in central Africa.
111
Describe how some animals survive cold winter through hibernation
Some animals sown the winter in a deep sleep in which their metabolic rate drops very low, meaning they require only a little energy to keep their alive. Hedgehogs, dormice and bats all hibernate, as do reptiles such as adders and grass snakes, amphibians such as frogs, newts and toads and many insects including bumblebees, wasps, ladybirds, moths and snails.
112
Describe how some animals survive cold winters through food storage
Storing food to survive on through the winter is an adaptation that squirrels use. Some species store nuts in piles on the forest floor (red squirrels), while others (grey squirrels) bury their nuts to hide them from other nut eaters (including other squirrels). Because squirrels do not always remember all their buried nut locations, this helps some acorns to germinate.
113
Describe how timber is a good from the deciduous woodland
The UK produced 13 million tonnes of timber in 2014, which is mainly used in building. Most of this wood, however, comes from coniferous woodland as this type of timber is quicker to grow. Only about 500,000 tonnes is hardwood from UK deciduous woodlands.
114
Describe how fuel is a good from deciduous woodlands
Air-dried fuel is used in the UK for wood-burning stoves and charcoal for BBQs (though 80% of charcoal is now imported). Some UK power stations are being converted to burn biomass - much of it wood pellets from deciduous and coniferous woodland.
115
Describe the non-timber forest goods from deciduous woodlands
Non-timber forest products (NTFP) - these include woods such as moss (used by florists), edible fungi, venison (deer meat) and game shooting. Rearing birds such as pheasants and partridge for shooting is big business in the UK, and around 40% of these shoots take place in woodland. Successful shoots require active, sustainable management of the woodland ecosystem, which benefits other animal species and plants.
116
Describe the recreation services from the deciduous woodland
Deciduous woodlands are a very popular location for many different recreation activities, including cycling, horse-riding, dog-walking and nature walks. The new forest, which became a national park in 2005 has around 15 million visitors each year.
117
Describe carbon capture as a service from the deciduous woodland
Like TRF,made idols woodland also acts as a carbon store. It is estimated that the UK's woodland captures 1 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year. About half the UK's forests are deciduous woodland.
118
Describe conservation as a service from deciduous woodlands
Forest areas often preserve rare plant and animal species that are protected by law. Eg, the new forest is a very important habitat for woodland birds - 75% of the UK's Dartford warblers live there, as well as rare birds such as the nightjar and honey buzzard. Recent surveys have shown a 95% decline in woodland bird numbers in the UK, so conservation of habitat is very important.
119
In the UK, deciduous woodland ecosystems are already under a lot of pressure. Most woodland is found in small blocks rather than in big forests. What does this make them vulnerable to?
Climate change
120
How can milder winters impact the deciduous woodland?
Key processes such as germination are triggered by cold temperatures. Without this trigger, the processes can become disconnected.
New tree species that are not adapted to cold winters are able to out-compete native deciduous trees if winters become milder.
Pests and diseases that do not survive cold winters can spread in winters become milder.
121
How would more frequent drought threat the deciduous woodland?
More frequent droughts would put a lot of stress on deciduous woodland trees. They are not adapted to survive drought condition year after year. Beech trees are particularly vulnerable to drought stress. Stresses trees are less able to fight disease and pest attack.
122
How would forest fires threat the deciduous woodland?
High temperatures and drought make forest fires more likely. Deciduous woodland is not adapted to forest fires. However, other ecosystems are adapted to fire, and benefit from the way fire releases nutrients. Plant species from these ecosystems could start to replace some deciduous woodland plants.
123
Because of climate change some species may be able to migrate to the cooler north of the the UK. What are the disadvantages of doing this?
The rate of change might be too rapid for many species to succeed in doing this. Species in the south of the UK that are a,ready vulnerable would be likely to become extinct in this country reducing biodiversity.
124
Only 13% of the UK land area is covered in woodland, why?
Because deforestation took place years ago. After WW1, woodland was reduced to just 5% of the UK's land area. The government decided that a national reserve of timer was needed. Landowners were encouraged to plant more woodland. This is why the amount of woodland has increased to 13% today.
125
Of the 3 million hectares of woodland in the UK only 1 million is native deciduous woodland. The most precious decisions woodland is ancient. How much ancient deciduous woodland is in the UK?
2.3% (5000 hectares) and it is still being deforested - 1000 hectares have been lost in the last 10 years.
126
In the 20th century deforestation occurred. 38% of ancient woodland was lost. It was cut down and replanted as a coniferous forest. Describe how they replanted it
Instead of using native conifer species, the coniferous plantations were mostly non-native species such as Sitka spruce.
The plantations were also monocultures - only one species was grown rather than a mix.
The dense evergreen canopy meant there was no light for undergrowth, so the plantations had very low biodiversity. The plantations were not popular with many people as they looked ugly.
127
What were the economic impacts of the deciduous woodland being deforested then replanted with coniferous woodland?
Coniferous trees produced softwood, which grows faster than the hardwood of deciduous trees. This meant timber could be extracted sooner from coniferous plantations, generating money more quickly. The non-native conifer species are also faster-growing than native conifers, and planting the trees as a monoculture plantation made it much easier to grow and manage the plantation.
128
Most of the land in the UK that is suitable for farming was cleared of woodland centuries ago. Only a small amount of ancient woodland (7%) was cleared in the last 100 years for agricultural use. Apart from deforestation, what are the negative impacts on deciduous woodland?
Because woodland mostly exist at in small blocks rather than as big forests, woodland is usually surrounded by farmland. The edges of the woodland are affected by the pesticides and herbicides that are sprayed on crops to control weeds. Woodland species are damaged by these.
129
Describe how the increasing population has impacted deforestation (for new housing)
Experts say that the UK needs to build 240,000 new houses each year to keep up with the demand for housing; in 2014 less than 1/2 of that number was built. Developers would like to end Greenbelt restrictions, which currently protect a lot of deciduous woodland near to cities and towns, to build new houses to meet this demand. Houses in semi-rural locations can be sold for a lot of money.
130
Describe how the increasing population has caused deforestation (road construction)
The number of vehicles in the UK has increased every year since WW2 (except in 1991). In 2013 there were 35 million vehicles on the UK's roads. There is great pressure to reduce congestion by widening carriageways, providing more service stations for road users. Deciduous woodland can often be lost as a result.
131
Describe the new forest national park
The New Forest National park on the south coast of England. It covers 480 km squared. About 175,000 people live in the area and it is very popular with tourists. Tourism is worth £500 million to the region each year, but the 15 million people who visit the New Forest annually also pose some sustainability problems for the forests ecosystems.
132
How can visitors do damage to the New Forest national park?
By trampling delicate plants; causing erosion while walking, cycling, horse-riding and car parking on verges; staring fires with BBQs; scaring wildlife and farm animals with their dogs; and dropping litter.
133
The New Forest is used by people (called verenres) with rights to pasture ponies, pigs and other livestock in the park. These livestock roam freely and are a popular tourist attraction. However what can sometimes happen to these animals?
They can be run off by visitors driving too fast through the forest. The ponies can also be dangerous to approach if they have young foals.
134
Timber is extracted from the New Forest, both softwood from conifer plantations and hardwood from deciduous trees. So,e forestry operations are not compatible with visitors using the woodland for recreation, so what needs to be controlled?
The access to the timber
135
Half the woodland in the New Forest is privately owned and about 40% of that is not managed. So what happens to it?
It becomes very overgrown, with rotting timber on the forest floor, and it is not attractive to visitors.
136
Why is forestry carefully organised in the New Forest?
So that deforestation does not occur and conservation of the deciduous woodland ecosystem is promoted. The New Forest produces 50,000 tonnes of timber each year.
137
When conifers in conservation areas are cut down for timber, what happens?
They are replaced by more deciduous trees. Deciduous trees are always replaced by more deciduous species. This means the percentage of deciduous trees is increasing in the New Forest.
138
What are pesticides and herbicides used sparingly in the New Forest?
To avoid damaging the ecosystem.
139
In the New Forest, foresters cut down timber, plant new trees and cull deer in winter, when there are the fewest visitors. Work in deciduous woodland between April and August are minimised, why?
So nesting birds are not disturbed.
140
Half the forestry in the New Forest is managed by Forest Commission. What this organisation do?
This organisation runs courses in sustainable woodland management for private woodland owners and supports volunteers in conservation work.
141
What different systems are used in the New Forest national park to control where visitors go?
There are a lot of car parks in the New Forest so that people don't park on the roadside verges, special cycle routes and paths have been set up through the park, which guide visitors away from vulnerable areas, barriers are used to stop access to areas, eg forestry work.
142
What are hotels and campsites in the New Forest encouraged to do?
To join in sustainable transport schemes, such as the New Forest tour - an open topped bus and electric vehicle and bike hire. Electric vehicle charge points are provided through the national park.
143
What are the green leaf business? (New Forest national park)
They are local businesses that have signed up to a scheme to use local products where possible, to encourage walking and cycling, to set aside 10% of their grounds for local wildlife and generally to support sustainable use of the forest.
144
What conservation schemes are funded by the New Forest national park authority and other sources?
Local landowners can get grants to help improve biodiversity in their woodlands through planting native species and suing traditional techniques such as cop picking to manage tree growth. In the way the New Forest ecosystem has been managed for many centuries.
145
When visitors visit the New Forest national park the are given a leaflet. What does it explain?
It's called 5 ways to love the forest and it explains why visitors should drive slowly through the forest or leave the car behind, about green leaf business and about the forest marque.
146
What is the forest marque in the New Forest national park for?
The forest marque certifies that local wood products are made from sustainable forest timber.
147
How does the New Forest national park promote sustainable use of the forest?
By encouraging visitors not to damage the park and by organising tourism to benefit local people.
