Ecosystems

Question 1

What is nutrient cycling?

Answer 1

When plants or animals die, the decomposers help to recycle the nutrients making them available once again for the growth of plants and animals.

Question 2

What is a biome?

Answer 2

A large scale ecosystem - rainforests, tundra, desert

Question 3

Tropical rainforest

Answer 3

• High temps and heavy rainfall

- covers 6% of land but 50%+ of species live here

Question 4

Deserts

Answer 4

• Located in high pressure belts. Sinking air stops clouds from forming

Question 5

Tundra

Answer 5

• Warmer summers and cold winters. This is the Finnish word for treeless plain

Question 6

Polar

Answer 6

• Cold air sinks resulting in very low temps and dry conditions.

Question 7

Structure of a tropical rainforest- emergent layer

Answer 7

Emergent layer - The tallest trees are called emergents and are usually over 50m tall.

Question 8

Plant adaptations - Buttress roots

Answer 8

• big ridges help support base

- helps transport water

Question 9

Plant adaptations - Drip tips

Answer 9

• allows heavy rainfall to drip off the leaf which stops the plants from flooding.

Question 10

Plant adaptations - Lianas

Answer 10

• climb up to the canopy layer to reach sunlight

Question 11

What is leaching?

Answer 11

is when heavy rainfall dissolves and washes away most of the nutrients

Question 12

Managing tropical rainforests - conservation and education

Answer 12

rainforests can be preserved in conservation areas, such as national parks or nature reserves. These areas can be sued for education, scientific research and tourism.

Question 13

Managing tropical rainforests - Ecotourism

Answer 13

Aims to introduce ppl to the natural world to benefit local communities and protect the environment for the future.

Question 14

Managing tropical rainforests - selective logging and replanting

Answer 14

Selective logging when managed carefully is completely sustainable.

Question 15

Structure - canopy

Answer 15

Canopy - The thick layer of leaves below this is called the canopy. Lianas climb to the canopy to reach sunlight.

Question 16

Structure- understorey

Answer 16

Under storey - mainly contains bare tree trunks and lianas.

Question 17

Structure- shrub layer

Answer 17

Shrub layer - The shrub layer has the densest plant growth. It contains shrubs and ferns and other plants needing less light. Saplings of emergents and canopy trees can be found here.

Question 18

structure - forest floor

Answer 18

The forest floor - is usually dark and damp. it contains a layer of rotting leaves.