Ecosystems Flashcards
What is climate?
Earth’s climate depends on energy from sun. Affects growing conditions for vegetation, and affects location and characteristics or large-scale ecosystems.
What is temperature?
Lower in higher latitudes, so boreal forests are much colder than tropical rainforests. Growing seasons are longer in warmer locations.
What is precipitation?
Global circulation system influences precipitation. Desert areas have low precipitation due to descending dry air.
What is sunshine hours?
Lower sunshine hours in tundra ecosystems means much less sunlight for plants to carry out photosynthesis than in tropical rainforests.
What is the boreal biome?
Boreal forests are at higher latitudes where sun’s rays are weak. Trees area adapted to cold with needle-like leaves.
What is the tropical biome?
Tropical rainforests are mostly found either side of Equator. Temperature is hot and is heavy rainfall.
What is the temperate biome?
High rainfall and are seasonal variations in Sun’s rays. Trees lose their leaves in cool winters.
What is the tundra biome?
Within Arctic Circle. Sun gives little heat here and is little rainfall. Only tough, short grasses survive.
What is the desert biome?
Close to Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Where hot dry air sinks down to Earth’s surface and Sun’s rays are concentrated, making it very hot in day.
How can rock/soil type effect ecosystems?
Lead to different vegetation in same ecosystem. In NW Australia, poor, sandy soil means grasses are shorter than in other areas of tropical grassland.
How can altitude differences effect ecosystems?
Lead to different plants growing within same ecosystem. Higher altitude, lower temperature .At low altitudes lowland rainforests and mangroves grow; at cloud level (1,200 m), moist cloud forests occur.
What food comes from the biosphere?
Natural vegetation can be replaced by crops-wheat, rice. Sustainable harvests-fruit, berries, nuts. Fish and meat.
What medicine is from the biosphere?
Poppies (morphine) treat pain. Aloe plant soothes skin conditions. Vitamin C vital-found in oranges. Lichens stop blood loss from cuts. Most biodiverse biome is TRF. 70% of plants containing compound used for cancer found in TRF.
What fuel resources are from the biosphere?
Animal dung dried and burned, trees and shrubs, fermenting crops like sugar cane produce bioethanol.
What building materials are from the biosphere?
Straw-used for roofing and insulation, timber, animal dung mixed with clay and straw-bricks.
How has water been exploited from the biosphere?
Increased water demand (urbanisation, agriculture and industry) means is less water in biosphere for other areas, e.g. wetlands.
How has energy been exploited from the biosphere?
Production of biofuels means that fewer crops can be grown for local people.
How can mining have an impact on the biosphere services for local people?
Large area has been disturbed, destroying plants and animals that may provide food, fuel, building materials and medicines for local people. Because mine is extracting oil, is high risk of water pollution. Drinking water is a vital biosphere resource and water pollution could have a very negative impact on, e.g. health of local people.
What are the moorlands in the UK?
Approximately 350,000 hectares of heather moorland in England and Wales. Largest area in Scotland, found in upland areas. Peat bogs and rough grassland.
What are heathlands in the UK?
Approximately 95,000 hectares of heathland. Located in lowland areas of UK. Some sites marshy, some places dry and sandy.
What are woodlands in the UK?
Remaining ancient woodland-Scots pine, juniper, aspen, rowan, birch and oak. Oak woodlands like Taynish National Nature Reserve, Argyll are rich in plants and wildlife. 80% of woodland was planted under 100 years ago.
What are wetlands in the UK?
Main areas located in Scotland and East Anglia. Waterlogged soils low in nutrients.
How are marine ecosystems used for tourism?
Estimated 250 million people visit UK’s coastline each year, generating income for local economy and providing employment.
How are marine ecosystems used for energy?
Wind energy helps UK reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet carbon targets. London Array is world’s largest offshore wind farm-175 turbines.
How are marine ecosystems used for fishing?
Marine ecosystems provide jobs in commercial fishing.
How are marine ecosystems being degraded?
Development of coastlines can lead to destruction of plant and wildlife habitats e.g. salt marshes. Climate change allows new species to move into new areas, may alter food web. Overfishing of fish species (like cod in North Sea) impacts wider ecosystem an damages food chain. Fertilisers used by farmers can lead to eutrophication from chemicals reaching sea.
What are components to the TRF?
Biotic: components-living pars of ecosystem (plants, animals, humans).-mainly deciduous trees.
Abiotic: components-non living parts of ecosystem (climate, soil, water).-25 to 35 degrees
Abiotic and biotic factors interact and depend on each other to make the ecosystem function.
How do indigenous tribes affect the TRF?
Hunt animals for food, carry out small-scale farming and spread seeds of plants when eating fruit and nuts.
How do low nutrient soils affect the TRF?
Low in nutrients due to leaching-Heavy rainfall seeps into soil, and takes nutrients and minerals with it as it moves downwards.
How does chemical weathering affect the TRF?
Common in bedrock in TRF because of warm, moist conditions, but nutrients are not available for plant growth.
