ecosystems ✓ Flashcards
why do you find large scale ecosystems in Tropical rainforests ?
large area with different types of climate throughout it
where do you find Tundra and why ? and an example
Arctic or alpine areas, temperatures almost too cold for trees to grow
- N hemisphere - Canada
- Mountains - Alps
where do you find Temperate grasslands and why ? and an example
Prairies, not too hot and enough rainfall
- Argentina
where do you find Deserts and why ? and an example
moisture from oceans rarely reaches between 15 - 30 N and S, animals and plants are adapted for not a lot of water
- Australia
where do you find Boreal forests and why ? and an example
N hemisphere between 50N and the arctic circle, not loads of water but enough and not a lot of heat but enough
- Russia
where do you find Temperate forests and why ? and an example
between 40 - 60 N because the temperatures are not too hot
- USA
where do you find Tropical grasslands and why ? and an example
between the tropics, warm all year round
- Kenya
where do you find Tropical grasslands and why ? and an example
between the tropics
- Kenya
what are the characteristics of tropical rainforests ?
- wet all year 200mm and 300mm rain
- hot all year 25-30°C
- small temperature range 26 and 30°C
what are the characteristics of temperate forests ?
- 1000mm rain
- temperature range 4 and 18°C
- warm summer 18°C and cool winters 5°C
what are the characteristics of tropical grasslands ?
- hot all year 25-30°C
- small temperature range 25 and 30°C
- wet May - October
- dry seasons
- 500 - 1000mm rain
what are the characteristics of temperate grasslands ?
- rainfall 500 - 900mm
- climate is continental summers 25°C winters below freezing up to 6 months
- temperature range is large
what are the characteristics of tundra ?
- below 0°C most of year
- short summers 3 months
- temperatures reaching 10°C in summer
- less than 250mm rain
what are the characteristics of boreal forests ?
- low precipitation 500mm
- warm summers 16-30°C
- cold winters well below 0°C
what resources does the biosphere provide ?
- food - fish and meats, sustainable harvests, natural vegetation,
- medicine - aloe plants soothes skin, vitamin C found in citrus fruits, lichens stop blood loss from cuts
- building materials - animal dung, straw, and clay, timber,
- fuel resources - trees and scrubs, animal dung, fermenting crops
how are people exploiting the biosphere commercially for energy ?
- oil as fuel to produce electricity and power engines
- coal used to power peoples houses and produce electricity
- wind winds turbines built on land and in sea for electricity
- solar panels put in fields to provide electricity
- sea through use of wave and tidal barrages
how are people exploiting the biosphere commercially for water ?
- domestic use, drinking, washing, toilets, cleaning
- electricity, produces electricity in thermal power stations
- industry, in food and paper industry
- farmers, irrigate their crops
how are people exploiting the biosphere commercially for mineral resources ?
- every day life, cleaning teeth
- gold and silver are used for jewellery
- silver is made into mirrors
where in the UK do you find heathlands ?
lowland ares
- Cornwall
- Dorset
where in the UK do you find moorlands ?
areas with heavy rainfall
- Scotland
- Dartmoor
where in the UK do you find woodlands ?
- deciduous tress are in Scotland, Scots Pine found in lowland areas
- plantations of non-native conifers in upland areas
where in the UK do you find wetlands ?
streams to rivers in areas like Somerset Levels, Fens and Norfolk Broads
what are the characteristics of moorlands ?
- soil, acidic and peaty
- plants, heather and broken
- animals, red deer and foxes
- birds, buzzards and grouse
what are the characteristics of heathlands ?
- soil, dry and sandy, free draining, acidic few plant nutrients
- plants, small shrubs like heather and gorse and silver birches
- animals, rabbit and hares
- birds, nightjar and skylark
what are the characteristics of woodlands ?
- soil, fertile and brown earths
- plants, trees are dominant - deciduous and broadleaved, mosses and lichens, bluebells and ferns
- animals, deer and badgers
- birds, sparrow hawk and tawny owl
what are the characteristics of wetlands ?
- soil, peaty, fertile, periodically waterlogged
- plants, lush vegetation, reeds and bulrushes
- animals, otters and salmon
- birds, mallard and teal
why are marine ecosystems important to the UK ?
- great economic, environmental and social value
- it is rich in resources - 2005 estimate to be worth £46 billion
how are marine ecosystems being damaged by human activities ?
- overfishing: laws say fishing cannot take place in some areas
- marine energy: fastest growing human activity for oil and gas extraction
- eutrophication: caused by fertilisers on farmland washed into sea also caused when sea is used to break up and detoxify sewage
- development of coastlines: housing, farming, ports and industry often removes coastal ecosystems and salt marshes
what are the goods and services we get from marine ecosystems ?
- tourism: 250 million people visit UK coast, 200 000 jobs in coastal tourism, brings £3 billion to UK’s economy
- fishing: fishing fleet is 7th largest in EU, 6400 fishing boats, 12 000 people work on the fleet, 14 000 work in fish processing
- energy: UK has oil reserves around 24 billion barrels in North Sea enough for 30 years production industry employs 450 000
- ports: 90% of our imports and exports travel
- leisure and recreation
- environmental: carbon sink - UK’s sea absorb lots of GHGs while releasing oxygen, moderate climate making it warmer in winter than UK would be given
what are the biotic characteristics of tropical rainforests ?
- plants - deciduous trees, lianas, buttress roots
- animals - monkeys, uroplatus geckos
- humans - tribes, indigenous people
what are the abiotic characteristics of tropical rainforests ?
- climate - hot and humid climates, rains everyday
- sun - overhead most of year
- water - rainfall depends on time of year
- soils
what does abiotic mean ?
non-living part of an ecosystem
what does biotic mean ?
living part of an ecosystem
what is the biggest nutrient store in the nutrient cycle in the tropical rainforest ?
biomass as vegetation
what is the smallest nutrient store in the nutrient cycle in the tropical rainforest ?
litter
what is biggest nutrient transfer in the nutrient cycle in the tropical rainforest ?
heavy rain causing strong leaching
what is smallest nutrient transfer in the nutrient cycle in the tropical rainforest ?
from biomass to litter
why do tropical rainforests have a high biodiversity ?
due to constant temperature and a high rainfall which allows dense vegetation for growth
how have animals adapted to the climate and environment of the tropical rainforest ?
in the main canopy:
- monkeys have evolved strong gripping hands and feet and long tail for balance to them them find food which is high up
in the shrub layer:
- many species are camouflaged to match their surroundings eg Uroplatus geckos
in the herb layer:
- have developed camouflage to help them hide in shadows
how have plants adapted to the climate and environment of the tropical rainforest ?
- emergent tress adapted to grow up to 40m tall to reach above canopy and get sunlight
- trees are deciduous losing leaves in drier periods to help conserve water
- lianas climb tree trunks to reach light
- plants have developed thick, waxy leaves with drip-tips so water runs off them to stop mould growing on leaves and from leaves from rotting
- buttress roots have developed to provide stability because trees have shallow roots
what are the goods and services that the tropical rainforest provided us ?
goods:
- food - like fruits and nuts
- range of plant species - key ingredients for drugs
- timber- manufacture, construction and fuel
services:
- acts as carbon store - up to 2 billion tonnes of CO2 every year
- source of revenue - tourist attraction
- home to indigenous tribes
how could climate change threaten the structure, functioning and biodiversity of the tropical rainforest ?
- structure and functioning rely on current climate
- if changes in rainfall and temperature distribution changes in the rainforest it will be unable to survive in its present form
- rainforest is weakened by human activities such as deforestation
- vast amount of transpiration occur in the trees and so much of rainfall is recycled from the forest itself if their are less trees to provide water and therefore less rainfall occurs
- 40 percent of species of live in the Amazon rainforest
- biodiversity will be threatened by less rainfall and higher temperature because links in food chain could be broken if species fail to adapt to new climate
what are the economic causes of deforestation ?
- cleared for agriculture
- cattle ranching
- oil palm plantations
- resources have been extracted for many years
- mining
- road building
what are the social causes of deforestation ?
- overpopulation
- home building
- electricity
what political management are they using in Costa Rica to manage the rainforest ?
- government set up natural parks which protect 18% of country and privately owned reserves which protects another 13%
- direct government made tax deductions and grants to owners of rainforests if they conserved their forest area and used it to benefit society
- 11 eco-regions in Costa Rica heated by government
what economical management are they using in Costa Rica to manage the rainforest ?
- certificate for sustainable tourism for businesses proves their commitment for sustainable tourism
- commercially selling carbon credits to wealthy countries
- deferred areas of rainforests are used to economically support the country
how sustainable are the political management they are using in Costa Rica to manage the rainforest ?
good because they are saving carbon amounts
how sustainable are the political management they are using in Costa Rica to manage the rainforest ?
good because they are making money out of rainforest and encouraging tourism which makes money
what is the biggest nutrient transfer in the deciduous rainforest ?
leaching
what is the smallest nutrient transfer in the deciduous rainforest ?
leaf fall
why do deciduous woodlands moderate biodiversity ?
- lower food production levels in winter
- ecosystem size is smaller compared to TRF
- higher latitude causes lower temperatures and fewer sunlight hours (less efficient for photosynthesis)
- species adaptation is higher due to different seasons
how have plants adapted in deciduous woodlands ?
- deciduous trees shed leaves at approach of cool or dry season and later grow new leaves (to save water)
- deciduous trees have broad leaves to help catch sunlight needed to make food
- some food material is drawn back into the twigs and branches stored for following spring
- large deep roots for stability and to get nutrients and groundwater
- bluebells and daffodils grow quickly to get sunlight and flower before it is too dark
how have animals adapted in deciduous woodlands ?
- birds migrate to warmer countries during harsh winters
- squirrels store food
- some animals such as hedgehogs hibernate in winter
what goods and services are provided by deciduous woodlands ?
goods:
- wood used for fuel in wood burning stoves
- wood pellets used in power stations to burn biomass
- contribute to 13 million tonnes of timber used each year in construction in UK
services:
- carbon store - UK woodlands oak 1 million tonnes of carbon per year
- protect rare plant and animal species
- regularly used for cycling, walking and horse-riding
how does climate change threaten the structure, functioning and biodiversity fo the deciduous woodland ?
- more storms have occurred impacting stability of trees
- increased drought in summer had detrimental effect on tree growth
- stress that drought put on trees makes them more vulnerable to disease
- milder winters cause problems as many trees need cold weather to help them to reset their clocks for spring
- pests and diseases are not killed in winter frosts
- during 21st century estimated temperature will rise 2.5°C mean species will move north by 300 km or 300 m uphill and will need to adapt to new conditions
- change may be too rapid for species to adapt quick enough so may become extinct
how has the economic factor timber and extraction caused deforestation ?
- replanting with conifers cleared 3.8% of deciduous woodlands
- conifers more economic: faster growing, easier to manage, quicker return
- cost of conifer plantations: dense canopy blocks light, monoculture - less variety, non-native species, reduces biodiversity
how has the social factors urbanisation and population growth caused deforestation ?
- land to build new homes - heat and power homes
- higher car ownership - more wood to fuel them
how has the economic factor agricultural changes caused deforestation ?
- pesticide damage
- need for farmland
how is the Wyre Forest used ?
- tourism - recreational activities
- conifer plantations
- orchard
- meadow
- farming
how is the Wyre Forest being used ?
- wildlife - meadows and orchards will be extended, invasive species will be removed (Himalaya balsam), network of woodland rides will provide corridors for wildlife and people
- woodland - on steep slopes deciduous woodland will be left to develop, areas previously planted with conifers will be restores to oak and the prominent species of tree, other trees and plants will be encouraged to grow (silver birch, aspen, rowan, hawthorn, hazel and holly)
- leisure and recreation - give places for leisure and recreation, visitor centre at Callow Hill will show people how to understand forest and what it can offer them, forestry commission provides a number of recreational activities
- education - opportunities for skill development and train including forest industries, apprentices and internships
- community - people who live in the area will be encouraged to take part in conservation work
what are the problems with how the Wyre Forest is being used ?
they are farming the land which can weaken soil and make it more vulnerable to disease
how is the New Forest being managed ?
- farm animals, horse and cows are let to graze the land to keep grass and ground healthy
- recreational activities such as walking, horse riding and cycling take place encouraging tourism and money
- forestry commission has people who provide recreational uses and land keepers who protect the land
how good is the management of the New Forest ?
people are protecting the land and keeping it intact
