Ecosystems

Question 1

Define Ecosystem

Answer 1

a complex natural system that is made up of plants, animals and the environment.

Question 2

Define Biotic

Answer 2

living component of an ecosystem e.g. animals

Question 3

Define Abiotic

Answer 3

non-living component of an ecosystem (environmental factors) e.g. rocks

Question 4

Define Producers

Answer 4

Organisms that convert energy from the environment, mainly the sun, into sugars and mainly glucose e.g. plants

Question 5

Define Consumers

Answer 5

Organisms that get energy from the sugars produced by the producers e.g. a pond snail

Question 6

Define Decomposers

Answer 6

Organisms that break down plant and animal material and return the nutrients into the soil e.g. bacteria and fungi

Question 7

Define Nutrient Cycle

Answer 7

the on-going cycling of nutrients which are used by plants or animals to grow

Main sources include:

• rainwater washes chemicals out of the atmosphere
• weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil

Question 8

Example of Food chain in a pond ecosystem

Answer 8

Detritus (Decaying Leaves) => Midge Lava => Great diving beetle => Perch Pike => Heron

Question 9

How can changes affect the ecosystem?

Answer 9

Global and local changes can affect the balance and interrelationships formed in ecosystems which took thousands of years to create.

Question 10

Natural Changes to the Ecosystem

Answer 10

Slow natural changes have few harmful effects as the ecosystems can slowly come to adapt, however rapid changes can have serious impacts. Some examples include droughts, which can affect ponds and lakes by dying them up and therefore changing the edge-of-pond environment, leaving plants to dry up and fish dying from a lack of oxygen.

Question 11

Human activity impacting change in Ecosystem

Answer 11

Human activity can have many impacts on ecosystems, and when a component has been changed it can have serious knock-on effects on the ecosystem. This includes: Agricultural fertilisers, woods being cut down, ponds being drained for farming, hedgerows being removed.

Question 12

Case study of change in an ecosystem

Answer 12

Avington park lakes, Winchester, Hampshire

It is a country estate, of which the grounds are of historical and ecological importance. Over the years there has been a lack of maintenance which resulted in the accumulation of silt and growth of unwanted vegetation. Although this created a great environment for birds, the great view from the house had been lost.

There was a restoration of the lake in 2014 – the aim being to restore the lake as part of the landscape and to improve its function as a habitat for birds. The restoration included de-silting and reshaping. new waterside habitats were created to attract nesting birds and waterfowl. The lake is now attractive and a healthy ecosystem supporting a diverse range of wildlife.

Question 13

Define Biome

Answer 13

a global/ large scale ecosystem, usually defined by the dominant type of vegetation.

They form broad belts usually parallel to lines of latitude. This is because the climate and characteristics are determined by the global atmospheric circulation.

Question 14

What causes variation in west-to-east belts of vegetation

Answer 14

• ocean currents
• winds
• distribution of land and sa

Question 15

Tundra

Answer 15

Location:
Mainly located between the arctic circle to about 60o – 70o north

Characteristics:
Cold, windy and dry conditions support low-growing plants
Easily damaged by developments, e.g. oil exploitation and tourism.

Question 16

Deciduous and coniferous forests

Answer 16

Location:
Located roughly 50o – 60o north

Characteristics:
Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the winter, but cone-bearing coniferous evergreens are better suited to colder climates and so dominate the north.

Question 17

Temperate grassland

Answer 17

Location:
Located 30o – 40o north and south of the equator, and always inland

Characteristics:
Warm, dry summers and cold winters support grasses for grazing animals.

Question 18

Mediterranean

Answer 18

Location:
Near the Mediterranean sea and on isolated locations in the southern hemisphere

Characteristics:
Hot, sunny, dry summers and mild winters support olive groves and citrus fruits.

Question 19

Desert

Answer 19

Location:
Roughly 30o north and 30o south of the equator

Characteristics:
Covers 5% of the earth’s land surface.
High daytime temps, low night time temps and very low rainfall restrict plants and animals to highly specialised species.

Question 20

Tropical rainforest

Answer 20

Location:
- close to the equator

Characteristics:
Covers 6% of the earth’s land.
High temps and heavy rainfall create ideal conditions for vegetation
More than half of all plant and animal species and a quarter of all medicines originate from there.

Question 21

Tropical grassland (savanna)

Answer 21

Location:
Located between 15o – 30o north and south of the equator

Characteristics:
Distinct wet and dry seasons support large herds of grazing animals and their predators.

Question 22

Polar

Answer 22

Location:
Arctic and Antartic

Characteristics
Low temps ( below -50o ) and dry conditions prohibit most plant and animal life.