Ecosystems at Risk

Question 1

What are the ways to classify Ecosystems?

Answer 1

1. Climate: desert, alpine, polar
2. Vegetation: tropical rain forests, wetlands,
3. Physical Landscape: mountains, coral reefs

Question 2

In what two ways can the productivity of ecosystems be measured by?

Answer 2

Biomass: the mass of new living matter produced over time

Energy Flows: amount of energy in all organisms in an area per unit of time

Question 3

4 Biophysical spheres

Answer 3

Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere

Question 4

Name and list features of the 4 abiotic influences on ecosystems:

Answer 4

1. Celestial: Sun and Moon (amount of day/night, heat, light, gravitational pulls)
2. Earth: (seasonal changes, rainfall, temperatures, ocean currents)
3. Chemical: (Sea sprays, nutrient upwelling, fallout from volcanic regions)
4. Major Events: (volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes) can be gradual or Catastrophic

Question 5

Name and list features of the 5 biotic influences on ecosystems:

Answer 5

1. Life-cycles: influences food chain relationships
2. Migration Behavior Patterns: birds/animals, vegetation patterns, seed dispersion
3. Population Dynamics: explosions/crashes of populations in species
4. Adaptations: influences distribution of species in ecosystems
5. Species Interactions: maintenance, health, functioning of ecosystems.

Question 6

Vulnerability and Resilience of Ecosystems:

Location:

Answer 6

Two main factors:

1. Latitude determines to some extent temperature, hours of day/night, rainfall –> Climate
2. Proximity to humans: human impacts/damages

Question 7

Vulnerability and Resilience of Ecosystems:

Extent:

Answer 7

Refers to the boundaries (size) of an ecosystem, ecosystems that are small or have been distributed are more vulnerable.

Question 8

Vulnerability and Resilience of Ecosystems:

Biodiversity:

Answer 8

Three Forms:
1.Genetic: variety of genetic information within a species. Survival of the Fittest. (Natural Selection)

2. Species: variety of species within an ecosystem. Important for food chain and inter species interactions
3. Ecosystem Diversity: diversity present within ecosystems in terms of habitat differences, biotic communities and ecological processes

Question 9

Vulnerability and Resilience of Ecosystems:

Interdependence/Linkage:

Answer 9

Relates to Species Diversity. The greater the interdependence within the ecosystem the greater its ability to adapt to a changing environment.

Question 10

What are some generalizations on Human Induced Modifications? (Hint there are 4)

Answer 10

• SPEED: hasn’t been faster
• SCALE: hasn’t been larger
• TECHNOLOGY: to implement large scale change is accelerating
• POPULATION: is increasing

Question 11

6 major ways humans have altered ecosystems:

Answer 11

• Ecosystems are destroyed, degraded and simplified
• Pest populations have become stronger
• Predators are eliminated
• Alien species are introduced
• Potentially renewable resources are over harvested
• Chemical Cycling and Energy Flows are interfered with

Question 12

Importance of Ecosystem Management and Protection:

Maintenance of Genetic Diversity:

Answer 12

• Ecosystems rich in diversity are more resilient
• Natural selection plays a role. Ecosystem + Stress–> Only the genetically/species resistant will survive.
• SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!

Question 13

Importance of Ecosystem Management and Protection:

Utility Value:

Answer 13

Is the usefulness or potential usefulness of something:

1. products the ecosystem provides
2. services the ecosystem provides
3. other: national identity, myths etc.

Question 14

Importance of Ecosystem Management and Protection:

Intrinsic Value:

Answer 14

Ecosystems have intrinsic value because they exist

• Existence
• Spiritual/Philosophical
• Aesthetics

Question 15

Importance of Ecosystem Management and Protection:

Heritage Values:

Answer 15

Ecosystems can have natural or human heritage values.
Heritage gives us a sense of place and links to the past.
NESCO–> World Heritage List

Question 16

Importance of Ecosystem Management and Protection:

Need to Allow Natural Processes To Occur:

Answer 16

Ecosystems are the net result of millions of years of evolution changes in response to environmental changes.
Humans have ethical responsibility to see this process to continue

Question 17

Name the 4 Philosophies for Eco-management:

Hint: P.U.C.E

Answer 17

• preservation
• utilisation
• conservation
• exploitation

Question 18

Radical Environmentalism:

Answer 18

(Your Radical Tree Huggers):
Wide range of views including those who advocate the right of all species to survive and those who argue against all forms of human development.

Question 19

Romanticism:

Answer 19

(Me-Pip):

Values the beauty of nature. Advocates the protection of the wilderness, places unaffected by human interactions.

Question 20

Stewardship:

Answer 20

(Indigenous):
Humans occupy a privileged position, responsibility to protect and nurture the land for the benefit of future generations.
Custodians of the Land

Question 21

Utilitarianism:

Answer 21

(Government):

Things only have value if they contribute to the happiness and well being of people

Question 22

Environmental Imperialism

Answer 22

(1984 nightmare):
Egocentric view holds that everything in nature is subordinated to wants of humans.
Ecosystems–> resources to be exploited for profit.

Question 23

Contemporary Approaches: List the 3 types

Answer 23

Economic Attitudes: Protecting ecosystems comes at the cost of not extracting the natural resources

Changing Technology: Technology changes ecosystem management (Mapping Techniques, G.I.S, Testing/Measuring Technology)

Changing Environmental Attitudes: changing in favour of the environment. More willing to recycle/reuse for benefit of environment.