Ecosystems at Risk; SDP: Biophysical Interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning

Question 1

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

a biological community that has interacting organisms with their physical environment.
consist of plans, animals and micro-orfamisms working together as a functional unit.

Question 2

describe a desert

Answer 2

a dry, barren landscape with little to no precipitation. lack of vegetation exposes ground to erosion, little plant and animal life due to hostile living conditions

Question 3

describe a rainforest

Answer 3

closed and continuous tree canopy with moisture dependent vegetation. high amount of rainfall and biodiversity. located close to equator

Question 4

describe a tundra environment

Answer 4

flat, dry, cold climate. tree growth is hindered by cold temperatures.

Question 5

what is the abiotic component of an ecosystem?

Answer 5

the physical environment or non-living factors, including soil, atmosphere, solar radiation, and water.
they determine the lifestyles of organisms in a habitat.

Question 6

what is the biotic component of an ecosystem?

Answer 6

the living organisms in a habitat, eg. animals, plans, and micro organisms (fungi and bacteria)

Question 7

what are consumers and producers?

Answer 7

producers are green plants that contain chlorophyll, making solar radiation source of food.

consumers are animals that do not contain chlorophyll, relying on producers to sustain themselves.

Question 8

what are reducers?

Answer 8

they breakdown dead organic matter into simple nutrients, then used by producers resulting in cyclic exchange of materials throughout the ecosystem.

Question 9

what is insolation?

Answer 9

exposure to the suns rays

Question 10

What are causes of ecosystem vulnerability?

Answer 10

Location eg. latitude, distance from sea, alititude, microclimatic features
Extent - ecosystems in small areas, or subject to previous disturbance
Linkages eg. if an organism relies on one form of producer for survival, its at higher risk of being wiped out
Biodiversity eg. genetic, species, ecosystem(greater number of habitats=easier to remove threats)

Question 11

What is natural stress

Answer 11

Natural stress is stress produced by the environment such as extreme temperatures and wind, drought and salinity.
if an ecosystem is extensively disturbed, pioneer species such as mangroves, colonise the habitat.

Question 12

Characteristics of a polar ecosystem

Answer 12

Permanent ice cap,no plant growth us animal life.

Question 13

Tundra

Answer 13

• Covered in ice & show -

Question 14

Temperate grassland

Answer 14

Erratic rainfall,fires,dominated by grasses,exploited for agriculture.

Question 15

what is nutrient cycling

Answer 15

how nutrients are used for growth and energy is transferred through an ecosystem for plants and animals

Question 16

what are detritivores

Answer 16

organisms that consume dead organic material eg. starfish

Question 17

what are decomposers

Answer 17

organisms that break down dead organic material and return nutrients to the sediment

Question 18

what are tertiary consumers

Answer 18

an animal that eats secondary or primary consumers eg. shark

Question 19

what is a secondary consumer

Answer 19

a carnivore (animal that eats other animals) eg. nemo

Question 20

what is a secondary consumer

Answer 20

a carnivore (animal that eats other animals) eg. nemo

Question 21

what is a primary consumer

Answer 21

herbivores eg. zooplankton

Question 22

what are producers

Answer 22

organisms that photosynthesise using the sun to turn Co2 and water into glucose and oxygen eg. phytoplankton

Question 23

what are the 6 steps of the carbon cycle

Answer 23

1. carbon dioxide exists in the air.
2. Plants use carbon dioxide to photosynthesize and make food.
3. Animals eat plants and obtain carbon.
4. Animals use carbon from plants for energy and growth.
5. Animals produce waste and die.
6. Decomposers feed on the dead matter and release carbon dioxide into the air as they respire.

Question 24

what are the 6 steps of the nitrogen and phosphorous cycle

Answer 24

1. Green plants take in chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorous from the soil.
2. Plants use these chemicals to build proteins for growth.
3. When plants die, decomposers break down the protein into ammonium compounds.
4. Animals also eat plants.
5. Animal waste and dead animal carcasses are broken down into ammonium compounds.
6. Bacteria in the soil can convert the ammonium back into nitrates.

Question 25

3 steps of the oxygen cycle

Answer 25

1. Oxygen exists in the air.
2. Animals obtain oxygen by breathing.
3. Plants produce oxygen and release it through their pores.

Question 26

define atmosphere

Answer 26

layer of gases in the air of an environment that also includes the weather.

Question 27

how do the hydrosphere and atmosphere affect eachother/interact

Answer 27

precipitation affects level of water in an environment, as does temperature.

temperature affects the type of precipitation there is (snow, hail, rain)

Question 28

define lithosphere

Answer 28

the rigid most outer layer of the earth, consisting of the crust, topography, and soils.

Question 29

define topography

Answer 29

the study of the shapes and features on the earth’s surface, including mountains and hills as well as ocean basins and ridges.

Question 30

define biosphere

Answer 30

the part of Earth that can support life and includes all living things and the places they are found.

Question 31

define bioaccumulation

Answer 31

build up of chemicals in the biosphere that can upset the nutrient cycles in the other elements of the biophysical environment.

Question 32

how does the lithosphere and biosphere affect eachother/interact

Question 33

what does topography affect

Answer 33

atmosphere composition, climate, and precipitation.