Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Management Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment
What is a biome?
An ecosystem on a global scale
What is a cliamte?
The average weather conditions of an area occurring over many years
What is vegetation?
Plants.
Climate and vegetation of Temperate Grasslands?
Cold winters, hot summers. -40 - 30°C
Largely devoid of trees, low rainfall levels
Climate and vegetation of Tropical Grasslands?
Warm, consistent temperatures, high annual rainfall.
Months of drought near deciduous trees shed leaves to consume water.
Climate and vegetation of Tundra?
Average winter temperature is -34°C. Summer is cold 3-12 degrees C.
Very sparce as often months of no sunlight.
Climate and vegetation of Tropical Rainforest?
Hot all year round. Wet all year round.
Broadleaved plants. Trees dominate.
Climate and vegetation of Deserts?
Low levels of rainfall. Extreme temp. variations.
No trees, limited vegetation.
Climate and vegetation of Temperate Forest?
During winter falls below 0, summer is 21.
Trees both coniferous and deciduous, very dense, all around landscape.
What are the key factors influencing the distribution of ecosystems?
- Latitude
- High and low pressure (global)
- Earth’s tilt.
- Continentality
- Altitude
How does Latitude affect distribution of ecosystems?
Lower latitudes = higher temperatures.
Higher latitudes = lower temperatures.
Near equator = sunlight has small area of atmosphere to pass through, and suns rays are more concentrated.
Closer to poles, sunlight less concentrated, temperatures cooler.
Example of how latitude affects ecosystems
Tropical rainforests have high average temperatures, found along equator.
Tundra regions found at high latitudes (60-75 degrees) due to lower angle of incoming solar radiation.
How does high and low pressure influence distribution of ecosystems?
Low pressure areas when air rises. Weight of air above the Earth’s surface is lower than average.
High pressure areas when air sinks. Weight of air is above average when it sinks to the Earth’s surface.
How does a low pressure area lead to clouds and precipitation?
- As the air rises it cools, condenses and forms clouds.
- The water droplets in the clouds increase in size.
- They eventually become too heavy to be held and fall as precipitation.
What are three global factors that influence biome distribution?
Climate, altitude, types of rock.
What is the Biosphere?
A vital system providing us with most essential resources: food, medicines, building materials and sources of fuel.
What are three factors affecting the biosphere?
- Demand for water - Other parts of the biosphere are deprived of water.
- Commercial production of biofuels means that hue areas of land are used for biosphere crops instead of food crops.
- Demand for minerals - mountain-top removal mining.
What is the nutrient cycle?
Describes how nutrients are transferred around an ecosystem. Model consists of three main nutrient stores and nutrient flows.
What do the sizes of the stores and flows mean?
The size can change depending on the ecosystem.
What are the three stores in the nutrient cycle?
- Biomass
- Soil
- Litter
What are the three types of nutrient transfers in the cycle?
- Littering
- Decomposition
- Plant uptake
What are two inputs that contribute to the nutrient cycle?
- Rainfall
- Weathering of parent rock
What are two outputs of the nutrient cycle?
- Surface runoff
- Leaching
Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests
They are all near the equator in between the tropic of cancer and capricorn
Describe the distribution of deciduous woodlands
They are along higher lines of latitude such as the tropic of cancer
List the biotic and abiotic characteristics that make the soil profile of TR
Trees
Buttress roots for more stability and wider reach for more nutrients
Shallow roots for rapid decomposition of litter
Heavy rainfall flows down through soil, leaching out nutrients
Weathered bedrock
Weathering adds minerals
Bedrock
List the biotic and abiotic characteristics that make the soil profile of DW
Litter layers are several cm thick, not as quick decomposition
Dark brown soil = lots of organic matter
Leaching gradually brings minerals down through soil
Worms bring organic matter deep into soil
Deep roots to reach nutrients further down
Weathered bedrock
Bedrock
Tropical rainforest plant adaptations?
Buttress roots - nutrients are concentrated in top level of soil only, rainforest trees have shallow roots. Keeps tall, slender trunks anchored upright.
Drip tip leaves - water runs off them quickly, otherwise moss and algae would quickly grow over the leaf surface, cutting off its life.
Tropical rainforest animal adaptations?
